What is ANARCHY really and could we expect to?

Question

have it in the world, or part of the world permanently in the near future?

Can you give an example of a time of anarchy in previous times?

How long did it last and what was really achieved?

Answer 1

One of the closest approximations was in parts of Spain in late 1936-early 1937. The CNT, an anarchosyndicalist labor union, was active in the fight against Franco, and local organizations had widespread support.



A longer list appears on Wikipedia:



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_anarchist_communities



In the Spanish case, this collapsed due to (1) military pressure from the Nationalists and (2) treachery by the Republic. The Republic needed Russian arms supplies, and Stalin threatened to cut these off if the Republican government didn't get rid of the CNT.



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Anarchism supports free association, opposes the state, and opposes hierarchy. (At the very least, anarchists oppose involuntary hierarchy; anarchists often try to create egalitarian alternatives to the semi-voluntary hierarchies too).



There are several different traditions which respect these values, and usually recognize each other as forms of anarchism. These traditions borrow ideas from classical liberalism, from early socialism, from each other, and sometimes from other sources.



People depend on each other. People tend to create their own voluntary social order, including free association, reciprocity, mutual aid, and, if necessary, mutual defense. Once people create this order, a state, or any other criminal gang, is in trouble. So the state, to preserve itself, must preempt voluntary social order.



Highleyman, "An introduction to anarchism:"

http://www.spunk.org/texts/intro/sp001550.html



"An anarchist FAQ:"

http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/1931/ or

http://www.infoshop.org/faq/index.html (same text)



A messier source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchism



Many other anarchist works are also available at:

http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/ and

http://www.infoshop.org/library/Main_Page (different works) and elsewhere

Answer 2

In my opinion the Americas prior to the arrival of Europeans was a form of Anarchy. Voluntary groupings of people living in relatively small autonomous collectives is the closest thing we will probably ever see to true anarchy. Or in essence tribalism and anarchy are pretty much the same thing. Of course there are many different concepts of what a "pure" anarchy is and some would disagree. We will never see it again unless populations are drastically reduced. Large herds require the watchful eye of the state which is in business to give over watch tot he material concerns of life. Should enough people decide that the human experience is not necessarily connected to material world then maybe just maybe you might get a glimpse.

Answer 3

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchy



No. It wouldn't make sense for anarchy to exist anymore. It hasn't since people realized that they survive much longer with others and being protected by someone.