An Anarchist FAQ — Section a Contents
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Anarchist FAQ (17/17)
An Anarchist FAQ (17/17) The Anarchist FAQ Editorial Collective June 18, 2009. Version 13.1 Contents An Anarchist FAQ after ten years 3 2 An Anarchist FAQ after ten years 3 It is now ten years since “An Anarchist FAQ” (AFAQ) was officially released. A lot has happened over that time, unfortunately finishing it has not been one of them! Over that decade, AFAQ has changed considerably. It was initially conceived as a energy-saving device to stop anarchists having to continually make the same points against claims that “anarcho”-capitalism was a form of anarchism. As would be expected, the quality of the initial versions and sections were pretty mixed. Most of it was extremely good (even if we do say so ourselves!) and has required little change over the decade (mostly we have built upon and expanded the original material). A few bits were less good and have been researched more and rewritten. We have also, of course, made mistakes and corrected them when we have been informed about them or have discovered them ourselves. In general, though, our initial work has stood up well and while we were occasionally wrong on a few details, the general thrust of even these areas has been proven correct. Overall, our aim to produce an FAQ which reflected the majority of anarchist thought, both currently and historically from an international perspective, has been a success as shown by the number of mirrors, links and translations AFAQ has seen (being published by AK Press confirms this). Since the official release, AFAQ has changed. -
The Social Ecology of Artisanal Mining: Between Romanticisation and Anathema Saleem H
5 The social ecology of artisanal mining: Between romanticisation and anathema Saleem H. Ali Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) has existed for millennia, and is ingrained in many cultural traditions. However, as this book’s first four chapters have demonstrated, the activity has often faced challenges of acceptance by mainstream institutions because it occupies an interstitial space ‘between the pick and the plough’. It is at once an extractive sector but is also practised as a seasonal activity of agrarian peasants. It may not have all the hallmarks of a formal enterprise, but it is also seldom anarchic plundering of a resource. Thus, in this chapter, I attempt to negotiate through these seemingly conflicting elements of ASM by offering a synthetic conceptual anchor for the preceding chapters. I am guided in this task by an acute recognition that environmental concerns about ASM would need to be addressed in any effective framing of its social development imperative. Development donors have considered ASM as suitable for technical interventions to improve yield of minerals or alternative techniques for safer extraction. The World Bank and the Communities and Small-Scale Mining (CASM) program1 was operational from 2000 to 2010, and developed a 1 Details of the CASM program of work can be found at World Bank (2008). 117 BeTWeeN THe PLOUGH AND THe PICK broad repertoire of information exchange in this arena. The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Swiss Development Agency’s efforts to focus on the use of mercury in ASM gold-mining are examples of such undertakings. Mercury reduction efforts have been spurred by the advent of the Minamata Convention on Mercury Reduction that has thus far been signed by over 128 countries, and ratified by 88 (as of January 2018).2 The Convention recognises that mercury usage in artisanal and small-scale mining will likely be a challenge for many more years to come, given the remote locations of the mining sites and the relatively low cost of mercury worldwide. -
Socialism and the Blockchain
future internet Article Socialism and the Blockchain Steve Huckle * and Martin White Creative Technology Group, Department of Informatics, University of Sussex, Chichester 1, 128, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QT, UK; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +44-0-1273-606755 Academic Editor: Carmen de Pablos Heredero Received: 5 August 2016; Accepted: 10 October 2016; Published: 18 October 2016 Abstract: Bitcoin (BTC) is often cited as Libertarian. However, the technology underpinning Bitcoin, blockchain, has properties that make it ideally suited to Socialist paradigms. Current literature supports the Libertarian viewpoint by focusing on the ability of Bitcoin to bypass central authority and provide anonymity; rarely is there an examination of blockchain technology’s capacity for decentralised transparency and auditability in support of a Socialist model. This paper conducts a review of the blockchain, Libertarianism, and Socialist philosophies. It then explores Socialist models of public ownership and looks at the unique cooperative properties of blockchain that make the technology ideal for supporting Socialist societies. In summary, this paper argues that blockchain technologies are not just a Libertarian tool, they also enhance Socialist forms of governance. Keywords: Bitcoin; blockchain; cryptocurrency; fiat money; libertarianism; socialism; Marxism; anarchism 1. Introduction Bitcoin (BTC) is referred to as cryptocurrency because it is a form of electronic cash that relies on cryptography. Since its inception in early 2009 [1], it has achieved a degree of prominence, not least in terms of market value; at the time of writing, its total market capitalisation was over US $6 billion [2]. Furthermore, governmental institutions are beginning to examine the blockchain technology underpinning BTC [3] because some of its properties, which we discuss below, may have implications that extend beyond economics and into social, political and humanitarian domains [4]. -
