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Single Idea 21521

[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 2. Anarchism ]

Full Idea

The greatest degree of liberty is not secured by anarchy. ...[22] The results of anarchy between states should suffice to persuade us that anarchism has no solution to offer for the evils of the world.

Gist of Idea

Anarchy does not maximise liberty

Source

Bertrand Russell (Political Ideals [1917], 1)

Book Ref

Russell,Bertrand: 'Political Ideals' [Spokesman 2007], p.21

A Reaction

I've heard Russell described as an anarchist, but this clearly wasn't true in 1917. Presumably liberty has to be protected. That we were watching anarchy between states in 1917 is a vivid observation.

The 27 ideas with the same theme [self-rule by citizens, and abolition of government]:

539 Nothing is worse for mankind than anarchy [Antiphon]
5968 Diogenes masturbated in public, wishing he could get rid of hunger so easily [Diogenes of Sin., by Plutarch]
24426 The believers were united, and renounced possessions, which they shared in common [Luke]
24439 Authority is unnatural, and social ills are because we cannot act according to reason [Godwin, by Woodcock]
23163 In an anarchy universities, research, books, and even seaside holidays, would be impossible [Russell]
23168 A state is essential, to control greedy or predatory impulses [Russell]
21521 Anarchy does not maximise liberty [Russell]
23809 Our only social duty is to try to limit evil [Weil]
24190 Anarchists thought (hopelessly) that empowering the oppressed would end evil [Weil]
23870 Decentralisation is only possible by co-operation between strong and weak - which is absurd [Weil]
24436 True anarchists accept society, which is more important without a government [Woodcock]
24400 People are sociable and self-sufficient; if that is not so, why allow men to rule others? [Walter]
24399 Anarchism is the political expression of the common reaction against authority [Walter]
24402 Liberals and socialists want government, which suppresses either equality, or freedom [Walter]
24406 Mutualism is the voluntary formation of groups of people, seen as equals [Walter]
24407 Anarchists co-ordinate their mutualist groups into a federation [Walter]
24408 Syndicalism expands worker control through enhanced and widespread trade unions [Walter]
24409 Syndicalism overemphsises work, and the role of the working class [Walter]
24404 Anarchists want organisation by consent, so there will be more planning, not less [Walter]
24413 An anarchist has no country, since he views all governments in an equal light [Wolff,RP]
24412 States have a right to rule, but autonomous people refuse to be ruled. Hence Anarchism [Wolff,RP]
18642 Individual rights are so strong that the state and its officials must be very limited in power [Nozick]
20452 Anarchism used to be libertarian (especially for sexuality), but now concerns responsibility [Critchley]
20450 The state, law, bureaucracy and capital are limitations on life, so I prefer federalist anarchism [Critchley]
20487 A realistic and less utopian anarchism looks increasingly like liberal democracy [Wolff,J]
20488 It is hard for anarchists to deny that we need experts [Wolff,J]
20578 Anarchists prefer local and communal government [Oksala]