Anarchy is a political philosophy that advocates for a society without hierarchical government or authority, emphasizing voluntary cooperation and self-governance. It often critiques existing political systems for being coercive and seeks to create a decentralized society where individuals or communities manage their own affairs. Anarchists believe that people can organize themselves and coexist peacefully without the need for formal institutions of power. The concept can encompass various ideologies, including anarcho-communism, anarcho-syndicalism, and individualist anarchism.