The Definition of Anarchy[1] In its most literal sense, the definition of anarchy is simply the absence of government or rulers. The word anarchy derives from the Greek anarchos which means "without a ruler." More commonly, the word anarchy is used in a pejorative sense to refer to a society or a situation without order. [2] Anarchists do not define anarchy in this latter sense. Generally, the aim of the anarchist is to reorganize society based upon the principle of mutual co-operation rather than upon the principle of authority. The anarchist does not so much promote disorder as order of a different sort. In the anarchist's ideal world, conflict between individuals would cease to exist and the need for a common authority capable of resolving disputes would disappear. [3] Of course, such a vision of politics is massively idealistic; and as the American academic Allan Bloom wisely warns us, "Political idealism is the most destructive of human passions."1 The reality of anarchy is the war of everyone against everyone, as competing authorities struggle against one another for absolute power. [4] To see why this is so, simply imagine that the United States government were to be dissolved tomorrow. How would disputes between citizens be resolved? How would dangerous criminals be kept in jail? How would the country's military assets be secured and what would prevent an aspiring tyrant from making use of them? How would labor, goods, and services be exchanged? How would the country protect itself from foreign invaders? These are but a fraction of the practical questions which would arise in such a situation, and each question stems from a common problem: What would be the common authority between Americans? [5] For practical purposes, then, the definition of anarchy may be said to be a devolutionary power vacuum resulting in a state of war. On the political spectrum, anarchy occurs on both the right and left as libertarianism and socialism devolve into fascism and communism, respectively, or as the twin tyrannies are overthrown. [6] Just as there are two different definitions of anarchy, there are two different types of anarchist: The idealist and the fanatic. Ultimately, the anarchist is either the very best of people or the very worst. Two portraits of the anarchist follow through the links below.
|
