This is the image that comes to mind when most people hear that dreadful word: Anarchy. They may even imagine that those whom want anarchy are black-mask clad sociopaths looking for the freedom to murder or cause destruction, with no regard, seemingly giving in to human vices. This is simply not true. So allow me to dispel some of the stigma behind this often misunderstood concept.
“Anarchy” can be defined as the absence of government, or leaders. This definition does not imply chaos or lawlessness as is so often portrayed in movies or other forms of media. Instead, it refers to a societal system that is not based on a ruling class, but instead on morality. Anarchism operates on the premise that we do not need states or even religions to live happy and productive lives together. Further, we do not need to live our lives with violence or coercion in order to prosper. Instead, we can exist with liberty and freedom by making every interaction and decision voluntary.
The Morality of Anarchism
Anarchy basically revolves around two fundamental premises: the non-aggression principle and respect for personal property rights. As children most of us were taught that it is wrong to hit or otherwise use violence against others. This is the non-aggression principle. Do not use the threat of or initiation of force against another. Additionally, as children, we were taught that it is wrong to steal or cause damage to another person's personal property.
The morality of the non-aggression principal should be logically self evident, and it applies to all humans, universally. Following these two principals constitutes living morally, which is a cornerstone of the anarchist philosophy. Conversely, anything that violates them is immoral, or evil.
The Immorality of Statism
Democracy, fascism, socialism, communism, whatever the brand of statism your country subscribes to, governments the world over violate the above two principals by their very nature. They possess a monopoly on the right to threaten or initiate the use of force on their ruled subjects. Taxation, laws, regulations, wars, etc., all violate the above moral principals. War is deplorable, but it is the health of the state. Last century alone, governments all over the world were responsible for some 200 million deaths. Taxation is personal property theft at gunpoint. If you do not pay your taxes, men in official looking costumes come to your house and attempt to kidnap you. If you resist, you are subdued and restrained or shot. Hence, theft at gunpoint. Other laws and regulations are no different. You are forced to obey, none of it is voluntary.
The state is an immoral institution, much like slavery, and trying to minimize its influence or regulate aspects of it doesn’t change the fact that it is evil. After all, how would you regulate slavery? Doubtless you can see, it can’t be allowed to exist.
You're an Anarchist and You Didn't Even Know It
Take a moment to reflect on your daily life. Every time you do something without being coerced or forced, you are living like an anarchist. Any time you interact with another, without using force or coercion, you are practicing anarchy. Could it be that simple? Yes, and what is more subtle… we all do it by default. Every day people exist, communicate, and collaborate together without using violence. Everyone, with the possible exception of the mentally ill and those victimized by abuse from caretakers as children, grasp these concepts and actually prefer to act morally. If you do not believe this, you have not experienced moral guilt.
The real deception occurs when states and religions change the definition of morality to suit their purposes. They achieve this in various ways like: "don’t steal, but pay your taxes;" "don’t kill, but join the military." This moral hypocrisy allows states to thrive and even gain the consent of their wards. Would we still fight wars for our rulers if we didn’t view being a soldier as virtuous? What if we viewed soldiers as they really are: people in costume that volunteered to kill without question. What makes the soldier any different than a hit-man? These are difficult questions, but they need to be asked if we are to wake up from the lies we’ve been told about what is moral, virtuous, and good.
Utopia?
“Anarchism is just a matter of having the courage to take the simple principles of common decency that we all live by, and to follow them through to their logical conclusions.” (Graeber)
Anarchy is not perfect, it isn’t a utopian dream. It simply frees humanity to be able to create the closest thing to utopia we can achieve. It allows alternatives to a system of living that hasn’t fundamentally changed in over five thousand years. From the ancient pharaohs of Egypt to the supposedly democratically “elected” presidents of our time, government still revolves around monopolies on force, and coercion.
Imagine the possibilities you could create in your own life if you were free to voluntarily decide what you want to be a part of, and to completely disregard what you do not. We don’t need to use violence to solve problems, and we don’t need violence to direct us as a species. That is what anarchy means.
- JD Smith
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