Anarchism is a set of beliefs and ideas that says government is both unnecessary and harmful. Anarchist thought began in the West and spread throughout the world in the early 20th century. The term comes from the Greek word anarchos , meaning "without authority." Anarchists deny man-made laws, see property as a tool for oppression, and believe crime is a result of property and authority. They argue that rejecting governments and constitutions leads to true justice through the free development of human sociality and the natural inclination to live by mutual aid when not restricted by laws. Anarchist ideas have appeared in various movements, including the American Civil Rights Movement, radical ecology, and feminism.

What do anarchists believe about government?

Anarchists believe that government is both harmful and unnecessary. They analyze power relations underlying political authority and envision a libertarian society based on cooperation, not competition or coercion, which can function without government authority. French political writer Pierre-Joseph Proudhon argued that society's laws stem from its nature, foreseeing authority's dissolution and a natural social order. Anarchists reject man-made laws, viewing property as tyranny and crime as a product of property and authority. They deny constitutions and governments, which they believe leads to real justice and the free development of human sociality, unfettered by laws, to live according to mutual aid principles.

How do anarchists view laws and authority?

Anarchists believe government is both harmful and unnecessary, centering on the conviction that it is best to exist without authority. The term anarchism comes from the Greek word anarchos , meaning "without authority". Anarchists deny man-made laws, viewing property as a tool for oppression and crime as a consequence of property and authority. Instead of constitutions and governments, they advocate for a free society that allows for the natural development of human sociality, and the freedom to live by mutual aid, unconstrained by laws. Pierre-Joseph Proudhon contended that the real laws of society originate from society itself, not authority.

What are some different types of anarchism?

Anarchism encompasses diverse philosophies centered on the belief that government is both harmful and unnecessary. Some types of anarchism include: * Anarcho-communism Advocates communal ownership of property and the abolition of the state. * Individualist anarchism Prioritizes individual liberty rather than freely formed associations of individuals. * Anarcho-syndicalism A political philosophy that combines anarchism with syndicalism . * Anarcho-capitalism Supports private property and private institutions with significant economic power.

How have anarchist movements influenced history?

Anarchist movements have influenced history through various avenues. Anarchism's central ideals of freedom, equality, and mutual aid have inspired artists and writers throughout history. Anarchists introduced ideas of social revolution, advocating for radical changes in society and culture alongside political change, including the elimination of coercive social institutions. However, anarchist actions have included symbolic murders and attacks on public places, creating an image of anarchists as mindless destroyers. Despite the lack of a strong, sustained organizational structure, anarchist ideas have persisted and reemerged in various movements, including the American Civil Rights Movement and radical ecology movements. Anarchism has also impacted discussions around feminism, inspiring anarcha-feminist works.

What are some criticisms of anarchism and how do anarchists respond?

Anarchism faces criticisms regarding its practicality and potential outcomes. Opponents suggest it could lead to a breakdown of social order, with the absence of government resulting in unpunished crime and the violation of individual safety . Critics also argue that unregulated markets could create significant inequalities and fail to deliver essential social services. In response, anarchists argue that cooperation arises naturally when people are free from coercion, leading to genuine justice. They believe that societal problems stem from flawed political and legal structures rather than free markets and that properly defined property rights could minimize issues like environmental pollution.

anarchism

Images

Red anarchy symbol, a capital letter A inside a circle, painted with rough brush strokes on a white background.

Engraving of William Wordsworth with arms crossed, wearing a dark jacket and cravat, looking slightly to his left against a shadowed background.

Portrait of German philosopher Karl Marx with a full white beard and hair, wearing a dark suit and white shirt, looking to the side.

Cover of Mother Earth magazine, August 1914, features Man Ray's illustration of two beasts labeled Capitalism and Government pulling apart a figure labeled Humanity.

At a Glance

anarchism summary

anarchism

politics

Written by

Arif DirlikAll

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Sep. 29, 2026 •History

Top Questions

What is anarchism?
Anarchism is a set of beliefs and ideas that says government is both unnecessary and harmful. Anarchist thought began in the West and spread throughout the world in the early 20th century.

The term comes from the Greek word anarchos, meaning "without authority." Anarchists deny man-made laws, see property as a tool for oppression, and believe crime is a result of property and authority. They argue that rejecting governments and constitutions leads to true justice through the free development of human sociality and the natural inclination to live by mutual aid when not restricted by laws.

Anarchist ideas have appeared in various movements, including the American Civil Rights Movement, radical ecology, and feminism.
2 Britannica Sources
1. anarcho-capitalism
2. anarchism
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What do anarchists believe about government?
Anarchists believe that government is both harmful and unnecessary. They analyze power relations underlying political authority and envision a libertarian society based on cooperation, not competition or coercion, which can function without government authority.

French political writer Pierre-Joseph Proudhon argued that society's laws stem from its nature, foreseeing authority's dissolution and a natural social order. Anarchists reject man-made laws, viewing property as tyranny and crime as a product of property and authority. They deny constitutions and governments, which they believe leads to real justice and the free development of human sociality, unfettered by laws, to live according to mutual aid principles.
1 Britannica Source
1. anarchism
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How do anarchists view laws and authority?
Anarchists believe government is both harmful and unnecessary, centering on the conviction that it is best to exist without authority. The term anarchism comes from the Greek word anarchos, meaning "without authority".

