Beginners Guide to Anarchism!

[Der Übermensch]

Here we go, I hope I'm not the only one who actually took this idea seriously . I don't know if this is really the final copy, but it seemed finished enough to post. This isn't really ment to be a debate thread, but if anybody has suggestions of what I should add, they are welcome, and I will maybe Edit them in.

Development
Anarchism is a loose political theory based on the principle that all forms of government in which man rules over man is wrong. Anarchism is not a specific philosophy, but rather has many branches. Individualist, Anarcho-Communism, Anarcho-Syndicalism , and Anarcho-Capitalism are the most dominant forms, and I will get into more detail later.

Proudhon and the Basics
The term 'Anarchism' was first coined by Pierre Joseph Proudhon, a French Writer most known for his book "What is Property?", and his answer "Property is Theft". Influenced by the revolution of 1830, Proudhon remained prominent in the early years of the movement, although never latched onto one particular branch to call his own, and eventually in his older years shifted slightly toward con-federalism. It is important to realize that the property Proudhon argues against is not personal property. He, and most Anarchists, make a distinction between the property of ones personal lives (a house for instance), and that used for the larger purpose (like a factory).
A staunch individualist, Proudhon was highly critical of Marxist philosophy. He once wrote to Marx, "Let us not become the leaders of a new religion, even were it to be the religion of logic and reason". In explanation of his vision for the future, Proudhon wrote, "The very sovereignty of the people contains its own negation. If the entire people were truly sovereign there would no longer be either government of governed; the sovereign would be reduced to nothing; the State would have no raison d'être, would be identical to society and disappear into industrial organization".
These are views embraced by most versions of Anarchism, which can all be pretty much boiled down to personal freedom, or as Bakunin stated it, "Freedom is the absolute right of every human being to seek no other sanction for his actions but his own conscience, to determine these actions solely by his own will, and consequently to owe his first responsibility to himself alone".

Individualist Anarchism
One of the hardest branch of Anarchism to really explain, Individualist Anarchism is not so much a political theory as much as a personal philosophy. IA is originally based off of the writings of Max Stirner, a German egoist writer who declared, "Every State is a tyranny, be it the tyranny of a single man or a group." While similar to the German Nihilist movement, Individualists rejected the destructive manner associated with them.

Anarcho-Communism
This is where we get into the meat of it. Anarcho-Communism is based off the writings of Bakunin, a contemporary, and on/off friend of Marx. Bakunin, while agreeing with many principals Marx professed, believed the only successful instatement of Anarchism could come from spontaneous revolution, rather then the incremental merging Marx wrote of. AC is based on voluntary communal living. Bakunin was very explicit that the individual should never be coerced into anarchism, and that, "The individual owes duties to society only in so far as he has freely consented to become part of it. Everyone is free to associate or not to associate, and, if he so desires, to go and live in the deserts or the forests among the wild beasts".

Anarcho-Syndicalism
Syndicalism is kind ofsimilar to AC, but is based closely with the Union movement that erupted after 1848, and died down after WW1, (Except for Spain, where the CNT still exists, albeit in a limited form). Instead of communal societys, Sydicalists believe in webs of mutual, Democratic based Unions. At its peak, the members of European Anarchist Unionists numbered in the millions.

Anarcho-Capitalism
Not considered Anarchism by most, I felt obligated to provide a brief description. The basis of AnCap is that the same as regular Anarchism is relation to government, but believes in an Unrestricted Free Market. Often criticized because by eliminating government, it allows monopolistic company's to take over.

Anarchism in Action
1830 and 1848
The revolution of 1830 in France was not actually anarchism, but heavily influenced early writers. The revolutions of 1848 involved Anarchists to a limited degree, but its most important effect was within a few years, over 900 Anarchist influenced Unions had started throughout Europe.

Paris Commune
Again not a real Anarchist movement, but notable for their involvement on the part of the Communards, as well as its experiment in peoples direct input into the running of the government. It was soon destroyed however when Versailles troops retook Paris and slaughtered about 30,000 participants.

The Haymarket
During a rally in Chicago on May 3rd, 1886, the crowd was attacked by the police, A bomb was thrown and a number of police killed. Although obviously innocent, a number of Anarchist and Socialist leaders of the rally were arrested for the bomb (it is now thought a policeman or someone in their pay threw it to provoke a retaliation). Five were sentenced to death, one of which committed suicide in his cell, and the other four were hanged. The remaining 3 were pardoned by the governor, who realized the trials were a sham, a few years later, and the rest cleared of charges. In the aftermath, immense sympathy, national and world wide, was brought to their cause (the 8 hour work week), and May 1st was made International Workers Day.