Anarchism and Libertarianism
CHAPTER 10 Anarchism and Libertarianism Roderick T. Long Introduction “Libertarianism,” understood as a term for a specific political ideology, origi- nated as a synonym for anarchism, and more precisely the communist anar- chism of Joseph Déjacque (1821–1864), whose use of “libertaire” in this sense dates to 18571—though individualist anarchists soon picked up the term as well.2 Nowadays, however, the term “libertarianism” is frequently associated, particularly in English-speaking countries, with a movement favoring free mar- kets, private property, and economic laissez-faire, generally resting either on the efficiency of the price system in coordinating individuals’ plans,3 or else on an ethical principle of self-ownership or non-aggression4 which is taken to define individuals’ rights against forcible interference with their persons and (justly acquired) property. This is the sense in which the term “libertarian” will be employed here. (Today French actually has two words corresponding to the English libertarian: “libertaire,” meaning an anarchist, particularly a left-wing anarchist, and “libertarien,” for the free-market advocate.) It is with the relation of libertarianism (in the free-market sense) to anarchism that this chapter is concerned. While sometimes considered a form of conservatism, libertarianism dif- fers from typical versions of conservatism in endorsing a broad range of social liberties, and thus opposing, e.g., drug laws, censorship laws, laws restricting consensual sexual activity, and the like. (Libertarians usually, though not al- ways, differ from typical conservatives in opposing military interventionism 1 Joseph Déjacque, De l’être-humain mâle et femelle: Lettre à P.J. Proudhon (New Orleans: Lamarre, 1857). -
The Meaning of Anarchism Via Twelve Libertarians
The Meaning of Anarchism via twelve libertarians Part 1: The Founding Fathers Iain McKay www.anarchistfaq.org Overview Anarchism is a much misunderstood and much misrepresented theory. Rejecting the chaos of capitalism and statism, it seeks to create the order of libertarian socialism, a free society of free associates. To discover more, please join Iain McKay (author of An Anarchist FAQ) for an exploration of libertarian ideas by means of six male and six female anarchist thinkers and activists. Over two nights, the lives and ideas of the founding fathers and mothers of anarchism – including Michael Bakunin, Peter Kropotkin, Louise Michel and Emma Goldman – will be discussed and their continuing relevance highlighted. Founding Fathers, 1840 to 1940 •Pierre-Joseph Proudhon •Joseph Déjacque •Michael Bakunin •Peter Kropotkin •Errico Malatesta •Rudolf Rocker Sages and Movements • Some trace Anarchism back to the dawn of civilisation • Yes, those subject to hierarchies would conclude need to end them • Anarchism as a named socio-economic theory and movement: • Dates from 1840, with Proudhon’s What is Property? • Product of rise of capitalism, failure of the French Revolution, labour protest growth • Did not appear fully formed but rather developed over time • Part of the wider labour and socialist movements • Mutual influence and interaction • Different schools of thought, but substantial amount in common • Thinkers became influential because they championed – and developed – ideas already raised in the wider movement • “Sages” not always -
An Anarchist FAQ — Section I Contents
An Anarchist FAQ — Section I Contents Section I: What would an anarchist society look like? 4 I.1 Isn’t libertarian socialism an oxymoron? 12 I.1.1 Is socialism impossible? ................................ 17 I.1.2 Is libertarian communism impossible? ........................ 27 I.1.3 What is wrong with markets anyway? ........................ 39 I.1.4 If capitalism is exploitative, then isn't socialism as well? . 45 I.1.5 Does capitalism efficiently allocate resources? .................... 48 I.2 Is this a blueprint for an anarchist society? 62 I.2.1 Why discuss what an anarchist society would be like at all? . 66 I.2.2 Will it be possible to go straight to an anarchist society from capitalism? . 68 I.2.3 How is the framework of an anarchist society created? . 72 I.3 What could the economic structure of anarchy look like? 79 I.3.1 What is a "syndicate"? ................................. 83 I.3.2 What is workers' self-management? ......................... 90 I.3.3 What does socialisation mean? ............................ 96 I.3.4 What relations would exist between individual syndicates? . 102 I.3.5 What would confederations of syndicates do? . 106 I.3.6 What about competition between syndicates? . 113 I.3.7 What about people who do not want to join a syndicate? . 118 I.3.8 Do anarchists seek "small autonomous communities, devoted to small scale produc- tion"? .......................................... 119 I.4 How would an anarchist economy function? 123 I.4.1 What is the point of economic activity in anarchy? . 127 I.4.2 Why do anarchists desire to abolish work? . 129 I.4.3 How do anarchists intend to abolish work? . -
