Anarchism Definition Questions

Reply

Fephisto Posted: Thu, Oct 22 2009 7:29 AM

rated by 0 users

What's the difference, if there pairwise is a difference, between the following anarchism labels:

market anarchism, voluntarism, anarcho-capitalism, mutualism, pananarchism, individualist anarchism, syndacalism, anarcho-communism, anarcho-socialism, council socialism, collectivist anarchism, geoanarchism, agorism, autarchism, kritarchy, and any other labels you may have heard of.

I'll try to learn some history of anarchist thought, or some of the key players, and then I'll find a new person who was involved in some movement with a brand new label, and I'll try to figure that one out, and eventually I'm stuck in this learning cycle loop that inevitably leaves me fairly confused.

Adding to this confusion is a similar reason why I've never been able to plug down the difference between communism and socialism.  That is that whenever I read some source or ask someone about the difference between those two words, I will ALWAYS get a different answer.

Reply

Spideynw replied on Thu, Oct 22 2009 8:40 AM

rated by 0 users

Agorism just means participating in the "gray" and "black" markets.  Pretty much not giving the government money when conducting business.

Reply

Angurse replied on Thu, Oct 22 2009 11:14 AM

rated by 0 users

Fephisto:

I'll try to learn some history of anarchist thought, or some of the key players, and then I'll find a new person who was involved in some movement with a brand new label, and I'll try to figure that one out, and eventually I'm stuck in this learning cycle loop that inevitably leaves me fairly confused.

I'd advise you not spend much of your time in that department. The majority of anarchist thought has Utopian nonsense. The only branch worth looking into is market-anarchism (anacho-capitalism, panarchy, voluntaryism) which isn't even considered anarchy by many.

Reply

Nielsio replied on Thu, Oct 22 2009 12:03 PM

rated by 0 users

Fephisto:

market anarchism, voluntarism, anarcho-capitalism, mutualism, pananarchism, individualist anarchism, syndacalism, anarcho-communism, anarcho-socialism, council socialism, collectivist anarchism, geoanarchism, agorism, autarchism, kritarchy, and any other labels you may have heard of.

Non-state, pro self ownership, pro private property:

market anarchism, voluntaryism, anarcho-capitalism, panarchism, kritarchy, autarchism

Non-state, but doesn't regard some issues like land, money,  interest, as things that can be private property:

mutualism, geolibertarianism

Non-state, no private property:

anarcho-syndicalism, anarcho-communism, anarcho-socialism, collectivist anarchism

Pro-state, public property:

council socialism, syndicalism

Non-state, but includes anarcho-capitalists, mutualists, and egoists

individualist anarchism

A strategy for bringing about a non-state, pro private property society:

agorism

Reply

Wanderer replied on Sun, Oct 25 2009 1:41 AM

rated by 0 users

Market anarchism, voluntarism, and anarcho-capitalism are all the same, as far as I can tell.  Mutualism is very complicated and asinine, in my opinion, best described here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutualism_(economic_theory)

Panarchism is the belief that governments should be voluntary and not based on geography.  Individualist anarchism is any school of thought where the individual is held in maximum esteem, free from all violence, collective or otherwise.  Syndicalism, or "worker's capitalism" is a school of thought that believes that the workers of a particular mean of production should own it.  As far as I can tell, anarcho-communism and anarcho-socialism are the same in all but name.  I do not know what councill socialism is.  Collectivist anarchism is another umbrella term, the opposite of individualist anarchism.  Geoism is the belief land cannot be owned, and whoever uses it, controls it.  Agorism is a subset of anarcho-capitalism, designed to bring down the state through black and grey market trading.  Autarchism is unknown to me.  Kritarcy is rule by judges.

Reply

Nitroadict replied on Sun, Oct 25 2009 1:58 AM

rated by 0 users

Cam Nedland:

Market anarchism, voluntarism, and anarcho-capitalism are all the same, as far as I can tell.  Mutualism is very complicated and asinine, in my opinion, best described here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutualism_(economic_theory)

A little harsh to say Mutualism is asinine, methinks, especially since it would probably be a lot more clearer in operation (as anarcho-capitalism, market anarchism etc.) would be under an actual free-market, stateless society. 

It's resurgence via Kevin Carson is also relatively recent compared to the amount of time other ideologies have had on it, except for maybe agorism, which is only a little bit older (at least, formally speaking).

Reply

Bank Run replied on Sun, Oct 25 2009 2:42 AM

rated by 0 users

Fephisto:

I've never been able to plug down the difference between communism and socialism

It does seem to change based on the criticism leveled upon one or the other. I define communism as world-socialism. I find this consistent with Marxist thought. I find it funny that many self proclaimed socialists, and progressives don't have a clear and consistent definition of socialism.

If I may make a brief summery: Godwin was one of the first anarchists. He believed that only the rulers had property therefore property should be abolished. Proudhon liked Godwin, and Marx liked Proudhon. Early Marxist thought was anarchistic. Here is a nice audio. Also check out this audio on the Fabians.

There are so many sorts of anarchists! As a youth I considered myself an anti-authoritarian-anarchist. I felt a lawless state was better than a bunch of clowns kissing but for power. I have matured somewhat(and not at all according to my girlfriend), I now don't care much for anarchism, as I don't care much for government at all. I prefer the methodology of self-rule.

Good luck with your studies.