Criminal
01-11-2003, 06:10 AM
It seems that those of us who claim to be anarchists are asked a lot of questions on how such a anti centralist and anti authoritarian form of government can be workable. Truth be known, it may be true that Anarchism may be the oldest form of government known to man. It was the government of hunter gather societies and remains so.
Voluntary Anarchism was adopted by early christian communities, as the Bible notes. It should be noted that when one joined the community of Christians they were expected to renounce all wealth and give it to the community so that such wealth could be distributed. While enforcement of such rules was through punishment not more severe than shunning by other members, it was noted that when one member and his wife did not give up all their wealth they were struck dead by God himself.
Monks and nuns of the middle ages practiced a form of communal anarchism. This involved giving up all wealth when joining a monistary or convent.
Which leaves us to modern anarchism. The anarchistic state was first theorized by Russian Neohlists who sought to emulate rural peasant communes. They sought a purely agrarian form of communism. In later years, during the Russian Civil War the anarchist Nestor Mackno led his renegade army against both the Bolshevik and White armies.
Then came the Spanish Civil War. Anarchism has a long history in Spain. Spanish labor unions turned to Anarchism rather than Marxism, especially in Catalonia. This was particularly true of skilled laborers. The reason for this may have been that heavy industry was not as vital to the spanish economy and Anarchist Crafts unions appealed to more educated classes of workers.
The revolt of the Spanish Millitary by Francisco Franco in August of 1936 led to the arming of workers millitias throughout Spain. The Spanish Republic was desperate for defenders and turned to the working people. The Communists who were the most diciplined of the militias were the primary defenders of the republic. The Anarchist Millitias were not trusted however. They were less diciplined and had beliefs that were thought to be dangerous by the central government.
Though their leadership argued for restraint, the Anarchist militias burned churches and murdered priests and other clergymen. In the end the Communist led Republican Army surpressed the Anarchists and executed several of their leaders.
The Spanish war was one of those ugly incidences in history where there was so much blood on so many hands that no one side could be called blameless. In my own heart I believe that the Republican forces had the most laudable goals but the methods used by all sides were deplorable.
In any war there is death. The Spanish Civil War was a predicessor of the Second World War. In the second war, as in the Spanish War there was no one side which was all good.
I do believe in Anarchism but I support a passive anarchism as preached by Ghandi. I do not believe that Anarchism should be the same as lawlessness. I dont believe in mob action. I believe that love, justice and humanity should be the guiding principals of the anarchist state.
Voluntary Anarchism was adopted by early christian communities, as the Bible notes. It should be noted that when one joined the community of Christians they were expected to renounce all wealth and give it to the community so that such wealth could be distributed. While enforcement of such rules was through punishment not more severe than shunning by other members, it was noted that when one member and his wife did not give up all their wealth they were struck dead by God himself.
Monks and nuns of the middle ages practiced a form of communal anarchism. This involved giving up all wealth when joining a monistary or convent.
Which leaves us to modern anarchism. The anarchistic state was first theorized by Russian Neohlists who sought to emulate rural peasant communes. They sought a purely agrarian form of communism. In later years, during the Russian Civil War the anarchist Nestor Mackno led his renegade army against both the Bolshevik and White armies.
Then came the Spanish Civil War. Anarchism has a long history in Spain. Spanish labor unions turned to Anarchism rather than Marxism, especially in Catalonia. This was particularly true of skilled laborers. The reason for this may have been that heavy industry was not as vital to the spanish economy and Anarchist Crafts unions appealed to more educated classes of workers.
The revolt of the Spanish Millitary by Francisco Franco in August of 1936 led to the arming of workers millitias throughout Spain. The Spanish Republic was desperate for defenders and turned to the working people. The Communists who were the most diciplined of the militias were the primary defenders of the republic. The Anarchist Millitias were not trusted however. They were less diciplined and had beliefs that were thought to be dangerous by the central government.
Though their leadership argued for restraint, the Anarchist militias burned churches and murdered priests and other clergymen. In the end the Communist led Republican Army surpressed the Anarchists and executed several of their leaders.
The Spanish war was one of those ugly incidences in history where there was so much blood on so many hands that no one side could be called blameless. In my own heart I believe that the Republican forces had the most laudable goals but the methods used by all sides were deplorable.
In any war there is death. The Spanish Civil War was a predicessor of the Second World War. In the second war, as in the Spanish War there was no one side which was all good.
I do believe in Anarchism but I support a passive anarchism as preached by Ghandi. I do not believe that Anarchism should be the same as lawlessness. I dont believe in mob action. I believe that love, justice and humanity should be the guiding principals of the anarchist state.