Anarchist communism

Anarchist communism is a far-left political ideology and a specific school of anarchist thought. It advocates for a society based on communism but without any centralized authority. This system calls for the total abolition of hierarchies, which are systems where people hold power over others. It also seeks to abolish private property. However, it distinguishes this from personal property, which individuals may still keep. Instead, it promotes the social ownership of property and the collective ownership of goods and services. The core goal is the distribution of resources based on the principle: "from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs."

The mechanism of anarchist communism relies on self-management and the removal of forced labor. In this system, workers would manage their own production without bosses or state control. This is intended to end the division of labor. By integrating the proletariat, or working class, with the intelligentsia, or educated class, into a single group, the system seeks to remove social layers. Rather than using money or exchange values, resources are distributed freely to ensure everyone's needs are met. This process requires the abolition of the state, the police, and the military. Proponents often suggest that direct democracy and direct exchange would replace traditional government structures.

Different stages and types of organization have emerged within this movement. One major debate involves organizationalism versus insurrectionarism. Organizationalists might favor working through established structures like trade unions. In contrast, insurrectionary thinkers often prefer small, loosely organized affinity groups. They may view large unions as being prone to bureaucracy and corruption. Another distinction is found between platformism and synthesism, which are different methods of organizing anarchist groups. These debates reflect different ideas on how to best achieve a classless society without creating new hierarchies.

The history of these ideas began with several key thinkers in the 19th century. In 1843, Théodore Dézamy wrote the *Code de la Communauté*. He argued for the abolition of money, the state, and the division of labor. Later, in 1859, Joseph Déjacque published his *Humanisphere*. He advocated for a social revolution to abolish the state, religion, and private property. He believed workers should have the right to satisfy their needs through self-management. In 1864, the International Workingmen's Association (IWA) was established. This group became a major site for debates between Marxists and anti-authoritarian anarchists.

Following the death of Mikhail Bakunin in 1876, the movement shifted toward anarchist communism. The term was first printed in a pamphlet by François Dumartheray in February 1876. In 1877, a clash occurred between Italian anarcho-communists and Spanish collectivists. In 1880, Carlo Cafiero presented a program called *Anarchy and Communism*. This program officially broke away from collectivism. Cafiero rejected the use of exchange values and wage labor. He believed that collective ownership of industry could still lead to social stratification. He instead pushed for the immediate distribution of resources based on need.

There have been notable historical examples of these ideas in practice. During the Russian Revolution, Nestor Makhno led the Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine from 1918 to 1921. His movement, the Makhnovshchina, created anarchist territories while fighting both the "Reds" and the "Whites." Another significant example occurred during the Spanish Revolution. In regions like revolutionary Catalonia, anarchist principles were used to organize society. These moments show the attempt to implement large-scale social changes based on these theories.

Anarchist communism connects to broader political and sociological concepts. It sits within the wider spectrum of far-left politics and challenges the necessity of the state. It engages with theories of economic value, specifically questioning the role of money and wage labor. The movement also intersects with studies of social organization and human cooperation. By exploring how people might live without centralized power, it touches on fundamental questions about freedom and equality. It remains a significant subject in the study of political history and social movements.