How did anthropologist David Graeber explain 'what is an anarchist?'
'Anarchism' is translated into Japanese as 'anarchism,' but some say it should be translated as 'no-rule ideology,' which is closer to the original meaning of the word, to avoid misunderstandings with fanatics who call for chaos and reject the government. '
Are You an Anarchist? The Answer May Surprise You! | The Anarchist Library
https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/david-graeber-are-you-an-anarchist-the-answer-may-surprise-you
Graeber points out that 'anarchists are often thought of as supporters of violence, chaos, and destruction, opposed to any form of order or organization, or as crazy nihilists who just want to blow everything up, but the reality is quite different. Anarchists are people who believe that humans can act rationally without being forced to do so. It's a very simple way of thinking.' Because of its simplicity, he explains that if you answer 'yes' to the following questions, you are already an anarchist.
-If you are in a line to board a crowded bus, do you wait your turn and not cut in line even if a police officer is not looking?
- Are you a member of a club, sports team, or other organization where decisions are made by consensus of the majority rather than imposed by a single leader?
-Do you think we live in a stupid and unfair economic system?
-Do you really believe what you are telling your children (or what your parents have told you)?
For example, Graeber points out that if you answer yes to the first question, you are in line with the anarchist belief that human beings, under normal circumstances, are rational and decent beings who are able to organize themselves and their communities without needing to be told how to do so.
According to Graeber, the most basic principle of anarchism is 'self-organization,' which assumes that humans will naturally come to a rational understanding with one another and treat each other with dignity and respect.
Another fundamental principle of anarchism is voluntary association, which is just the application of democratic principles to everyday life. The only difference is that anarchists believe that everything should be organized according to this principle, and that a society should be possible in which all groups are based on the free consent of their members. Anarchists believe that top-down military-style organizations like the military, bureaucracy, and large corporations based on a chain of command are no longer necessary.
Graeber summarizes, 'Every time you reach an agreement by consensus rather than by threats, every time you make a voluntary arrangement with another person, every time you reach an understanding by taking into full consideration the other person's particular situation and needs, every time you reach a compromise, you can say that you are an anarchist.'
Anarchists' views on politics include the belief that power corrupts, and that no one should ever be born into power without spending their whole lives seeking it. Graeber said anarchists believe that the current economic system is more likely to reward selfish people than decent, compassionate people. 'Most non-anarchists probably think the same, but most people think they can't do anything,' Graeber said.
Graeber says, 'For thousands of years, people have lived without governments. Today, in many parts of the world, people live outside of government control. They don't all kill each other. Of course, in a complex, urban, technologically advanced society, these problems would be even more complicated. If we eliminated all the useless and destructive professions like lawyers, prison guards, and financial analysts, and redirected our best scientific minds from researching space weapons and stock market systems to mechanizing dangerous and annoying jobs like coal mining and cleaning toilets, and distributed the remaining work equally among everyone, how many hours would we need to work to maintain a functioning society? Five hours a day? Four hours? No one knows, because no one asks these questions, but anarchists believe these are the questions we should be asking.'
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