THE ANARCHISM PORTAL

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Anarchism is a political philosophy and movement that is against all forms of authority and seeks to abolish the institutions it claims maintain unnecessary coercion and hierarchy, typically including the state and capitalism. Anarchism advocates for the replacement of the state with stateless societies and voluntary free associations. As a historically left-wing movement, this reading of anarchism is placed on the farthest left of the political spectrum, usually described as the libertarian wing of the socialist movement (libertarian socialism).

Although traces of anarchist ideas are found all throughout history, modern anarchism emerged from the Enlightenment. During the latter half of the 19th and the first decades of the 20th century, the anarchist movement flourished in most parts of the world and had a significant role in workers' struggles for emancipation. Various anarchist schools of thought formed during this period. Anarchists have taken part in several revolutions, most notably in the Paris Commune, the Russian Civil War and the Spanish Civil War, whose end marked the end of the classical era of anarchism. In the last decades of the 20th and into the 21st century, the anarchist movement has been resurgent once more, growing in popularity and influence within anti-capitalist, anti-war and anti-globalisation movements. (Full article...)


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(Anarky is) a philosophical action hero, an Aristotle in tights, rising above mere "crime-fighter" status into the realm of incisive social commentary. In fact, Anarky exists primarily to challenge the status quo of hierarchical power, and he may be the first mainstream comics hero of his type to do it consistently and with such rational intelligence.

Norm Breyfogle, Batman: Anarky introduction, June 1998.

Batman: Anarky is a 1999 trade paperback published by DC Comics. The book collects prominent appearances of Anarky, a comic book character created by Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle. Although all of the collected stories were written by Alan Grant, various artists contributed to individual stories. Dual introductions were written by the creators—both of whom introduce the character and give insight into their role in Anarky's creation and development.

Featured as an antagonist in various Batman comics during the 90's, stories based on the character were highly thematic, political, and philosophical in tone. The majority of the collected stories ("Anarky in Gotham City", "Anarky: Tomorrow Belongs to Us", "Anarky") are influenced by the philosophy of anarchism, while the final story ("Metamorphosis") is influenced by Neo-Tech. Although anti-statism is the overarching theme of the collection, other concepts are explored. Under the umbrella of anarchist theory, anti-electoralism and the tactic of non-voting are the dual focuses of "Anarky: Tomorrow Belongs to Us", while economic exploitation, environmental issues, and political corruption are also repeatedly referenced. In "Metamorphosis", new emphasis was placed on previously unexplored themes, including the mind, consciousness, bicameral mentality, and the ethical value of honesty. Anarky's characterization was also expanded to present him as an atheist and rationalist, while determinism and free will became key elements in the character's discourse on the nature of evil. Literary references are also utilized throughout the collected stories to stress the philosophical foundations of the character. (read more...)

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Ross Winn, circa 1901
Ross Winn, circa 1901

Photograph of Ross Winn (1871–1912), American anarchist writer and publisher, circa 1901. Winn is best remembered for publishing several anarchist periodicals and trying to promote anarchism in the historically conservative southern United States.

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“ Our tactics derive from what has been said. We are anarchists and we preach Anarchy without adjectives. Anarchy is an axiom and the economic question something secondary. Some will say to us that it is because of the economic question that Anarchy is a true idea; but we believe that to be anarchist means being the enemy of all authority and imposition and, by consequence, whatever system is proposed must be considered the best defence of Anarchy, not wishing to impose it on those who do not accept it. This does not mean that we ignore the economic question. On the contrary, we are pleased to discuss it, but only as a contribution to the definitive solution or solutions. Many excellent things have been said by Cabet, Saint Simon, Fourier, Robert Owen and others; but all their systems have disappeared because they wanted to lock Society up in the conceptions of their brains; however, they have offered important contributions to the great question. Remember that from the moment you set about drawing up the general lines of the Future Society, on the one hand there arise objections and questions from opponents; and on the other hand, the natural desire to produce a complete and perfect work will lead one to invent and draw up a system that, we are sure, will disappear like the others. ” —Fernando Tarrida del Mármol, Letter to Le Révolte, 1890.

Anniversaries for June 27

  • 1869 - Emma Goldman born (d. 1940), Kaunas, Lithuania.
  • 1917 - Emma Goldman & Alexander Berkman act as independent counsel in their conspiracy trial for anti-war activities; Emma denies charge that she stated, "We believe in violence & we will use violence" at a May 18 meeting.
  • 1925 - Emma Goldman marries James Colton, an elderly anarchist friend & trade unionist from Wales, in order to obtain British citizenship & the right to travel & speak more widely.
  • 1960 - Pierre Monatte dies (b. 1881).
  • 1973 - Ida Mett dies (b. 1901).
  • 2003 - 250 converge for International anarchist meeting in Warsaw (June 27-30th).

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