Propaganda by the Deed
A regrettable time in Anarchist history, for a time, the Anarchist International Congress endorsed the practice of select assassination, which resulted in the death of a number of heads of state. It was eventually realized this was counterproductive, as it only portrayed an image of violence to the public. After the assassination of McKinley, the practice was disavowed, but not before getting Anarchists on most government watch lists.

The Russian Revolution
It should be noted that soviets were free workers communes that had resulted in the Revolution of 1905, and again in 1917. The Bolshevik party, one of the smaller ones at the outset of the revolution, adopted the name and slogans to surf along on the popularity of them with the people. The quickly became the largest political party in the revolution.
The Kronstadt
The Kronstadt was a naval base at which the sailors had been particularly commended for their valor in the revolution. It was also home to one of the largest soviets, one that took the Bolsheviks initial promises of autonomy literally. In 1921, as the Bolsheviks started to tighten control, the Kronstadt refused to cooperate. A handpicked unit of the Red Army (most refused to assault men they still thought of as allies) assaulted the Kronstadt, killing almost all inhabitants.
The Makhnovist movement
The Makhnovichina was a large area of the Ukraine founded by the Anarchist Nestor Makhno that encompassed 20 million people by some accounts. He organized a militia, which initially fought with the Reds against the Whites, and was at one point the largest fighting force on the part of the Reds. However, Lenin saw them as a threat, as their free communes he viewed as a threat to Bolshevik power as it presented another option, one he didn't want, to the Russian people. So once the Whites were minimized, he ordered Trotsky to take care of it. A meeting was called, and all the Makhno militia commanders went to meet with Trotsky. Instead, they were arrested and executed. Nestor escaped to Paris, but the Red Army, with the element of surprise, swept in and destroyed the Makhnovichina.

Spain
Spain was the home of the largest Syndicalist movement in Europe. The Spanish Anarchists were initially started by Fanelli, a disciple of Bakunin. They soon moved into a Unionist movement, headed by the CNT Union. Even after the Republican government emerged, the Anarchists still attacked it. However, when Franco started his rebellion against the government (which was leaning Socialist), the Anarchists decided to side with the Loyalist forces, which also comprised of government forces, Stalinist Communists, Trotskyites, and Socialists. Centered mainly in the Catalonia (Barcelona), and Andulsia regions of Spain, as well as with influence in the Basque region, the Spanish Anarchists numbered 2-8 million (depends who's counting). However, the Communists were ordered by the USSR to consolidate power, and attacked the Anarchist forces. The Trotskians (POUM) were caught in the middle (hated by Stalinists as well), and leaned towards the Anarchists. With the loyalist forces split, the Fascists, backed by Hitler and Mussolini, overran them and gained control of Spain.
I am working on a longer summary of Spain. ITs to big to add here, so heres the link to part on later on.
[url=http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7064858&postcount=277]Part 1[/url]
[url=http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7208790&postcount=312]Part 2[/url]
[url=http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7208800&postcount=313]Part 3[/url]

[Der Übermensch]

Paris Commune II (May-June Revolt)
"I take my desire's for reality because I believe in the reality of my desires"
Anarchist influenced, as well as by the Situationalists. It started in response to the arrest of several students for anti-vietnam activity's. More students turned out in protest, and when confronted by police, it only made more students turn out. Riots started, Barricades were erected, and soon universities all over the city, workers unions, and regular citizens turned out into the streets. Almost 10 million people were out in protest at its height, and red and black flags flew all over the now occupied city. Eventually the military was brought in to quell the takeover, which was eventually ended with a promise of an increase of 35% in the industrial minimum wage and an all round-wage increase of 10%.

Conclusion
So, there you have it. Anarchism in a nut shell. It is not to be confused with Chaos, as you have seen. Although the movement has died down from the public eye, it still exists and smaller groups still exist in great number.

Edit: Update
Ok, seeing some of the responses so far, I'm going to add a bit more (+I'm just bored...)
Laws, or Lack Thereof
Laws don't exist under Anarchism. That is, laws in the sense that governments apply the word. Rather, guidelines are agreed upon by the people in the commune, comprimises being reached over parts of disagreement rather than just one group winning out. What happens if one doesn't want to follow the guidelines is up to each commune. No one is obligated to be part of a commune, best put by Bakunin, "The individual owes duties to society only in so far as he has freely consented to become part of it. Everyone is free to associate or not to associate, and, if he so desires, to go and live in the deserts or the forests among the wild beasts."

Symbols
The best known symbol of Anarchism is the A in the O. It originaly developed as a representation of Proudhon's quip, "Anarchy is Order", although it has been corrupted by the punk and skater generations in recent times.
Another symbol is the Black Flag, which is ussualy thought of as a symbol of anti-authority. It is sometimes combined with a Red Flag (Workers Struggle), put together diagonally. This is most common with Syndicalism, and was used by the CNT-FAI in Spain.

