Edexcel Politics A-level

Non-core Political Ideas:

Anarchism

Key terms
1. Core ideas and principles
 Power
From the anarchist viewpoint, power is the means or
instruments such as the law, the police and the use of
ideology, by which the state and other social institutions
secure their authority.
 Authority
From the anarchist perspective, authority is the right of
one person or institution to influence the behaviour of
others and is seen as commanding, controlling and
corrupting.
 Government
From an anarchist perspective, government is a particular
system of rule, from monarchism to dictatorship to liberal
democracy, which is based on deceit and violence.
 State
From an anarchist perspective, the state is seen as a
sovereign body that exerts total authority over all
individuals and groups living within its defined
geographical limits.
 Altruism
Concern for the interest and welfare of others based on
rational selfinterest or a belief that humans are social
beings with a capacity for social solidarity.
 Autonomy
A form of self-government or legislation, a combination of
freedom and responsibility, in which the individual is not
subject to the will of the state or any other person.
 Direct action
A whole range of political actions from non-violent to
violent actions taken outside of the legal and constitutional
framework.
2. Different types of anarchism
 Syndicalism
Revolutionary trade unionism that uses direct action and
the mass strike as an expression of working class power to
inspire popular revolt.
 Direct democracy
From an anarchist perspective, citizens making law and
policy decisions in person rather than through elected
representatives in a form of popular, self-government.
 Solidarity
From an anarchist perspective, a relationship of sympathy,
cooperation and harmony between people, which means
that they have no need to be regulated by the state and
any regulation makes solidarity impossible.
 Mutualism
A system of equitable exchange between self-governing
producers, organised individually or in association and
small-scale private property based on use or possession.
3. Anarchist thinkers and
their ideas
 Collectivisation
The abolition of private property and its replacement by a
system of common ownership.
 Mutual aid
The most successful species are those that employ
solidarity and cooperation rather than individualistic
competition.
 Insurrection
Is not synonymous with revolution but is rather egoistic, not
a political or social act, that allows individuals to elevate
themselves above the established institutions, leaving the
establishment to decay and die.
 Key thinkers
• Max Stirner (1806 – 1856)
• Pierre-Joseph Proudhon (1809 – 1865)
• Mikhail Bakunin (1814 – 1876)
• Peter Kropotkin (1842 – 1921)
• Emman Goldman (1869 – 1940)
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