NationStates Jolt Archive

What is the difference, if any, between anarcho-communism and anarcho-syndicalism? Reading the descriptions of the two, they seem to be either identical or so close as to make no difference. So if either an anarcho-communist, an anarcho-syndicalist, or someone knowledgeable on the subject (regardless of ideology) could enlighten me, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

What is the difference, if any, between anarcho-communism and anarcho-syndicalism? Reading the descriptions of the two, they seem to be either identical or so close as to make no difference. So if either an anarcho-communist, an anarcho-syndicalist, or someone knowledgeable on the subject (regardless of ideology) could enlighten me, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

With anarcho-syndicalism you get a free subscription to either High Times or Mother Jones. Void where prohibited by law.

Anarcho-syndicalists believe that only direct action (on the part of trade unions) can create change. Anarcho-communists believe that indirect action (such as electing a leader) can facilitate the same change.

I am neither anarchist nor communist.

wouldn't this be a question for the anarchists? or am I retarded?

wouldn't this be a question for the anarchists? or am I retarded?

No, the OP is. Anarchy isn't exactly a "left" thing.

Anarcho Sydicalism wants to paralise the state through a general strike and want trade unions to act as a body of social order in the transition.

Anarcho communists are basically Marxists who don't like the dictatorship of the P.

What is the difference, if any, between anarcho-communism and anarcho-syndicalism? Reading the descriptions of the two, they seem to be either identical or so close as to make no difference. So if either an anarcho-communist, an anarcho-syndicalist, or someone knowledgeable on the subject (regardless of ideology) could enlighten me, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

Anarcho-communists tend to emphasize the commune (and thus the community) as the basis of political organization, while anarcho-syndicalists emphasize the syndicate operating on the basis of worker self-management. Think of a society built upon grass-roots trade unions managing the means of production, and that's anarcho-syndicalism; think of a society of freely-associating communes where the means of production are owned by the community as a whole, and you have anarcho-communism.

Most left-anarchists are somewhere in between.

In their effort to feign being intellectuals or relevant, anarchists have contrived sundry hyphenated anarchisms to bicker about.

This charade is pretty easy to see through, however, when one takes anarchism itself on its merits.

The most cogent anarcho-XYZ to date, the umbrella-anarchism which invariably encompasses to a remarkable degree the main points of all anarcho-s, is "anarcho-waaaaahahhhhhhhh," where the "waaaahhhhh" is the noise a little kid makes when he is crying.

In their effort to feign being intellectuals or relevant, anarchists have contrived sundry hyphenated anarchisms to bicker about.

This charade is pretty easy to see through, however, when one takes anarchism itself on its merits.

The most cogent anarcho-XYZ to date, the umbrella-anarchism which invariably encompasses to a remarkable degree the main points of all anarcho-s, is "anarcho-waaaaahahhhhhhhh," where the "waaaahhhhh" is the noise a little kid makes when he is crying.

Hey!!

Oh wait.. that's true..

Also, I take issue with you associating anarchists with "the left."

In their effort to feign being intellectuals or relevant, anarchists have contrived sundry hyphenated anarchisms to bicker about.

This charade is pretty easy to see through, however, when one takes anarchism itself on its merits.

The most cogent anarcho-XYZ to date, the umbrella-anarchism which invariably encompasses to a remarkable degree the main points of all anarcho-s, is "anarcho-waaaaahahhhhhhhh," where the "waaaahhhhh" is the noise a little kid makes when he is crying.

It may surprise you, but some of us actually expect, you know, arguments when people criticize ideologies with which they disagree.

No, the OP is. Anarchy isn't exactly a "left" thing.It was originally exclusively a left thing, only in the second half of its existence did the right-wing get in on it.

In their effort to feign being intellectuals or relevant, anarchists have contrived sundry hyphenated anarchisms to bicker about.

This charade is pretty easy to see through, however, when one takes anarchism itself on its merits.

The most cogent anarcho-XYZ to date, the umbrella-anarchism which invariably encompasses to a remarkable degree the main points of all anarcho-s, is "anarcho-waaaaahahhhhhhhh," where the "waaaahhhhh" is the noise a little kid makes when he is crying.I wonder if there's a cure for eleutherophobia? If so, you should take it.

