Anarchism 

The word ‘anarchist’ is often used as a term of abuse, and is sometimes misused – but what exactly does it mean? What does it stand for, and why have some argued that anarchism has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years? On the face of it, it seems an absurdly self-defeating philosophy, so why does it remain influential? Who does it attract and why? 

Anarchism: core ideas and principles 

Different types of anarchism 

Anarchist thinkers and their ideas 

The term "anarchy" comes from the Greek word anarkhos, meaning "without rule." It has been associated with "anarchism" since the French Revolution, often used negatively to suggest a collapse of social order. Generally, people think of anarchy as chaos and disorder. However, those who identify as anarchists strongly disagree with this view. It was only when Pierre-Joseph Proudhon declared in his 1840 work, 'What Is Property?' that he identified as an anarchist that the term began to connect with a positive set of political ideas.