Anarchists deny man-made laws, viewing property as a tool for oppression and crime as a consequence of property and authority. Instead of constitutions and governments, they advocate for a free society that allows for the natural development of human sociality, and the freedom to live by mutual aid, unconstrained by laws.

Pierre-Joseph Proudhon contended that the real laws of society originate from society itself, not authority.
1 Britannica Source
1. anarchism
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What are some different types of anarchism?
Anarchism encompasses diverse philosophies centered on the belief that government is both harmful and unnecessary.

Some types of anarchism include:
* Anarcho-communism Advocates communal ownership of property and the abolition of the state.
* Individualist anarchism Prioritizes individual liberty rather than freely formed associations of individuals.
* Anarcho-syndicalism A political philosophy that combines anarchism with syndicalism.
* Anarcho-capitalism Supports private property and private institutions with significant economic power.
4 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How have anarchist movements influenced history?
Anarchist movements have influenced history through various avenues. Anarchism's central ideals of freedom, equality, and mutual aid have inspired artists and writers throughout history. Anarchists introduced ideas of social revolution, advocating for radical changes in society and culture alongside political change, including the elimination of coercive social institutions.

However, anarchist actions have included symbolic murders and attacks on public places, creating an image of anarchists as mindless destroyers. Despite the lack of a strong, sustained organizational structure, anarchist ideas have persisted and reemerged in various movements, including the American Civil Rights Movement and radical ecology movements. Anarchism has also impacted discussions around feminism, inspiring anarcha-feminist works.
2 Britannica Sources
1. socialism: Anarcho-communism
2. anarchism: Decline of European anarchism
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What are some criticisms of anarchism and how do anarchists respond?
Anarchism faces criticisms regarding its practicality and potential outcomes. Opponents suggest it could lead to a breakdown of social order, with the absence of government resulting in unpunished crime and the violation of individual safety. Critics also argue that unregulated markets could create significant inequalities and fail to deliver essential social services.

In response, anarchists argue that cooperation arises naturally when people are free from coercion, leading to genuine justice. They believe that societal problems stem from flawed political and legal structures rather than free markets and that properly defined property rights could minimize issues like environmental pollution.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

anarchism, cluster of doctrines and attitudes centred on the belief that government is both harmful and unnecessary. Anarchist thought developed in the West and spread throughout the world, principally in the early 20th century.

Derived from the Greek root anarchos meaning “without authority,” anarchism, anarchist, and anarchy are used to express both approval and disapproval. In early usage all these terms were pejorative: for example, during the English Civil Wars (1642–51) the radical Levelers, who called for universal manhood suffrage, were referred to by their opponents as “Switzerising anarchists,” and during the French Revolution the leader of the moderate Girondin faction of Parliament, Jacques-Pierre Brissot, accused his most extreme rivals, the Enragés, of being the advocates of “anarchy”:

Laws that are not carried into effect, authorities without force and despised, crime unpunished, property attacked, the safety of the individual violated, the morality of the people corrupted, no constitution, no government, no justice, these are the features of anarchy.

These words could serve as a model for the denunciations delivered by all opponents of anarchism. The anarchists, for their part, would admit many of Brissot’s points. They deny man-made laws, regard property as a means of tyranny, and believe that crime is merely the product of property and authority. But they would argue that their denial of constitutions and governments leads not to “no justice” but to the real justice inherent in the free development of human sociality—the natural inclination, when unfettered by laws, to live according to the principles and practice of mutual aid.

Foundations of anarchist thought

The first person to willingly call himself an anarchist was the French political writer and pioneer socialist Pierre-Joseph Proudhon. In his controversial study of the economic bases of society, Qu’est-ce que la propriété? (1840; What Is Property?), Proudhon argued that the real laws of society have nothing to do with authority but rather stem from the nature of society itself, and he foresaw the eventual dissolution of authority and the emergence of a natural social order:

As man seeks justice in equality, so society seeks order in anarchy. Anarchy—the absence of a sovereign—such is the form of government to which we are every day approximating.

The essential elements of Proudhon’s philosophy already had been developed by earlier thinkers. The rejection of political authority has a rich pedigree. It extends back to classical antiquity—to the Stoics and the Cynics—and runs through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, as illustrated by dissenting Christian sects such as the medieval Catharists and certain factions of Anabaptists. For such groups—which are often mistakenly claimed as ancestors by modern anarchist writers—the rejection of government was merely one aspect of a retreat from the material world into a realm of spiritual grace, and, as part of the search for individual salvation, it was hardly compatible with the sociopolitical doctrine of anarchism. In all its forms, that doctrine consists of (1) an analysis of the power relations underlying existing forms of political authority and (2) a vision of an alternative libertarian society based on cooperation, as opposed to competition and coercion, and functioning without the need for government authority.

Explore Britannica Premium!

The trusted destination for professionals, college students, and lifelong learners.