Graham R (Ed.) - Anarchism - A Documentary History of Libertarian Ideas Volume One - From Anarchy to Anarchism (300 CE to 1939)

Epilogue And Prologue To Volume 2 /501
which has persisted from primitive times, but the relationship of brotherhood; in political
terms, the free association of producers working fo r the common good. This is
the essential doctrine of anarchism, and far from having been discredited by Marxian
economics or the achievements of the Soviet Union, it has everywhere received overwhelming
confirmation in the events of the last twenty years, until we may now claim
that the realization of this principle of brotherhood is the only hope of civilization ...
Outbreaks of "unofficial" strikes, strikes against the authority of the Trade Unions
and against the State as employer, are now a characteristic of our time. These
developments are devolutionary-revolts against centralization and bureaucratic
control-and as such essentially anarchist. For the anarchist objects, not merely to
the personal tyranny of a leader like Stalin, but still more to the impersonal tyranny
of a bureaucratic machine.
What is wrong with bureaucracy In the vast and extremely complicated conditions
of modern civilization, is not a bureaucracy necessary merely to hold that civilization
together, to adjust relationships, to administer justice and so on
Actually, of course, in a society of rich and poor nothing is more necessary. If it
is necessary to protect an unfair distribution of property, a system of taxation and
speculation, a monopolist money system; if you have to prevent other nations from
claiming your iII-gotten territorial gains, your closed markets, your trade routes; if as
a consequence of these economic inequalities you are going to maintain pomp and
ceremony, ranks and orders; if you are going to do any or all these things you will
need a bureaucracy.
Such a bureaucracy consists of armed fo rces, police forces, and a civil service.
These are largely autonomous bodies. Theoretically they are subordinate to a democratically
elected Parliament, but the Army, Navy, and Air Forces are controlled by
specially trained officers who from their schooldays onwards are brought up in a narrow
caste tradition, and who always, in dealing with Parliament, can dominate that
body by their superior technical knowledge, professional secrecy, and strategic bluff.
As for the bureaucracy proper, the Civil Service, anyone who has had any experience
of its inner workings knows the extent to which it controls the Cabinet, and through
the Cabinet, Parliament itself. We are really ruled by a secret shadow cabinet, the
heads of the Treasury, the Foreign Office, the Home Office, the Service Departments,
and the Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet. Below this select club ... we have a corps
of willing and efficient slaves-beetle-like figures in striped trousers, black coats,
winged collars, and bow ties. All these worthy servants of the State are completely
out of touch with the normal life of the nation: they are ignorant ofthe methods and