NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Libertarian socialism

Libertarian socialism is a group of political philosophies that aim to create a society without political, economic or social hierarchies - a society in which all violent or coercive institutions would be dissolved, and in their place every person would have free, equal access to tools of information and production, or a society in which such coercive institutions and hierarchies were drastically reduced in scope.^[1] The Politics series Politics Portal This box: Political philosophy is the study of fundamental questions about the state, government, politics, liberty, justice, property, rights, law and the enforcement of a legal code by authority: what they are, why (or even if) they are needed, what makes a government legitimate, what...

This equality and freedom would be achieved through the abolition of authoritarian institutions and private property^[2], in order that direct control of the means of production and resources will be gained by the working class and society as a whole. Libertarian socialism also constitutes a tendency of thought that informs the identification, criticism and practical dismantling of illegitimate authority in all aspects of social life. Accordingly they believe that "the exercise of power in any institutionalised form -- whether economic, political or sexual -- brutalises both the wielder of power and the one over whom it is exercised."^[3] Means of production (abbreviated MoP; German: Produktionsmittel), also called means of labour are the materials, tools and other instruments used by workers to make products. ... The term working class is used to denote a social class. ...

While many varieties of socialism emphasize the role of the state or political party in promoting liberty and social justice, libertarian socialists place their hopes in trade unions, workers' councils, municipalities, citizens' assemblies, and other non-bureaucratic, decentralized means of action.^[4] Most libertarian socialists advocate doing away with the state altogether, seeing it as a bulwark of capitalist class rule. A state is a political association with effective dominion over a geographic area. ... Political parties Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box: A political party is a political organization that seeks to attain political power within a government, usually by participating in electoral campaigns. ... Liberty is generally considered a concept of political philosophy and identifies the condition in which an individual has immunity from the arbitrary exercise of authority. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A trade union or labour union is a continuous association of wage-earners for the purpose of maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment. ... A workers council is a council, or deliberative body, composed of working class or proletarian members. ... A municipality is an administrative entity composed of a clearly defined territory and its population and commonly referring to a city, town, or village, or a small grouping of them. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box: This article is about the sociological concept. ... Capitalism generally refers to an economic system in which the means of production are all or mostly privately[1][2] owned and operated for profit, and in which investments, distribution, income, production and pricing of goods and services are determined through the operation of a free market. ... Class struggle is class conflict looked at from a Marxist, libertarian socialist, or anarchist perspective. ...

Political philosophies commonly described as libertarian socialist include: many varieties of anarchism (including anarchist communism, anarchist collectivism, anarcho-syndicalism^[5] and some forms of individualist anarchism^[6]), mutualism, social ecology,^[7] and council communism^[8] (or even communism itself, as it's described by Karl Marx or Lenin in a further stage of development of socialism). The terms anarchist communism and libertarian communism should not be considered synonyms for libertarian socialism. Some scholars use libertarian socialism synonymously with anarchism.^[9] Because it is a variety of socialism, it is considered to not be a variety of libertarianism by most right-wing libertarians. Anarchism is a political philosophy or group of doctrines and attitudes centered on rejection of any form of (compulsory) government (cf. ... Anarchist communism is a form of anarchism that advocates the abolition of the State and capitalism in favor of a horizontal network of voluntary associations through which everyone will be free to satisfy his or her needs. ... Left Anarchism is a term used almost exclusively by opponents of traditional anarchism to denominate philosophies that oppose private ownership of the means of production (or capitalism). ... Anarcho-syndicalism is a branch of anarchism which focuses on the labour movement. ... Individualist Anarchism is an anarchist philosophical tradition that has a strong emphasis on sovereignty of the individual[1] and is generally opposed to collectivism[2]. The tradition appears most often in the United States, most notably in regard to its advocacy of private property. ... Mutualism is an economic theory or system, largely associated with Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, based on a labor theory of value which holds that in extreme laissez-faire, market competition will cause the market values (prices) of commodities and services to align with the amount of labor embodied in those things. ... Social ecology is, in the words of its leading exponents, a coherent radical critique of current social, political, and anti-ecological trends as well as a reconstructive, ecological, communitarian, and ethical approach to society. Social Ecology is a radical view of ecology and of social/political systems. ... Council communism is a Radical Left movement originating in Germany and the Netherlands in the 1920s. ... Communism is an ideology that seeks to establish a classless, stateless social organization based on common ownership of the means of production. ... Karl Heinrich Marx (May 5, 1818 â€“ March 14, 1883) was a German philosopher, political economist, and revolutionary. ... Vladimir Ilyich Lenin ( Russian: Влади́мир Ильи́ч Ле́нин listen?), original surname Ulyanov (Улья́нов) ( April 22 (April 10 ( O.S.)), 1870 – January 21, 1924), was a... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Anarchist communism is a form of anarchism that advocates the abolition of the State and capitalism in favor of a horizontal network of voluntary associations through which everyone will be free to satisfy his or her needs. ... Anarcho-Communism, or Libertarian Communism, is a political ideology related to Libertarian socialism. ... Socialism refers to a broad array of ideologies and movements which aim to improve society through collective and egalitarian action; and to a socio-economic system in which property and the distribution of wealth are subject to control by the community. ... This article does not adequately cite its references. ...

Overview

The first person to describe himself as a libertarian was Joseph Déjacque,^[10] an early French anarchist communist. The word stems from the French word libertaire, and was used in order to evade the French ban on anarchist publications.^[11] In the context of the European socialist movement, libertarian has conventionally been used to describe those who opposed state socialism, such as Mikhail Bakunin. In the United States, the movement most commonly called libertarianism follows a capitalist philosophy; the term libertarian socialism therefore strikes many Americans as inconsistent. However, the association of socialism to libertarianism actually predates that of capitalism, and many anti-authoritarians still decry what they see as a mistaken association of capitalism to libertarianism in the United States.^[12] As Noam Chomsky put it, "a consistent libertarian must oppose private ownership of the means of production and the wage slavery which is a component of this system, as incompatible with the principle that labor must be freely undertaken and under the control of the producer".^[13] Joseph DÃ©jacque (b. ... Anarchist communism is a form of anarchism that advocates the abolition of the State and capitalism in favor of a horizontal network of voluntary associations through which everyone will be free to satisfy his or her needs. ... For the character on the TV series Lost, see Mikhail Bakunin Mikhail Alexandrovich Bakunin (Russian â€” ÐœÐ¸Ñ…Ð°Ð¸Ð» ÐÐ»ÐµÐºÑÐ°Ð½Ð´Ñ€Ð¾Ð²Ð¸Ñ‡ Ð‘Ð°ÐºÑƒÐ½Ð¸Ð½, Michel Bakunin â€” on the grave in Bern), (May 18 (30 N.S.), 1814â€“June 19 (July 1 N.S.), 1876) was a well-known Russian revolutionary, and often considered one of the â€œfathers of modern... This article does not adequately cite its references. ... In economics, a capitalist is someone who owns capital, presumably within the economic system of capitalism. ...

Libertarian socialism is an ideology with diverse interpretations, though some general commonalities can be found in its many incarnations. Its proponents advocate a worker-oriented system of distribution that radically departs from capitalist economics (socialism).^[14]. They proposed that this economic system be executed in a manner that attempts to maximize the liberty of individuals and minimize concentration of power or authority (libertarianism). Libertarian socialists have a strong aversion to coercion, which often leads them to reject the state and embrace anarchism.^[15] Adherents attempts to achieve this through the decentralization of political and economic power, usually involving the socialization of most large-scale property and enterprise. Libertarian socialism denies the legitimacy of most forms of economically significant private property, since they view capitalist property relations as forms of domination that are antagonistic to individual freedom.^[16] Socialism refers to a broad array of ideologies and movements which aim to improve society through collective and egalitarian action; and to a socio-economic system in which property and the distribution of wealth are subject to control by the community. ... Liberty is generally considered a concept of political philosophy and identifies the condition in which an individual has immunity from the arbitrary exercise of authority. ... As commonly used, individual refers to a person or to any specific object in a collection. ... This article does not adequately cite its references. ...

