Associational Anarchism
Towards a Left-Libertarian Conception of Freedom
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Manchester University Press
Published:14th Nov '23
Should be back in stock very soon
Associational anarchism presents a ground-breaking alternative to both liberal democracy and state socialism, derived from the ideas of Karl Marx and G. D. H. Cole. Uniting the public sphere of citizenship with the private sphere of production in a system of communal ownership, the book proposes a scheme of horizontal networks held together through libertarian politics. With no role for a centralised state, the functions of coordination and administration are fulfilled through pluralist self-governance. Political intermediation proceeds via a web of functional associations, which operate within a system of revitalised communities, while management is carried out through modes of self-regulation that embody the key anarchist values of equality, solidarity and mutual-aid.
'Wyatt remains a leading theorist of anarchist political economy. [...] At a time when people increasingly search for new political directions (religious authoritarianism, escapist capitalist adventurism, egomaniacal Populism, and more), Wyatt offers potentialities rooted in freedom, decentralization, and cooperation.'
CHOICE: Recommended
'A learned, engaged and pertinent contribution to the philosophy of social anarchism, which clarifies important concepts such as freedom, autonomy and democracy, situating them back into the left-libertarian revolutionary tradition. Chris Wyatt draws expertly from a range of contemporary and historical sources, including the much-neglected guild socialism of G.D.H Cole. These are adapted and applied to defend and develop original – and sometimes provocative - insights into the appropriate forms of inter-personal relationships, social organisation and economic coordination. Associational anarchism is a valuable work for anyone interested in, and working to bring about, less hierarchical pollical, economic and social arrangements.'
Benjamin Franks, Senior Lecturer in Social and Political Philosophy, University of Glasgow, and author of Anarchisms, Postanarchisms and Ethics
ISBN: 9781526171283
Dimensions: 234mm x 156mm x 14mm
Weight: 491g
224 pages