anarchism

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a family of political philosophies and movements skeptical of or opposed to coercive authority, especially the state, and favoring stateless social organization through voluntary cooperation

   The seminar compared anarchism's models of voluntary association with theories that treat the state as indispensable.

Through French anarchisme, built on anarchie, 'anarchy,' plus -isme. The deeper source is Greek anarkhos, 'without a ruler,' from an-, 'without,' and arkhos, 'ruler.' In political use, anarchism concerns the legitimacy of coercive authority, not simply disorder or chaos.

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