My right-wing teacher says that anarcho-communism can't exist?

[Comrade Nasser]

He call's it an "oxymoron" and that they are the opposites of each other and that if they were really communist and anarchist that these 2 groups would "absolutely despise" each other. I try to explain to them that the reason these 2 groups work with each other is to fight capitalism, y'know the old saying "the enemy of my enemy is my friend". But he will have none of it, he says if you were really an anarchist you would "hate communism" but I don't. Can you guys clear this up for me? Also I know this teacher is a dunce he voted for Mitt Romney 0_0

[Narcissus]

Communism isn't necessarily authoritarian.

[Questionable]

Historically speaking communists and anarchists have worked alongside each other before and during the revolution, even if they came to oppose each other afterwards.

[DasFapital]

A stateless society is the end goal of communism. The whole idea of communism is that class antagonisms will disappear and people will actually have access to the fruits of their labor instead of having it line the pockets of some asshole capitalist. What can be more libertarian than that?

[Comrade Nasser]

A stateless society is the end goal of communism. The whole idea of communism is that class antagonisms will disappear and people will actually have access to the fruits of their labor instead of having it line the pockets of some asshole capitalist. What can be more libertarian than that?

Try explaining this to a hardline conservative asshole who thinks Leon Trotsky was an evil man and that he deserved to die And these teachers always inject their politics into what they teach and pretty much brainwash these kids, hence the term "The Spoonfed Generation". Anyways my main question, how can I explain to him that communists an anarchists are not enemies?

[Skyhilist]

Communism = classless
Anarchism = stateless
Anarcho-communism = stateless + classless
I see no contradiction.

[Astarte]

Honestly, you shouldn't really pay him much attention. Just give him the answers he wants to hear on tests and essays and move on, especially if you already know he is a dunce as you put it. But you can mention that communists and anarcho-communists do have the same common goal of collectivizing property, and also do both ultimately believe in ending classes and the state. Do some reading - research the Spanish Civil War, you will find out a lot on alliances between Marxism and anarcho-communism.

[Comrade Nasser]

Honestly, you shouldn't really pay him much attention. Just give him the answers he wants to hear on tests and essays and move on, especially if you already know he is a dunce as you put it. But you can mention that communists and anarcho-communists do have the same common goal of collectivizing property, and also do both ultimately believe in ending classes and the state. Do some reading - research the Spanish Civil War, you will find out a lot on alliances between Marxism and anarcho-communism.

Thank you. I always do give him the answers he wants but I wanted to explain to him how they can work together.

[Winkers Fons]

Of course if you tell him that communism is a classless and stateless society he will give you the old "human nature" argument and tell you that it is good in theory but it can never actually work and will always devolve into authoritarianism. My suggestion is to point out the various times in history that communists and anarchists have worked together. Also, find some basic definitions from wikipedia and show him how similar the two concepts are in theory. I assume he has never really read anything about anarchist theory and thinks that anarchism is nothing more than chaos.

[Comrade Nasser]

Of course if you tell him that communism is a classless and stateless society he will give you the old "human nature" argument and tell you that it is good in theory but it can never actually work and will always devolve into authoritarianism. My suggestion is to point out the various times in history that communists and anarchists have worked together. Also, find some basic definitions from wikipedia and show him how similar the two concepts are in theory. I assume he has never really read anything about anarchist theory and thinks that anarchism is nothing more than chaos.

Your exactly right. He always says "Communism looks good on paper, but always fails in practice." And if you try to argue it he will just steer the topic in the direction he want's. And yes, he believes that anarchy is nothing more than chaos. This how he put it "Anarchy basically means you litter, and write dumb red A's all over your clothing."

[Comrade #138672]

Communism isn't necessarily authoritarian.

Indeed. In fact, Communism can not be authoritarian by its very definition.

[redblood_blackflag]

He call's it an "oxymoron" and that they are the opposites of each other and that if they were really communist and anarchist that these 2 groups would "absolutely despise" each other. I try to explain to them that the reason these 2 groups work with each other is to fight capitalism, y'know the old saying "the enemy of my enemy is my friend". But he will have none of it, he says if you were really an anarchist you would "hate communism" but I don't. Can you guys clear this up for me? Also I know this teacher is a dunce he voted for Mitt Romney 0_0

If "communism" at any time calls for or requires a state, then it is inconsistent with anarchism.
Marx called for various state monopolies in the communist manifesto.
This is obviously inconsistent with anarchism, regardless of what you want to call "the state."
It seems many people here have an idea of a "state" which isnt actually what a "state" has been through history, so If their belief isnt dependent on a state (though many say thing which naturally imply some over-arching authority figure, such as the claims in the manifesto) then I suppose it can be consistent, but if they end up doing all the same stuff and calling it something different, then nothing really changed.


