Anarcho- Communism
General

From the term “Anarchist-communism” (also known as red anarchism), we know it is a political ideology that combines qualities of both communism and anarchism. Like the communists, anarchist communists pursue egalitarianism and oppose social hierarchy as a result of the capitalist system and, like the anarchists, they aim to abolish any form of political power and state. They believe in the corporation of the commune to provide their own services and that through this network people are free to satisfy their needs without the fear of being restricted by others. However the defining characteristic of anarchist –communism from other variations of communism and anarchism is the abolition of wage system. This is because, according to Peter Kropotkin, an important theoretician in the history of anarchist-communism, that “we shall not estimate the share of each in the riches which ALL contribute to amass”, one cannot use this “instrument of labour” to access the worker’s contribution to society without taking into account of other externalities such as transportation and food that could have affected their production. The anarchist-communists believe that mutual aid and the fact everyone has satisfied their material wants will be a big step to a more civilized society.

Origins

Anarchist-communism is not the work of certain intellectual individuals but arises from and within the struggles of the proletariat. Nevertheless, having said so, there are still people who have laid the basis of anarchist-communism. Below are some important figures in the history of anarchist-communism:

Mikhail Bakunin: He can be called the “father” of every form of class-struggle anarchism. He is supportive of collective anarchism which aims to collectivise ownershp of means of production while retaining the wage system which anarchist-communism opposes.

Joseph Déjacque: An early anarchist-communist whose argument “"it is not the product of his or her labor that the worker has a right to, but to the satisfaction of his or her needs, whatever may be their nature” greatly potrays the idea.

First International: It is the Italian Section where this political philosophy was first formulated (expressed).

Peter Kropotkin: He is an important man in the history of anarcho-communism. He had presented his economic ideas in several books, most notably the Conquest of Bread in which he questions the collective wage system and suggested abolishing capitalism by “expropriation of the whole of social wealth”.

Pros

1. If you are destitute workers under the capitalistic system, then you will definitely like this system because no one is going to squeeze out the profit from your labour. Everything that is the product of your sweat and toil belongs to you, there will be no bosses who are going to “steal them” from your life.

2. There will be no masters and servants. You will be in control of your destiny. The real freedom is not the having the right to do whatever you want , it is , as Alexander Berkman put it in chapter 3 of his book titiled “ what is anarchist-communists”, is the “opportunity to satisfy your needs and wants.”

3. You do not have to be afraid of hunger anymore. Society is a big reserve of commodities.

4. You do not have to toil day and night just to earn a living.

5. There will be no trade war between different countries to protect the rights of it’s industrial workers and bankers in a foreign market because, as Carlyle says, “patriotism is the refuge of scoundrels”

6. No form of political organization will intervene in what you do.

Cons

Despite all the good points discussed above, this philosophy is unrealistic, a mere utopia. This is because human are by nature selfish. Productivity will not be kept up because resource/income distribution is based on personal needs not the based on the wage system. Though this philosophy talks lots about egalitarianism, it is not fair for the the people who have greater potential and more industrious while receiving the same treatment with another lazy bone. If you are competent, you might think, “I might be as well as like him.” Such a society will not progress. To view the society as abundant with resources may lead to overmining of resources and result in envirmomental problems such as deforestation and depletion of natural resources.

References

Anarchist communism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2008, March 15). Retrieved March 22, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarcho-communism.

Appleton, H. (n.d.). Henry Appleton - Anarchism, True and False. Retrieved March 22, 2008, from http://praxeology.net/HA-ATF.htm.

Berkman, A. (n.d.). What Is Communist Anarchism?. Retrieved March 22, 2008, from http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/berkman/comanarchism/
whatis_toc.html
.

Craparo, S. (n.d.). Anarchist Communists: A Question Of Class        -          International Anarchist movement - Anarkismo      . Retrieved March 22, 2008, from http://www.anarkismo.net/newswire.php?story_id=1336.

Kropotkin, P. (n.d.). THE CONQUEST OF BREAD. Retrieved March 22, 2008, from http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/kropotkin/conquest/toc.html.

