Anarchists reject state authority and capitalism, viewing them as oppressive systems that limit freedom and perpetuate exploitation. They argue that hierarchical structures concentrate power, leading to corruption and inequality. Anarchists advocate for non-hierarchical, decentralized forms of social organization.

Anarchist critiques extend to private property, seen as a source of exploitation maintained through state violence. They propose alternative economic systems based on voluntary association and worker ownership. Anarchist strategies include direct action, social revolution, and syndicalism to challenge existing power structures.

Critique of State and Hierarchy

Oppressive Nature of the State

• Anarchists view the state as an inherently oppressive institution that limits individual freedom and autonomy
• The state maintains its power through coercion, violence, and the threat of force (police, military)
• Hierarchical structures within the state concentrate power in the hands of a few, leading to corruption and abuse
• The state's laws and regulations often serve the interests of the ruling class rather than the general population

Exploitation and Wage Slavery

• Anarchists argue that the state and capitalism perpetuate economic exploitation and inequality
• Workers are forced to sell their labor to capitalists in order to survive, creating a form of wage slavery
• The state protects the interests of the capitalist class through property rights and the enforcement of contracts
• This system allows capitalists to extract surplus value from workers, leading to the accumulation of wealth and power in the hands of a few

Rejection of Hierarchical Structures

• Anarchists reject all forms of hierarchy, not just those associated with the state
• Hierarchies based on factors such as race, gender, and class are seen as oppressive and unjust
• Anarchists advocate for the creation of non-hierarchical, decentralized forms of social organization (communes, worker cooperatives)
• The goal is to create a society based on voluntary association, mutual aid, and direct democracy

Opposition to Private Property

Critique of Private Property

• Anarchists distinguish between personal property (possessions for personal use) and private property (means of production owned by capitalists)
• Private property is seen as a source of exploitation and inequality, as it allows capitalists to extract rent, interest, and profit from workers
• Anarchists argue that private property is maintained through state violence and coercion (police, courts)
• The concentration of private property in the hands of a few leads to the concentration of wealth and power, perpetuating social and economic inequality

Free Market Anarchism

• Some anarchists, such as individualist anarchists and mutualists, support free markets without private property
• They advocate for a system based on voluntary exchange, mutual credit, and labor-based currency
• In this system, workers would own the means of production and exchange goods and services directly, without the need for capitalists or the state
• However, many anarchists critique free market anarchism, arguing that markets can still lead to inequality and exploitation

Anarchist Tactics and Strategies

Social Revolution and Direct Action

• Anarchists believe that a fundamental transformation of society is necessary to achieve their goals
• This transformation, or social revolution, involves the abolition of the state and capitalism and the creation of a new, non-hierarchical social order
• Anarchists often advocate for direct action tactics, such as strikes, boycotts, and occupations, to challenge the power of the state and capitalists
• Direct action is seen as a means of building working-class power and solidarity, as well as a way to prefigure the desired future society

Propaganda of the Deed and Insurrectionary Anarchism

• Some anarchists, particularly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, advocated for "propaganda of the deed" - individual acts of violence against representatives of the state and capitalism (assassinations, bombings)
• The goal was to inspire the masses to revolt and to demonstrate the vulnerability of those in power
• However, many anarchists criticized this tactic, arguing that it was counterproductive and often led to increased state repression
• Insurrectionary anarchism, which emerged in the late 20th century, emphasizes the importance of spontaneous uprisings and the creation of autonomous spaces outside the control of the state

Syndicalism and Anarcho-Syndicalism

• Syndicalism is a strategy that focuses on organizing workers into revolutionary trade unions
• The goal is to use the power of organized labor to overthrow capitalism and the state through a general strike
• Anarcho-syndicalism combines syndicalist tactics with anarchist principles, aiming to create a society based on worker self-management and federation
• Prominent examples of anarcho-syndicalist organizations include the Spanish CNT during the Spanish Revolution and the modern-day Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)