In a chapter recounting the history of libertarian socialism, radical economist Robin Hahnel relates that thus far the period where libertarian socialism has had its greatest impact was at the end of the 19th century through the first four decades of the twentieth century. A photo of Robin Hahnel Robin Hahnel is a Professor of Economics at American University. ...

Anti-capitalism

Libertarian socialists assert that when power is exercised, as exemplified by the economic, social, or physical dominance of one individual over another, the burden of proof is always on the authoritarian to justify their action as legitimate when taken against its effect of narrowing the scope of human freedom.^[18] Typical examples of legitimate exercise of power would include the use of physical force to rescue someone from being injured by an oncoming vehicle, or self-defence. Libertarian socialists typically oppose rigid and stratified structures of authority, be they political, economic, or social.^[19] This article lists ideologies opposed to capitalism and describes them briefly. ... Political power (imperium in Latin) is a type of power held by a person or group in a society. ... There is no agreed-upon definition of power in economics. ...

Libertarian socialists believe that all social bonds should be developed by individuals who have an equal amount of bargaining power, that an accumulation of economic power in the hands of a few and the centralization of political power both reduce the bargaining power—and thus the liberty of the other individuals in society.^[20] To put it another way, capitalist (and right-libertarian) principles concentrate economic power in the hands of those who own the most capital. Libertarian socialism aims to distribute power, and thus freedom, more equally amongst members of society. A key difference between libertarian socialism and right-wing libertarianism is that advocates of the former generally believe that one's degree of freedom is affected by one's economic and social status, whereas advocates of the latter believe that freedom is essentially freedom of choice, or freedom for self-realization^[21]. This is sometimes characterized as a desire to maximize "free creativity" in a society in preference to "free enterprise". In metaphysics and statistics, the word individual, while sometimes meaning a person, more typically describes any numerically singular thing. ... Broadly speaking, Negotiation is an interaction of influences. ... This article does not adequately cite its references. ...

Libertarian socialists believe if freedom is valued, then society must work towards a system in which individuals have the power to decide economic issues along with political issues. Libertarian socialists seek to replace unjustified authority with direct democracy, voluntary federation, and popular autonomy in all aspects of life^[22], including physical communities and economic enterprises. Direct democracy, classically termed pure democracy,[1] comprises a form of democracy and theory of civics wherein sovereignty is lodged in the assembly of all citizens who choose to participate. ... A map displaying todays federations. ... 1)A community is a social group of organisms sharing an environment, normally with shared interests. ... Wall Street, Manhattan is the location of the New York Stock Exchange and is often used as a symbol for the world of business. ...

Many libertarian socialists argue that large-scale voluntary associations should manage industrial manufacture, while workers retain rights to the individual products of their labor.^[23] As such, they see a distinction between the concepts of "private property" and "personal possession". Whereas "private property" grants an individual exclusive control over a thing whether it is in use or not, and regardless of its productive capacity, "possession" grants no rights to things that are not in use.^[24] A property title grants owners the right to withhold their property from others, or, if they desire, to require payment from those who wish to use it. "Possession," on the other hand, is not compatible with this form of "exploitation" or "extortion."

Opposition to the State

Libertarian socialists regard concentrations of power as sources of oppression, leading many to oppose the state. Anti-statism refers to all philosophies that in some degree reject or oppose the establishment of a state, or territorial national governments. ... A state is a political association with effective dominion over a geographic area. ...

In lieu of states, libertarian socialists seek to organize themselves into voluntary associations (usually called collectives, communes or syndicates) which use direct democracy or consensus for their decision-making process. Some libertarian socialists advocate combining these institutions using rotating, recallable delegates to higher-level federations.^[25] Spanish anarchism is a major example of such federations in practice. Contemporary examples of libertarian socialist organizational and decision-making models in practice include a number of anti-capitalist and anti-globalisation movements^[26] including: Zapatista Councils of Good Government and the Global Indymedia network (which covers 45 countries on 6 continents). There are also many examples of indigenous societies around the world whose political and economic systems can be accurately described as anarchist or libertarian socialist, each of which is unique and uniquely suited to the culture that birthed it^[27]. For libertarians, that diversity of practice within a framework of common principles is proof of the vitality of those principles and of their flexibility and strength. Collective can also refer to the collective pitch flight control in helicopters A collective is a group of people who share or are motivated by at least one common issue or interest, or work together on a specific project(s) to achieve a common objective. ... An intentional community is a planned residential community designed to promote a much higher degree of social interaction than other communities. ... Syndicalism refers to a set of ideas, movements, and tendencies which share the avowed aim of transforming capitalist society through action by the working class on the industrial front. ... Direct democracy, classically termed pure democracy,[1] comprises a form of democracy and theory of civics wherein sovereignty is lodged in the assembly of all citizens who choose to participate. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A map displaying todays federations. ... Anarchism, the political philosophy advocating a libertarian society without hierarchy, based on mutual aid and voluntary cooperation, historically gained the most support and influence in Spain, especially in the seventy or so years before Francisco Francos victory in the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939. ... The flag of the EZLN. The Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EjÃ©rcito Zapatista de LiberaciÃ³n Nacional, EZLN) is an armed revolutionary group based in Chiapas, one of the poorest states of Mexico. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Independent Media Center, also called Indymedia or the IMC, is a loose network of amateur or alternative media organizations and journalists who organize into decentralized collectives, normally around geographic locations. ... The term indigenous peoples has no universal, standard or fixed definition, but can be used about any ethnic group who inhabit the geographic region with which they have the earliest historical connection. ... Anarchism is a political philosophy or group of doctrines and attitudes centered on rejection of any form of (compulsory) government (cf. ...

Contrary to popular opinion, libertarian socialism has not traditionally been a utopian movement, tending to avoid dense theoretical analysis or prediction of what a future society would or should look like. The tradition instead has been that such decisions cannot be made now, and must be made through struggle and experimentation, so that the best solution can be arrived at democratically and organically, and to base the direction for struggle on established historical example. Left panel (The Earthly Paradise, Garden of Eden), from Hieronymus Boschs The Garden of Earthly Delights. ... The word theory has a number of distinct meanings in different fields of knowledge, depending on their methodologies and the context of discussion. ...

Supporters often suggest that this focus on exploration over predetermination is one of their great strengths. They point out that the success of science at explaining the natural world comes from its methods and its adherence to open rational exploration, not its conclusions; whereas traditional dogmatic explanations of naturalistic phenomena have proved almost useless at explaining anything in the natural world. Scientific method is a body of techniques for investigating phenomena and acquiring new knowledge, as well as for correcting and integrating previous knowledge. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Dogma (the plural is either dogmata or dogmas, Greek , plural ) is the established belief or doctrine held by a religion, ideology or any kind of organization, thought to be authoritative and not to be disputed or doubted. ... A phenomenon (Greek: , pl. ...

Although critics claim that they are avoiding questions they cannot answer, libertarian socialists believe that a methodological approach to exploration is the best way to achieve their social goals. To them, dogmatic approaches to social organization are just as doomed to failure as are non-scientific explanations of natural phenomena. Noted anarchist Rudolf Rocker once stated, "I am an anarchist not because I believe anarchism is the final goal, but because there is no such thing as a final goal" (The London Years, 1956). Rudolf Rocker (1873-1958) Rudolf Rocker (March 25, 1873 - September 19, 1958) was an anarcho-syndicalist writer, historian and prominent activist. ...

