Anarchism

1
Anarchism

• Rejecting hierarchy and authority

2
Anarchism

• Because human beings are essentially good, human
  society is naturally cooperative. Governments
  and other artificial and coercive institutions
  corrupt the human personality.
• Emphasis on individual freedom and choice. An
  optimistic view of human potential.

3
Anarchism key idea

• Opposed to any structure that is hierarchical,
  coercive or authoritarian.
• Most governments
• Organized religion
• The military
• Courts prisons
• Both capitalism and Soviet-style communism

4
Anarchism government

• Not all government functions rejected.
• Government can exist in order to protect people
  from invasion by others and to coordinate the
  productive work of the society (2 functions of
  govt).
• Government should be small and decentralized, not
  an all-powerful and controlling state.

5
Anarchism authority

• Authority per se is not rejected. Only
  irrational authority based not on reasoned
  argument and persuasion, but on having a position
  of power over others. In contrast, rational
  authority is derived from rational argument and
  is open to constant criticism and review.

6
Anarchism critical thought

• The thinking process is critical. Anarchists
  criticize blind acceptance of the status quo as
  mental indolence. Instead, we should examine
  ideas, including their origin. In the words of
  Emma Goldman
• Anarchism urges man to think, to investigate,
  to analyze every proposition.

7
History of anarchism

• Elements of anarchist thought in writings of the
  ancient Greeks and Chinese. Some evidence in
  utopian religious movements of the Middle Ages.
• Anarchism as a coherent political philosophy
  first originated at the outbreak of the French
  Revolution in 1789.
• Late 19th century, anarchist movement emerged.
  From 1860s onward, periodic eruptions of
  anarchist activities throughout Europe,
  particularly in southern Europe, such as Spain.

8
History of anarchism

• Anarchists also active in labor movements in
  Europe, although most fellow members were not
  anarchists.
• Involved in many uprisings and revolutions,
  including the Russian Revolution of 1917,
  although the Bolshevik party (a small radical
  communist party) soon took over in Russia.

9
Anarchist thinkers

• William Godwin (British) late 18th c.
• Pierre-Joseph Proudhon (French) 19th c.
• Peter Kropotkin (Russian) late 19th c.
• Mikhail Bakunin (Russian) late 19th c.
• Emma Goldman (Lithuanian-American)

10
Emma Goldman

• Born in Russia in 1869 came to the U.S. when she
  was 17. Very idealistic about America.
• Disillusioned found that America was not much
  different than the oppressive Russian government,
  in terms of peoples daily lives.
• Workers exploited - long hours, low pay, brutal
  working conditions, no real legal rights.
• This led her to rethink liberal democracy and to
  embrace anarchism.

11
Emma Goldman

• Wrote, traveled and
• lectured extensively
• on anarchism.
• Also advocated
• womens rights and
• opposed the draft and
• World War I.

12
Backlash against anarchism in United States

• Associated with labor unrest
• Associated with radicalism in Russia
• Associated with assassination of President
  McKinley in 1901
• Associated with protests against the war in 1917
• Associated with violence, including bombing of
  AGs house in 1919

13
Goldman in trouble with authorities

• Arrested in 1893 urging the unemployed to ask
  for work. If they do not give you work, ask for
  bread. If they do not give you bread, take
  bread.
• Arrested on Sept. 10, 1901, on a charge of
  conspiracy to assassinate President McKinley. No
  evidence, so she was released in two weeks.
• Arrested in 1916 for distributing literature
  advocating birth control (considered obscenity).
• Arrested in 1917 and imprisoned 2 years for
  organizing anti-war rallies (obstructing the
  draft).
• Deported in 1919, at the height of the Red Scare.
  

14
Anarchism, What it Really Stands for (1911)

• How does Emma Goldman answer this question?

15
Anarchism, What it Really Stands for (1911)

• How does Emma Goldman answer this question?
• ANARCHISM--The philosophy of a new social order
  based on liberty unrestricted by man-made law
  the theory that all forms of government rest on
  violence, and are therefore wrong and harmful, as
  well as unnecessary.

16
Goldmans ideas about anarchism

• Two misconceptions
• 1. That anarchism is impractical, just a
  beautiful utopian idea. People are too selfish.
• 2. That it is violent, destructive and dangerous
  - a black monster bent on swallowing
  everything.
• What does Goldman say to these critics?

17
Two misconceptions about anarchism

• 1. That it is impractical, merely a beautiful
  idea.
• Goldman says it is the current system that is
  wrong, foolish, and impractical. In contrast,
  anarchism promotes a vital new society that will
  eliminate wrong and foolish practices.
• What does she say to those who argue that people
  are too selfish wicked?

18
Two misconceptions about anarchism

• She responds that humans are not by nature
  selfish wicked, but are distorted by a corrupt
  society that deprives people of liberty.
• She sees crime, disorder and laziness as arising
  out of the current corrupt system. People will
  work hard and be honest if their work is
  meaningful and joyful.

19
Two misconceptions about anarchism

• 2. That it is violent, destructive and dangerous
  - a black monster bent on swallowing
  everything.

20
Two misconceptions about anarchism

• 2. That it is violent, destructive and
  dangerous.
• Anarchists claim that they are constructive, not
  destructive, because they want to build a society
  free of the chaotic and disfiguring features of
  current society.

21
Anarchism violence

• Violence is often associated with anarchism.
  Some anarchists do condone violence, but many
  reject it outright. Others accept it only if it
  is needed as a defensive measure against the
  violence of the state.

22
Rejecting representative democracy

• Goldman is extremely critical of politics. Even
  if people with integrity went into public life,
  they would have no influence.
• She concludes, The political arena leaves one no
  alternative, one must either be a dunce or a
  rogue.
• She says voting is only a game, that nothing
  comes out of it.

23
Oppressive institutions

• The state is one of the three primary oppressive
  institutions that she identifies. What are the
  other two, and why does she consider them
  oppressive?

24
Oppressive institutions

• Another one Religion. Because of the view that
  man is a mere speck of dust who owes complete
  surrender to a superior power on high.
• She criticizes this idea of a spiritual
  hierarchy.

25
Oppressive institutions

• Another oppressive institution Private
  property. To her, this is the most oppressive.
  For the average person, private property has
  robbed him of his birthright, and has turned him
  loose a pauper and an outcast.

26
Goldmans view of the U.S.

• America is particularly boastful of her great
  power, her enormous wealth. Poor America, of
  what avail is all her wealth, if the individuals
  comprising the nation are wretchedly poor?
• Is this a fair criticism?

27
Goldmans view of the U.S.

• Consider these figures from one of the federal
  reserve banks (2001)
• Top 1 of U.S. households have nearly 30 of the
  countrys wealth.
• Top 5 holds 55 of the wealth.
• Top 20 holds 80 of the wealth.
• Bottom 40 holds only 1 of the wealth.

28
Goldmans view of Marxism

• Critical of Marxism.
• Shared the view that capitalism is oppressive
  exploitive, but
• Economic relations dont define everything.
• Both individual and community important
  community needs dont trump individual rights.

29
Goldmans solution

• What can people do about their lack of liberty,
  about their oppression?

30
Goldmans solution

• Direct action Open defiance of and resistance
  to all laws and restrictions, economic, social
  and moral.

31
Goldmans solution

• Successes of direct action
• 1. Universal suffrage brought by American
  revolutionaries (for white men)
• 2. End of slavery for black Americans
• 3. Rise of trade unions.

32

• Goldman in 1917