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

Durkheim argued that human groupings are held together via solidarity. This functionalist
view—that society functions are an organic organism and the antithesis to the conflict
viewpoint—uses solidarity to explain why society does not merely collapse into
struggling individual interests. [altruistic, anomie, and egoistic suicide] The anarchist
view of solidarity is a bit different.
Voluntary Association (spontaneous order?)
voluntary association: Harrison (1960)
spontaneous order: Jacobs (2000); Davis (year?)
There is, of course, incredible overlap with these ideas: direct action is an assertion of
self-determination, which stems from liberty. Egalitarianism requires mutual aid.
Autonomy and anti-authoritarianism also requires solidarity with others. So forth, blah
blah blah. Voluntary association is the arrangement of and consensus is the
process/language of the synthesis of (or compromise between) self-determination and
solidarity. Solidarity is more political or personal, compared to the more substantive and
physical mutual aid.
According to Milstein (?), however, direct democracy and direct action are not
necessarily the same thing—“there's something authoritarian about a small group of
people shutting down a city street” (get exact quote—in Reclaim the Cities). Likewise,
liberty only extends so far until it also becomes authoritarian when wielded by stronger
folk. [other contradictions here?]
[Would diagrams/figures be useful here? I think so!]
[ Williams 38 ] [ this is a draft. do not cite. ]