Blackberry
12th August 2004, 15:57
Recent musings have prompted me to re-evaluate this article, thus this second version.
What makes an anarchist…anarchist?
Anarchism is simply a word with minimal meaning to many people. It could either be the doctrine of chaos, or of the abolition of government, and maybe it describes an ideal society to some people.
Whatever the meaning, it is important to recognise that there is a set of principles that are inherent in anarchism. Anarchism is an ideology that has been developed by many people over centuries that are recognised as anarchists.
While there are some radical differences between a variety of anarchist thinkers and other anarchists, it is important to recognise that there is a set of principles that determine whether an individual is an anarchist or not.
Although a clear list is often not available, while mostly not being spoken of, it can frustrate anarchists with a level of understanding of what anarchism is when someone may call themselves an anarchist but reject one of the core principles.
This is what this paper will explain; exactly what are these core principles. It does not, however, attempt to justify anarchist principles.
Non-Hierarchy
The most important core principle is non-hierarchy, as opposed to hierarchy – the institutionalisation of authority within a society. According to anarchist theory, hierarchy is harmful and unnecessary to society; including its institutions and relationships. Control in any hierarchy is maintained by coercion – that is, by the threat of negative sanctions of one kind or another: political, social, economic, physical, psychological, etc.
Anarchists therefore reject the state, class, and capitalism, which all allow individuals and groups to have authority over another, whether political, social, or economic. Racism, sexism, and homophobia are rejected as hierarchical attitudes as well, as hierarchy provides the justification for domination and exploitation involved in these three attitudes.
Participation in or advocacy of any form of authoritative power is rejected in the state, including all levels of government, judiciaries, and security services. However, anarchists may have no choice but to live in a hierarchical society. What is important is that they do not participate in its institutions in order to gain authority.
Equal Decision-Making Power
Equal decision-making power is one of the most important fundamentals, and consequently another principle that defines an anarchist. They come in two forms, including direct democracy and consensus (with the pre-supposition being that everyone will have equal access to this decision-making in an anarchist society).
Direct democracy is a non-hierarchical form of decision-making, since it is based on equal decision-making power for all citizens in non-hierarchical political, social, and economic structures. A minority cannot be trusted to make the decisions of a majority, as it is hierarchical and authoritarian.
However, some anarchists disagree with direct democracy, preferring consensus. Consensus is based upon everyone in an organisation or institution agreeing to a decision before it can be put into action.
Voluntarism
Voluntarism is an essential anarchist principle as well. It is important is that a citizen is not compulsorily forced to comply with decisions in an anarchist society.
They may choose to withdraw themselves from a decision or actions, but they must not contradict it. Forcing a task upon someone, or contradicting a decision by carrying out contrary actions, is coercion -- a hierarchical and authoritarian mean.
Due Process
An important core anarchist principle is due process. A society without due process is harmful and cannot let an individual or a group decides arbitrarily on the spot decisions for them.
Due process – knowing and following a series of steps that guarantee a citizen's security within an anarchist organisation or wider anarchist society, is paramount. Automatic access to due process in a society guarantees citizens and small groups rights in that community.
Equal Access to Wealth
Equal access to the wealth of any anarchist society for all citizens is another essential anarchist fundamental. It implicates that possession of the wealth of a society should be needs-based rather than profit-based: “to each according to their needs, from each according to their ability”.
It is an important anarchist principle due to the further implication that there exists a society where the citizens have control of the means of production, distribution and exchange. Those with an unfair advantage in terms of wealth could potentially manipulate their wealth by bribery to have a stronger influence over decisions made in a society, relegating the influence of others in the decision-making processes – a hierarchical and authoritarian action.
In conclusion, these five essential principles are the bread and butter of any anarchist. A rejection of any of these five core principles, including any of the concepts introduced as being contrary to the political theory of anarchism, renders any self-labeled anarchist a non-anarchist. To ignore these is to reject centuries of anarchist history.
What makes an anarchist…anarchist?
Anarchism is simply a word with minimal meaning to many people. It could either be the doctrine of chaos, or of the abolition of government, and maybe it describes an ideal society to some people.
Whatever the meaning, it is important to recognise that there is a set of principles that are inherent in anarchism. Anarchism is an ideology that has been developed by many people over centuries that are recognised as anarchists.
While there are some radical differences between a variety of anarchist thinkers and other anarchists, it is important to recognise that there is a set of principles that determine whether an individual is an anarchist or not.
Although a clear list is often not available, while mostly not being spoken of, it can frustrate anarchists with a level of understanding of what anarchism is when someone may call themselves an anarchist but reject one of the core principles.
This is what this paper will explain; exactly what are these core principles. It does not, however, attempt to justify anarchist principles.
Non-Hierarchy
The most important core principle is non-hierarchy, as opposed to hierarchy – the institutionalisation of authority within a society. According to anarchist theory, hierarchy is harmful and unnecessary to society; including its institutions and relationships. Control in any hierarchy is maintained by coercion – that is, by the threat of negative sanctions of one kind or another: political, social, economic, physical, psychological, etc.
Anarchists therefore reject the state, class, and capitalism, which all allow individuals and groups to have authority over another, whether political, social, or economic. Racism, sexism, and homophobia are rejected as hierarchical attitudes as well, as hierarchy provides the justification for domination and exploitation involved in these three attitudes.
Participation in or advocacy of any form of authoritative power is rejected in the state, including all levels of government, judiciaries, and security services. However, anarchists may have no choice but to live in a hierarchical society. What is important is that they do not participate in its institutions in order to gain authority.
Equal Decision-Making Power
Equal decision-making power is one of the most important fundamentals, and consequently another principle that defines an anarchist. They come in two forms, including direct democracy and consensus (with the pre-supposition being that everyone will have equal access to this decision-making in an anarchist society).
Direct democracy is a non-hierarchical form of decision-making, since it is based on equal decision-making power for all citizens in non-hierarchical political, social, and economic structures. A minority cannot be trusted to make the decisions of a majority, as it is hierarchical and authoritarian.
However, some anarchists disagree with direct democracy, preferring consensus. Consensus is based upon everyone in an organisation or institution agreeing to a decision before it can be put into action.
Voluntarism
Voluntarism is an essential anarchist principle as well. It is important is that a citizen is not compulsorily forced to comply with decisions in an anarchist society.
They may choose to withdraw themselves from a decision or actions, but they must not contradict it. Forcing a task upon someone, or contradicting a decision by carrying out contrary actions, is coercion -- a hierarchical and authoritarian mean.
Due Process
An important core anarchist principle is due process. A society without due process is harmful and cannot let an individual or a group decides arbitrarily on the spot decisions for them.
Due process – knowing and following a series of steps that guarantee a citizen's security within an anarchist organisation or wider anarchist society, is paramount. Automatic access to due process in a society guarantees citizens and small groups rights in that community.
Equal Access to Wealth
Equal access to the wealth of any anarchist society for all citizens is another essential anarchist fundamental. It implicates that possession of the wealth of a society should be needs-based rather than profit-based: “to each according to their needs, from each according to their ability”.
It is an important anarchist principle due to the further implication that there exists a society where the citizens have control of the means of production, distribution and exchange. Those with an unfair advantage in terms of wealth could potentially manipulate their wealth by bribery to have a stronger influence over decisions made in a society, relegating the influence of others in the decision-making processes – a hierarchical and authoritarian action.
In conclusion, these five essential principles are the bread and butter of any anarchist. A rejection of any of these five core principles, including any of the concepts introduced as being contrary to the political theory of anarchism, renders any self-labeled anarchist a non-anarchist. To ignore these is to reject centuries of anarchist history.