The Direction of Ecological Insurrections: Political Ecology Comes to Daggers with Fukuoka
The direction of ecological insurrections: political ecology comes to daggers with Fukuoka Alexander Dunlap1 University of Oslo, Norway Abstract This article proposes a political ecology of resistance. This is done by putting forward insurrectionary political ecology as a lens of research and struggle, through the confluence of the complementary "political" practice of insurrectionary anarchism and the "ecological" method of "no-till natural farming." While seemingly different, the article argues that these practices are compatible, animating a political ecology of resistance around anti- authoritarian political and ecological lifeways. This direction, or compass, of insurrectionary political ecology is discussed in relation to other autonomous tendencies, as it complements and strengthens existing critical schools of thought heavily influenced by political ecology, such as (decolonial) degrowth, environmental justice and post-development. Insurrectionary political ecology deepens connections with scholarly rebels in political and ecological struggles outside—and rejecting—the university system. The article includes discussions of research ethics, various conceptions of "activism", autonomous tendencies and existing differences between the concepts of "revolution" and "insurrection", in order to debate notions of "counter-hegemony" and "duel- power." The overall purpose here is to offer a theoretical ethos for a political ecology of resistance that invigorates political praxis to subvert the ongoing socio-ecological catastrophes. Keywords: Resistance; insurrectionary political ecology; post-development; decolonization; degrowth; insurrectionary ecology; environmental justice Résumé Cet article propose une écologie politique de la résistance. Cela se fait en proposant «l'écologie politique insurrectionnelle» comme un prisme de recherche et de lutte, à travers la confluence de la pratique politique de l'anarchisme insurrectionnel et de la méthode «écologique» de «l'agriculture naturelle sans labour». -
Anarchism and Animal Liberation
Anarchism and Animal Liberation Anarchism and Animal Liberation Essays on Complementary Elements of Total Liberation Edited by Anthony J. Nocella II, Richard J. White and Erika Cudworth Forewords by David N. Pellow and John C. Alessio McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers Jefferson, North Carolina LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGUING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA Xxxxxx, Xxxxx, 19xx– Xxxxxxxx : xxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx / Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-7864-9457-6 (softcover : acid free paper) ♾ ISBN 978-1-4766-2132-6 (ebook) 1. xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx—xxxx xxxxxxx BRITISH LIBRARY CATALOGUING DATA ARE AVAILABLE © 2015 Anthony J. Nocella II, Richard J. White and Erika Cudworth. All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Cover image: George Tsartsianidis/Thinkstock Printed in the United States of America McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers Box 611, Jefferson, North Carolina 28640 www.mcfarlandpub.com To all those who continue to struggle toward an anarchist society: a society of non- violence, compassion, respect and liberty for all animals, both human and nonhuman. We will always be indebted to those who have sacrificed their own freedom and futures by confronting those forms of oppression, domination and rule that bring immeasurable pain, misery and suffering into the world. Acknowledgments Anthony, Richard and Erika would like to thank everyone who assisted in the production and publish- ing of this book. Special mention must go to David N. -
Changing Anarchism.Pdf
Changing anarchism Changing anarchism Anarchist theory and practice in a global age edited by Jonathan Purkis and James Bowen Manchester University Press Manchester and New York distributed exclusively in the USA by Palgrave Copyright © Manchester University Press 2004 While copyright in the volume as a whole is vested in Manchester University Press, copyright in individual chapters belongs to their respective authors. This electronic version has been made freely available under a Creative Commons (CC-BY-NC- ND) licence, which permits non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction provided the author(s) and Manchester University Press are fully cited and no modifications or adaptations are made. Details of the licence can be viewed at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/ Published by Manchester University Press Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9NR, UK and Room 400, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010, USA www.manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data applied for ISBN 0 7190 6694 8 hardback First published 2004 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Typeset in Sabon with Gill Sans display by Servis Filmsetting Ltd, Manchester Printed in Great Britain by CPI, Bath Dedicated to the memory of John Moore, who died suddenly while this book was in production. His lively, innovative and pioneering contributions to anarchist theory and practice will be greatly missed. -
What Is Anarcho-Primitivism?
