In my introduction to this blog I am trying to write about my research and ethnography about the topic of Anarchy, looking at different aspects of what it means for me. Recently I have been reading a few on-line articles and this has led me to do some follow-up on-line searches. One of these searches (via Google) was looking at the differences between Anarchy and Libertarianism.

I have often seen these 2 words in connection with each other. To be honest Libertarianism is a new one on me, I have not come across it that much before and I have never looked closely into it when I had. So I started to read about it, but where to begin?

I searched these topics on-line and Google, in its wisdom, offers alternative research titles. These search titles kept on coming, until the research became a topic in itself.

I am a little confused by it all, what I thought was a simple philosophy has turned into a confusing mix-mash of titles each with its own philosophies and alternatives. In one way it is good, but in another way it is confusing. Each philosophy is a division of the main topic; and what I am also finding out, whilst doing my on-line research, is that these philosophies are dividing the fundamental topic of either anarchy or libertarianism. Divide and rule, yet again (In another blog I will give a negative example of this, negative division).

Dividing and contradicting one another might be healthy in academic circles, for an armchair philosopher, but if it is to mean anything then it has to be experimented with and tested in the field. And has that been made any easier by having contradictions everywhere? You might reply that debate is healthy. I agree, as a debate. But sometimes I feel it is easier to stand in front of the riot squad with my stone, as at least you know your enemy, it is clearer right?

To build a system or a community on an anarchist or libertarian philosophy surely there should be some clear guidelines on which to build the foundations, even if it is simple step 1, 2, 3,? Because I cannot see it happening that much, in a practical sense.

Ethnographers have tested philosophies, that were created outside of the environment they were to be tested in, but they have to be tested practically as well, and this process should be documented and re-applied depending on the results. Philosophies changed to suit new practical data, it is a circle right? It is a continuous process, evaluating and reassessing, change and trying the results again and again until the theory fits the practice.

How many of these philosophers actually gone out and tested the theories they write about, the same way as the 19th century anarchists did?

Although I find these topics interesting in themselves, it will take some time to research them all. I hope to do that, as it is broadening my vision of what anarchy and libertarianism is all about.

Here is the list of research topics that Google threw at me after my initial question, they are in no particular order. I have put the reference links in (.)

Question What is the difference between Anarchy and Libertarianism?

Googles replies:

An anarchist is an extreme libertarian, like a socialist is an extreme democrat, and a fascist is an extreme republican. Its like the difference between a lover and a rapist. Theyre both in the same place but one uses violence to get there. Libertarians believe in free markets, private property, and capitalism.(Libertarian or Anarchist? Chaos Park. http://www.chaospark.com/politics/reid12.htm)

What is a libertarian anarchist?Libertarian anarchism may refer to: Anarchism, a political philosophy that advocates stateless societies, usually considered a radical left-wing ideology. Anarcho-capitalism, a political philosophy that advocates the elimination of the state in favor of individual sovereignty, private property, and open markets.(Libertarian anarchism Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarian_anarchism)

Minarchism is a libertarian political philosophy which advocates for a particular variety of minimal state that acts only to enforce a universal framework of natural and legal rights essential to the functioning of a free marketplace in economy and culture, and operating through a limited government societally managed 10 Feb 2017(What is MINARCHISM? What does MINARCHISM mean? YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bVjYEq-C5g)

What is a libertarian left?Libertarian socialism (sometimes called social anarchism, left-libertarianism and socialist libertarianism) is a group of anti-authoritarian political philosophies inside the socialist movement that rejects socialism as centralized state ownership and control of the economy, and sometimes the state itself.(Left-libertarianism Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left-libertarianism)

What is the night watchman state?Noun. night watchman state (plural night watchman states) (political philosophy) A form of government where the governments responsibilities are so minimal that they cannot be reduced much further without becoming a form of anarchy.(night watchman state Wiktionary. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/night_watchman_state)

What is an anarcho capitalist?Anarcho-capitalism. Anarcho-capitalism (also known as libertarian anarchy or market anarchism or free market anarchism) is a libertarian and individualist anarchist political philosophy that advocates the elimination of the state in favor of individual sovereignty in a free market.(Anarcho-capitalism Mises Wiki, the global repository of classical.https://wiki.mises.org/wiki/Anarcho-capitalism)

What are the views of a libertarian?Libertarianism (Latin: libertas, freedom) is a collection of political philosophies and movements that uphold liberty as a core principle. Libertarians seek to maximize political freedom and autonomy, emphasizing freedom of choice, voluntary association, individual judgment, and self-ownership.(Libertarianism Wikipedia.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarianism)

What is the meaning of minimal state?Minimal state refers to a state with the least possible amount of powers. It is a term used in political philosophy where the states duties are so minimal that they cannot be reduced much further without becoming a form of anarchy.(Minimal State Law and Legal Definition | USLegal, Inc.https://definitions.uslegal.com/m/minimal-state/)

What is the nap Ancap?The non-aggression principle (or NAP; also called the non-aggression axiom, the anti-coercion, zero aggression principle or non-initiation of force) is an ethical stance which asserts that aggression is inherently illegitimate.(Non-aggression principle Wikipedia.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-aggression_principle)

What does it mean to be in the Libertarian Party?It is the only political organization which respects you as a unique and responsible individual. Our slogan is that we are The Party of Principle, because we stand firmly on our principles. Libertarians strongly oppose any government interference into their personal, family, and business decisions.(About the Libertarian Party | Libertarian Party. https://www.lp.org/about/)

What is an anarcho communist?Anarcho-communism (also known as anarchist communism, free communism, libertarian communism and communist anarchism) is a theory of anarchism which advocates the abolition of the state, capitalism, wage labour and private property (while retaining respect for personal property) and in favor of common ownership of the (Anarcho-communism Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarcho-communism)

