Very Short Introductions: Anarchism

What do anarchists want? Can anarchy ever function effectively as a political force? Is anarchism more organized and reasonable than is currently perceived? Colin Ward explains what anarchism means and who anarchists are in this illuminating and accessible introduction to the subject. The word anarchism tends to conjure up images of aggressive protest against government, and – recently – of angry demonstrations against bodies such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. But is anarchism inevitably linked with violent disorder? Do anarchists adhere to a coherent ideology? What exactly is anarchism? In this Very Short Introduction, Colin Ward considers anarchism from a variety of perspectives: theoretical, historical, and international, and by exploring key anarchist thinkers from Kropotkin to Chomsky. He looks critically at anarchism by evaluating key ideas within it, such as its blanket opposition to incarceration, and policy of no compromise with the apparatus of political decision-making. Among the questions he ponders are: can anarchy ever function effectively as a political force? Is it more organized and reasonable than is currently perceived? Whatever the politics of the reader, Wards argument ensures that anarchism will be much better understood after reading this book. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.