Anarcho-
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Anarcho- is a prefix that refers to anarchy or "anarchism;" ie. a political situation which is free in all respects, which is to say without rulers. The term anarchism refers to the philosophy, ideology, or belief that the State is unnecessary and should be abolished. Some forms of anarchism, such as anarcho-socialism and anarcho-communism oppose capitalism. Other more modern philosophies such as anarcho-capitalism which use the "anarcho-" prefix but support capitalism. The term "libertarianism" is sometimes used to denote similar concepts; however, in the US, libertarianism is usually used to mean a free market capitalist society, encompassing minarchism as well as anarcho-capitalism. Elsewhere in the world, libertarian socialism remains in use as a term for the socialist varieties of anarchism.
Whereas Marxist communism views state-socialism as a practical half-way point to stateless communism, anarchism views both the bureaucratic socialism of the USSR and state-sponsored capitalism as equally corrupting toward freedom. The term anarcho- has been used to denote a number of other very differing ideologies which relate in different (and controversial) ways to anarchy.
- Anarcho-socialism - A form of libertarian socialism with absolutely no state or ruler.
- Anarcho-syndicalism - Focusing on the building an anti-authoritarian labor movement, creating worker solidarity, and also using militant direct action such as general strikes.
- Anarcho-primitivism - A critique of industrial capitalism, technology, and agriculture. Favors anarchist structures based around hunter gathering, permaculture, and non-industrial production.
- Anarcho-communism - Based around ideas of freely associated communities, workplaces, and social institutions based around free association, self-management, and mutual aid.
- Anarcho-capitalism - A branch of thought outside of the traditional anarchist movement that asserts free-market capitalism in conjunction with the absence of a state; there is strong dispute over whether free market anarchists are "anarchists", since anarchism traditionally rejects all social, political, and economic hierarchies.
- Anarcha-feminism (substitutes masculine 'o' for feminine 'a') - A kind of radical feminism that espouses the belief that patriarchy is a fundamental problem in our society.
