Anarchists believe that the point of
society is to widen the choices of individuals. Anarchism is opposed
to states, armies, slavery, the wages system, the landlord system,
prisons, capitalism, bureaucracy, meritocracy, theocracy,
revolutionary governments, patriarchy, matriarchy, monarchy,
oligarchy, and every other kind of coercive institution. In other
words, anarchism opposes government in all its forms.
Enlarged and updated for a modern
audience, What Is
Anarchism? has the making
of a standard reference book. As an introduction to the development
of anarchist thought, it will be useful not only to propagandists and
proselytizers of anarchism but also to teachers and students of
political theory, philosophy, sociology, history, and to all who want
to uncover the basic core of anarchism.
This useful compendium, compiled and
edited by the late Vernon Richards of Freedom Press, with additional
selections by Donald Rooum, includes extracts from the work of Errico
Malatesta, Peter Kropotkin, Max Stirner, Emma Goldman, Charlotte
Wilson, Michael Bakunin, Rudolf Rocker, Alexander Berkman, Colin
Ward, Albert Meltzer, and many others.
Author and Wildcat cartoonist Donald
Rooum gives context to the selections with introductions looking at
"What Anarchists Believe," "How Anarchists Differ,"
and "What Anarchists Do" and provides helpful and humorous
illustrations throughout the book.
