List of basic anarchism topics
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Anarchism is a broad category of active ethical, social and political philosophies encompassing theories and attitudes which reject compulsory government[1] (the state) and support its elimination,[2][3] often due to a wider rejection of involuntary or permanent authority.[4] Anarchism is defined by The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics as "a cluster of doctrines and attitudes centered on the belief that government is both harmful and unnecessary."[5]
The following outline is provided as an overview of and introduction to anarchism.
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[edit] Essence of anarchism
Anarchism entails a consistent rejection of the legitimacy of philosophies, ideologies, institutions, and representatives of authority in support of liberty. It asserts that cooperation is superior to competition in promoting social harmony; that cooperation is only authentic when it is voluntary; and that societies are capable of spontaneous order, rendering government authority unnecessary at best, or harmful at worst. In most cases, anarchism…
[edit] Supports:
[edit] Rejects:
[edit] Manifestos and expositions of anarchist viewpoints
Anarchism is a living project which has continued to evolve as social conditions have changed. The following are examples of anarchist manifestos and essays produced during various time periods, each expressing different interpretations and proposals for anarchist philosophy.
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(1840–1914) |
(1914–1984) |
(1985–present)
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[edit] Schools of anarchist thought
Anarchism has many heterogeneous and diverse schools of thought, united by a common opposition to compulsory rule. Anarchist schools are characterized by "the belief that government is both harmful and unnecessary", but may differ fundamentally, supporting anything from extreme individualism to complete collectivism.[5] Regardless, some are viewed as being compatible, and it is not uncommon for individuals to subscribe to more than one.
[edit] Schools of thought
[edit] Umbrella terms
The following terms do not refer to specific branches of anarchist thought, but rather are generic labels applied to various branches.
[edit] History of anarchism
Although social movements and philosophies with anarchic qualities predate anarchism, anarchism as a specific political philosophy began in 1840 with the publication of What Is Property? by Pierre-Joseph Proudhon. In the following decades it spread from Western Europe to various regions, countries, and continents, impacting local social movements. Anarchism declined in prominence between the early and late 20th century, roughly coinciding with the time period referred to by historians as The short twentieth century. Since the late 1980s, anarchism has begun a gradual return to the world stage.
- 1840 – Pierre-Joseph Proudhon publishes What Is Property? and becomes history's first self-proclaimed anarchist.
- 1850 – Anselme Bellegarrigue publishes the first Anarchist Manifesto.
- 1864 – International Workingmen's Association founded. Early seeds of split between anarchists and Marxists begin.
- 1871 – Paris Commune takes place. Early anarchists (mutualists) participate. Impacts later anarchist thought.
- 1872 – IWA meets at the Hague Congress. Anarchists expelled by Marxist branch, beginning the anarchist/Marxist conflict.
- 1878 – Max Hödel fails in assassination attempt against Kaiser Wilhelm I. Ushers in era of propaganda of the deed.
- 1882 – God and the State by Mikhail Bakunin is published.
- 1886 – Haymarket affair takes place. Origin of May Day as a worker's holiday. Inspires a new generation of anarchists.
- 1886 – First publication of Freedom newspaper, oldest still surviving anarchist periodical.
- 1892 – The Conquest of Bread by Peter Kropotkin published. Establishes anarchist communism.
- 1911 – The High Treason Incident leads to the execution of twelve Japanese anarchists; the first major blow against the Japanese anarchist movement.
- 1911-1912 – The Bonnot Gang embarks on a (approx.) four-month crime spree, becoming most famous criminal gang in France.
- 1917 – The Russian Revolution divides anarchists worldwide between supporting or criticizing the first "socialist state."
- 1919-1921 – The Free Territory, the first major anarchist revolution, is established in the Ukraine.
- 1921 – The Kronstadt rebellion, the last major rebellion against Bolshevik rule in the Soviet Union by anarchists.
- 1921 – The Communist Party of China is founded. The anarchist movement in China begins slow decline due to communist repression.
- 1926 – In the last formal act of propaganda by the deed, Sholom Schwartzbard assassinates Symon Petliura. Is later acquitted by a sympathetic jury.
- 1929-1931 – The autonomous Shinmin region, the second major anarchist revolution, is established in Manchuria.
- 1936-1939 – The Spanish Revolution, the third and last major anarchist revolution, is established in Catalonia and surrounding areas.
- 1959 – The Cuban Revolution establishes a communist dictatorship. The Cuban anarchist movement is immediately repressed.
- 1999 – Riots interrupt the WTO conference in Seattle. Is viewed as part of an anarchist resurgence in the United States.
[edit] Basic anarchism concepts
These are concepts which, although not exclusive to anarchism, are significant in historical and/or modern anarchist circles. (It should be noted that the anarchist milieu is philosophically heterogeneous and there is disagreement over which of these concepts should play a role in anarchism.)
[edit] Organizations
[edit] Notable organizations
Formal anarchist organizational initiatives date back to the mid-1800s. The oldest surviving anarchist organizations include Freedom Press (est. 1886) of England, the Industrial Workers of the World (est. 1905), Anarchist Black Cross (est. 1906), Central Organisation of the Workers of Sweden (est. 1910) and the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (est. 1910) of Spain.
- Jura federation (est. 1870)
- Freedom Press (est. 1886)
- Industrial Workers of the World (est. 1905)
- Anarchist Black Cross (est. 1906)
- Mexican Liberal Party (est. 1906)
- Central Organisation of the Workers of Sweden (est. 1910)
- Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (est. 1910)
- Black Guards (est. 1917)
- International Workers Association (est. 1922)
[edit] Structures
Anarchist organizations come in a variety of forms, largely based upon common anarchist principles of voluntary cooperation, mutual aid, and direct action. They are also largely informed by anarchist social theory and philosophy, tending towards horizontalism and decentralization.
[edit] Anarchism scholars
[edit] Anarchists
[edit] Notable anarchists
Some people who have made a major impact on the development, advancement, or propagation of anarchism:
[edit] Notable non-anarchists
Some people who have impacted anarchist philosophy, despite not being self-identified as anarchists:
[edit] Anarchism lists
[edit] See also
[edit] Related philosophies
[edit] Footnotes and citations
- ^ Malatesta, Errico, Towards Anarchism.
- ^ Anarchism. Encyclopædia Britannica. 2006. Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service. 29 August 2006
- ^ Anarchism. The Shorter Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2005. P. 14 "Anarchism is the view that a society without the state, or government, is both possible and desirable."
- ^ Bakunin, Mikhail, God and the State, pt. 2.; Tucker, Benjamin, State Socialism and Anarchism.; Kropotkin, Piotr, Anarchism: its Philosophy and Ideal; Malatesta, Errico, Towards Anarchism; Bookchin, Murray, Anarchism: Past and Present, pt. 4; An Introduction to Anarchism by Liz A. Highleyman
- ^ a b Carl Slevin "anarchism" The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics. Ed. Iain McLean and Alistair McMillan. Oxford University Press, 2003.
[edit] External links
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- "Anarchism", entry from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, (1910) by Peter Kropotkin.
- Introductions to anarchism at the Spunk Library
- "The New Anarchists", from New Left Review #13, (2002) by David Graeber.
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