Almost all political theory, despite extreme variations across cultures and time, seeks to justify submission to authority. By contrast, anarchism explicitly rejects forms of domination claimed to be central to so-called civilization, especially the State, capitalism, and religion, expanding in recent decades to include patriarchy, racism, coloniality, sexual and gender hierarchies, eurocentricism, technology, aesthetic norms, and western epistemological methods. Despite being caricatured as individualistic and violent, anarchism seeks not only to oppose forms of domination, but to build up different social structures, based on principles of consent, mutuality, solidarity, and federation. Through these critiques, anarchism is a critical challenge to conservative understandings of 'liberty,' as well as leftist movements centering the seizure and use of State power as the primary revolutionary method. Grounded in political theory and historical examples, this course will survey major themes in anti-authoritarian thought and practice. Students should expect to read an average of 30-40 pages of material in preparation for each class, and help to collectively run discussions.
- Teacher: Ethan Tupelo