Because libertarian socialism encourages exploration and embraces a diversity of ideas rather than forming a compact movement, there have arisen inevitable controversies over individuals who describe themselves as libertarian socialists but disagree with some of the core principles of libertarian socialism. For example, Peter Hain interprets libertarian socialism as favoring radical decentralization of power without going as far as the complete abolition of the state^[28] and libertarian socialist Noam Chomsky supports dismantling all forms of unjustified social or economic power, while also emphasizing that state intervention should be supported as a temporary protection while oppressive structures remain in existence. Avram Noam Chomsky (Hebrew :××‘×¨× × ×•×¢× ×—×•×ž×¡×§×™ Yiddish: ××‘×¨× × ×•×¢× ×›××ž×¡×§×™) , Ph. ...

Proponents are known for opposing the existence of states or government and refusing to participate in coercive state institutions. Indeed, in the past many refused to swear oaths in court or to participate in trials, even when they faced imprisonment ^[29] or deportation.^[30] A trial at the Old Bailey in London as drawn by Thomas Rowlandson and Augustus Pugin for Ackermanns Microcosm of London (1808-11). ...

Violent and non-violent means

Many libertarian socialists see violent revolution as necessary in the abolition of capitalist society. Along with many others, Errico Malatesta argued that the use of violence was necessary; as he put it in Umanità Nova (no. 125, September 6, 1921): 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. ... UmanitÃ Nova is an Italian anarchist newspaper founded in 1920. ...

However, Proudhon, who people often term "the father of anarchism," argued in favor of a Non-violent revolution. The progression towards violence in anarchism stemmed, in part, from the massacres of some of the communes inspired by the ideas of Proudhonand others. Many anarcho-communists began to see a need for revolutionary violence in order to counter-act the violence inherent in both capitalism and government.^[32] A non-violent revolution is a revolution using mostly nonviolent protest against governments seen as entrenched and authoritarian to advocate democracy, liberalism, and national independence in their nation. ...

Political roots

As Albert Meltzer and Stuart Christie stated in their book The Floodgates of Anarchy, anarchism has: Albert Meltzer (born January 7, 1920 _ died May 7, 1996) was an anarchist activist and writer. ... Stuart Christie is a Scottish Anarchist most well-known for his part in the Spanish resistance to the dictator Franco: he was arrested in 1964 while carrying explosives to assassinate El Caudillo. He was sentenced to twenty years in prison but only served three, being released due to international pressure. ...

That is, anarchism arose as a cross between socialism and liberalism, incorporating the anti-capitalist attitude of socialists and the anti-statist, what would today be called libertarian, attitude of liberalism. Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, who is often considered the father of modern anarchism, coined the phrase "Property is theft" to describe part of his view on the complex nature of ownership in relation to freedom. When he said property is theft, he was referring to the capitalist who he believed stole profit from laborers. For Proudhon, the capitalist's employee was "subordinated, exploited: his permanent condition is one of obedience."^[33] Liberalism is an ideology, philosophical view, and political tradition which holds that liberty is the primary political value. ... Individualism is a term used to describe a moral, political, or social outlook that stresses human independence and the importance of individual self-reliance and liberty. ... In politics, right-wing, the political right, or simply the right, are terms which refer, with no particular precision, to the segment of the political spectrum in opposition to left-wing politics. ... Pierre Joseph Proudhon. ... Property is theft! is a slogan coined by the French anarchist Pierre-Joseph Proudhon in his book What is Property? Or, an Inquiry into the Principle of Right of Government. ...

Seventeen years (1857) after Proudhon first called himself an anarchist (1840), anarchist communist Joseph Déjacque was the first person to describe himself as a libertarian.^[10] Outside the United States, "libertarian" generally refers to anti-authoritarian anti-capitalist ideologies. [1] For these reasons the term "libertarian socialism" is today almost synonymous with anarchism, outside of the US the term "libertarian socialism" would be considered redundant. Joseph DÃ©jacque (b. ... Anti-capitalism is any and all opposition to capitalism. ...

Libertarian socialism has its roots in both liberalism and socialism, though it is often in conflict with liberalism (especially neoliberalism) and socialism (especially state socialism) simultaneously. While libertarian socialism has roots in both socialism and liberalism, different forms have different levels of influence from the two traditions. For instance, of the anarchist versions of libertarian socialism, individualist and mutualist anarchism are more influenced by liberalism while communist and syndicalist anarchism are more influenced by socialism. It is interesting to note, however, that individualist and mutualist anarchism have origins in 18th and 19th century European socialism (such as Fourierian socialism)^[34]^[35] while communist and syndicalist anarchism has its earliest origins in early 18th century liberalism (such as the French Revolution).^[36] For the school of international relations, see Neoliberalism (international relations). ... State socialism, broadly speaking, is any variety of socialism which relies on ownership of the means of production by the state. ... Individualist Anarchism is an anarchist philosophical tradition that has a strong emphasis on sovereignty of the individual[1] and is generally opposed to collectivism[2]. The tradition appears most often in the United States, most notably in regard to its advocacy of private property. ... Mutualism is an economic theory or system, largely associated with Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, based on a labor theory of value which holds that in extreme laissez-faire, market competition will cause the market values (prices) of commodities and services to align with the amount of labor embodied in those things. ... Anarchist Communism, also known as Anarcho-Communism, Communo-Anarchism or Libertarian Communism, is a political ideology related to Libertarian socialism. ... Anarcho-syndicalism is a branch of anarchism which focuses on the labour movement. ... This article is about the French utopian socialist philosopher. ... The French Revolution (1789â€“1815) was a period of political and social upheaval in the political history of France and Europe as a whole, during which the French governmental structure, previously an absolute monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to forms based on...

Conflict with Marxism

In rejecting both capitalism and the State, libertarian socialists put themselves in opposition to both capitalist representative democracy and to authoritarian forms of Marxism, which has existed since the anarchist schism from Marxism. Although anarchists and Marxists are often said to share a belief in the ultimate goal of a stateless society, anarchists criticise most Marxists for advocating a transitional phase under which the state is used to achieve this aim. Nonetheless, libertarian Marxist tendencies such as autonomist Marxism and council communism have historically been intertwined with the anarchist movement. Anarchist movements have come into conflict with both capitalist and Marxist forces, sometimes at the same time, as in the Spanish Civil War, though as in that war Marxists themselves are often divided in support or opposition to anarchism. Other political persecutions under bureaucratic parties have resulted in a strong historical antagonism between anarchists and libertarian Marxists on the one hand and Leninist Marxists on the other and their derivatives such as Maoists. In recent history, however, libertarian socialists have repeatedly formed temporary alliances with Marxist-Leninist groups for the purposes of protest against institutions they both reject. While anarchism and Marxism are two different political philosophies, there is some similarity between the methodology and ideology of groups of anarchists and Marxists, and the history of the two have often been intertwined. ... In economics, a capitalist is someone who owns capital, presumably within the economic system of capitalism. ... Representative democracy is a form of democracy founded on the exercise of popular sovereignty by the peoples representatives. ... Marxism takes its name from the praxis (the synthesis of philosophy and political action) of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. ... While anarchism and Marxism are two different political philosophies, there is some similarity between the methodology and ideology of groups of anarchists and Marxists, and the history of the two have often been intertwined. ... Autonomism, or Autonomist Marxism is a left-wing political movement and theory. ... Council communism is a Radical Left movement originating in Germany and the Netherlands in the 1920s. ... It has been suggested that Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War be merged into this article or section. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box: This article is about the sociological concept. ... Vladimir Lenin in 1920 Leninism refers to various related political and economic theories elaborated by Bolshevik revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin, and by other theorists who claim to be carrying on Lenins work. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Part of this antagonism can be traced to the International Workingmen's Association, the First International, a congress of radical workers, where Mikhail Bakunin, who was fairly representative of the libertarian socialist view, and Karl Marx, whom anarchists accused of being an authoritarian, came into conflict on various issues. Bakunin's viewpoint on the illegitimacy of the State as an institution and the role of electoral politics was starkly counterposed to Marx's views in the First International. Marx and Bakunin's disputes eventually led to Marx taking control of the First International and expelling Bakunin and his followers from the organization. This was the beginning of a long-running feud and schism between libertarian socialists and what they call "authoritarian communists", or alternatively just "authoritarians". Full shot of Mikhail Bakunin File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Full shot of Mikhail Bakunin File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Mikhail Alexandrovich Bakunin (Russian — Михаил Александрович Бакунин), (May 30, 1814–June 13, 1876) was a well-known Russian anarchist contemporaneous to Karl Marx. ... The International Workingmens Association (IWA), sometimes called the First International, was an international socialist organization which aimed at uniting a variety of different left-wing political groups and trade union organizations that were based on the working class and class struggle. ... The term Radical (latin radix meaning root) was used from the late 18th century for proponents of the Radical Movement and has since been used as a label in political science for those favouring or trying to produce thoroughgoing political reforms which can include changes to the social order to... For the character on the TV series Lost, see Mikhail Bakunin Mikhail Alexandrovich Bakunin (Russian â€” ÐœÐ¸Ñ…Ð°Ð¸Ð» ÐÐ»ÐµÐºÑÐ°Ð½Ð´Ñ€Ð¾Ð²Ð¸Ñ‡ Ð‘Ð°ÐºÑƒÐ½Ð¸Ð½, Michel Bakunin â€” on the grave in Bern), (May 18 (30 N.S.), 1814â€“June 19 (July 1 N.S.), 1876) was a well-known Russian revolutionary, and often considered one of the â€œfathers of modern... Karl Heinrich Marx (May 5, 1818 â€“ March 14, 1883) was a German philosopher, political economist, and revolutionary. ...

