Anarchism

The word 'anarchism' tends to conjure up images of aggressive protest against government, and - recently - of angry demonstrations against bodies such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. But is anarchism inevitably linked with violent disorder? Do anarchists adhere to a coherent ideology? What exactly is anarchism? In this very short introduction, Colin Ward considers anarchism from a variety of perspectives: theoretical, historical, and international, and explores key anarchist thinkers from Kropotkin to Chomsky. He looks critically at anarchism by evaluating key ideas within it, such as its blanket opposition to incarceration, and policy of 'no compromise' with the apparatus of political decision-making. Among the questions he ponders are: can anarchy ever function effectively as a political force? Is it more 'organized' and 'reasonable' than is currently perceived? Whatever the politics of the reader, Ward's argument ensures that anarchism will be much better understood after reading this book.

ISBN 0192804774   Volumes 1 ISBN13 9780192804778 (What's this?)   Weight (grammes) 117 Publisher Oxford University Press   Published in Oxford Imprint Oxford University Press   Series ISSN 116 Format Paperback   Series title Very Short Introductions Publication date 21 Oct 2004   Height (mm) 174 Library of Congress HX833   Width (mm) 111 DEWEY 335.83   Spine width (mm) 8 DEWEY edition DC22   Academic level General Pages 122

1		Definitions and ancestors		1
2		Revolutionary moments		14
3		States, societies, and the collapse of socialism		26
4		Deflating nationalism and fundamentalism		33
5		Containing deviancy and liberating work		41
6		Freedom in education		51
7		The individualist response		62
8		Quiet revolutions		70
9		The federalist agenda		78
10		Green aspirations and anarchist futures		90

excellent introduction The Guardian

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