What is anarchy in government? Learn the anarchy definition. Read about the anarchy meaning, anarchy examples in history, and different types of anarchy.
Updated: 11/21/2023
Anarchy | Definition, Types & Examples
Table of Contents
- What is Anarchy?
- Anarchy: Philosophy
- Different Types of Anarchy
- Anarchy: Examples in History
- Anarchism and Society
- Lesson Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
What is anarchy in simple words?
Anarchy is the absence of a governing body or form of authority in a society. The nation is run by a voluntary communal that decides what is in the best interest of the community independently.
What is an anarchy country?
While there are no anarchy countries that exist today, territories that are on the brink of anarchy become known as "failed states", having a failed government that is unable to control the ruling of their land.
Is anarchy left or right?
Anarchy can be both leftwing and rightwing, though it most often seen as a leftwing movement. Anarcho-Communism is an example of leftwing anarchy because it favors the group over the individual. Anarcho-Capitalism is considered rightwing because each person should be able to live their own lives while contributing to the group as a whole.
Table of Contents
- What is Anarchy?
- Anarchy: Philosophy
- Different Types of Anarchy
- Anarchy: Examples in History
- Anarchism and Society
- Lesson Summary
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Anarchy can be defined as a situation where there is no governing body or authority in charge. This can either be caused by a lack of power, lack of organization, or both. It is most typically found in society where a previous government has been overly restrictive, thus switching to the polar opposite of an authoritarian dictatorship. Anarchism is opposed to centralized rule or power and is not in favor of a hierarchy.
In terms of politics, anarchy is an alternative to other kinds of government such as democracies, oligarchies, or monarchies, which all have rule by some form of power. Anarchist political philosophies are quite varied and diverse in theory and many have been seen throughout history. Because of this diversity, there can be many different types of anarchy.
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The philosophy of anarchy has been in development for centuries, adapted to each society that has put the idea to practice and manipulated it to fit their needs. Anarchists are of the mindset that organization brings about violence, unhappiness, and oppression; they believe peace can be achieved by eliminating the position of power and leadership from their society. Anarchy, therefore, can be most closely aligned to a bottom-up approach to governance. This strictly contrasts with top-down approaches because, in an anarchy, there really is no top.
Democracies such as the United States and constitutional monarchies such as Great Britain have a central leader, which make them top-down societies, whereas anarchies have no centralized power or form of hierarchy in place. Much of the decision making within anarchies is consensus-based. Although anarchy is often likened to communism because of its sense of community-based choice, such comparisons aren't entirely accurate. Anarchy holds to the belief that a united people with no leader will prevail under any circumstance, whereas communism tends to rely on a leader.
How Does Anarchy Work?
Anarchy usually means the disassembling of a power in order to achieve a leaderless society. The aim is to become a community-based, decision-making body with no central authority. Historically, gaining power in an anarchism works as follows:
- A strong desire fueled by feelings of oppression and unrest by many members of a community sparks a protest against a centralized government.
- The movement gains traction as existing members sway outsiders, normally by means of propaganda.
- A revolt takes place to retaliate against the established governing body.
- If the existing government fails to stay in power, the anarchy assumes control and authority is dismissed. Society becomes decentralized and is not lead by any one specific person.
- Voluntary communal bodies are established to act as a form of government. Many people decide how the nation will move forward, rather than just one person or political party.
Philosophical Origins
The exact origins of the philosophy of anarchism are not known, though writings of the philosopher Socrates suggest that anarchism was an idea at the time, around 400 B.C. The philosopher openly defied Greek rule in some of his literature, an action that may have contributed to his later imprisonment and death. Also, in Taoist China, Lao Tzu wrote literature to encourage members of the religion to live an anarchist lifestyle. The theory of anarchism was not nearly as fleshed out in Ancient Greece and China as it is in the present, but those old theories have influenced how the topic is viewed today.
In more modern times, the French Revolution is where anarchism stepped into the spotlight. Citizens protested in the streets and stormed the Bastille, laying waste to the city of Paris and overthrowing the government. In the 1800s, French author Pierre-Joseph Proudhon was the first to call himself an anarchist by modern understanding, fueling the movement in that time period.
More recently, anarchism was seen in Russia during World War I, when anarchists attempted and failed to overthrow the Soviet government. They were later executed by order of Vladimir Lenin, who assumed control of the nation. A later establishment of anarchy can be seen during the Spanish Civil War from 1936-1939, where anarchists split from the motherland and created their nation of Catalonia, which has since been reincorporated into Spain. In all of these instances, a strong desire to not be commanded by a central power has been notable, which is and has been the main theme of anarchism since its earliest origins.
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Anarchy may have a central idea, but it divides into different branches like most other forms of government. Anarchism is a blanket term for many types of anarchy, which contain both leftwing or rightwing practices. Anarchy incorporates both religious and political ideals, which factor into how types of anarchy are created and how strictly each branch adheres to a main theme. Capitalism, communism, and socialism all provide different foundations for anarchist movements.
