This post has been written based on this episode of Crash Course Political Theory:
A world without Governments
Anarchism is a political theory that envisions a world without centralized governments, advocating instead for voluntary cooperation and mutual aid. Rooted in the belief that hierarchies are inherently oppressive, anarchists argue that societies can function through decentralized, self-governing communities rather than coercive state structures. This post explores the fundamental principles of anarchism, its historical development, and contemporary debates surrounding its viability.
1: The Foundations of Anarchism
Anarchism is often misunderstood as mere chaos or lawlessness, but its intellectual foundations argue for an ordered society based on liberty and mutual aid rather than imposed authority. Twentieth-century anarchist thinker Emma Goldman described anarchism as “the philosophy of a new social order based on liberty unrestricted by man-made law.” Anarchists believe that humans are naturally cooperative and that government structures, rather than preventing disorder, often reinforce social inequalities and perpetuate violence.
This perspective stands in stark contrast to thinkers like Thomas Hobbes, who theorized that without a governing authority, life would be “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” Instead of seeing the state as a necessary protector, anarchists argue that it exists primarily to uphold private property and sustain the power of the elite. Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, a foundational anarchist thinker, famously declared, “Property is theft,” asserting that wealth is accumulated through exploitation rather than individual effort.
2: Historical Development of Anarchist Thought
The roots of anarchism stretch back centuries, but it gained momentum in the 19th and early 20th centuries with the works of Proudhon, Mikhail Bakunin, and Peter Kropotkin. Bakunin took anarchism beyond economic critique, opposing all hierarchical structures, including governments, landlords, and religious authorities. He advocated for collectivism, where workers would manage resources and production without state intervention. His call for revolutionary action sometimes included violence as a means to dismantle oppressive structures.
Kropotkin, on the other hand, developed the idea of anarchist communism, emphasizing the principle of “from each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” He envisioned a society functioning like a public library—where resources are shared freely without bureaucratic gatekeeping. His observations of mutual aid in nature and human communities challenged the assumption that competition is the primary driver of survival, arguing instead that cooperation is the basis of social progress.
3: Anarchism in Practice and Its Challenges
Although anarchism has rarely been fully implemented at a large scale, historical and contemporary examples offer glimpses of its principles in action. The Paris Commune of 1871, the Zapatista movement in Mexico, and the Occupy movement of 2011 each embodied aspects of anarchist self-organization, challenging traditional power structures through grassroots mobilization.
However, anarchism faces significant critiques. One of the main challenges is practicality: can a society function without a governing body to coordinate efforts and resolve conflicts? The short-lived Occupy movement highlighted this challenge, as the lack of structured leadership made it difficult to maintain cohesion and sustain long-term change.
Another point of contention within anarchism is the role of violence. Some anarchists, like Emma Goldman, saw revolutionary violence as necessary for dismantling oppressive systems. Others, such as Colin Ward, promoted “everyday anarchism,” which focuses on building cooperative structures within existing societies, such as mutual aid networks and community-run services.
4: Contemporary Relevance of Anarchism
In the modern era, anarchism continues to influence social movements and political discourse. Mutual aid networks that emerged during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic illustrate the anarchist principle that communities can organize themselves without state intervention. Additionally, digital platforms and decentralized technologies have given rise to movements like crypto-anarchism, which seeks to bypass governmental and corporate control through blockchain and other decentralized systems.
Anarchism remains a dynamic and evolving theory, continuously reshaped by historical context and societal needs. Whether through direct action, community organizing, or ideological debate, anarchists persist in challenging the notion that centralized authority is a prerequisite for order and justice. As long as inequality and state oppression persist, anarchist thought will continue to offer an alternative vision—one that imagines a society built on cooperation, autonomy, and shared responsibility.