Some Marxists have formulated views that closely resemble syndicalism, and thus express more affinity with anarchist ideas. Several libertarian socialists, notably Noam Chomsky, believe that anarchism shares much in common with certain variants of Marxism such as the council communism of left-wing Marxist Anton Pannekoek. In Chomsky's Notes on Anarchism, he suggests the possibility "that some form of council communism is the natural form of revolutionary socialism in an industrial society. It reflects the belief that democracy is severely limited when the industrial system is controlled by any form of autocratic elite, whether of owners, managers, and technocrats, a 'vanguard' party, or a State bureaucracy." Syndicalism refers to a set of ideas, movements, and tendencies which share the avowed aim of transforming capitalist society through action by the working class on the industrial front. ... Avram Noam Chomsky (Hebrew :××‘×¨× × ×•×¢× ×—×•×ž×¡×§×™ Yiddish: ××‘×¨× × ×•×¢× ×›××ž×¡×§×™) , Ph. ... Council communism is a Radical Left movement originating in Germany and the Netherlands in the 1920s. ... In politics, left-wing, political left, leftism, or simply the left, are terms which refer (with no particular precision) to the segment of the political spectrum typically associated with any of several strains of socialism, social democracy, or liberalism (especially in the American sense of the word), or with opposition... Anton Pannekoek Anton Pannekoek (January 2, 1873 â€“ April 28, 1960) was a Dutch astronomer and Marxist theorist. ... Flag of the Revolutionary Socialists Revolutionary Socialism is a political ideology based on the work of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels advocating the revolutionary yet democratic liberation of the Proletariat. ... A vanguard party is a political party or grassroot organization at the forefront of a mass action, movement, or revolution. ...

Autonomist Marxism, Neo-Marxism and situationism are also regarded as being anti-authoritarian variants of Marxism that are firmly within the libertarian socialist tradition. Similarly, William Morris is regarded as both a libertarian socialist and a Marxist. Autonomism, or Autonomist Marxism is a left-wing political movement and theory. ... Neo-Marxism was a 20th century school that harked back to the early writings of Marx before the influence of Engels which focused on dialectical idealism rather than dialectical materialism, and thus rejected the economic determinism of early Marx, focusing instead on a non-physical, psychological revolution. ... This article or section is incomplete and may require expansion and/or cleanup. ... Anti-authoritarianism is opposition to authoritarianism, which is defined as concentration of power in a leader or an elite not constitutionally responsible to the people or the doctrine that advocates such absolutism in rule, as in autocracy, despotism, dictatorship, and totalitarianism. ... William Morris, socialist and innovator in the Arts and Crafts movement William Morris (March 24, 1834 â€“ October 3, 1896) was an English artist, writer, socialist and activist. ...

Notable libertarian socialist tendencies

Mutualism

Mutualism is a political and economic theory largely associated with Pierre-Joseph Proudhon but also followed by Benjamin Tucker, Joe Peacott, Mother Jones and Clarence Lee Swartz. Mutualists believe that a free labor market would be allow for conditions of equal income in proportion to exerted labor.^[37] As Jonathan Beecher puts it, Proudhon's aim was to, "emancipate labor from the constraints imposed by capital".^[38] Mutualism is an economic theory or system, largely associated with Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, based on a labor theory of value which holds that in extreme laissez-faire, market competition will cause the market values (prices) of commodities and services to align with the amount of labor embodied in those things. ... Image File history File links Summary proudhon et ses enfants par gustave courbet, 1865 Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Pierre-Joseph Proudhon ... Image File history File links Summary proudhon et ses enfants par gustave courbet, 1865 Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Pierre-Joseph Proudhon ... Jean DÃ©sirÃ© Gustave Courbet (10 June 1819 â€“ 31 December 1877) was a French painter who led the Realist movement in 19th-century French painting. ... Pierre Joseph Proudhon. ... Benjamin Ricketson Tucker Benjamin Ricketson Tucker (April 17, 1854 â€“ June 22, 1939) was the leading proponent of American individualist anarchism in the 19th century. ... Joe Peacott is an American individualist anarchist writer. ... Mary Harris Jones (August 1, 1837 â€“ November 30, 1930), better known as Mother Jones, was a prominent American labor and community organizer, and Wobbly. ... Clarence Lee Swartz was an American individualist anarchist. ...

Proudhon sought to replace wage labour by workers' co-operatives, arguing "it is necessary to form an ASSOCIATION among workers . . . because without that, they would remain related as subordinates and superiors, and there would ensue two . . . castes of masters and wage-workers, which is repugnant to a free and democratic society."^[39]. He supported individual possession of land rather than community ownership. However, Proudhon believed that an individual only had a right to land while he was using or occupying it. If the individual ceases doing so, it reverts to unowned land.^[40] Mutualists hold a labor theory of value, arguing that in exchange labor should always be worth "the amount of labor necessary to produce an article of exactly similar and equal utility,"^[37] and considering anything less to be exploitation, theft of labor, or "usury".

Mutualists oppose the institutions by which individuals gain income through loans, investments, and rent, as they believe the income received through these activities is not in direct accord with labor spent.^[37] In place of these capitalist institutions they advocate labor-owned cooperative firms and associations.^[41] In Proudhon's version, wherever a great number of workers is needed, an association of workers is expected. However, the labor of a lone worker requires no association. Mutualists advocate mutual banks, owned by the workers, that do not charge interest on secured loans. Most mutualists believe that anarchy should be achieved gradually rather than through revolution.[2] A worker cooperative is a cooperative owned and operated by its worker-owners. There are no outside, or consumer owners, in a workers cooperative - only the workers own shares of the business. ...

Worker cooperatives such as the Mondragón Cooperative Corporation follow an economic model similar to that of mutualism. The model followed by the corporation WL Gore and Associates, inventor of Gore-Tex fabrics, is also similar to mutualism as there is no chain of command and salaries are determined collectively by the workers. A worker cooperative is a cooperative owned and operated by its worker-owners. There are no outside, or consumer owners, in a workers cooperative - only the workers own shares of the business. ... MondragÃ³n Cooperative Corporation (MCC) is a group of manufacturing and retail companies based in the Basque Country and extended over the rest of Spain and abroad. ... WL Gore and Associates is a company most commonly known for its Gore-TexÂ® fabrics. ... Gore-Tex membrane, electron microphotograph Gore-Tex (abbreviated GTX) is a registered trademark of W.L. Gore & Associates best known for its use in relation to waterproof/breathable fabrics. ...

