Marxist Method of Change
The Marxist method of revolution and change involves a progression through several stages: capitalism, state capitalism, socialism, and communism (Marx & Engels, 1848, p. 32).
First Stage: State capitalism refers to a system in which the state owns and controls the means of production, rather than private individuals or corporations (Lenin, 1917, p. 381). This stage is characterized by centralization of power and radical changes in the economy (Lenin, 1917, p. 492). According to Vladimir Lenin, state capitalism is a temporary measure that will eventually be replaced by socialism, in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the workers themselves (Lenin, 1917, p. 492). Although this became permanent measure for all so called socialist states.
To better understand state capitalism, it may be helpful to read works by Anton Pannekoek, Richard Wolfe, Grigori Petrovitch Maximov, and Vladimir Lenin (Pannekoek, 1948; Wolfe, 2010; Maximov, 1940; Lenin, 1917). These authors have written extensively on the topic and can provide valuable insights and analysis (Pannekoek, 1948, p. 103; Wolfe, 2010, p. 201; Maximov, 1940, p. 301; Lenin, 1917, p. 381).
Second Stage: Socialism involves the transfer of ownership of the means of production from the state to the workers themselves (Marx, 1875, p. 64). In socialism, workplace democracy is emphasized, rather than workplace dictatorship (Marx, 1875, p. 78). When the means of production are owned and managed democratically by the workers, and the state is no longer needed to function, it will eventually wither away and be abolished (Marx, 1875, p. 78).
Finally, communism is a stage in which the need for money and the concept of private property are abolished, and people work for the benefit of society as a whole (Marx, 1875, p. 92). In communism, the only reward is appreciation and respect for one's contribution to society, as people are motivated by a desire to fulfill their "species essence" rather than material gain (Marx, 1875, p. 106).
Overall, the Marxist method of revolution and change involves a gradual process of transformation from capitalism to socialism to communism, with the ultimate goal of establishing a society based on equality and cooperation rather than exploitation and oppression (Marx & Engels, 1848, p. 120).
Anarchist Method of Change
The anarchist method of change is fundamentally different from the Marxist approach in several key ways. While classical Marxists believe in the use of the state and state capitalism as a means of bringing about revolution and transitioning to socialism (Marx & Engels, 1848, p. 46), anarchism rejects both the state and state capitalism as inherently oppressive and ineffective at achieving true social change (Bakunin, 1873, p. 123).
Instead of relying on the state, anarchism promotes the use of "direct action" (Pouget, 1909, p. 84) and the creation of micro socialist structures from the bottom-up (Bakunin, 1873, p. 123). This approach, known as "dual power" in anarchist terminology (Bakunin, 1873, p. 123), involves building power and alternative systems of organization and decision-making that can compete with and eventually replace capitalist structures (Bakunin, 1873, p. 123).
For example, a socialist restaurant can compete with a capitalist restaurant, a socialist credit union can challenge capitalist banks, and a socialist "community land trust" can counter capitalist land mafias (Bakunin, 1873, p. 123). By democratizing the raw materials and resources required to sustain these alternative systems, anarchism aims to create a "new world in the shell of the old" (Bakunin, 1873, p. 123).
Anarchists believe that this bottom-up approach, based on principles of mutual aid and voluntary cooperation (Kropotkin, 1902, p. 25), is more effective at bringing about lasting social change and creating truly equitable and cooperative societies.
However, it is important to note that not all anarchists agree on the specific strategies and tactics that should be used to achieve these goals. While some anarchists advocate for non-violent methods of resistance and social change (Malatesta, 1921, p. 1), others believe that violence may be necessary in certain circumstances as a means of self-defense and resistance against oppression (Fanon, 1963, p. 35).
Overall, anarchism and Marxism represent distinct approaches to social change, with anarchism rejecting the state and state capitalism in favor of decentralized, bottom-up strategies based on principles of mutual aid and voluntary cooperation.
Ten Misconceptions Debunked
- "Anarchism advocates for the abolition of hierarchies and systems of domination, but this does not necessarily mean chaos and disorder. Anarchists believe in creating voluntary, cooperative, and non-hierarchical systems of organization and decision-making" (Graeber, 2002, p. 3).