Application
People often like to say that anarchism could never work, because there would be people opposed to it, and therefor it would be contradictory. I do agree, that it can not be forced, but also believe it can work, although whether now is the time is debatable. Education is the most important step, as once people know what Anarchism stands for, rather then petty acts of violence, I think the acceptance for it would be over whelming. It must be remembered though, that the eccense of Anarchism is embodied in the achievment of the will of the people, not just the actual implementation of Anarchism. Ironically, Marx stated it best, "Better the whole world be destroyed and perish utterly than that a free man refrain from an act which his nature moves him". The time for Anarchism will present itself, not impose itself, as "Liberty can and must defend itself only through liberty; to try to resist is on the specious pretext of defending it is a dangerous contradiction (Bakunin)"

Dictionary Definition
That seems to come up a lot... [url=http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8627317&postcount=469]Here[/url] is a post I did on the subject. Read it before you quote dictionary.com and think your hot ****...

Due to the large amount of information available, I couldn't go over everything. There are a number of other forms of Anarchism, such as Tolstoys Christian Anarchism, as well as major writers, such as Kroptokin. If you are interested in learning more, I recommend the following.
Books
Daniel Guérin - Anarchism, as well as No Gods, No Masters 1 & 2
George Orwell - Homage to Catalonia
Peter Kropotkin - Anarchism
Mikhail Bakunin - God & State
Pierre Joseph Proudhon - What is Property?
Emma Goldman - Anarchism and Other Essays
Almost anything by AK Press
CrimethInc - Days of War, Nights of Love (most of which can be found online here http://www.crimethinc.com/library/ )

Websites
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/1931/ - an extensive FAQ
http://www.gmu.edu/departments/economics/bcaplan/anarfaq.htm - a shorter FAQ
http://www.nestormakhno.info/ - All about Nestor Makhno (read his essay on meeting Lenin)
http://www.spunk.org/ - Lots of great articles

Movies
Land and Freedom - Actually about the Trotskiest POUM in the Spanish Civil War, not the CNT, its somewhat based on Homage to Catalonia. It does have a great part in it that showcases the communalization of the land, and village councils.
The Dreamers - Great movie, set with the backdrop of the Paris Commune II. Not very informative, but good nonetheless.


Last updated 7/14/05

so do you think anarchy could work in a society of now? and why dont they teach anarchy is schools?

[Reaganista]

Take a comparative government course.

ooooooooooooooo thanks Tway

[|~Iceb0x~|]

I don't know how to ask this question, but is anarachy like a state of rebellion and after the rebellion has gotten there goal do they re-write the government?

Is the IRA a group of anarachist?

[Nra4ever_17]

No and No

[|~Iceb0x~|]

So theres nothing but disorder?

Does a nation who is over taken by anarchy become sothing like a thrid world?

[Nra4ever_17]

Originally Posted by |~Iceb0x~|

So theres nothing but disorder?

No. There is no government, not no order. The IRA, btw, are conservatives I think.

[|~Iceb0x~|]

What happens to jobs are there still jobs?

[Reaganista]

Of course. It's not about going back to nature.

[|~Iceb0x~|]

Originally Posted by Nra4ever_17

The IRA, btw, are conservatives I think.

Makes sense The Irish Republican Army, I don't like the IRA by the way

[Nra4ever_17]

Originally Posted by |~Iceb0x~|

What happens to jobs are there still jobs?

Yes. But "businesses" are not privately owned, nor operated for profit.

[|~Iceb0x~|]

Would the movie mad max be an example of anarachism

Does greed still exist In anarchy?

How about schools?

Do are children become artisans?

What happens if you murder someone?

[Reaganista]

No.

[|~Iceb0x~|]

Originally Posted by The Tway

No.

Is that no for the mad max question? or in general?

[|~Iceb0x~|]

What Happens to religion?

What about the questions I asked 4 posts up?

[Reaganista]

Originally Posted by |~Iceb0x~|

Would the movie mad max be an example of anarachism

No.

Does greed still exist In anarchy?

Yes.

How about schools?

Yes.

Do are children become artisans?

Huh?

What happens if you murder someone?

All the Anarchists on here have ever told me is 'The people would unite and destroy them'.

[Reaganista]

Originally Posted by |~Iceb0x~|

What Happens to religion?

What about the questions I asked 4 posts up?

People would be allowed to believe whatever they want.

[|~Iceb0x~|]

Originally Posted by The Tway

All the Anarchists on here have ever told me is 'The people would unite and destroy them'.

heh that sounds funny.
That artisan question didn't to be answered if there was still schools.

Is everyone an equal in Anarchy