G.D.H. Cole's guild socialism was similar to mutualism.^[42] Today, mutualism's stress on worker association is similar to the more developed modern theory of Participatory Economics, although Participatory Economists do not believe in markets. George Douglas Howard Cole (September 25, 1889 - January 14, 1959) was an English journalist and economist, closely associated with the development of Fabianism. ... Guild socialism was a British political movement in the 1890s-1920s that wanted to give each local workplace sovereignity. ... Participatory economics, often abbreviated parecon, is a proposed economic system that uses participatory decision making as an economic mechanism to guide the allocation of resources and consumption in a given society. ...

Mutualist anarchist ideas continue to have influence today, even if indirectly. Many modern day cooperatives are influenced directly or indirectly by economic mutualism that became popular in the late 19th century. ^[43] A worker cooperative is a cooperative owned and operated by its worker-owners. There are no outside, or consumer owners, in a workers cooperative - only the workers own shares of the business. ...

Anarchist communism

Anarchist communism was first formulated in the Italian section of the First International, by Carlo Cafiero, Errico Malatesta, Andrea Costa, and other ex-Mazzinian republicans. Out of respect for Mikhail Bakunin, they did not make their differences from standard anarchism explicit until after the latter's death.^[44] In 1876, at the Florence Conference of the Italian Federation of the International (which was actually held in a forest outside Florence, due to police activity), they declared the principles of anarcho-communism, beginning with: Anarchist communism is a form of anarchism that advocates the abolition of the State and capitalism in favor of a horizontal network of voluntary associations through which everyone will be free to satisfy his or her needs. ... Image File history File links ErricoMalatesta. ... Image File history File links ErricoMalatesta. ... The International Workingmens Association, sometimes called the First International, was an international organization which aimed at uniting a variety of different left-wing political groups and trade union organizations which were based on the working class. ... Carlo Cafiero (1846-1892) Important Italian anarchist & champion of Mikhail Bakunin during the second half of the 1800s. ... 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. ... Andrea Costa (1851-1913) was an Italian socialist activist, born in Imola. ... Giuseppe Mazzini. ... // Republicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, with an emphasis on liberty, rule by the people, and the civic virtue practiced by citizens. ... For the character on the TV series Lost, see Mikhail Bakunin Mikhail Alexandrovich Bakunin (Russian â€” ÐœÐ¸Ñ…Ð°Ð¸Ð» ÐÐ»ÐµÐºÑÐ°Ð½Ð´Ñ€Ð¾Ð²Ð¸Ñ‡ Ð‘Ð°ÐºÑƒÐ½Ð¸Ð½, Michel Bakunin â€” on the grave in Bern), (May 18 (30 N.S.), 1814â€“June 19 (July 1 N.S.), 1876) was a well-known Russian revolutionary, and often considered one of the â€œfathers of modern... Anarchism is a political philosophy or group of doctrines and attitudes centered on rejection of any form of (compulsory) government (cf. ... Florence (Italian: ) is the capital city of the region of Tuscany, Italy. ...

This report was made in an article by Malatesta and Cafiero in the (Swiss) Jura federation's bulletin later that year. Cafiero notes, in Anarchie et Communisme, that private property in the product of labor will lead to unequal accumulation of capital, and therefore undesirable class distinctions. The Jura federation was the most important anti-authoritarian and anarchist section of the First International, based largely among watch-makers in the Jura mountain range in Switzerland. ...

Anarcho-communists hold that the liberation of the individual, as well as the abolition of wage slavery and the State, requires the introduction of a free distribution economy, and therefore the abolition of the market.^[45] In this belief they are contrasted with some anarchists and libertarian socialists who advocate collective ownership with market elements and sometimes barter. Anarcho-communists assert that a gift economy can be operated by collectives through direct democracy. Wage slavery is a term used to refer to a condition in which a person is legally (de jure) voluntarily employed but practically (de facto) a slave. ... Barter is a type of trade in which goods or services are exchanged for other goods and/or services; no money is involved in the transaction. ... A gift economy is an economic system in which the prevalent mode of exchange is for goods and services to be given without explicit agreement upon a quid pro quo (the Latin term for the concept of a favor for a favor). Typically, this occurs in a cultural context where... Direct democracy, classically termed pure democracy,[1] comprises a form of democracy and theory of civics wherein sovereignty is lodged in the assembly of all citizens who choose to participate. ...

As Peter Kropotkin put it, "We must recognize, and loudly proclaim, that every one, whatever his grade in the old society, whether strong or weak, capable or incapable, has, before everything, THE RIGHT TO LIVE, and that society is bound to share amongst all, without exception, the means of existence at its disposal." (Conquest of Bread ch. 3)

Anarcho-syndicalism

Anarcho-syndicalism is a branch of anarchism which focuses on the labor movement.^[46] Anarcho-syndicalists view labor unions as a potential force for revolutionary social change, replacing capitalism and the State with a new society democratically self-managed by workers. Anarcho-syndicalism is a branch of anarchism which focuses on the labour movement. ... Image File history File links Anarchist_flag. ... Image File history File links Anarchist_flag. ... Anarchism is a political philosophy or group of doctrines and attitudes centered on rejection of any form of (compulsory) government (cf. ... 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 trade union or labour union is a continuous association of wage-earners for the purpose of maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment. ... The storming of the Bastille, 14 July 1789 during the French Revolution. ... Capitalism generally refers to an economic system in which the means of production are all or mostly privately[1][2] owned and operated for profit, and in which investments, distribution, income, production and pricing of goods and services are determined through the operation of a free market. ... A state is a political association with effective dominion over a geographic area. ...

Workers' solidarity means that anarcho-syndicalists believe all workers—no matter their race, gender, or ethnic group—are in a similar situation in regard to their boss (class consciousness). Furthermore, it means that, within capitalism, any gains or losses made by some workers from or to bosses will eventually affect all workers. Therefore, to liberate themselves, all workers must support one another in their class conflict. Direct action is a form of political activism which seeks immediate remedy for perceived ills, as opposed to indirect actions such as electing representatives who promise to provide remedy at some later date. ... Worker Self-Management is a form of workplace decision-making in which the employees themselves agree on choices (for issues like customer care, general production methods, scheduling, division of labour etc. ... For other uses, see Race (disambiguation). ... Gender in common usage refers to the sexual distinction between male and female. ... An ethnic group is a group of people who identify with one another, or are so identified by others, on the basis of a boundary that distinguishes them from other groups. ... Class consciousness is a category of Marxist theory, referring to the self-awareness of a social class, its capacity to act in its own rational interests, or measuring the extent to which an individual is conscious of the historical tasks their class (or class allegiance) sets for them. ... Capitalism generally refers to an economic system in which the means of production are all or mostly privately[1][2] owned and operated for profit, and in which investments, distribution, income, production and pricing of goods and services are determined through the operation of a free market. ... Class conflict is both the friction that accompanies social relationships between members or groups of different social classes and the underlying tensions or antagonisms which exist in society. ...

Anarcho-syndicalists believe that only direct action—that is, action concentrated on directly attaining a goal, as opposed to indirect action, such as electing a representative to a government position—will allow workers to liberate themselves. ^[47] Direct action is a form of political activism which seeks immediate remedy for perceived ills, as opposed to indirect actions such as electing representatives who promise to provide remedy at some later date. ...

Moreover, anarcho-syndicalists believe that workers' organizations (the organizations that struggle against the wage system, which, in anarcho-syndicalist theory, will eventually form the basis of a new society) should be self-managing. They should not have bosses or “business agents”; rather, the workers should be able to make all the decisions that affect them themselves.

