Anarchism: A Conceptual Approach (Edited by Benjamin Franks, Nathan Jun, and Leonard Williams) (original) (raw)
Related papers
Anarchism from Theory to Practice: Two Recent Contributions to Anarchist Studies
WorkingUSA: The Journal of Labor and Society, 2012
A critical mass of theoretical writing produced in the contemporary anarchist studies milieu has focused on the intersection of anarchism and poststructuralism. Comparatively less attention has been paid to the theoretical underpinnings of classical anarcho-communism and the modern "class-struggle" movements, which are, in many respects, its heirs. Rebel Alliances: The Means and Ends of Contemporary Anarchisms and The Accumulation of Freedom are two books that seek to remedy this oversight, each in its own way. According to its author, Rebel Alliances is a labor of love (and rage) fifteen years in the making. Originally begun in 1991, it was not until a few years later that Benjamin Franks set about writing the book in earnest. Although he initially intended to open "with a detailed account of the numerous anti-globalisation protests," Franks scrapped this plan for fear of "ignoring the other manifestations of anarchist activity and also subsuming the other currents in the anticapitalist movement that are antipathetic to anarchism into the libertarian fold" (10-11). The final product-a meticulously researched and carefully analyzed study of British anarchism-does not disappoint. Indeed, one wonders whether such an ambitious but successful book could possibly have been completed in less than fifteen years. In just over 350 pages, Franks provides not only a concise and well-documented history of the British anarchist movement but also a cogent and insightful exploration of anarchist theory and praxis. The fact that bs_bs_banner
Anarchism - Essay for The Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social and Political Movements
The Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social and Political Movements, 2013
Anarchism refers to a tradition of social and political thought that in the 1860s emerged as an organized political force. Since then, anarchism has inspired protests, organizations and movements, mainly in Europe, Russia and the Americas, but also in other parts of the world. While it may be difficult to talk of ‘one’ anarchist movement, a distinct anarchist current within the history of the labor movement can be identified as well as anarchist tendencies and groups within other social movements. The term ‘anarchy’ comes from the Greek an-arkhos, meaning ‘without a leader or ruler’. It was first used in a positive sense, being identified as the ideal form of government, in Pierre- Joseph Proudhon’s (1809-1865) What Is Property? (1840). Proudhon, Mikhail Bakunin (1814-1876) and Pyotr Kropotkin (1842-1921) pioneered a broad tradition which has developed in a variety of forms. These range from varying interpretations of how to organize society in economic terms to the more basic distinction between social anarchism and currents farther removed from collective action (e.g. philosophical, individualist, and spiritual anarchism) as well as more specific variations around forms of organization, of action, the use of violence, and so on. In spite of this rich variety, anarchism can be identified by its strong commitment to individual freedom and sovereignty, the opposition to any form of oppression, domination and authority, the promotion of voluntary, decentralized and non-hierarchical associations, and the use of forms of direct action that prefigure a freer society with more solidarity and respect for individual self government.
Anarchism and Political Theory: Contemporary Problems
lightofthegnosis.com
This thesis explores contemporary anarchism, in its re-emergence as a social movement and political theory over the past decade. Its method combines cultural sociology and philosophical argumentation, in a participatory research framework. The first part, “Explaining Anarchism”, argues that it should be addressed primarily as a political culture, with distinct forms of organisation, of campaigning and direct action repertoires, and of political discourse and ideology. Largely discontinuous with the historical workers’ and peasants’ anarchist movement, contemporary anarchism has fused in the intersection of radical direct-action movements in the North since the 1960s: feminism, ecology, and the resistance to nuclear energy and weapons, war, and neoliberal globalisation. Anarchist ideological discourse is analysed with attention to key concepts such as “domination” and “prefigurative politics”, emphasising the avowedly open-ended, experimental nature of the anarchist project. The second part, “Anarchist Anxieties”, is a set of theoretical interventions in four major topics of controversy in anarchism today. Leadership in anarchist politics is addressed through sustained attention to the concept of power, proposing an agenda for equalising access to influence among activists, and an “ethic of solidarity” around the wielding of non-coercive power. Violence is approached through a recipient-based definition of the concept, exploring the limits of any attempt to justify violence and offering observations on violent empowerment, revenge and armed struggle. Technology is subject to a strong anarchist critique, which stresses its inherently social nature, leading to the exploration of Luddism, the disillusioned use of ICTs, and the promotion of lo-tech, sustainable human-nature interfaces as strategical directions for an anarchist politics of technology. Finally, the lens of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is used to address anarchist dilemmas around national liberation, exploring anarchist responses in conflict-ridden societies, and direct action approaches to peacemaking.
Anarchist direct actions: A challenge for law enforcement
2005
This article provides a descriptive, operational analysis of the modern anarchist movement, emphasizing the actions of the criminal anarchists and implications for US law enforcement. It begins by explaining some core tenets of anarchist “theory,” and its relationship to violence, then describes the structure, tactics and tradecraft of militant anarchist activists. It concludes that Anarchism is a revolutionary movement, not just a “protest group.” Clearly not all anarchists advocate or engage in violence, but some do.
2009
The study of anarchism as a philosophical, political, and social movement has burgeoned both in the academy and in the global activist community in recent years. Taking advantage of this boom in anarchist scholarship, Nathan J. Jun and Shane Wahl have compiled twenty-six cutting-edge essays on this timely topic in New Perspectives on Anarchism. This collection of essays is unique in its global and multi-cultural scope, as its contributors hail from across the globe. The scholars and activists featured in New Perspectives on Anarchism view anarchism from a variety of disciplinary perspectives, including philosophy, political science, religion, sociology, and ecology. Together, they attest to the vibrancy, intrepidity, and diversity of contemporary anarchist studies both within and without the academy. New Perspectives on Anarchism's broad approach to anarchism will make it appealing to scholars and political activists from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds.
Anarchism: A Conceptual Approach
2018
Anarchism is by far the least broadly understood ideology and the least studied academically. Though highly influential, both historically and in terms of recent social movements, anarchism is regularly dismissed. Anarchism: A Conceptual Approach is a welcome addition to this growing field, which is widely debated but poorly understood. Occupying a distinctive position in the study of anarchist ideology, this volumeauthored by a handpicked group of established and rising scholarsinvestigates how anarchists often seek to sharpen their message and struggle to determine what ideas and actions are central to their identity. Moving beyond defining anarchism as simply an ideology or political theory, this book examines the meanings of its key concepts, which have been divided into three categories: Core, Adjacent, and Peripheral concepts. Each chapter focuses on one important concept, shows how anarchists have understood the concept, and highlights its relationships to other concepts. Although anarchism is often thought of as a political topic, the interdisciplinary nature of Anarchism: A Conceptual Approach makes it of interest to students and scholars across the social sciences, liberal arts, and the humanities.