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By this definition virtually every political system could be argued to be compatible with "anarchism". Dante justified the authority of the church. Hobbes justi
by wk_end 2y ago
By this definition virtually every political system could be argued to be compatible with "anarchism". Dante justified the authority of the church. Hobbes justified the rule of the king. People all across the centre of the political spectrum - and further right from that - are happy to justify state monopoly on violence with the need to enforce rules. Justifying various kinds of authority has been the work of political philosophers for millennia.
- AndyNemmity 2y agoYou're asking the question "who" has to justify the authority. In the case of governments, it's the population. Not political philosophers.
- wk_end 2y agoI think I'm asking what constitutes a "justification", not who. The "population" justified the Iranian Revolution handing authority to the Ayatollah and the IRGC. Is Iran a model of the anarchic state?
- AndyNemmity 2y agoWithout literal Democracy, it is incorrect to argue the population justified the government. It would have to be consistent, and continual justification by decree by the population through Direct Democracy.
- wk_end 2y agoIs the anarchism Chomsky has in mind literally just direct democracy then?
- AndyNemmity 2y agoIt's not limited to governments, but in the case of governments, yes. Noam Chomsky is for democracy, and democratic institutions. In the workplace, it's the workers who should have all of the decision making.