Pathways to Anarchism

In modern political philosophy, this work work argues that there is a widely accepted assumption that political states are the only conditions in which possesive individualist humans could lead secure, worthwhile lives. The author calls this the "play-pen defence" for states. This book seeks to challenge this assumption without drawing on the mainstream of the anarchist tradition. Instead, assuming that the social psychology of possesive individualism is too ubiquitous to be ignored, it explores the opinions opened up by libertarian anarchists. It agrees with minimal statists that libertarian anarchy will degenerate into a stark, self-defeating anarchy. However, the author argues that it does not follow that, if the state did not exist - it would have to be invented, as minimal statists claim. The book examines an alternative way - a practical anarchy which will secure political stability, public order and economic viability - that maybe more congenial to possesive individualist than life in states.