The concept of anarchy, a society without government (one correspondent has used “nonarchy,” which we had not met before), provokes speculation about its contrary, a society using every form of government. What could such a system be called – omarchy? The concept comes complete with difficulties, not least among them the relations between the different… read more »
A problem facing systematic ideology (our opponents of the [anarcho-] Socialist Party tend to be less aware that it is a problem facing them too) is whether it is possible to demonstrate the existence of a world “out there.” If it can be shown that there is, as there seems to be, a world independent… read more »
One of the minor strengths of systematic ideology is its ability to account for features of social behaviour which at first sight appear trivial, by linking them with broader themes. One such feature appears in the distinction between quality of life and standard of living. “Standard of living” is what governments and economists talk about…. read more »
The market seems to have been with us as long as good have been produced, and much of the dissension in society has centred around it. Rulers, invaders and others have often interfered with the market and in times of shortage limitations have been applied; price restrictions, the appropriation of merchants’ supplies, sometimes rationing, but… read more »
IC 12, 13, 14 and the Challenge have had a good deal to say about the “Socialist” (more accurately, anarcho-socialist) Party of Great Britain. We expect to have more to say about it in the future but the material now on the table enables us to show the reason for our interest. As far as… read more »
The Socialist Standard for August 1984 says: The working class […] run society from top to bottom. The same journal for October 1984 says, of the proposition that ‘the exploited control their own exploitation’ that it ‘defied logic.’ But if the workers run society from top to bottom then they must control their own exploitation,… read more »
The Socialist Standard for August 1984 says: The working class […] run society from top to bottom. The same journal for October 1984 says: The capitalists […] are busy doing multi-million pound deals with the Russians and Chinese ruling classes. So where do those deals fit in? Above the top? Or below the bottom? from… read more »
The anarchists often claim to be independent of one another, and at first sight they do seem to be if not wholly independent at least deeply divided, but their divisions have a way of disappearing on examination. One which at first sight may seem fundamental is between the orthodox (if I may use that term)… read more »
The article which follows is reprinted (slightly edited) with permission from Science and Public Policy, February 1984. The author is Zvi Lamm, MA, PhD, of the School of Education, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. – GW Professor Zvi Lamm served in the British Army in Europe (1943 – 46) and with the Israeli Defence Forces (1950… read more »
An old joke is usually a good one, and there is a Scottish joke we have long relished: A traveller asks directions to Auchterlochty and is told he has passed it. “Passed it? But I didn’t see anything – no houses, no shops, no pub, no church, no people.” “Aye, mon, yon’s the place.” The… read more »