What is Anarcho-Primitivism? Anonymous 2005 Contents I. Introduction ........................................ 3 II. Aims ............................................ 3 III. Influences and Precedents ................................ 4 IV. Synthesis ......................................... 8 V. Prospects .......................................... 10 Works Cited ......................................... 11 2 I. Introduction Anarcho-primitivists comprise a subculture and political movement that, generally, advocates hunting and gathering as the ideal human subsistence method (from the point of view of sus- tainable resource use) and the band as the ideal human social structure (for its features of egali- tarianism). While the goal may seem improbable, a primitivist would contend that more modest goals are either undesirable or unachievable within the system. The past 10,000 years have after all been largely a history of “solutions” to the problems of an agricultural society. This critique of “civilization” inherently rejects less radical ideals and claims to go uniquely to the heart of all social discontent. It is multi-faceted, drawing on several traditions of thought. These include the nineteenth century social speculators, anthropology of hunter-gatherers, situationism, anar- chism, radical (deep) ecology, and anti-technological philosophy. The potential problem of im- plementation is largely solved by a growing consensus that an end to “economic growth” is fast approaching, making revolutionary change inevitable. The direction of that change is the focus of anarcho-primitivist interest. Anarcho-primitivism is subtly influencing society in several ways. The Unabomber’s “mani- festo” enunciated many of the central tenets of anarcho-primitivism (e.g. rejection of liberalism and industrialism). Primitivists were among the protesters participating in window-smashing, spray-painting, and other vandalism at the Seattle WTO protests in December 1999. -
An Anarchist FAQ — Section G Contents
An Anarchist FAQ — Section G Contents Section G: Is individualist anarchism capitalistic? 3 G.1 Are individualist anarchists anti-capitalist? 10 G.1.1 What about their support of the free market? .................... 18 G.1.2 What about their support of "private property"? . 25 G.1.3 What about their support for wage labour? ..................... 30 G.1.4 Why is the social context important in evaluating individualist anarchism? . 39 G.2 Why do individualist anarchists reject social anarchism? 45 G.2.1 Is communist-anarchism compulsory? ........................ 46 G.2.2 Is communist-anarchism violent? .......................... 51 G.2.3 Does communist-anarchism aim to destroy individuality? . 55 G.2.4 What other reasons do individualists give for rejecting communist-anarchism? . 58 G.2.5 Do most anarchists agree with the individualists on communist-anarchism? . 62 G.3 Is ”anarcho”-capitalism a new form of individualist anarchism? 64 G.3.1 Is "anarcho"-capitalism American anarchism? ................... 69 G.3.2 What are the differences between "anarcho"-capitalism and individualist anar- chism? ......................................... 74 G.3.3 What about "anarcho"-capitalists' support of "defence associations"? . 81 G.3.4 Why is individualist anarchist support for equality important? . 86 G.3.5 Would individualist anarchists have accepted "Austrian" economics? . 88 G.3.6 Would mutual banking simply cause inflation? ................... 91 G.4 Why do social anarchists reject individualist anarchism? 99 G.4.1 Is wage labour consistent with anarchist principles? . 114 G.4.2 Why do social anarchists think individualism is inconsistent anarchism? . 122 G.5 Benjamin Tucker: capitalist or anarchist? 129 G.6 What are the ideas of Max Stirner? 137 G.7 Lysander Spooner: right-”libertarian” or libertarian socialist? 146 2 Section G: Is individualist anarchism capitalistic? The short answer is, no, it is not. -
International Medical Corps Afghanistan
Heading Folder Afghanistan Afghanistan - Afghan Information Centre Afghanistan - International Medical Corps Afghanistan - Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) Agorist Institute Albee, Edward Alianza Federal de Pueblos Libres American Economic Association American Economic Society American Fund for Public Service, Inc. American Independent Party American Party (1897) American Political Science Association (APSA) American Social History Project American Spectator American Writer's Congress, New York City, October 9-12, 1981 Americans for Democratic Action Americans for Democratic Action - Students for Democractic Action Anarchism Anarchism - A Distribution Anarchism - Abad De Santillan, Diego Anarchism - Abbey, Edward Anarchism - Abolafia, Louis Anarchism - ABRUPT Anarchism - Acharya, M. P. T. Anarchism - ACRATA Anarchism - Action Resource Guide (ARG) Anarchism - Addresses Anarchism - Affinity Group of Evolutionary Anarchists Anarchism - Africa Anarchism - Aftershock Alliance Anarchism - Against Sleep and Nightmare Anarchism - Agitazione, Ancona, Italy Anarchism - AK Press Anarchism - Albertini, Henry (Enrico) Anarchism - Aldred, Guy Anarchism - Alliance for Anarchist Determination, The (TAFAD) Anarchism - Alliance Ouvriere Anarchiste Anarchism - Altgeld Centenary Committee of Illinois Anarchism - Altgeld, John P. Anarchism - Amateur Press Association Anarchism - American Anarchist Federated Commune Soviets Anarchism - American Federation of Anarchists Anarchism - American Freethought Tract Society Anarchism - Anarchist