Rudolf Rocker was one of the most popular voices in the anarcho-syndicalist movement. He outlined a view of the origins of the movement, what it sought, and why it was important to the future of labor in his 1938 pamphlet Anarcho-Syndicalism. Rudolf Rocker (1873-1958) Rudolf Rocker (March 25, 1873 - September 19, 1958) was an anarcho-syndicalist writer, historian and prominent activist. ...

The International Workers Association is an international anarcho-syndicalist federation of various labor unions from different countries. The Spanish Confederación Nacional del Trabajo played and still plays a major role in the Spanish labor movement. It was also an important force in the Spanish Civil War. The International Workers Association (IWA) (Spanish: AIT - AsociaciÃ³n Internacional de los Trabajadores, and in German: IAA-Internationale ArbeiterInnen Assoziation) is an international anarcho-syndicalist federation of various labour unions from different countries. ... The ConfederaciÃ³n Nacional del Trabajo (National Confederation of Labour or CNT), founded in Barcelona, Spain, in 1910, was at one time that countrys largest labour union. ... The labor movement (or labour movement) is a broad term for the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign in their own interest for better treatment from their employers and political governments. ... It has been suggested that Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War be merged into this article or section. ...

Council communism

Council communism was a radical Left movement originating in Germany and the Netherlands in the 1920s. Its primary organization was the Communist Workers Party of Germany (KAPD). Council communism continues today as a theoretical and activist position within Marxism, and also within libertarian socialism. The central argument of council communism, in contrast to those of Social democracy and Leninist communism, is that workers' councils arising in the factories and municipalities are the natural and legitimate form of working class organisation and government power. This view is opposed to the reformist and Bolshevik stress on vanguard parties, parliaments, or the State. Council communism is a Radical Left movement originating in Germany and the Netherlands in the 1920s. ... â€œLeftismâ€ redirects here. ... Communist Workers Party of Germany is the English name of the Kommunistischen Arbeiter-Partei Deutschlands and is more generally known by its initials KAPD. It was founded in April 1920 in Heidelberg as a split from the Kommunistischen Partei Deutschlands or KPD. Originally the party remained a sympathising member of... Activism, in a general sense, can be described as intentional action to bring about social or political change. ... Marxism takes its name from the praxis (the synthesis of philosophy and political action) of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. ... Social democracy is a political ideology emerging in the late 19th and early 20th centuries from supporters of Marxism who believed that the transition to a socialist society could be achieved through democratic evolutionary rather than revolutionary means. ... Vladimir Lenin in 1920 Leninism refers to various related political and economic theories elaborated by Bolshevik revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin, and by other theorists who claim to be carrying on Lenins work. ... Communism is an ideology that seeks to establish a classless, stateless social organization based on common ownership of the means of production. ... A workers council is a council, or deliberative body, composed of working class or proletarian members. ... The term working class is used to denote a social class. ... Reformism (also called revisionism or revisionist theory) is the belief that gradual changes in a society can ultimately change its fundamental structures. ... Bolshevik Party Meeting. ... A vanguard party is a political party or grassroot organization at the forefront of a mass action, movement, or revolution. ... A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modelled after that of the United Kingdom. ... A state is a political association with effective dominion over a geographic area. ...

The core principle of council communism is that the state and the economy should be managed by workers' councils, composed of delegates elected at workplaces and recallable at any moment. As such, council communists oppose state-run "bureaucratic socialism". They also oppose the idea of a "revolutionary party", since council communists believe that a revolution led by a party will necessarily produce a party dictatorship. Council communists support a workers' democracy, which they want to produce through a federation of workers' councils. A workers council is a council, or deliberative body, composed of working class or proletarian members. ... Forms of government Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box: A dictatorship is an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by a dictator. ...

The Russian word for council is "soviet," and during the early years of the revolution worker's councils were politically significant in Russia. It was to take advantage of the aura of workplace power that the word became used by Lenin for various political organs. Indeed, the name "Supreme Soviet," by which the parliament was called; and that of the Soviet Union itself make use of this terminology, but they do not imply any decentralization. A soviet (Russian: , IPA: , council[1]) originally was a workers local council in late Imperial Russia. ... Look up aura in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Vladimir Ilyich Lenin ( Russian: Влади́мир Ильи́ч Ле́нин listen?), original surname Ulyanov (Улья́нов) ( April 22 (April 10 ( O.S.)), 1870 – January 21, 1924), was a... The Supreme Soviet (Russian: , Verhovniy Sovet, literally the Supreme Council) comprised the highest legislative body in the Soviet Union in the interim of the sessions of the Congress of Soviets, and the only one with the power to pass constitutional amendments. ... // Le de dÃ©centralisation de de est le processus de la dispersion prise de dÃ©cision plus prÃ¨s du point de service ou action. ...

Furthermore, council communists held a critique of the Soviet Union as a capitalist state, believing that the Bolshevik revolution in Russia became a "bourgeois revolution" when a party bureaucracy replaced the old feudal aristocracy. Although most felt the Russian Revolution was working class in character, they believed that, since capitalist relations still existed (because the workers had no say in running the economy), the Soviet Union ended up as a state capitalist country, with the state replacing the individual capitalist. Thus, council communists support workers' revolutions, but oppose one-party dictatorships. In economics, a capitalist is someone who owns capital, presumably within the economic system of capitalism. ... Bolshevik Party Meeting. ... Bourgeois at the end of the thirteenth century. ... Feudalism comes from the Late Latin word feudum, itself borrowed from a Germanic root *fehu, a commonly used term in the Middle Ages which means fief, or land held under certain obligations by feodati. ... Forms of government Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box: The term aristocracy refers to a form of government where power is held by a small number of individuals from an elite or from noble families. ... â€œRed Octoberâ€ redirects here. ... There are multiple definitions of the term state capitalism. ...

Council communists also believed in diminishing the role of the party to one of agitation and propaganda, rejected all participation in elections or parliament, and argued that workers should leave the reactionary trade unions and form one big revolutionary union. Soviet Propaganda Poster during the World War II. The text reads Red Army Fighter, SAVE US! Chinese propaganda poster from during the Cultural Revolution. ... An election is a decision making process whereby people vote for preferred political candidates or parties to act as representatives in government. ...

Within the political mainstream

There is a strong libertarian current in the British labour movement and term "libertarian socialist" has been applied to a number of democratic socialists, including some prominent members of the British Labour Party. The Socialist League, formed in 1885 by William Morris and others critical of the authoritarian socialism of the Social Democratic Federation. It was involved in the New Unionism, the rank and file union militancy of the 1880s-90s which anticipated syndicalism in some key ways (Tom Mann, a new Unionist leader, was one of the first British syndicalists). The Socialist League was dominated by anarchists by the 1890s.^[48] The Independent Labour Party, formed at that time, drew more on the Non-Conformist religious traditions in the British working class than on Marxist theory, and had a libertarian strain. Others n the tradition of the ILP, and described as libertarian socialists, have been George Orwell, Nye Bevan, Michael Foot and Robin Cook. Labour minister Peter Hain has written in support of libertarian socialism, identifying it as an axis involving a "bottom-up vision of socialism, with anarchists at the revolutionary end and democratic socialists [such as himself] at its reformist end", as opposed to the statist axis with Marxist-Leninists at the revolutionary end and social democrats at the reformist end .^[49] The labour movement (or labor movement) is a broad term for the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign in their own interest for better treatment from their employers and political governments, in particular through the implementation of specific laws governing labor relations. ... Democratic socialism is a political movement propagating the ideals of socialism within the framework of a parliamentary democracy. ... The Labour Party is a centre-left or social democratic political party in Britain (see British politics), and one of the United Kingdoms three main political parties. ... The Socialist League was an early revolutionary socialist organisation in the United Kingdom. ... William Morris, socialist and innovator in the Arts and Crafts movement William Morris (March 24, 1834 â€“ October 3, 1896) was an English artist, writer, socialist and activist. ... This article is about the British political party. ... New Unionism is a term which has been used twice in the history of the labour movement, both times involving moves to broaden the union agenda. ... Syndicalism refers to a set of ideas, movements, and tendencies which share the avowed aim of transforming capitalist society through action by the working class on the industrial front. ... Tom Mann (15 April 1856 - 13 March 1941) was a noted British trade unionist. ... The Independent Labour Party (ILP) was a former political party in the United Kingdom. ... Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903[1][2] â€“ 21 January 1950), better known by the pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist. ... Aneurin Bevan, usually known as Nye Bevan (November 15, 1897 - July 6, 1960) was a Welsh Labour politician regarded as a hero of the left, primarily for his formation of the National Health Service. ... Michael Mackintosh Foot (born 23 July 1913) is an English politician and writer. ... Robert Finlayson Cook (28 February 1946 â€“ 6 August 2005) was a politician in the British Labour Party. ... Peter Gerald Hain PC MP (born February 16, 1950, Nairobi, Kenya) is a British Labour Party politician, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Secretary of State for Wales. ...

