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Encyclopedia > Anarchism and violence
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Anarchism and violence have become closely connected in popular thought, in part because of a concept of "propaganda of the deed". Propaganda of the deed, or attentát, was espoused by a number of leading anarchists in the late nineteenth century, and was associated with a number of incidents of violence. Anarchist thought, however, is quite diverse on the question of violence. Some anarchists have opposed coercion, while others have supported it, particularly in the form of violent revolution on the path to anarchy or utopia.[1] Perhaps the first anarchist periodical was named The Peaceful Revolutionist, a strain of anarchism has followed Tolstoy's pacifism, and anarchists have often identified violence as a tool of oppression, particularly state oppression. Propaganda of the deed (or propaganda by the deed, from the French propagande par le fait) is a concept of anarchist origin, which appeared towards the end of the 19th century, that promoted terrorism against political enemies as a way of inspiring the masses and catalyzing revolution. ... For other uses, see Coercion (disambiguation). ...

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Propaganda by the deed

Main article: Propaganda by the deed

Late in the 19th century, anarchist labor unions began to use the tactic of general strike. This was often met with violence and some of the strikes even resulted in massacres. Propaganda of the Deed or Propaganda by Deed was an anarchist doctrine that promoted the decisive action of individuals to inspire further action by others. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Anarchist redirects here. ... A union (labor union in American English; trade union, sometimes trades union, in British English; either labour union or trade union in Canadian English) is a legal entity consisting of employees or workers having a common interest, such as all the assembly workers for one employer, or all the workers... A general strike is a strike action by an entire labour force in a city, region or country. ... For other uses, see Violence (disambiguation). ... Look up massacre in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...


In this climate, some anarchists began to advocate and practice terrorism (i.e., attacks on civilians) or assassination, which they referred to as propaganda of the deed. United States President William McKinley, among others, was assassinated by Leon Czolgosz, a mentally disturbed man who identified as an anarchist and claimed he had been influenced by the writings of Emma Goldman, among others. Czolgosz' actions were widely condemned by other anarchists, but the media widely characterized Czolgosz as a typical anarchist, and Goldman spoke sympathetically of him although she herself was critiqued for doing so. Terrorist redirects here. ... In times of armed conflict a civilian is any person who is not a combatant. ... Assassin and Assassins redirect here. ... Propaganda of the deed (or propaganda by the deed, from the French propagande par le fait) is a concept of anarchist origin, which appeared towards the end of the 19th century, that promoted terrorism against political enemies as a way of inspiring the masses and catalyzing revolution. ... This article is about the 25th President of the United States; for other people named William McKinley, see William McKinley (disambiguation). ... Leon Frank Czolgosz (Zol-gash), (1873 – October 29, 1901) (often anglicized to ) was the assassin of U.S. President William McKinley. ... Theory Issues Culture By region Lists Anarchism Portal Politics Portal ·        Emma Goldman (June 27, 1869 – May 14, 1940) aka Red Emma, was a Lithuanian-born anarchist known for her writings and speeches. ...


Public perception

An American political cartoon, published in 1919, depicting an anarchist preparing to destroy the Statue of Liberty.
An American political cartoon, published in 1919, depicting an anarchist preparing to destroy the Statue of Liberty.

Depictions in the press and popular fiction helped create a lasting public impression that anarchists are violent terrorists. This perception was enhanced by events such as the Haymarket Riot, where anarchists were blamed for throwing a bomb at police who came to break up a public meeting in Chicago. The writer J. R. R. Tolkien, in a letter to his son, briefly described anarchy as "philosophically understood, meaning abolition of control not whiskered men with bombs.[2] Political Cartoon, Literary Digest, 7/5/19 (Copyright expired. ... Political Cartoon, Literary Digest, 7/5/19 (Copyright expired. ... For other monuments to freedom, see Monument of Liberty. ... The Haymarket Riot on May 4, 1886 in Chicago is generally considered to have been an important influence on the origin of international May Day observances for workers. ... For other uses, see Chicago (disambiguation). ... Tolkien redirects here. ... Christopher Reuel Tolkien (born November 21, 1924) is best known as the third son of author J. R. R. Tolkien (1892-1973), and as the editor of much of his fathers posthumously published work. ...


Anarchist theory

Anarchism encompasses a variety of views about violence. The Tolstoian tradition of non-violent resistance is prevalent among some anarchists. Ursula K. Le Guin's novel The Dispossessed expressed this anarchism: Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy(Lyof, Lyoff) (September 9 [O.S. August 28] 1828 – November 20 [O.S. November 7] 1910) (Russian: , IPA:  ), commonly referred to in English as Leo Tolstoy, was a Russian writer – novelist, essayist, dramatist and philosopher – as well as pacifist Christian anarchist and educational reformer. ... Nonviolent resistance (or nonviolent action) is the practice of applying power to achieve socio-political goals through symbolic protests, economic or political noncooperation, civil disobedience and other methods, without the use of physical violence. ... Ursula Kroeber Le Guin [ˌɜɹsÉ™lÉ™ ËŒkɹobɜɹ ləˈgWɪn] (born October 21, 1929) is an American author. ... The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia is a 1974 utopian science fiction novel by Ursula K. Le Guin, set in the same fictional universe as that of The Left Hand of Darkness (the Hainish Cycle). ...

