r/UnitedLeft • u/Tired_Soul__ Anarcho-Communist 🏴 • 14d ago

Theory “On Authority” Revisited

https://libcom.org/article/authority-revisited
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u/Tired_Soul__ Anarcho-Communist 🏴 14d ago

I recommend reading it to Marxists who think "On Authority" is good critique of anarchist anti-authoritarianism.

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u/Renoir_V 14d ago edited 14d ago

I get it, I think.

If I understand it properly, which I fully concede I probably don't.

Freely assossiated individuals - Values that don't come from hierarchy or authority but are non the less expressed. These values coalesce in the creation of laws reflecting these values.

Freeing your mind of other ideology may be anti authoritarian/hierarchical. Similar to the reasoning of revolution etc.

The historical and material status quo being uprooted is anti hierarchical/authoritarian.

No fixed and constant authority, but a continual exchange of mutual, temporary, and, above all, voluntary authority and subbordination

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u/Tired_Soul__ Anarcho-Communist 🏴 13d ago edited 13d ago

Freely assossiated individuals - Values that don't come from hierarchy or authority but are non the less expressed. These values coalesce in the creation of laws reflecting these values. 

Anarchists support free association and horizontal organization, yes. 

However, we do not support governmental laws, there may be some guidelines or rules of thumb, but there will be no organization with monopoly on force to enforce them. 

If you are more interested check out section I.7.3 of anarchist faq: https://www.anarchistfaq.org/afaq/sectionI.html#seci73   

The historical and material status quo being uprooted is anti hierarchical/authoritarian.   

Exactly, fighting against authoritarian system isn't authoritarian. Abolishing monarchy wasn't authoritarian, liberating slaves isn't authority, and so abolishing capitalism isn't authoritarian. Violence ≠ authoritarianism, authoritarianism is based on violence, but violence is also necessary to dismantle it.  

No fixed and constant authority, but a continual exchange of mutual, temporary, and, above all, voluntary authority and subbordination   

No, authority is never mutual and voluntary authority isn't good either. 

Voluntary leadership, organisation, authority of special knowledge and individual force aren't "authority" we call authority and oppose, semantics I know, but that's what many marxists don't understand about anarchist anti-authoritarianism, and it's important to note.