State-Collapse
State collapse is the first step in a successful overthrowing of a government by anarchists. During a state collapse, the nation is not destroyed, but the form of government that was previously in power no longer maintains control over the nation. Therefore, anarchists are able to assume control and establish their voluntary governing communities to rule. Governments in power most often fall to state collapse because they no longer direct attention towards the critical needs of the country and avoid solving problems that are necessary for the nation to survive. Popular examples of state collapse can be found across Africa, such as Liberia and Yemen.
Anarcho-Communism
Anarcho-communism is a leftwing branch of anarchism that places emphasis on eliminating social classes and the redistribution of wealth. Such anarchists are the opposite of anarcho-capitalists because they reject capitalism. Each person in society should have a share of production and act as part of a union to generate revenue. This means that everyone is allowed an equal opportunity in the society on a voluntary basis. The Spanish Revolution provided one example of anarcho-communism with the establishment of Catalonia.
Anarcho-Capitalism
The opposite of anarcho-communism, anarcho-capitalism encourages free trade on the market to promote a free society. In this kind of society, individuals working in private corporations are believed to be able to provide for themselves. This is one of the few rightwing variants of anarchism, as rightwing anarchists do not acknowledge that the community is able to maintain a stable life for everyone. The Old West of America in the early 1800s could be considered a anarcho-capitalist society; although it was governed by the democracy established by the United States, laws were interpreted more loosely and life was an individual effort built upon mutual agreements.
Anarcho-Socialism
Anarcho-socialism is a branch of anarchism that can be interpreted as the culmination of the previous two branches. This branch believes that the group will succeed if they work together, but acknowledge that having individual rights and liberties will only make the group stronger and more successful at their objective. This is perhaps the least popular branch amongst anarchists because they tend to associate more closely with one of the other branches.
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There are many examples of anarchy making itself present throughout history, dating as far back as the beginning of the fifth century B.C. through the writings of Socrates. The root concept of anarchy has remained relatively similar over the years to its original form, with slight changes and additional forms of the type of government coming into existence.
English Civil War
The English Civil War, also known by the British as The Anarchy, was a 19-year period from 1135-1154 where constant shifts in power between fighting members of a related family left the kingdom unruly and disordered from a lack of decision making. Stephen of England rose to power in 1135 as king of London when the citizens elected him king, as they believed it to be their right to elect officials. He moved on to secure more power, and in 1138 ruled England as a whole.
Stephen's cousin Matilda, who had previously held the throne after being appointed by her father, fought with her half-brother Robert to regain power. Robert was captured by enemy forces, and Stephen ended up returning to power. The lack of safety and security in this era was ended by Henry II assuming the throne in 1153. Evidently, this period of anarchy was not heavily fought for by a military or by citizens. It is an example of an older ideology before the development of modern anarchism.
Revolutionary Era France
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The French Revolution is the earliest example of modern Anarchism. The citizens of France felt that they had been oppressed under the rule of King Louis XVI, and demanded equality that was not found by them under the current monarchy system of governance. Anarchists commonly gathered in the streets to riot against authority, while those in power struggled to contain the crowds.
On July 14, 1789, a large crowd of citizens stormed and took control of the Bastille, which was being used as a prison. The dismantlement of the Bastille and later storming of the Palace of Versailles by ordinary citizens to take control of the country was successful in dissolving the monarchy and establishing a committee of public safety to govern the country. The success was short lived, however, when the Reign of Terror began and the execution of thousands of people ensued over the course of the next few years. Anarchy in this instance was brought about by a popular uprising, unlike the English Civil War where anarchy was the result of a succession crisis among power-hungry rulers. With the French Revolution, the goal was to disassemble the reigning power and create a nation not ruled by any sole authority.
Somalia in the 20th Century
The Somali Rebellion that took place in the late 1980s and early 1990s was a time of major power shifts within Somalia. The government in the 1980s, lead by Siad Barre, made poor decisions that lead to much unrest and upset among citizens. In 1986, Barre was injured in an automobile accident, and from then was more heavily opposed by rivals in the country. In 1991, he fled the capital and the government fell to anarchy. The nation remained ungoverned until the establishment of a new government in 2006. It became considered as a stateless society and was very fragmented, with many factions each running a different section of the country independently through community-based forums. It is one of the most recent examples of anarchy, and is sometimes viewed as being more stable than during the time of the previous government. Some stability remains in place today, despite the formation of a central government that has been recognized by other nations.
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Anarchy is not only used for overthrowing powers and establishing new governing bodies. In fact, there are a few examples of anarchism acting as a mere influence for the attainment of rights while keeping the existing power in place. Anarchy has influenced movements such as Free Love and educational theory.
Free Love Movement
The Free Love Movement originated in the mid-1800s and is closely tied to feminism and gay rights movements. Anarchists are said to have aligned with supporters of this movement because it allowed people to express individualism and break away from conforming to a government's ruling on sexuality. Various political trends caused the movement to see different supporters come and go, but anarchism was commonly tied into the movement throughout its existence.