Within the New Left

The emergence of the New Left in the 1950s and 1960s led to a revival of interest in libertarian socialism.^[50] The New Left's critique of the Old Left's authoritarianism was associated with a strong interest in personal liberty, and led to a rediscovery of older socialist traditions, such as left communism, council communism and the Industrial Workers of the World. The New Left also led to a revival of anarchism. Journals like Radical America and Black Mask in America, Solidarity and Big Flame in the UK introduced a range of left libertarian ideas to a new generation. Social ecology, American Autonomist Marxism and, more recently, participatory economics emerged from this The New Left is a term used in different countries to describe left-wing movements that occurred in the 1960s and 1970s. ... The Old Left is a term used to describe classic 1930s-era Western Leninists, Trotskyists and Stalinists to differentiate them from the Marxists of the New Left who emerged between the 1960s and the 1970s. ... Left Communism is a term describing a whole range of communist viewpoints which oppose the political ideas of the Bolsheviks from a position which is asserted to be more authentically Marxist and proletarian than the views held by the Communist International after its first two Congresses. ... Council communism is a Radical Left movement originating in Germany and the Netherlands in the 1920s. ... The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW or the Wobblies) is an international union currently headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. At its peak in 1923 the organization claimed some 100,000 members in good standing, and could marshal the support of perhaps 300,000 workers. ... For information on Black Mask, the surrealist group, see Black Mask (NYC). ... Solidarity was a small libertarian socialist organisation and magazine of the same name in the United Kingdom. ... bIG fLAME were a post punk/Indie rock three piece band, based in Manchester in England and active from 1983 to 1986. ... Social ecology is, in the words of its leading exponents, a coherent radical critique of current social, political, and anti-ecological trends as well as a reconstructive, ecological, communitarian, and ethical approach to society. Social Ecology is a radical view of ecology and of social/political systems. ... Autonomism, or Autonomist Marxism is a left-wing political movement and theory. ... Participatory economics, often abbreviated parecon, is a proposed economic system that uses participatory decision making as an economic mechanism to guide the allocation of resources and consumption in a given society. ...

Social ecology

Social ecology is closely related to the work and ideas of Murray Bookchin and influenced by anarchist Peter Kropotkin. Social ecologists assert that the present ecological crisis has its roots in social problems, and that the domination of human over nature stems from the domination of human over human.^[51] Social ecology is, in the words of its leading exponents, a coherent radical critique of current social, political, and anti-ecological trends as well as a reconstructive, ecological, communitarian, and ethical approach to society. Social Ecology is a radical view of ecology and of social/political systems. ... Murray Bookchin[1] (born January 14, 1921) is an American libertarian socialist speaker and writer, and founder of the Social Ecology school of anarchist and ecological thought. ... Prince Peter (Pyotr) Alexeyevich Kropotkin (Russian: ) (December 9, 1842â€“February 8, 1921) was one of Russias foremost anarchists and one of the first advocates of anarchist communism: the model of society he advocated for most of his life was that of a communalist society free from central government. ... An ecological crisis occurs when the environment of a species or a population changes in a way that destablizes its continued survival. ...

Politically, social ecologists advocate a network of directly democratic citizens' assemblies organized in a confederal fashion. This approach is called Libertarian Municipalism. Economically, social ecologists favour libertarian communism and the principle "from each according to ability, to each according to need." Libertarian municipalism was a term first used by the well-known anarchist Murray Bookchin, and is used to describe a system where there would exist libertarian institutions of directly democratic assemblies that would oppose and replace the State with a confederation of municipalities. ... Anarcho-Communism, or Libertarian Communism, is a political ideology related to Libertarian socialism. ...

The Institute for Social Ecology founded in 1974 in Plainfield, Vermont offers a year-round B.A. and M.A. degree program, workshops, and academic conferences. The Institute for Social Ecology is an educational institution in the United States offering courses related to social ecology, an anti-capitalist strain of ecology closely related to anarchism. ... Plainfield, Vermont Plainfield is a town located in Washington County, Vermont. ... Official language(s) None Capital Montpelier Largest city Burlington Area Ranked 45th - Total 9,620 sq mi (24,923 kmÂ²) - Width 80 miles (130 km) - Length 160 miles (260 km) - % water 3. ...

Criticism of libertarian socialism

Some capitalist libertarians argue that freedom and equality are often in conflict with one another, and that promoting equality (as valued by socialism) will inherently require restrictions on liberty (as valued by libertarianism), forcing the society to choose one or the other as their primary value. The Kurt Vonnegut story, "Harrison Bergeron", in which equality is enforced by imposing physical and mental handicaps on overachievers, can be seen as illustrating this point through exaggeration (though Vonnegut's own belief in socialism is a point of interest^[52]). This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Mohandas K. Gandhi - Freedom can be achieved through inner sovereignty. ... Social equality is a social state of affairs in which certain different people have the same status in a certain respect, minimally at least in voting rights, freedom of speech and assembly, and property rights. ... Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. ... It has been suggested that Handicapper General be merged into this article or section. ...

Libertarian socialists typically see the alleged conflict between freedom and equality as a red herring. Radical egalitarian Noam Chomsky states that, "human talents vary considerably, within a fixed framework that is characteristic of the species and that permits ample scope for creative work, including the appreciation of the creative achievements of others. This should be a matter of delight rather than a condition to be abhorred." ^[53] Look up red herring in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Avram Noam Chomsky (Hebrew :××‘×¨× × ×•×¢× ×—×•×ž×¡×§×™ Yiddish: ××‘×¨× × ×•×¢× ×›××ž×¡×§×™) , Ph. ...

