Collectivist Anarchism :: Papers

Collectivist Anarchism The philosophical roots of Collectivist Anarchism lie in socialism rather than liberalism. Collectivists believe that human beings are social animals better suited to working together for the common good, than for individual interests. When people are linked together by a common humanity they have no need to be controlled or regulated by a government. As Michael Bakunin proclaimed, 'social solidarity is the first human law, freedom is the second law'. Collectivist anarchists are sometimes criticised for holding a naÃÆ' ¯ve and hopelessly optimistic view of human nature. Human beings will be greedy if they are brought up in an unjust society, they will be caring if they are brought up in a society where justice and equality reign. This helps us to understand just why anarchists are so interested in education. Anarchism and Marxism - what's the difference? A number of parallels exist between Collectivist Anarchism and Marxismà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ ÃÆ' ¼ Both see capitalism as a system of class exploitation ÃÆ' ¼ Human beings have the ultimate ability to order their own affairs without the controlling hand of state intervening. But Collectivists and Marxists do come into conflict over a couple of thingsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ * Firstly Anarchists criticise Marxism's deterministic character, taking destiny out of the hands of the people, and making it an economic certainty. * Marxists view the proletariat as the only truly revolutionary class, whereas anarchists view everyone from peasants, to students, to the ethnic minorities, as victims of repression. * The ideologies also differ in the need for a 'vanguard party', with the specific purpose of leading the oppressed to utopia. Anarchists have always rejected traditional political means, and that only a spontaneous uprising of the masses can lead to true anarchism, and so avoid aà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ * à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦'Dictatorship of the Proletariat', an idea crucial to defending the progression from capitalist to socialist, according to Marx, and one abhorred by anarchists, who view the state not as a symbol of class rule, but as an independent oppressive body.