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what anarchism is not
Does the Anarchist Cookbook really have anything to do with anarchism? Is there such a thing as anarcho-capitalism? Fortunately for anarchists, there is no central committee or theory coordinator to decide what the correct anarchist line is on any given topic. Anarchism is very much defined and given form by its supporters. But there comes a time when the concept must be defended against those who would lie about it, misrepresent it, profit from it, or just plain not understand it. That is the purpose of this page. The anarchist movement is a big tent with a great many sideshows, but there are just some folks who are not circus performers.
Contents
National Anarchists and Third Positionists
Be aware that there are efforts underway to fuse nationalist, white supremacist, and neo-nazi ideology with anarchism. While anarchists are fundamentally against fascism, nationalism, racism, and white supremacy, we can't control those who associate anarchism with these ideologies. The following websites represent attempts by neo-nazis to pass themselves and their ideas off as compatible with anarchism:
- American Revolutionary Vanguard
- National-anarchist
- Overthrow.com - The crazy anti-semitic guy who runs this website claims to have been an anarchist at one time. This is false, like most of the made-up news and "information" on his website.
- Terra Firma
Destructive "anarchism"
While many schools of anarchist thought promote the destruction of oppressive institutions, many people and organizations take part in violent and destructive activities without political or ethical motives. Unfortunately for the movement, many of these people claim to be anarchists. Anarchism is more about creating alternative instutions, communities, and lifestyles rather than blindly destroying those already in place.
The Anarchist Cookbook
The Anarchist Cookbook is an example of this kind of anger-motivated destruction. Here are some links to articles about what the anarchist community has to say about the Cookbook:
- An FAQ on the cookbook written by an America Online user
- Spunk Press' page on the Anarchist Cookbook
- Chuck's thoughts on the original cookbook
Those who believe violent destruction and anarchy are synonymous
Links to sites that promote this kind of "anarchy":
- Anarchist CookBook
- Anarchy N' Explosives
- ANARCHY 'N' EXPLOSIVES - VOLUME 2
- Anarchy Web-Guide
- SeekR's Anarchy Book
Anarchy and Social Attitudes
Often Anarchy is misappropriated as merely a label by various individuals, who are usually fairly young, believing that they are somehow cool for being an anarchist. They believe it lends them an aura of coolness, stemming from the danger or radical connotations the term carries.
See also: Anarchism is Not Cool
Black hat hacking
Breaking into computers, collecting private information, and destroying data are actions that some people claim to do in the name of anarchism. These actions do not necessarily represent the ideals of those of us in the anarchist movement and generally do more harm than good. There is, however, a small minority of crackers that use their knowledge of computer security to break into computers and carry out actions against corporations and governments that engage in objectionable practices. These people are refered to as "grey hat hackers." However, most "hackers" (who are refered to as "black hat hackers") do not have ethical or political motives. Some of these black hat hackers claim to be anarchists, while they usually are not.
Commerical Sites
- Anarchy Entertainment - These guys have been online for some time. They design games and use their hip "anarchist" theme to sell them.
- Anarchy-Online.com - A site mostly for hackers. Not as bad as most fake anarchy sites, but still very misleading nonetheless. They should rename themselves "coolhackers.com" or something like that.
Big "L" Libertarians
The word "libertarian" caries two meanings, which are often separated by the geographical regions of North America and Europe. In Europe the term libertarian (little "l") usually denotes one who is of an Anarchist persuasion, whereas in North America the term generally refers to a member of the Libertarian party or minarchists(Big "L" libertarians). Though this movement values liberty and freedom, they advocate the minarchist idea of "the smallest possible state" as the ideal state, claiming their view is far more realistic. Most Anarchists (including Anarcho-Capitalists and free-market Anarchists) dismiss this notion on the grounds that the smallest possible state means no state, effectively making Big "L" libertarians 'cowardly' Anarchists.
Libertarian Websites for further reading.
Things anarchists usually do not consider to be anarchism
Anarcho-capitalism
Most anarcho-socialists who have heard this term think it is an oxymoron. The anarcho-socialist and classical anarchist movement has a tradition dating back over a hundred years of opposition to capitalism.
Anarcho-capitalists want the State to be dissolved, but they do not oppose individuals retaining the products of their own labor as property. The usual critique is that unequal distribution of capitals means unequal distribution of power and freedom (hierarchy), a condition incompatible with Anarchy.
Criticism of "anarcho-capitalism"
- Between Anarchism and Libertarianism: Defining a New Movement by Jeff Draughn
- Libertarianism: Bogus Anarchy - by Peter Sabatini
- The New Right and Anarcho-capitalism, by Peter Marshall
- Anarchism and Capitalism, by Andrew Flood
- Anarchism and "Anarcho"-capitalism
- Replies to Some Errors and Distortions in Bryan Caplan's "Anarchist Theory FAQ" version 5.2
"Anarcho-capitalist" websites
External links
- Fake Anarchists and Libertarians - The Infoshop.org page that inspired this page
- Anarcho-Hucksters - A page similar to this one