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A to Z government systems

A system where a Government is unnecessary and undesirable whichmeans that everything is based on voluntary cooperation by individuals and groups

A system where a Government is unnecessary and undesirable which means that everything is based on voluntary cooperation by individuals and groups
One person who has absolute rule over a country or a state and is usually hereditary or they claim as being given divine right with or without advisors.
A system combining Anarchism and capitalism
A system where there is no State or capitalism
A system combing Anarchism and savagery where savagery means acceptance comes easily.
A system where there are no hierarchies such as political or economic hierarchies.
A system where labour is emphasized and thus it has trade unions that replace the State
A system where there is more democratic decision-making
A government with only a few people who are thought to be best qualified.
A system where the people vote on the legislation and executive bills instead of electing leaders to do it for them.
A concentration of power in a leader who is not constitutionally responsible to the people
A one person government.
A system that is ruled by enlightened monarchs.
A system that is suitable for Islams as this system represents the political unity of the Muslims
A system that combines republic and capitalism together.
A system where the health of the community is the first priority
A system where there is no such thing as a private property because the goods are owned by the government and is available to anyone if needed
A system where many opinions are taken into consideration before making decisions
The system of Constitutional Monarchy has a Head of State that does not change as the governments change and a Government. Only the elected Officials can pass laws, the Head of State acts as an advisor to the Officials.
Leaders are elected by the people but the leaders have a limited power over the people and must go according to constitutional laws
A system where there are civic assemblies which represents the country's economic, social, industry and cultural aspects
A system where the making of laws must arise from the public if not the law cannot be approved.
A system where there is democratic representations in a country without the use of elections.
A democratic republic is a country where there is freedom of speech, election and press.
A system where two rulers have equal shared absolute power over the country
Government organization or group in with unlimited power
A true democratic system where the people elect their leaders
System where ruler with absolute power over the country.
A system similar to that of tyranny where all is controlled by one man.
A system ruled by dukes or duchesses
A system combining Anarchism but with saving the environment as their first priority.
A monarchy whose ruler is elected by the people.
A monarchy that is Arab-suited
A system that concentrates on the society's welfare as a whole and thus seeks patriotism.
A system used by the medieval age where warriors and nobility rule.
A system where the oldest are the leaders
A system ruled by grand dukes or grand duchesses
A system where the power lies with the loser level of government such as the name suggests, grassroots
A system for the Jews because non-Jews would not be granted full citizenship.
A monarchy where the kingship is passed to the sons when the father dies.
A system with the Pope as its leader.
A system where the people elect their leaders but the leaders have the freedom to do what they want.
A system combining democracy with a religion, Islam
A name that is given to many Muslim countries
Government by those who want power and personal gain.
A system where judges rule and rules by natural rights
A system where judges rule but based on the judges opinions
A system where the people elect the leaders to make decisions for them.
A system which emphasizes on liberty, freedom for the people.
A system where absolute power is given to magicians and wizards
A government where females rule.
Government by those with talent.
A system where military force is used to establish freedom and liberty.
A military-based government that has absolute rule over the country
A system combining oligarchy, democracy and monarchy.
A democratic system where there are no government parties.
A small group which makes up the government which is usually corrupted and do things for their own sake.
Government by the majority.
A system where the people are allowed to coose whatever government system they want.
A system similar to the parliamentary system except that the head of state does not have that much power.
A system where the parliament checks on the executive branch of the government
A system where voting is limited and where politicians take care of the governing of the country
A system where the people vote on the legislation and executive bills instead of electing leaders to do it for them.
Timocracy, Government controlled by the rich.
A state where government uses police by means to control the life of the citizens.
A monarchy where the monarch's title is linked to the people.
A system where the executive branch is independent of the legislative branch.
A monarchy where the monarch's title is prince
A system combining democracy and religion
A system where the government is elected by the people and the government has the responsibility in acting in people's interest.
A system where there is restricted democracy
A system where robots rule
One person who proclaims himself as king which would usually lead to hereditary monarchy.
A system similar to that of a presidential system except for the fact that the president and prime minister gets involved in everyday decision-making.
A system where there is only 1 government party running the country and no other party is allowed to enter for elections.
A system combining socialism and democracy
A system that emphasizes on socialism that also has aspects of free market in its economy.
A democratic system where workers are represented in government too.
A system where the rulers are those highly-skilled and qualified.
Maritime (relating to navigation or commerce on the sea) government
Government of a state by divine rule, usually by people who are guided by the deities
Government of a state by God.
A democratic system where the leader is elected but has absolute rule.
Absolute state which the people must follow orders from.
Tribalism existed during the time of primitive men. Thus, it has a sense of primitive in it. However, it also emphasizes on communism and equality.
A government ruled by an oppressive and severely unjust ruler.
A system with administrative divisions governed by a person who is governed by the viceroy.
A system combining democracy and parliamentary system which is somewhat similar to the United nations is adopting
 
Quiz Time

Who is not the theoretician of anarchism?





What is an element of anarchist-communism that is absent from other variations of anarchism?






What does most anarchist-communists do?