Libertarian socialism in modern times

Libertarian socialists in the early 21st century have been involved in the squatter movement; social centers; infoshops; anti-poverty groups like OCAP and Food Not Bombs; tenants unions; housing cooperatives; intentional communities generally and egalitarian communities; anti-sexist organizing; grassroots media initiatives; digital media and computer activism; experiments in participatory economics; anti-racist and anti-fascist groups like Anti-Racist Action and Anti-Fascist Action; organizations protecting the rights of immigrants and promoting the free movement of people like the No Border Network and No one is Illegal; worker co-operatives, countercultural and artist groups; and the peace movement. This article is about occupying land without permission. ... Social Centers are squatted buildings, mostly in Europe, which have been made into organizing centers for community support networks and structures such as free kitchens, free shops, public computer labs, graffiti murals, free housing for activists and travelers, recreation, public meetings, legal collectives, and spaces for dances, performances and art... An infoshop is a storefront or community space that serves as a node for the distribution of anarchist information, typically in the form of books, zines, stickers and posters. ... The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) is a group of anti-poverty activists in Ontario that uses direct action to fight for the rights of the poor and homeless. ... Logo Food Not Bombs is a loose-knit group of independent collectives, serving free vegan and vegetarian food to others. ... A tenant (from the Latin tenere, to hold), in legal contexts, holds real property by some form of title from a landlord. ... A housing co-operative is a legal entity, usually a corporation, that owns real estate, one or more residential buildings. ... An intentional community is a planned residential community designed to promote a much higher degree of social interaction than other communities. ... Egalitarian communities are groups of people who have chosen to live together, with egalitarianism as one of their core values. ... Sexism is discrimination between people based on their Sex rather than their individual merits. ... Participatory economics, often abbreviated parecon, is a proposed economic system that uses participatory decision making as an economic mechanism to guide the allocation of resources and consumption in a given society. ... Anti-racism, like other general social attitudes, ideas and movements, has many variations and faces. ... Anti-Fascism is a belief and practice of opposing all forms of Fascism. ... ARA Logo, featuring a masked anarchist smashing a swastika Anti-Racist Action Network (ARA) is a decentralized network of militant anarcho-communists who espouse anti-fascist and anti-racist views. ... Anti-Fascist Action (or AFA) is a British left-wing organisation founded in 1986. ... Immigration is the act of moving to or settling in another country or region, temporarily or permanently. ... The No Border Network is a loose association of autonomous organizations, groups, and individuals in Europe who resist human migration control by coordinating international border camps, demonstrations, direct actions, and anti-deportation campaigns. ... A worker cooperative is a cooperative owned and operated by its worker-owners. There are no outside, or consumer owners, in a workers cooperative - only the workers own shares of the business. ... In sociology, counterculture is a term used to describe a cultural group whose values and norms are at odds with those of the social mainstream. ... The definition of an artist is wide-ranging and covers a broad spectrum of activities to do with creating art, practising the arts and/or demonstrating an art. ... A peace movement is a social movement that seeks to achieve ideals such as the ending of a particular war (or all wars), minimize inter-human violence in a particular place or type of situation, often linked to the goal of achieving world peace. ...

Prominent libertarian socialists

Murray Bookchin[1] (born January 14, 1921) is an American libertarian socialist speaker and writer, and founder of the Social Ecology school of anarchist and ecological thought. ... Maurice Brinton was the pen name under which Chris Pallis (1923-2005) wrote and translated for the British libertarian socialist group Solidarity from 1960 until the early 1980s. ... Edward Carpenter in 1875. ... Cornelius Castoriadis[1] (Greek: ÎšÎ¿ÏÎ½Î®Î»Î¹Î¿Ï‚ ÎšÎ±ÏƒÏ„Î¿ÏÎ¹Î¬Î´Î·Ï‚) (March 11, 1922-December 26, 1997) was a Greek-French philosopher, economist and psychoanalyst. ... Avram Noam Chomsky (Hebrew :××‘×¨× × ×•×¢× ×—×•×ž×¡×§×™ Yiddish: ××‘×¨× × ×•×¢× ×›××ž×¡×§×™) , Ph. ... Stuart Christie is a Scottish Anarchist most well-known for his part in the Spanish resistance to the dictator Franco: he was arrested in 1964 while carrying explosives to assassinate El Caudillo. He was sentenced to twenty years in prison but only served three, being released due to international pressure. ... Sam Dolgoff (1902-1990) was an American anarchist and anarcho-syndicalist. ... Buenaventura Durruti (July 14, 1896 in LeÃ³nâ€”November 20, 1936, Madrid) was a central figure of Spanish anarchism during the period leading up to and during the Spanish Civil War. ... Takis Fotopoulos (born October 14, 1940) is a Greek political writer and former academic. ... William Godwin William Godwin (3 March 1756 â€“ 7 April 1836) was an English political and miscellaneous writer, considered one of the important precursors of both utilitarian and liberal anarchist thought. ... Emma Goldman (June 27, 1869 â€“ May 14, 1940) aka Red Emma, was a Lithuanian-born anarchist known for her writings and speeches. ... Paul Goodman (1911–1972) was a poet, writer, public intellectual. ... Cover art of Harpers 1978 Class War Comix Clifford Harper (born July 13, 1949) is an artist who describes himself as a committed anarchist and cartoonist. ... Prince Peter (Pyotr) Alexeyevich Kropotkin (Russian: ) (December 9, 1842â€“February 8, 1921) was one of Russias foremost anarchists and one of the first advocates of anarchist communism: the model of society he advocated for most of his life was that of a communalist society free from central government. ... The Libertarian Book Club is an independent publisher and political organization, founded in the late 1940s by a group that included Gregory Maximoff, Sam Dolgoff and Valerio Isca. ... KÅtoku ShÅ«sui (1871-1911) Kotoku Shusui (å¹¸å¾³ ç§‹æ°´ KÅtoku ShÅ«sui, November 4 or September 23, 1871â€“January 24, 1911) was a socialist and anarchist who played a leading role in introducing anarchism to Japan in the early 20th century, particularly by translating the works of contemporary European and... 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. ... Louise Michel (1830-1905) was a French anarchist, school teacher and medical worker. ... William Morris, socialist and innovator in the Arts and Crafts movement William Morris (March 24, 1834 â€“ October 3, 1896) was an English artist, writer, socialist and activist. ... Peter Neville (died August 9, 2002) was a further education lecturer and sociologist known for his activity and writings in the anarchist and peace movements in Britain. ... Albert Parsons, ca. ... Lucy Parsons Lucy Parsons (1853-March 7, 1942) was an American radical labor organizer, anarchist and is remembered as a powerful orator. ... Michel Onfray (born January 1, 1959 in Argentan, Orne, France) is a French philosopher. ... Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903[1][2] â€“ 21 January 1950), better known by the pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist. ... Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell, OM, FRS, (18 May 1872 â€“ 2 February 1970), was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, advocate for social reform, and pacifist. ... Vernon Richards (1915-2001) was an Italian-British anarchist, editor, author and companion of Marie-Louise Berneri. ... Rudolf Rocker (1873-1958) Rudolf Rocker (March 25, 1873 - September 19, 1958) was an anarcho-syndicalist writer, historian and prominent activist. ... Victor Lvovich Kibalchich (Ð’.Ð›. ÐšÐ¸Ð±Ð°Ð»ÑŒÑ‡Ð¸Ñ‡) (1890-1947) (better known as Victor Serge) was born in Brussels, the son of Russian Narodnik exiles. ... Colin Ward (1924-) was an editor of the British anarchist newspaper Freedom from 1947 to 1960, and the founder and editor of the monthly libertarian journal Anarchy from 1961 to 1970. ... George Woodcock (May 8, 1912 - January 28, 1995) was a Canadian writer. ... Howard Zinn (born August 24, 1922) is an American historian, social critic, playwright and political scientist and author of the book A Peoples History of the United States, originally published in 1980 and which routinely sells more than 100,000 copies a year, according to The New York Times...

Contents

Overview

Anti-capitalism

Opposition to the State

Violent and non-violent means

Political roots

Conflict with Marxism

Notable libertarian socialist tendencies

Mutualism

Anarchist communism

Anarcho-syndicalism

Council communism

Within the political mainstream

Within the New Left

Social ecology

Criticism of libertarian socialism

Libertarian socialism in modern times

Prominent libertarian socialists

Further reading

Books/Resources

Periodicals

References

See also

External links

Libertarian socialist general resources

Introductory articles

Libertarian socialist websites

Libertarian socialist history

Contents

Overview GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Anti-capitalism

Opposition to the State

Violent and non-violent means

Political roots

Conflict with Marxism

Notable libertarian socialist tendencies

Mutualism

Anarchist communism

Anarcho-syndicalism

Council communism

Within the political mainstream

Within the New Left

Social ecology

Criticism of libertarian socialism

Libertarian socialism in modern times

Prominent libertarian socialists

Further reading

Books/Resources

Periodicals

References

See also

External links

Libertarian socialist general resources

Introductory articles

Libertarian socialist websites

Libertarian socialist history

Overview