anarchists

Anarchists are proponents of anarchism, a political philosophy that advocates the abolition of hierarchical authority and the creation of a society based on voluntary, cooperative associations. Anarchists reject compulsory government and often critique capitalism for enabling coercive hierarchies, though positions vary across schools. They emphasize autonomy, mutual aid, and horizontal decision-making rather than centralized power.

Core ideas include anti-statism, antipathy to coercive authority, and a preference for federations, communes, syndicates, or other forms of bottom-up organization. Methods commonly associated with anarchism include direct action, worker and community self-organization, mutual-aid networks, and solidarity. Some strands advocate collective ownership or voluntary association of resources; others stress individual freedom and contract within cooperative structures.

Historically, anarchism emerged in the 19th century among radicals influenced by Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, Mikhail Bakunin, and Peter Kropotkin. It played a significant role in various social movements, including the Spanish Civil War, where anarchist collectives emerged in Catalonia and Aragon; and in 20th-century labor and anti-authoritarian movements. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, anarchist ideas influenced protests against capitalism and state power, environmental movements, and grassroots mutual-aid networks.

Critics argue that anarchist models can struggle with coordination at scale or maintaining public order, while proponents contend that voluntary associations and decentralized federations can be more adaptable and just. Anarchists are diverse, with currents such as anarchist communism, anarcho-syndicalism, mutualism, and individualist anarchism offering different proposals for how a stateless society might function.