This is an extract from a blog post I wrote for dilostofong.wordpress.com, a blog popular among activists in institutions of higher learning. Following numerous requests from one of the administrators of the blog (dilostofong.wordpress.com) I finally succumbed and shared with them what I perceive to be an important lesson on anarchism. The topic was easy to select since the blog is most frequented by members of the EFF Students Command, no one needs the lesson more than them and most certainly the leaders in their parent organisation.
To “Anarchy”- the term that is often used in contemporary politics to imply a state of chaos, violence, and juvenile delinquent behavior. While “Anarchy” is most frequently misused and misapprehended in political jargon, “Anarchism” is further bastardised philosophically as a theory and practice that emerged in documented political history. This is unfortunate and shall prove to be fatal as modern society reaches the pinnacle of its advancement. To accurately put the focus of this text into context, it is necessary to outline the most recent developments in our society, specifically in respect to government.
Since early 2020, societies throughout the world have been inundated with drastic political, economic and social changes. The changes are notably moving the world towards a globalised system characterised by People being increasingly dependent on Governments, increased technological tracking, monitoring and surveillance of People, as well as increasingly tyrannical and draconian governance. In other words, there exists conditions, across the world, that enable the principle and fact of government to continue, despite undeniable evidence of the systematic failure of governments throughout modern history.
The principle and fact of government gave rise to mental and physical enslavement of People, however this only prevails because People allow themselves to be governed. It is pathetic! Principles that are beneficial to humanity have been replaced by laws that require enforcement by violence. Since its inception, the State has only protected the privilege of the ruling elites at the expense of the People’s freedom. Whether under the guise of a representative democracy, socialism, communism, or any other form of system where the affairs of the society are managed by a minority, it has been proven that the State can never bring about social justice and freedom. Clearly the State must be abolished.
This is the context within which Anarchism finds its significance as a theory and practice that deserves the attention of all freedom-loving individuals and organisations. Anarchism is the movement for social justice through freedom. It is concrete, democratic and egalitarian. Anarchism aims to establish an ideal state of society, in which all privileges are abolished, and in which each individual is expected to exert themselves for their own welfare and that of the community. It is a direct challenge by the underprivileged majority to their oppression and exploitation. It opposes both the insidious growth of state power and the pernicious ethos of possessive individualism, which, together or separately, ultimately serve only the interests of the few at the expense of the rest; the interest of the elite rulers at the expense of the People.
Anarchism is both a theory and practice of life. Philosophically, it aims for perfect accord between the individual, society and nature. In an anarchist society, mutually respectful sovereign individuals would be organised in non-coercive relationships within naturally defined communities in which the means of production and distribution are held in common. The most essential transformation, then, which society will have to undergo before the ideal state is attained, is the abolishment of property (private ownership), society recognising the right of such property as one requires for their own use. In short, monopoly must cease.
Property is the greatest source of evil, strife and corruption. All governments protect individuals and corporations in the unlimited accumulation of property at the expense of the mass of workers, thus fostering greed, and arousing ambitions which lead to wars for personal and national aggrandizement, regardless of the misery it entails upon the People. Recognising the evil of unrestrained accumulation and monopolisation of wealth, Anarchism repudiates property in land and natural resources, as well as ownership of the means of production, i. e. Beyond necessary for the needs and comforts of the individual. A person can occupy only one house, can sleep only in one bed, etc., hence in a free society, there is no incentive to accumulate things and withhold them from others.
An alternative way of thinking is the means through which this ideal state is to be attained. Once property and its support structure—government— are abolished, the temptation for wrongdoing, such as stealing, exploiting each other, etc., will cease and the necessity for government terminates. It is obvious that such a society shall not be inaugurated under the present state of affairs. People need to be conscious of the fact that government creates disorder, and that only self-rule is the remedy. Anarchy is a synonym for self-government, liberty, freedom, independence, non-interference, autonomy… Anarchism promotes mutual aid, harmony and human solidarity, to achieve a free society devoid of domination and exploitation.
This means challenging all exploitation and defying the legitimacy of all coercive authority. Once the habit of following politicians (leaders) is lost, and that of resistance to domination and exploitation acquired, then ordinary People have a capacity to organise every aspect of their lives in their own interests, anywhere and at any time, both freely and fairly. With regard to the first necessities of life- food, clothes, shelter, and education- free collectivism shall be carried out thoroughly. All secondary matters would be left to a mutual agreement in the most varied ways. There would remain- in such a society- full freedom for the individual, as long as they do not develop any
monopolistic tendencies.
Only personal and direct control over our lives will ensure that justice and freedom prevail. To grant political sovereignty to a minority group, whether under the mantle of democracy, communism, or whatever, is to give them control and therefore domination over our lives. No one can do anything for anyone, People need to co‐operate to bring about a society in which freedom and well‐being is possible for all. Amid the political, economic and social changes unfolding throughout the world, People must internalise the fact that: Anarchy is Always Necessary!