Chomsky on Anarchism.pdf - Zine Library
Chomsky on Anarchism.pdf - Zine Library
Chomsky on Anarchism.pdf - Zine Library
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INTRODUCTION<br />
out being c<strong>on</strong>cerned about the human c<strong>on</strong>sequences," when simply opposing<br />
the state might mean placing even greater power in the hands of reacti<strong>on</strong>ary<br />
forces, private (usually corporate) powers that would reinforce inequality and<br />
hardship. He goes <strong>on</strong>, in <strong>on</strong>e interview, to suggest that "protecting the state<br />
sector today is a step towards abolishing the state." He also adds that, in the<br />
process of pursuing social change though the mechanisms of the state, people<br />
will inevitably run up against the inherent limits of such reformist tactics and,<br />
eventually, understand that the system itself must be changed.<br />
Such arguments, of course, do challenge accepted anarchist theory. For<br />
people like Emma Goldman all states were CO be d<strong>on</strong>e way with. The "democratic<br />
state," she suggested, <strong>on</strong>ce it was challenged, would become as oppressive<br />
as the most totalitarian state. For <str<strong>on</strong>g>Chomsky</str<strong>on</strong>g>. the state can maintain "a public<br />
arena" where there is still some room in which people can operate and bring<br />
about change. It's a positi<strong>on</strong> that will spark debate and, in the eyes of some,<br />
questi<strong>on</strong> his whole c<strong>on</strong>cepti<strong>on</strong> of anarchism.<br />
More could be said. For instance, <str<strong>on</strong>g>Chomsky</str<strong>on</strong>g> has a flexible view of voting.<br />
He suggests that, like some other anarchists, he does vote <strong>on</strong> local matters. In<br />
terms of nati<strong>on</strong>al electi<strong>on</strong>s, he suggests that if Massachusetts were a swing state<br />
he would vote. If not, "there are a variety of possible choices, depending <strong>on</strong><br />
<strong>on</strong>e's evaluati<strong>on</strong> of the significance." Such flexibility of approach to these matters,<br />
which can be interpreted as mere comm<strong>on</strong> sense, could also raise (he<br />
questi<strong>on</strong> of what anarchist p ractice actually is, and how it differs from that of,<br />
say, social democrats. Arguments such as these will not go away. Tensi<strong>on</strong>s will<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tinue. Attitudes will solidify, shift and change. The c<strong>on</strong>sistency between<br />
theory and practice will c<strong>on</strong>tinue to be worked our. <str<strong>on</strong>g>Chomsky</str<strong>on</strong>g> has much to<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tribute to that process and there is much for us to admire in both his optimism<br />
and his clear sense of the difficult struggles ahead:<br />
The record of anarchist ideas, and even more, of the inspiring<br />
struggles of people who have sought to liberate themselves from<br />
oppressi<strong>on</strong> and dominati<strong>on</strong> must be rreasured and preserved,<br />
not as a means of freezing thought and c<strong>on</strong>cepti<strong>on</strong> in some new<br />
mold but as a basis for understanding of the social reality and<br />
committed work to change it. There is no reas<strong>on</strong> to suppose that<br />
history is at an end, that the currem structures of authority and<br />
dominati<strong>on</strong> are graven in StOne. It would also be a great error to<br />
underestimate the power of social forces that will fight to maintain<br />
power and privilege.<br />
Barry Pateman<br />
March 2005