left anarchism

This article or section is missing citations or needs footnotes. Using inline citations helps guard against copyright violations and factual inaccuracies.

Left anarchism is a term used almost exclusively by opponents of classical anarchism to denominate philosophies that oppose capitalism (private ownership of the means of production). This term thus encompasses libertarian socialism, anarcho-communism, and anarcho-syndicalism. In the post-leftist schema the polemical element is "left anarchism's" adherence to a political plane of action. In the pro-market schema the polemical element is "left anarchism's" anti-market views.

As a polemical term, the subject of its polemic is more properly examined under Libertarian socialism, this page primarily deals with what some people believe to be "left anarchism."

Use in Post-left anarchist polemics

Post-left anarchists, who also oppose capitalism, use the term "left anarchism" to label mainstream anarchism. In the conception of post-left anarchists the phrase "left anarchy" is an insult. This can be broken down into two post-leftist trends. The first is a libertarian socialist tendency which claims that "leftism" in general is a bourgeois and liberalist phenomena, pointing to the Social Democratic movement as an example. This tendency affirms that it is for communism and the working class; but rapidly proceeds to dismantle these terms due to their political limitations. The second post-leftist tendency is a more lifestylist one, which sees "leftism" as part of a denigrated political domain. This second tendency generally favours personal and immediate activity, on the scale of lifestylism.

Use in pro-market polemics

The neutrality of this section is disputed. Please see the discussion on the talk page.

Anarcho-capitalists concentrate their polemic against anti-capitalist anarchists along traditional lines of pro-liberal and anti-socialist polemics. To this extent the controversy over pro- or anti- capitalist anarchism can be seen as part of the larger debate surrounding criticisms of socialism. Anarcho-capitalism is regarded as right anarchism in this scheme. However, the term "right anarchism" is highly contested and the majority of anarchists feel that term in and of itself is troublesome. At least in part because right-wing politics and economics traditionally show support for hierarchy and established powers.

Responses by anti-market anarchists

The factual accuracy and usefulness of the phrase "left anarchism" is challenged by many anarchists, who consider anarchist ideas to be exclusively opposed to capitalist relations, and point out that all historical anarchist upheavals and movements have been distinctly anti-capitalist. They argue that the recent groups referring to themselves as "right anarchists" are so small and unaccepted among anarchists, that making such a distinction can serve only to amplify a false sense of importance and activity that is almost non-existent outside of academic circles. The very act of defining a "left" and "right" within the movement is thus considered by many mainstream anarchists as politically motivated: it legitimises the existence of a right wing emboding pro-market views. For that matter, many anarcho-capitalists and other pro-market libertarians reject the label of "right" for themselves, feeling that their viewpoint transcends the traditional left-right political spectrum.

The term is not used by most communist or syndicalist anarchists. One exception is Ulrike Heider, who claims to be syndicalist. In Anarchism: Left, Right and Green Heider produces three categories of anarchism: left anarchism, right anarchism (anarcho-capitalism), and green anarchism. Heider's work has been strongly criticised by some academics for the allegedly poor quality of its research and presentation. Heider has also been attacked by the left and the right for the political content of her work.

See also

• Anarchism
• Post-left anarchism
• Socialism

External links

• Defining anarchism from the anarchist faq, written by mainstream anarchists
• Anarchist Theory FAQ, an anarcho-capitalist argues that a broad division in anarchism exists between "left-anarchism" and anarcho-capitalism
• Anarchism: Two Kinds by Wendy McElroy, an anarcho-capitalist
• Collectivist-Anarchism and Communist-Anarchism from The Conquest of Power, by Albert Weisbord [1].
• Canning Reactionary Leftism a criticism of left-anarchism by Keith Preston
• The Incredible Lameness of Left Anarchism by Jason McQuinn A critique from a post-left anarchist persepective.
• Learning the Hard Way: My Life as an Anarcho-Leftoid by Keith Preston

References

Heider, Ulrike. Anarchism: Left, Right and Green San Francisco: City Lights Books, 1994.

Donate to Wikimedia