What exactly is Anarchism?

[Revulero]

I have been on Rev Left since the beginning of this year talking and debating with Anarchist but I never bothered to ask any of them what anarchism is???????????

So what is Anarchism?????????????? :huh: :huh:

[Revulero]

PLZ dont tell me to read anarchism for dummies that is posted in this section!!!!!!!

Let me restate my question

Is anarchism a govt. or what????? Since it is trying to abolish govt. right??????????


Im sorry if im not making sense its just that i dont know how to ask the question.... :(

[Cult of Reason]

I am lazy, so I suggest these: wikipedia pages on Anarchism, and:

infoshop.org/faq (I think that is the URL)

Anarchism is a social system, not a government, one based on freedom and full democratic participation.

[ComradeOm]

Anarchism is a strand of communist thought that is both anti-capitalist and anti-hierarchal. The state, alongside the bourgeoisie, is seen as the enemy. In practice, and in contrast to Marxists, that means that following revolution there will be no socialist transition phase to communism.

Personally I'm not a fan of anarchism largely due to its ahistorical and idealistic nature but these days many anarchists accept Marx's class analysis (though mysteriously rejecting his conclusions on the state).

[anti-authoritarian]

"Anarchism is a political theory which aims to create anarchy, "the absence of a master, of a sovereign." [P-J Proudhon, What is Property , p. 264] In other words, anarchism is a political theory which aims to create a society within which individuals freely co-operate together as equals. As such anarchism opposes all forms of hierarchical control - be that control by the state or a capitalist - as harmful to the individual and their individuality as well as unnecessary. "

In a nut shell imagine Communism but without state control.

[anti-authoritarian]

Infoshop link:

http://www.infoshop.org/faq

Or more directly:

http://www.infoshop.org/faq/secA1.html

[The Feral Underclass]

Originally posted by [email protected] 23 2006, 01:23 PM
In a nut shell imagine Communism but without state control.
Communism is invariably stateless. That's why it's communism...?

[anti-authoritarian]

Yes but there is more state control then in anarchism! Communism still has some aspects of the state.

[ComradeOm]

Originally posted by [email protected] 23 2006, 03:54 PM
Yes but there is more state control then in anarchism! Communism still has some aspects of the state.
You're confusing Communism with Marxism.

[The Feral Underclass]

Originally posted by [email protected] 23 2006, 04:54 PM
Yes but there is more state control then in anarchism! Communism still has some aspects of the state.
No it doesn't. Communism is the concept of a society which is stateless.

[The Feral Underclass]

Originally posted by ComradeOm+May 23 2006, 04:57 PM--> (ComradeOm @ May 23 2006, 04:57 PM)
[email protected] 23 2006, 03:54 PM
Yes but there is more state control then in anarchism! Communism still has some aspects of the state.
You're confusing Communism with Marxism. [/b]
No he isn't. He's confusing communism with socialism.

[anti-authoritarian]

I'm not saying a Communist Society is controlled by the state. Nor am I saying that Communism is run by the state nor...

Wait you've got me confused!