During the anti-Trump demonstrations on Friday, a number of people dressed in black and wielding hammers broke store windows and behaved violently. For all I know, these were “agent provocateurs” paid for by Trump minions to shed a bad light on the protests, but that’s another issue.
In some accounts the violent people were identified as “anarchists.” That term should be clarified. Anarchism is an old and respected political tradition; in the early Thirties almost one/third of the Spanish parliament represented Anarchist parties. Anarchism is a belief that communities can make their own rules and live their own lives with no outside direction or a central government. Anarchism often springs up in isolated mining communities or lumber camps. It emphasizes the need for tight relationships and mutual trust.
With three prerequisites it could actually work. You need a simple economy, shared values, and a fairly small population. Although they would never call themselves anarchists, the Amish or the Hutterites in North Dakota could qualify. The central government or state government could disappear, and it might be weeks before the Amish would even notice.
Are anarchists libertarians? No. Libertarians, while rejecting central government, also reject the idea of tight communities. A typical libertarian thinks he or she can live independently of all others. Home schoolers are often libertarians, and most libertarians keep to themselves. Libertarians usually have more money than anarchists.
People who run around smashing store windows are probably best described as nihilists. Nihilists believe all moral standards are arbitrarily imposed and meaningless. Life itself has no meaning, and you can break any rules. Existentialists also think life has no purpose, but they also believe you can impose a purpose You do the right thing not for an ultimate reward, but because it is the right thing.
I hope this has been helpful.
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