Anarchism and Geography

Anarchism is a political philosophy named from the Greek word anarchos, which means “without a ruler.” The key tenets of anarchist thought are antiauthoritarianism and the formation of a new social order based on mutual collaboration and decision making. Advocates of anarchism see the elimination of the state and other forms of authority as part of a necessary progression toward the formation of a voluntary and self-sustaining society. Anarchists may emphasize individualism, as an extension of liberalism, or socialism, which rejects private property and espouses cooperative ownership. Anarchists often argue for ecological preservation, advocating that societies should live in harmony or equilibrium with the natural world. Two well-known anarchists writing during the late 19th century, Peter Kropotkin and Élisée Reclus, were also influential geographers. During ...