The attainment of free rights, first for women, and later for the LGBTQ+ community, remained a struggle for most of the 20th century and into the 21st century, and only recently have members of these groups achieved more of their goals. An important point to note here is that anarchism was not used as a weapon but as a means of support and influence for people to express themselves, leading to the eventual passage of rights for such groups.
Anarchism and Educational Theory
Anarchism has even slightly touched the field of education as a new theoretical idea to develop new methods of teaching. Modern education is highly structured to the point where children are being prepared for examinations at much younger ages than ever before, which anarchists believe may be damaging. Some anarchists believe that putting more focus on the individual child in a less structured group setting may be beneficial, as individual students could learn at their own pace and be able to develop their minds more fully. Education has been inconsistent over the past few decades, with many new programs in place that are not accessible or do not fit the needs of everyone. Anarchism advocates that being able to reach every student on a personal and collective level would be the best way to educate them and create a united society.
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This lesson has delved into the definition of anarchy and examples of anarchy in history. Among the most important information in this article are the following points:
- Anarchy means that there is no central ruler or governing body. It is an alternative to other forms of government.
- Anarchists believe in a society where there is no authority and support that form of government because they previously may have felt oppressed, or unhappy with the government.
- Socrates and Lao Tzu were some of the earliest advocates for the beginning ideals of anarchy, and Pierre-Joseph Proudhon was the first to speak out about the modern idea of the movement.
- There are many kinds of Anarchy, including State Collapse, Anarcho-Communism, Anarcho-Capitalism, and Anarcho-Socialism.
- Anarchy has been present throughout history, such as during the English Civil War, French Revolution, and Somali Rebellion.
- Anarchists have also been involved in influencing movements such as the Free Love Movement and in educational theory.
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Video Transcript
Definition of Anarchy
As an American citizen, I have to respect the mayor and his council at the city level, as well as the police that enforce the laws. I also have to obey the state government's laws and police, and any national laws, treaties, and the FBI.
Anarchy is nothing like that. The word anarchy comes from the Greeks who combined 'an,' meaning not or without, and 'arkhos,' meaning ruler or leader. For them, anarchy was when no one had any authority over anyone else. There would be no laws, no police, nothing.
Philosophers and Anarchy
Starting in the 17th century, anarchy started to get the attention of philosophers. They talked about anarchy, what it was and what it meant. Thomas Hobbes thought of it as man's natural state, where every man had a right to everything he could take, including another person's life or body. In other words, total chaos. His idea is still a popular perception of anarchy to this day.
Immanuel Kant, another popular philosopher, believed that people living in an anarchist society could have laws, just with no one to enforce them. For him, it was possible to have people living together without total chaos all the time.
Types of Anarchy
In the last few centuries, several different groups have come together to form a local anarchic government. Some, like Freetown (1971-Present), Whiteway Colony (1898-Present), Trumbullplex (1993-Present), Life and Labor Commune (1921-1937), and Utopia, Ohio (1847-1875) and its imitators, were social experiments. In each case, a small local settlement was created with no leadership. Utopia, for instance, used labor slips in place of money. Freetown is part of Copenhagen that was settled by the homeless. Whiteway Colony and the Life and Labor Commune were settled by people following Leo Tolstoy's philosophies about government.
Others - like the Ukraine between 1918 and 1921; Catalonia, Spain between 1936 and 1939; and the Shinmin region of Korea between 1929 and 1939 - were entire areas that were only anarchies because the national governments they'd been a part of had been swept aside and they hadn't been a part of the new government because they were a different culture or lived in an isolated region.
Examples of Anarchy in History
Really, when any country or kingdom has collapsed because of a revolution or any empire has been conquered but all of its provinces haven't been invaded yet, those areas have experienced anarchy. Albania's government collapsed in 1997 and brought the country into a temporary state of anarchy. Germany nearly fell into anarchy because of its World War I debts before the Nazi party came to power in 1932.
When the Roman Empire fell in 476 C.E., many of its provinces were raided and the leadership was either killed or disappeared leaving entire areas without leaders. After Alexander the Great defeated Darius III of the Persian Empire in 330 B.C.E, many of his eastern provinces were anarchies until Alexander came through to organize a government. He finally conquered all of the Persian Empire in 323 B.C.E., leaving some regions as anarchic governments for up to seven years. More recently, the French Revolution, which occurred from 1789 to 1799, led to the deaths of the royal family and hundreds of aristocrats, creating a hole in the country's leadership that led to long periods of anarchy over the next thirty years.
Lesson Summary
The definition of anarchy is simple, no leaders, but the practical application has been much more difficult of the centuries. Anarchy is a word that comes from the Greeks who combined 'an,' meaning not or without, and 'arkhos,' meaning ruler or leader. For them, anarchy was when no one had any authority over anyone else. It was defined by Thomas Hobbes as man's natural state, where every man had a right to everything he could take, including another person's life or body. While Immanuel Kant believed that people living in an anarchist society could have laws, just with no one to enforce them. Anarchy might work on a small scale, such as places like Utopia, Ohio or Freetown, but regions and countries can't survive long without leadership. Throughout history, only revolution and conquest have created anarchy, and anarchies have only existed until a stable government has been established.
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