While not all communists may consider themselves marxists, it should be obvious in my opinion that marxism as some sort of "political agenda" is inconsistent with anarchism, as right off the bat it calls for an "income tax." How can you be anti-state and support an "income tax" ? Who is laying down this income tax?

All statism is essentially the same at it's root.
Your teacher believes in "government," he is an authoritarian, though he might consider himself more skeptical of "authority." Clearly he is not as he believes in "voting" for "politicians."
Anarchists are apolitical in the sense of "government/state/politics."
If otherwise, they'll just end up saying something which advocates an authoritarian presence (some group claiming it has more 'rights' than everyone else) ruling society.

[Le Socialiste]

I once had a teacher in high school who, I kid you not, crawled on the gymnasium floor in military fatigues like he was ducking barbed wire at an obstacle course - during a school rally. He was extremely rightwing, and always mocked me for having long hair and "dressing like a hippie" in class (which I did, and am not particularly proud of - it was a strange time for me). On top of being my U.S. history teacher, he was also the only official at my school who could administer driving lessons/tests for one's driver's permit. I had to get up at 6 am every morning just to hear his obnoxious ass for an hour. And now I'm rambling; point is, there's very little you can do to change your teacher's mind. The best you can do is do what's expected of you in that class, pass it, and get as far away from it as you possibly can once you're done.

Edit - Sorry, I forgot to answer your initial question: I think yes, historically and strategically socialists and anarcho-communists have fought together against capitalism. Does that mean there aren't clear differences between them? No, but for all the conflict that exists between the two camps there's also cooperation and collaboration. It's certainly possible, if history tells us anything.

[redblood_blackflag]

http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist...s/anavsoc.html

this has to do with "socialism," but-

[ellipsis]

Try telling him about libertarian-socialism...

[Dennis the 'Bloody Peasant']

Your exactly right. He always says "Communism looks good on paper, but always fails in practice." And if you try to argue it he will just steer the topic in the direction he want's. And yes, he believes that anarchy is nothing more than chaos. This how he put it "Anarchy basically means you litter, and write dumb red A's all over your clothing."

Teachers need a better vetting process

Namely, 'Don't be an obnoxious, opinionated and ignorant asshole who introduces their personal politics in the classroom'

[Tuggback]

He call's it an "oxymoron" and that they are the opposites of each other and that if they were really communist and anarchist that these 2 groups would "absolutely despise" each other. I try to explain to them that the reason these 2 groups work with each other is to fight capitalism, y'know the old saying "the enemy of my enemy is my friend". But he will have none of it, he says if you were really an anarchist you would "hate communism" but I don't. Can you guys clear this up for me? Also I know this teacher is a dunce he voted for Mitt Romney 0_0

He probably imagines the whole situation as Sex Pistols vs KGB. What subject does he teach?

[MP5]

You could try explaining how Anarchist Communism has been one of the main currents of Anarchism in the past 2 centuries, how not all Communists are strictly Marxists as some are of the Anarchist aka Libertarian type, point out how similar perfected Marxist Communism is to Anarcho-Communism and how the idea of Anarchism is more or less Communism anyway as Anarchists are against private property and wage slavery as well. You could also point out how organization exists within Anarchist society's but the basic premise of voluntary association and lack of a hierarchy is what makes it different from other ideologies. You could also point out examples of Anarchist society's over the years and how much they resemble Communism.

Then again your teacher probably does not even know what Anarchism, Socialism or Communism really mean. I remember we has a history teacher who thought that the Nazis where socialists and taught all her students that the Nazis and the USSR where all on the same side . Even being 14 years old i knew that was full of shit but as soon as i tried to correct her she got all offended and literally yelled at me "I AM THE TEACHER!". Because that is apparently of have supposed to have impressed me . They don't want you to learn much less challenge them they just want you to regurgitate what they want you to say. We where not taught what Socialism or Communism was beyond Socialism and Communism=bad while Capitalism= good. Teachers also all seem to think that Anarchism is chaos probably because they cannot grasp the concept of a stateless and classless society.

[Fourth Internationalist]

Tell him about Peter Kroptkin (sp?) or Emma Goldman. Tell him what communism and anarchism actually are. Ask him if he's read Marx or Engels or Kroptkin. If not, tell him to learn about something before hating it. Always have great points ready. Try to stay in the 19th century because I think that'll make it look more like a "real" political view rather than a stupid modern trend or whatever he thinks it is. Or just like Google it and show him that it actually exists. Best of luck!

[Rafiq]

Anarchism is a current of the socialist movement, plus the universalist objection to states, hierarchy, etc. Both the Anarchists and the Communists sprung from the same father.