Differences between Anarcho-Communism and Council Communism?

[Angry Young and Red]

Can anyone write up some few distinctions between the two? Personally I don't know any, other than that Council Communism puts most focus on Worker Councils, but I don't see how that would conflict in any way with Anarcho-Communism...

[Caj]

Council communists would probably say that they advocate a "dictatorship of the proletariat" or a "transitional workers' state". Really, though, I think this is a false distinction between anarchists and council communists that stems from a divergence between anarchists and Marxists on the definition of the state. Anarchists have traditionally maintained that states are by their very nature hierarchical, top-down power structures, while many left Marxists (including council communists) advocate a transitional "state" that is bottom-up, democratic, and non-hierarchical.

Apart from that probably false distinction, council communists usually have a more Marxian analysis of history, bourgeois society, the capitalist mode of production, class struggle, class conscioussness, et cetera than anarchists do. Many anarchists are, however, starting to adopt the Marxian framework when viewing history and present society, so this distinction isn't always completely accurate either.

In short, I don't really know of any distinctions between the two that are true in all instances. I've actually heard several people assert that anarcho-syndicalism and council communism are essentially the same position.

[Ocean Seal]

In short, I don't really know of any distinctions between the two that are true in all instances. I've actually heard several people assert that anarcho-syndicalism and council communism are essentially the same position.

Yes, I am another believer that they are about the same thing. As you said earlier in your post, Marxists and anarchists did have different perspectives but this has been something that has changed over the years. At this point worker's councils + a state = revolutionary unions that the anarcho-syndicalists want. I'm sure that there are some people that would lecture me on the finer points, but from what I've heard it sounds like the two would be very similar in practice.

[Caj]

Yes, I am another believer that they are about the same thing.

Actually, I think you were one of the "several people" from whom I've heard that assertion.

[Danielle Ni Dhighe]

I've been influenced by those labeled council communists and those labeled anarcho-syndicalists. The biggest difference is an explicitly Marxist analysis or a lack thereof.