Anarchismo

Anarchismo, or anarchism, is a political philosophy that seeks to organize society without centralized state authority. It advocates voluntary association, mutual aid, and self-management, while opposing coercive hierarchies, particularly the state and, in many views, capitalism.

Core ideas include anti-authoritarianism, anti-statism, and the conviction that social order can emerge from bottom-up processes and federations of free associations rather than from top-down rule. Property concepts vary among schools, from defendable possession and cooperative ownership to critiques of capitalist private property and exploitation.

Major currents within anarchismo include anarcho-communism, anarcho-syndicalism, mutualism, and various forms of individualist anarchism, as well as eco-anarchism and feminist strands. Some emphasize direct action and organized labor, others favor free federation and nonviolent civil-society projects, and some advocate insurrectionary tactics.

Historical development: Anarchism emerged in the 19th century within European socialist movements, with thinkers such as Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, Mikhail Bakunin, and Peter Kropotkin shaping its theory and practice. The Spanish Civil War featured large-scale anarchist collectives and worker self-management. In the 20th and 21st centuries, libertarian socialist ideas influenced various social movements and grassroots initiatives around the world.

Today, anarchismo remains a minority but persistent current in political life, influencing activist networks, cooperative movements, and community projects that emphasize voluntary association, mutual aid, and local autonomy. Debates continue about strategy, organization, and the feasibility of stateless, non-hierarchical societies.