Odonianism is anarchism. Not the bomb-in-the-pocket stuff, which is terrorism, whatever name it tries to dignify itself with, not the social-Darwinist economic 'libertarianism' of the far right; but anarchism, as prefigured in early Taoist thought, and expounded by Shelley and Kropotkin, Goldman and Goodman. Anarchism's principal target is the authoritarian State (capitalist or socialist); its principle moral-practical theme is cooperation (solidarity, mutual aid). It is the most idealistic, and to me the most interesting, of all political theories.[3] This article is about the political philosophy based on private property rights. ... Taoism (or Daoism) refers to a variety of related Chinese philosophical and religious traditions and concepts. ... The term mutual aid has multiple meanings: Mutual aid, a tenet of anarchist thought Mutual aid, an agreement between emergency responders Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution, a book by anarchist Peter Kropotkin Mutual aid, in social work with groups Category: ...

Others anarchists have believed that violence (especially self-defense) is justified as a way to provoke social upheaval which could lead to a social revolution. Errico Malatesta, a socialist anarchist, propounded that it is "necessary to destroy with violence, since one cannot do otherwise, the violence which denies [the means of life and for development] to the workers."[4] Anarchists with this view advocate violence insofar as they see it to be necessary in ridding the world of exploitation, and especially states. Emma Goldman included in her definition of Anarchism the observation that all governments rest on violence, and this is one of the many reasons they should be opposed. Goldman herself didn't oppose tactics like assassination in her early career, but changed her views after she went to Russia, where she witnessed the violence of the Russian state and the Red Army. From then on she condemned the use of terrorism, especially by the state, and advocated violence only as a means of self-defense. Goldman's views were in keeping with those of Johann Most, who advocated propaganda of the deed. Self defense refers to actions taken by a person to defend onself, ones property or ones home. ... Errico Malatesta Errico Malatesta (December 14, 1853 – July 22, 1932) was an anarchist with an unshakable belief, which he shared with his friend Peter Kropotkin, that the anarchist revolution would occur soon. ... Theory Issues Culture By region Lists Anarchism Portal Politics Portal ·        Emma Goldman (June 27, 1869 – May 14, 1940) aka Red Emma, was a Lithuanian-born anarchist known for her writings and speeches. ... For other organizations known as the Red Army, see Red Army (disambiguation). ... Johann Most born in Augsburg, Germany, 1846, died in Cinncinnati, Ohio, 1906, was a German Anarchist during the late 1800s. ...


Anarcho-capitalists have claimed violence as a legitimate means for self-defense, and support some level of revolutionary violence, such as the American Revolution. Anarcho-capitalists also consider destruction of property as a type of violence.[citation needed] Anarcho-capitalism is a view that regards all forms of the state as unnecessary and harmful, particularly in matters of justice and self-defense, while being highly supportive of private property. ... John Trumbulls Declaration of Independence, showing the five-man committee in charge of drafting the Declaration in 1776 as it presents its work to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia The American Revolution refers to the period during the last half of the 18th century in which the Thirteen... Main article: Criminal Damage in English law Property damage (or criminal damage in the UK) is damage or destruction done to public or private property, caused either by a person who is not its owner or by natural phenomena. ...


References

  1. ^ Fowler, R.B. The Western Political Quarterly, Vol. 25, No. 4. (Dec., 1972), pp. 743-744
  2. ^ "[1] (our emphasis)
  3. ^ Ursula K. Le Guin|Preface of 'The Day Before the Revolution' ('In Memorial to Paul Goodman 1911-1972'), published in the anthology 'The Wind's Twelve Quarters Vol2'
  4. ^ The revolutionary haste by Errico Malatesta

Ursula Kroeber Le Guin [ˌɜɹsələ ˌkɹobɜɹ ləˈgWɪn] (born October 21, 1929) is an American author. ... The Day Before the Revolution is a Nebula Award-winning short story by Ursula K. Le Guin, first published in 1974. ... There have been multiple well-known individuals named Paul Goodman: Paul Goodman (writer), US author, freethinker, anarchist and Gestalt Therapy contributor (see Paul Goodman page in the Anarchist Encyclopedia) Paul Goodman (sound engineer), winner of multiple Grammy Awards) Paul Alexander Cyril Goodman (United Kingdom politician) Paul Goodman an NHL hockey... The Winds Twelve Quarters is a collection of short stories by Ursula K. Le Guin first published by Harper & Row in 1975. ...

Further reading

  • Forman, James (1975). Anarchism: Political Innocence or Social Violence?. New York: F. Watts. ISBN 0531027902. 
  • Richards, Vernon (1983). Violence and Anarchism. London: Freedom Press. ISBN 0900384700. 
  • Gelderloos, Peter (2007). How Nonviolence Protects the State. Boston: South End Press. ISBN 0896087727. 
  • Churchill, Ward (2007). Pacifism as Pathology. Stirling: AK Press. ISBN 1904859186. 
James Forman (October 4, 1928 - January 10, 2005) was an African-American Civil Rights leader active in both the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the Black Panther Party. ... Freedom Press is the oldest surviving anarchist publishing house in the English speaking world and the largest in Britain. ... Ward LeRoy Churchill (born October 2, 1947) is an American writer and political activist. ... AK Press is a collectively owned and operated independent publisher and book distributor that specialises in radical and anarchist literature. ...

  Results from FactBites:
 
Anarchism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (9749 words)
Anarchism comprises various political philosophies espoused by political organisations and social movements that advocate the elimination of the State, and what are believed to be authoritarian social and economic relationships.
Individualist anarchism is a philosophical tradition that opposes collectivism and has a particularly strong emphasis on the supremacy and autonomy of the individual.
Insurrectionary anarchism is not an ideological solution to all social problems, a commodity on the capitalist market of ideologies and opinions, but an on-going praxis aimed at putting an end to the domination of the state and the continuance of capitalism, which requires analysis and discussion to advance.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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