Order without Coercion: The Theory and Practice of Anarchism

Course Description

For many, the word “Anarchy” calls to mind lawlessness, chaos, death, a war of all against all. To the people who have used “Anarchist” as an affirmative label, nothing could be further from the truth. Anarchists believe in peace, justice, and cooperation, and see coercive systems of interpersonal organization, such as government, capitalism, white supremacy, misogyny, etc. as the clearest and most obvious failures of these ideals. An anarchist world is one where people are able to decide for themselves what they will do, who they will associate with, and what the meaning of their life will be.
This class will be a whirlwind tour through the philosophy of power, with a focus on those thinkers who urge us to set ourselves free from domination and to take personal responsibility for the well-being of ourselves and those around us.

Day 1: Introduction to basic Anarchist Principles + Anthropology of the Prehistory of Power
Day 2: Classical Theories of Power (Plato, Machiavelli, Rousseau)
Day 3: Communalist Anarchism (Proudhon, Kropotkin)
Day 4: Individualist Anarchism (Sartre, Stirner)
Day 5: Contemporary Anarchist Theory and Practice