Difference between revisions of "Panarchism"

Latest revision as of 21:29, 5 September 2010

Panarchism is a political philosophy advocating the peaceful co-existence of all political systems, where each individual may voluntarily adhere to the system of their choice, free to join and leave the jurisdiction of the governments he sees fit. International law would be used to settle possible conflicts between individuals having chosen different systems of government.

The word panarchy was invented and the concept proposed by a Belgian political scientist, Paul Émile de Puydt in 1860. He argued for panarchy as a replacement for "wasteful revolutions".

In modern times, some have argued that panarchism is an alternative way of presenting the same system as the one advocated by forms of anarchism.

The most common criticism of panarchism is that the concept is self-contradictory, because certain political systems reject peaceful co-existence. This criticism can be answered by placing a single restriction on the political systems who can participate in panarchy: that they must accept the basic principle of panarchy itself.

A world or region with a large number of micronations could provide the best embodiment of panarchy. Starting a nation has traditionally been very difficult because all land is claimed by existing nations, but seasteading may lower the barrier of entry for would-be founders of new micronations. Seasteading would also make immigration cheaper and easier (seasteads being analogous to mobile homes).

Panarchy is also a society at Dartmouth College.[1]

See also[edit]

• Anarchism
• FOCJ

External links[edit]

• Panarchy.org -- original usage
• Panarchy.com -- modern usage, writings and discussion
• Panarchism.info -- the full philosophy (oldest site, "The Exterritorial Imperative")
• Some Notes For A Talk On Panarchism to Anarchists by John Zube