The Political Theory of Anarchism

Contents

Acknowledgments vii Introduction 1 1 The Political Theory of Anarchism 13 The Leviathan The Social Contract Hobbes and Godwin Primacy of the Individual Law and Government Society and the Individual 2 Anarchism and the State 28 State and Government The Evolution of the State Bureaucracy Police The Law Authority and Government Modern Society War and the State Constitutionalist Theory and Anarchism

3 Anarchism and Society 60 The Paris Commune Federalism and Nationalism  Industrialization The City versus the Country Democracy and Egalitarianism  Class Rule and Elites  Social Administration without Government  The Administration of Justice Utopian Thinking and Historical Progress The Meaning of Politics 4 Anarchism and the Individual 89 The Egoist The Artist The Moralist The Hero The Coward The Pohtical Realm The Citizen Conclusion Suggestions for Further Reading Bibliography Index

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Acknowledgments

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I am very grateful to Geoffrey Ostergaard, Nigel Young, Margaret Leslie and to my sister Fay for encouragement, criticism and advice on this manuscript at various stages. Their comments have saved me from many errors; those remaining are my own responsibility.

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Author's Note

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This book was conceived and written as a brief study in political theory, primarily for students of politics. Its main aim is to explore anarchist ideas in relation to a number of important themes in political thought.

The book assumes no prior knowledge of anarchist history and philosophy, and will therefore cover ground familiar to those already versed in the literature on anarchism. On the other hand it does assume some knowledge of general political theory, although the specific connexions between anarchist and other theorists are spelt out as clearly as possible. It also explores the relevance of anarchist ideas to contemporary politics and political discourse.