Also, I take issue with you associating anarchists with "the left."The two types of anarchism that the OP asked about were left anarchism.

I appreciate the input, everyone. Thanks. :)

It's rather late, but I might was well. Anarcho-syndicalism believes something along the lines that mass group of trade-unions should replace the current capitalist rule (not really that Anarchist, but oh well). Anarcho-communism belives in the voluntary donation of ones production of ones skills to the community.

It was originally exclusively a left thing, only in the second half of its existence did the right-wing get in on it.


Anarcho capitalism isn't exacly right winged. More libertarian.

Anarcho capitalism isn't exacly right winged. More libertarian.Libertarian can be either right or left; there is a such thing as socialist libertarianism. Are you familiar with the Political Compass test?

Libertarian can be either right or left; there is a such thing as socialist libertarianism. Are you familiar with the Political Compass test?

Yes the political compass test was specifically designed to stop people calling something like an economically liberal libertairan "right" and also calling the conservatives or the BNP as similarly "right". Besides I find it odd to hear a strand of anarchism as "right" when by definition its extremely socially liberal, might be why its usually called individualist anarchism.

Yes the political compass test was specifically designed to stop people calling something like an economically liberal libertairan "right" and also calling the conservatives or the BNP as similarly "right". Besides I find it odd to hear a strand of anarchism as "right" when by definition its extremely socially liberal, might be why its usually called individualist anarchism.It's entirely possible to be both right-wing and socially liberal - the Libertarian Party in the U.S., for instance.

Yes the political compass test was specifically designed to stop people calling something like an economically liberal libertairan "right" and also calling the conservatives or the BNP as similarly "right". Besides I find it odd to hear a strand of anarchism as "right" when by definition its extremely socially liberal, might be why its usually called individualist anarchism.

On that note, the same thing applies to econimic philosophies. If one wants a free and unregulated economy, they are though to be right-wing, even though that very philisophy is for a liberal, free economy. If one wants an economy under direct government planning and control, that his thought to be left-wing. As far as I'm concerned, people get these 'wings' flipped, depending on whether they are talking about economic or social issues.

It's freakin' anarchy. The fact that you (they) add hyphens makes a little sense, I mean yeah we're human we disagree and those differences must be categorized, but anarchy (and no i dont mean just the whole chaos thing at all) is about the lack of government and as far as I'm concerned labelling anarchy with communism or syndicalism, is just like saying "Yeah! Government Sucks!.... maybe?? sorta." I guess what I'm trying to say is the only ones trying to sound smart, aren't the anarchist... it's us bullshitters in these forums trying to use larger words than the mastermind who posted before us.

Supercalifrajalistic... oh i give up.

P.S. on a serious note, I think one good think about anarchy (the philosophy of anarchy?) is it can be used as a guide to criticize our governments. Anarchy all together is a shitty idea, but still... maybe their on to something.

It's freakin' anarchy. The fact that you (they) add hyphens makes a little sense, I mean yeah we're human we disagree and those differences must be categorized, but anarchy (and no i dont mean just the whole chaos thing at all) is about the lack of government and as far as I'm concerned labelling anarchy with communism or syndicalism, is just like saying "Yeah! Government Sucks!.... maybe?? sorta." I guess what I'm trying to say is the only ones trying to sound smart, aren't the anarchist... it's us bullshitters in these forums trying to use larger words than the mastermind who posted before us.

Supercalifrajalistic... oh i give up.

P.S. on a serious note, I think one good think about anarchy (the philosophy of anarchy?) is it can be used as a guide to criticize our governments. Anarchy all together is a shitty idea, but still... maybe their on to something.There's nothing about the concepts of communism and syndicalism that are incompatible with anarchism.
Furthermore, it's not as though those concepts only exist and have only existed within these forums.

Anarcho capitalism isn't exacly right winged. More libertarian.

Well, I'm going to assume by "libertarian" you mean the American definition of libertarian. The Libertarian philosophy you speak of claims to be anti-authoritarian right-wing (as in pro-laissez faire). But their claim of anti-authoritarianism is moot when you realize that most right wing libertarians only want to substitute a public state for a private one.

No, the OP is. Anarchy isn't exactly a "left" thing.
Anarcho-Communism is, though.