NationStates Jolt Archive

I really like the concept of anarchy and I kinda thought it would work perfectly but then I thought about Iraq...
Basicaly put the time directly after Saddam fell Iraq was fucked. Looters nicked everything, the army was disbanded, the Baathist party (which was the goverment) was destroyed and banned from reform and so all the countries services from postal to electric ceased to work. Did they form colonies? Nope. Now Iraq is partly controlled by extremist islamic thugs and Iraq is on the verge of civil war.
So anarchist folks, does Iraq not make a very bad testcase for your ideals?

Wouldn't Iraq be different because it has a tradition of violence?

You are saying countries like the US and the UK do not?

I really like the concept of anarchy and I kinda thought it would work perfectly but then I thought about Iraq...
Basicaly put the time directly after Saddam fell Iraq was fucked. Looters nicked everything, the army was disbanded, the Baathist party (which was the goverment) was destroyed and banned from reform and so all the countries services from postal to electric ceased to work. Did they form colonies? Nope. Now Iraq is partly controlled by extremist islamic thugs and Iraq is on the verge of civil war.
So anarchist folks, does Iraq not make a very bad testcase for your ideals?
It is the situation after a war under occupation by an alien super power... so no, the anarchy in Iraq is a chaos after the forceful collapse of a government. If anarchy is brought about by the people and with as little violence and death as possible, then it would not end up in such a Chaos as Iraq has become.

It is the situation after a war under occupation by an alien super power... so no, the anarchy in Iraq is a chaos after the forceful collapse of a government. If anarchy is brought about by the people and with as little violence and death as possible, then it would not end up in such a Chaos as Iraq has become.

I see. Well technicaly Iraq is Anarchy as it has no goverment in control. It does have an "interim" (i.e. unelected and chosen by America) goverment ran by a terrorist who has a habit of trial free executions but they are not in control by a long shot.

I see. Well technicaly Iraq is Anarchy as it has no goverment in control. It does have an "interim" (i.e. unelected and chosen by America) goverment ran by a terrorist who has a habit of trial free executions but they are not in control by a long shot.
As you said, the people get a lot of things dictated onto them by the "almighty super power". They dont like it, neither would I if I was an Iraqi. The dont have the power to throw the super power out of their country, so they oppose it with civil disobedience and anarchy. I am sure the country will eventually reorganize and calm down, once the US have *completely* left it, not even leaving any military bases behind.

As you said, the people get a lot of things dictated onto them by the "almighty super power". They dont like it, neither would I if I was an Iraqi. The dont have the power to throw the super power out of their country, so they oppose it with civil disobedience and anarchy. I am sure the country will eventually reorganize and calm down, once the US have *completely* left it, not even leaving any military bases behind.

So never then?

Hardly an argument against anarchism - the people of Iraq are not exactly a populace well educated in personal autonomy.

As i understand it. The state of affairs of anarchy and the political system of Anarchy are two different things.

As i understand it. The state of affairs of anarchy and the political system of Anarchy are two different things.

Indeed, the conflict between different hierarchical forces, as is occuring in Iraq at present, has little to do with anarchism.

In fact the traditional conotation of the word anarchism has done the cause much damage. At least in the mainstreams eyes and opponents use that conotation to discredit it easilly.

Note: ^ Am not an Anarchist.

You might find the answer to what you're looking for in "the Anarchist thread" - while it's a bit long, it will probably tell you. But just as a general rule, anarchy and anarchism are two different things.