What would an Anarchist society look like?
Talking about anarchism, this is the question I have been asked the most. There is
no single answer, but rather a myriad of varieties. Most answers feature such key
concepts as mutual aid and voluntary association. The ultimate aim is freedom and
equality and a society without compulsory work where voluntary cooperation dominates
both the political sphere and the market.
Also notice that after an anarchist revolution, there would be no
country in
the common sense, but a geographical area (and, eventually, if the revolution spreads,
that geographical area would be the World) in which several smaller communities
would establish themselves. A good model of an anarchist society would be the
primitive bushmen of Southern Africa.
How will decision be made in an anarchist society?
Groups will make decision by consensus because majority rule will leave up to
half the population unhappy. A system of direct democracy, in opposition to
representative democracy, would be established so that every citizen could and
would present his views. Remember, once again, that anarchist societies are
simply small groups.
How will public health issues be settled?
The public health issues would be settled, like everything else, by those who
are involved. Healthcare personnel would be a part of the community and work for
the benefit of everybody, rather than personal success.
Nobody can be perfect, therefore we need laws
By anarchist ideology the legal system has no right of existence because, as a
part of the state, it limits the freedom of its subjects.
What, then, would you do with a criminal or the person who will not work?
As mentioned, an anarchist society would be based on the principles of mutual
aid and voluntary association. Since association is voluntary it will be dependent
on social capital, which the criminal or free rider will not have. Eventually, that
person will be unable to function within his or her group and quite soon isolated.
The idea of crime is quite problematic as well because it requires a definition
and a defining authority.
Who will do the dirty work?
Everybody will. In an anarchist society there would be no such thing as dirty
work as there are no social stratas and no work-related prestigue. After the
revolution, emptying garbage bins will be as honourable and rewarding as being a
doctor. Further, the deregulation of cooperation will reduce the level of
specialization in our modern society and a lot of the 'dirty work' will be left
for each individual.
What if an anarchist state was invaded by a foreign enemy?
Anarchist state is an oxymoron: establishing anarchism means abolishing the state.
In the case of an anarchist revolution, the foreign threat to an anarchist estalbishment
is, indeed, both great and inexistent: minor units, such as those established by the Diggers
and in Patagonia, may easily be crushed by outside intervention, while larger units (in
terms of population and geographic extent), the situation in the Kashmir region can serve
as an illustrative example, are less easily destoryed by foreign intervention: when the
deficit of legitimate and recognized power is spread over a large area and population,
foreign interventuion becoems impressively hard.
If two people wanted the same piece of land, how would you settle it?
There is no system of property where more than one person can be given the exclusive
right to one thing. In a capitalist society the person with the most money would be
granted property rights and in an ideal planned economy the person with the greater
need for the land would be granted property rights. In an anarchist society the
contestants would have to solve the problem among themselves through negotiations
and possibly the help of other volunteers: inherent in the anarchist ideology is
the belief that most people by nature are reasonable and sensible.
