Anarchism 101: A Radical Political Philosophy

The word "anarchy" is derived from a Greek phrase meaning "without a ruler." Anarchists believe, for a variety of reasons, that people would be better off without a government. This philosophy takes founding father Thomas Paine's famous quotation, that "that government governs best which governs least," to it's logical conclusion: that the best government is no government at all.

While anarchists come from a variety of demographics and backgrounds, a disproportionate number are young and idealistic. Far from desiring a state of anarchy for selfish reasons, these radical activists are interested in freeing people from all heirarchies that place some people over others, including racism, sexism, classism and other forms of discrimination.

What Anarchist Activists Want

For the most part, the aims of anarchist activists are similar to those of others interested in social justice. They want an end to war, poverty and oppression. However, unlike most liberals and progressives, anarchists would also like to see the end of government and of the capitalist system.

Anarchists have a utopian vision of a world in which people freely associate in communities of their choice, working according to their inclinations and abilities and sharing the resources of the group. While this system bears some resemblance to communism or socialism, there is one important difference, which is that it is not regulated and enforced by a government.

While these ideals may seem unrealistic, there has been some precendent throughout history, particularly in traditional tribal societies which were often governed by consensus rather than by heavy-handed laws enforced by a few elite individuals.

Radical Protesters Are Not Terrorists

While the mainstream media mentions anarchists at all, it is often within the context of protest demonstrations. Many anarchists participate in protests against war, environmental damage, and globalization policies that they believe to be unjust. Anarchists in protests often engage in civil disobedience, for example blocking roads, in an effort to disrupt the activities that they are protesting and/or raise awareness of the cause.

While participating in illegal protest activities, many anarchists wear black clothing and masks so that they can not be identified if captured. They may also wear gas masks and goggles because in tense situations riot police sometimes respond to even nonviolent protests with chemical weapons such as mace and tear gas. Anarchists generally have deeply held commitments to their personal ideas about justice, but since they do not recognize the government they are not concerned about breaking its laws.

What the Media Doesn't Mention

While law abiding citizens may disagree with anarchists' use of illegal tactics, they should be aware that although every group has its fringe elements, most anarchists don't intend any harm to anyone, would never participate in violent attacks, and just want to raise awareness about problematic political issues that may not be well known.

Although many anarchists participate in protests, many more do not. Because of the marginalization of their beliefs, many anarchists may be reluctant to discuss them openly. However, although these individuals may not be known as anarchists, they are often well known as dedicated, hard working and kind members of their communities who are eager to lend a helping hand.

For lots more information on modern anarchists and anarchist history, check out the Infoshop Anarchist FAQ.

Anarchist Protester

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