What is an Agorism?Agorism is a revolutionary left-libertarian political philosophy that advocates the goal of bringing about a society in which all relations between people are voluntary exchanges by means of counter-economics. Counter-economics is the sum of all non-aggressive human action which is forbidden by the state.5 Jul 2013(Whats the difference between Agorism and Anarcho-Capitalism? https://www.reddit.com/r/Agorism//whats_the_difference_between_agorism_and/)

What is an anarcho collective?Collectivist anarchism (also known as anarcho-collectivism) is a revolutionary anarchist doctrine that advocates the abolition of both the state and private ownership of the means of production. It instead envisions the means of production being owned collectively and controlled and managed by the producers themselves.(Collectivist anarchism Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collectivist_anarchism)

What is an anarcho primitivism?Anarcho-primitivism is an anarchist critique of the origins and progress of civilization. According to anarcho-primitivism, the shift from hunter-gatherer to agricultural subsistence gave rise to social stratification, coercion, alienation, and population growth.(Anarcho-primitivism Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarcho-primitivism)

What is counter economics?Counter-economics is a term originally used by Samuel Edward Konkin III and J. Neil Schulman, libertarian activists and theorists. Konkin defined it as the study or practice of all peaceful human action which is forbidden by the State.(Counter-economics Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-economics)

What is anarcho transhumanism?Anarcho-Transhumanism is the recognition that social liberty is inherently bound up with material liberty, and that freedom is ultimately a matter of expanding our capacity and opportunities to engage with the world around us.6 Jan 2012(What Is Anarcho-Transhumanism? | Human Iterations. https://humaniterations.net/2012/01/06/what-is-anarcho-transhumanism/)

What is an anarcho syndicalist commune?Anarcho-syndicalism (also referred to as revolutionary syndicalism) is a theory of anarchism which views revolutionary industrial unionism or syndicalism as a method for workers in capitalist society to gain control of an economy and, with that control, influence broader society.(Anarcho-syndicalism Wikipedia.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarcho-syndicalism)

Is Chomsky an anarchist?Noam Chomsky most often self-identifies as a libertarian socialist (which is, generally speaking, a code-word for some sort of left-anarchist), and has at other times identified himself as an anarchist.10 Jan 2013(Is Noam Chomsky an anarchist or libertarian ? Anarchy101 Q&A. anarchy101.org/4310/is-noam-chomsky-an-anarchist-or-libertarian)

What is a green anarchist?Green anarchism (or eco-anarchism) is a school of thought within anarchism which puts a particular emphasis on environmental issues. In the late 19th century there emerged anarcho-naturism as the fusion of anarchism and naturist philosophies within individualist anarchist circles in France, Spain, Cuba, and Portugal.(Green anarchism Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_anarchism)

What does primitivism?a recurrent theory or belief, as in philosophy or art, that the qualities of primitive or chronologically early cultures are superior to those of contemporary civilization. 2. the state of being primitive : the primitivism of the Stone Age peoples. 3.(Primitivism | Define Primitivism at Dictionary.com. http://www.dictionary.com/browse/primitivism)

What is individualist anarchism?The Individualist Anarchists were a diverse group of anti-authoritarian reformers and radicals who regarded individual sovereignty and free market competition as the answer to the social and economic problems of the day.(The Individualist Anarchist. http://www.individualistanarchist.com/)

What is egoist anarchy?Egoist anarchism is a school of anarchist thought that originated in the philosophy of Max Stirner, a nineteenth-century Hegelian philosopher whose name appears with familiar regularity in historically orientated surveys of anarchist thought as one of the earliest and best-known exponents of individualist anarchism.(Egoist anarchism Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egoist_anarchism)

What is an anarcho socialist?Social anarchism (sometimes referred to as socialist anarchism) is a non-state form of socialism and is considered to be the branch of anarchism which sees individual freedom as being dependent upon mutual aid. It emerged in the late 19th century as a distinction from individualist anarchism.(Social anarchism Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_anarchism)

What is a libertarian socialist?Libertarian socialism (or socialist libertarianism) is a group of anti-authoritarian political philosophies inside the socialist movement that rejects socialism as centralized state ownership and control of the economy, as well as the state itself.(Libertarian socialism Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarian_socialism)

What is anarchist theory?Anarchism is a political philosophy that advocates self-governed societies based on voluntary institutions. Anarchism holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful.(Anarchism Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchism)

What is eco anarchy?Eco-anarchism ecoanarchism, i.e. green and environmental anarchism, is anarchism taking into account sufficiently the ecological perspective and questions facing mankind socially, i.e. political and economical broadly defined, and ecology taking into account sufficiently the anarchist approach.(The Ecoanarchist Manifesto | The Anarchist Library. https://theanarchistlibrary.org//green-anarchist-international-association-the-ecoanarchi…)

And finally.not not least, this is a wiki page dedicated to the different anarchistic philosophies.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchist_schools_of_thought)

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I have been interested Anarchy on a personal level since a teenager (1980s). It has structured my life without knowing it; and I feel it has influenced who I am and what I have become. This blog is trying to understand new and old trends of anarchy as I come across them; it is not about learning facts but digesting discourses and seeing how I can include them in my life...a practical approach. The internet has introduced me to a variety of anarchist philosophies, where as in the 1980s there was a "lack of information" in comparison. As I find new philosophies I will try and write my opinion, it is a D.I.Y. approach and not scientific."Business Controlled" is the name I have given my musical solo projects since my teenage years. I am a busker and musician.View all posts by Business Controlled

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Anarchy and Libertarianism? An Anarchist's Ethnography