Sociology of the Anarchists - Gozips.uakron.edu - The University of ...

VALUES
Which side are you on?
- Atari Teenage Riot
What does sociology say about anarchist values? Sociologists have said quite a bit more
about anarchist values than anarchism itself. This shows how sociology often considers
the concepts of anarchism without referring to anarchism directly. This is likely due to the
perception that sociology should be concerned with understanding society, not changing
society. The inability of the educated sociologists to see that analysis creates a mandate
for action, illustrates the morally vacuousness of sectors within the discipline.
Below are a number of key anarchist values (as noted in the Appendix): antiauthoritarianism,
direct action, liberty, mutual aid, self-determination, solidarity, and
voluntary association. Each value is discussed, in turn, via its general sociological
understanding.
Anti-authoritarianism (hierarchy-less, egalitarianism)
authority: Haskell, T. (1984); Weber, M. (1946); Willner, A.R. (1984)
hierarchy: Becker, H.S. (1967); Schryer 2001; Blaug (2000)
Authority: If authority is the absence of coercion and if the presence of authority mean
that subordinate people accept that authority, what does that imply for antiauthoritarians?
Clearly, anti-authoritarians do not accept the willing self-subjugation to
authority figures, and therefore leave themselves open to other forms of coercion.
If oppressive power can be embodied in both authority and coercion, anarchists reject
both means of oppression, claiming neither are legitimate, since there is no such thing as
legitimate authority.
Please see the section entitled Social Movements for an application of Weber's three
types of authority applied to the anarchist movement.
Direct action (civil-disobedience)
direct action: Polletta (2001)
Liberty (freedom, autonomy)
autonomy: Kohn, M.L. & Slomczynski, K.M. (1990); Bates (1972); Katsiaficas (2001)
Mutual aid (cooperation) (mutualism?)
mutual aid: Glassman (2000); Kinna (1995); Dugger (1984)
Kinna (1995) argues that Kropotkin's mutual aid theory was in some ways a political
[ Williams 35 ] [ this is a draft. do not cite. ]