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To what extent do anarchists have a common view of an ideal society? You must use appropriate thinkers you have studied to support your answer. - Edexcel - A-Level Politics - Question 3 - 2021 - Paper 2
Question 3
To what extent do anarchists have a common view of an ideal society? You must use appropriate thinkers you have studied to support your answer.
Worked Solution & Example Answer:To what extent do anarchists have a common view of an ideal society? You must use appropriate thinkers you have studied to support your answer. - Edexcel - A-Level Politics - Question 3 - 2021 - Paper 2
Step 1
Points in agreement
Answer
Anarchists generally agree that an ideal society will be without a state. This belief is rooted in the conviction that a state inherently curtails individual liberty. Thus, they converge on the notion that, in their envisioned society, individual freedom and autonomy are paramount. Furthermore, most anarchists advocate for communal decision-making and cooperation among individuals, suggesting that a society should be organized organically rather than through imposition.
Moreover, there is a consensus that coercive relationships—such as authority and hierarchy—should be rejected. For example, thinkers like Kropotkin argue that mutual aid should triumph in the structure of society, emphasizing shared resources and collective management.
Step 2
Points in disagreement
Answer
Despite the commonalities, there are significant variances among anarchist thinkers regarding the structure of an ideal society. One of the primary disagreements centers on the economic models. While some anarchists, like Proudhon, endorse a market-based approach where free-market capitalism coexists with anarchist principles, others, such as Bakunin, defend a more collectivist model that rejects market frameworks altogether.
Furthermore, there is no consensus on whether individuals should have collective ownership or personal ownership of resources. Stirner, for instance, argues that individuals must free themselves from collective constraints, viewing freedom as absolute individuality. This divergence illustrates that while anarchists have shared goals of liberty and absence of oppression, their methods and interpretations of an ideal economy vary greatly.