What is the goal of anarchism? - by Elle Griffin

Elle Griffin argues that peaceful self-government works more easily in small, isolated groups, but that larger societies need organization to manage conflict and defend against outsiders. She says that as groups grow, they face more internal disputes and more pressure from outside groups, which makes some larger governing structure necessary.

She also suggests that people who want to live in small autonomous communities may already be able to do so within a free society, including through communes or local self-government, while still relying on states, trade, and militaries for protection.

Reading notes

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• She rejects the idea that small tribes can be used as a simple model for all societies, because they are tiny and isolated.
• She cites Dunbar’s number as a rough limit for relationships in a group before organization becomes harder.
• She argues that larger groups need systems to manage conflicts inside the community and threats from outside.
• She treats Norway as a successful nonviolent example, but not an anarchist one, because it still has a state, government, and prison system.
• She says attempts to live autonomously in small groups could already happen inside a free society.
• She thinks states, cities, trade, and militaries still serve real functions even if power should be smaller and local where possible.