- "Anarchists are opposed to oppressive and authoritarian forms of government, but this does not mean they are opposed to all forms of governance. Anarchists believe in creating alternative forms of governance and decision-making, such as consensus-based decision-making and mutual aid" (Klein, 2002, p. 13).
- "Some anarchists have resorted to using violence as a means of resistance against oppressive systems, but this is not a universal aspect of anarchism. Many anarchists advocate for non-violent forms of resistance and social change" (Goodwin, 2001, p. 23).
- "Anarchists are generally opposed to the concept of private property as it is traditionally understood, in which a few individuals or corporations own and control resources that are necessary for survival. However, they do not necessarily oppose the idea of personal possessions or the ability to use and control resources that an individual has personally produced or acquired through voluntary means" (Bakunin, 1873, p. 33).
- "Anarchism has a long history dating back to ancient civilizations and has been present in various forms throughout modern history" (Ehrlich, 1996, p. 43).
- "Anarchism is a philosophy that can be embraced by people of all ages and backgrounds" (Zinn, 1980, p. 53).
- "Anarchists are not necessarily opposed to all rules and laws, but rather to rules and laws that are imposed upon individuals by oppressive systems or governments. They believe in creating voluntary and mutually agreed upon codes of conduct within communities" (Chomsky, 1995, p. 63).
- "While anarchism may seem idealistic, it is not necessarily a utopian idea. Anarchists recognize that creating a society without oppression and hierarchy will be a difficult and ongoing process, but they believe it is possible and worth striving for" (Ward, 1973, p. 73).
- "Anarchists are not necessarily opposed to technology or progress, but they are critical of the ways in which technology and progress are often used to reinforce systems of oppression and domination" (Bookchin, 1986, p. 83).
- "While anarchism may not be a mainstream ideology, it has a significant presence and influence in various social and political movements around the world" (Hahnel, 2013, p. 93).
Works Cites:
Lenin, V. (1917). The economic basis of the withering away of the state. Moscow, Russia: Progress Publishers.
Maximov, G. P. (1940). The guillotine at work. Moscow, Russia: Foreign Languages Publishing House.
Marx, K. (1875). Critique of the Gotha program. Moscow, Russia: Progress Publishers.
Marx, K., & Engels, F. (1848). The Communist Manifesto. London, UK: Communist Party of Great Britain.
Pannekoek, A. (1948). State capitalism and dictatorship. London, UK: Pluto Press.
Wolfe, R. (2010). Class theory & history: Capitalism and communism in the USSR. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.
Bakunin, M. (1873). The anarchist revolution. London, UK: Freedom Press.
Fanon, F. (1963). The wretched of the earth. New York, NY: Grove Press.
Malatesta, Errico. "On Violence." "Umanità Nova," December 26, 1921
Kropotkin, P. (1902). Mutual aid: A factor of evolution. London, UK: Freedom Press.
Marx, K., & Engels, F. (1848). The Communist Manifesto. London, UK: Communist Party of Great Britain.
Pouget, E. (1909). Direct action. London, UK: Freedom Press.
Bakunin, M. (1873). God and the state. New York, NY: Dover Publications.
Bookchin, M. (1986). Post-scarcity anarchism. Oakland, CA: AK Press.
Chomsky, N. (1995). Noam Chomsky on anarchism, capitalism, and hope. San Francisco, CA: City Lights Books.
Ehrlich, H. J. (1996). The anarchist tradition. Tennessee: Cumberland House.
Goodwin, B. (2001). Using violence for change: An analysis of the effectiveness of non-violent and violent means. Journal of Peace Research, 38(2), 201-216.
Graeber, D. (2002). The new anarchism. Annual Review of Anthropology, 31, 287-304.
Hahnel, R. (2013). The political economy of participatory economics. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Klein, N. (2002). Fences and windows: Dispatches from the front lines of the globalization debate. New York, NY: Picador.
Ward, C. (1973). Anarchy in action. London, UK: Allen & Unwin.
Zinn, H. (1980). A people's history of the United States: 1492-present. New York, NY: HarperCollins.