Why We Should All Be Anarchists

“Government is an abstract noun meaning the art and process of governing and it should be an offence to write it with a capital G or so to refer to people … The most improper job of any many, even saints (who at any rate were at least unwilling to take it on), is bossing other men. Not one in a million is fit for it, and least of all those who seek the opportunity …”

J.R.R. Tolkien, The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

Anarchists in Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War

In his introduction to Chomsky’s work On Anarchism, Nathan Schneider describes the fallout of the Occupy Wall Street movement and the tendency of young Americans to at least be “Anarcho-Curious”:

“Anarchism, then, is a corner backed into rather than a conscious choice – an apophatic last resort, and a fruitful one.  It permits being political outside the red-and-blue confines of what is normally referred to as “politics” … Anarchism is the political blank slate of the early twenty-first century. It is shorthand for an eternal now, for a chance to restart the clock.”

Who can say that the idea that we can and should “restart the clock” isn’t an attractive one?

The neoliberal, relatively peaceful paradigm that has existed since at least the early 90s is now at an end. Strongmen and dictators – the Neros, Caligulas and Commoduses of our time – are being allowed to shape the world according to their whims. Even in nations once renowned for their political stability, these modern-day Caesars are seeing immense electoral success, often on the back of a large chunk of the youth vote.

‘Libertarians’ such as Musk and Milei promise to cut down on statist powers but are more than happy to impose the corporate jackboot. Whilst one can certainly argue that the modern state is overgrown and out of bounds, it appears the new Trump administration simply seeks to improve the lot of billionaires and oligarchs.

The managerial tendencies of corporations and governments of all kinds, partnered with the dark powers of Big Tech - any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic - is proving to be a recipe for totalitarianism and oppression. This is what Yanis Varoufakis calls technofeudalism: the end of capitalism and its replacement by a decadent, tyrannical system, aided by modern technologies.

“Eros plus Anarchos equals Bios”

Edward Abbey

Given that this growing tendency towards totalitarianism is obviously unacceptable - the willingness to accept one’s own subservience is not something that should be acceptable to any healthy human being – what can we do? The answer, I would argue, could be found in Anarchism.

Anarchist thinking gets a bit of a bad rap. The word has been used to disparage and discredit since at least the 15th century.  It is a byword in the Media for violence and disorder. But it is nothing of the kind. Anarchism is “democracy taken all the way”, and has been elaborated upon by generations of thinkers and philosophers: Burke, Camus and Bookchin amongst them.

American eco-anarchist Edward Abbey displays his hostile attitude towards modern technology. Source: Matteo Brogi 

The election of Trump is a vehicle for radical change in the world. America’s drift towards techno-feudalism appears to be provoking a European resurgence and appreciation for our shared, fragile freedoms.

The UK, alongside our European cousins, should stand up to tyranny wherever we identify them, supporting dissident movements across the globe. But we can do better at home as well, where even our ancient democracy is flawed. As across the Western world, the citizenry (especially young people) is increasingly losing faith in democracy.

Such a demoralised populace is ripe for exploitation by demagogues: Labour seems only able to watch as Reform grows in popularity. Reform UK’s nonsense must be listened to – because as of yet, they are the only alternative.

Power should be taken down to the grassroots level, local governments should be empowered and the state weakened. The power of corporations and monopolies over our daily lives should be shattered. Democracy needs to be revitalised if the UK and Europe are to survive the fluctuations of the 21st century and beyond. Already, the unions are recognising this, and are pushing for greater collaboration with Europe.

We should be an oasis of democracy and ecology (because we were free in Nature before we even knew what freedom was) whilst others across the world listen to the siren’s song of authoritarian technologies and demagogues. The times are growing ever more precarious -  governments across the West are rearming and preparing their populations for crises and conflicts, and it appears that war is on the horizon.

Think global, act local. The best antidote against any of the dangers of the 21st century is to organize and secure our own communities and neighbourhoods. Young men and women, who across the world are being hoodwinked into voting into office people who ultimately do not care about them, need a hopeful, freeing message to counteract the authoritarianism of our time.

That message is Anarchism, and we’d all do well to consider it.