Criticism of the state is often considered as the main line to define anarchism. Some come
in thus no longer distinguish it from the ultra-liberal to the point of melting both in
the concept of anarcho-capitalism. Yet it would be a mistake. ---- The anarchist notion is
used especially in the French Revolution as an insult. This is partly out of bravado that
Proudhon denominates the form of social organization that advocates "anarchy." The
principle of authority and take their form of government models, according to him, in the
patriarchal family. The state is especially criticized by Proudhon as it occupies
vis-?-vis the company a place similar to that transcendent God in relation to the
community of the faithful. [1] ---- Resorption in economic policy --- The struggle against
the state is a fight against absolute royal absolutism which was one of the events.
The State is not a simple political superstructure, which finds its economic base in the
capitalist system, it implies its own relations of domination and economic exploitation.
How the tax is collected and used in the state constitutes an illustration for Proudhon.
This is in particular General Idea of ??the Revolution in the nineteenth century (1851) it
produces a first political theorizing. The 1848 revolution by introducing universal
suffrage has made a political revolution, but not a social revolution. Proudhon, who
became famous for his criticism of the property, however, is suspicious vis-?-vis
communism which seems to be compatible with a form of authoritarian organization: he has
in mind in particular the historical example of Jesuit missions in Paraguay. It also has
in mind another against authoritarian model is that of the Terror during the French
Revolution. He sees in The Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau political theorizing
that served as a model for mountaineers. He also complains that it has excluded the social
issue of his political theory.
Idea in general, Proudhon makes a critique of all political regimes which have been made:
neither universal suffrage, nor the imperative mandate not find favor in his eyes. This is
to eliminate the State is necessarily a draconian institution and reduce the political
economics. What seems only possible to guarantee the freedoms of everyone, this is the
contract. But not as a contract for Rousseau once and for all. It is contrary to all
economic and social activities, individuals contract with each other. Proudhon hopes in
this way, in the same movement, set both the problem of political tyranny and social issues.
Federalism and mutualism
However, in 1863, in The Principle federation, Proudhon back on this issue and produced
another theory of political organization. Indeed, it appears that contractualism general,
he advocated before, is ultimately very different from the supporters of economic freedom.
It is then no longer to absorb the political economics, but to propose a form of political
organization that is an alternative to the state. It is characterized by a centralized,
hierarchical and organized from the top down. Again, Proudhon is based on a version of
contractualism that wants an alternative to the theory of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Contract
involves unique Jacobinism, Proudhon opposes a multiplicity of contracts. But this time,
the freedom and autonomy that guarantees the contract is balanced by the solidarity that
requires the federation. However, the form of federalism that offers Proudhon differs from
those we know. In legal terms, it is a confederation that is to say, an organization in
which local still has more power than the higher level.
However, the development proposed by Proudhon is not completed. Indeed, federalism is an
attempt to find a balance between autonomy and solidarity, but only at the political
level. In one of his last books, From the political capacity of the working classes,
Proudhon's mutualism for the economic policy of federalism. Mutualism guarantee economic
autonomy both production units and solidarity between workers.
Elaborations anti-statist Proudhon, inspired themselves in the world labor practices
especially regarding mutualism, is a reference to a number of militant labor movement
actors: for the current mutualist First International, for which Bakunin's collectivist
one of the main figures in the anarchist movement which can locate the birth as such at
the Congress of St. Imier in 1872, for trade unionists such as Pelloutier and more
generally revolutionary syndicalists. All these common resume Proudhon the importance of
organizing form in which federalist autonomy of grassroots groups and decision-making
power is guaranteed.
Criticism of the vertical division of labor
There is another dimension of criticism that Proudhon had an influence on the state by
anarchists, but that Proudhon does not develop, however, in the context of this subject is
the question of the division of labor between tasks designs and executions. Indeed,
Proudhon makes a critical introduction of machines in the production process because they
lead to reduced worker craftsman status to that of a simple tool unintelligent.
This theme is echoed in particular between the wars, as pointed out Simone Weil,
philosopher and militant syndicalist. In a text from 1933, it emphasizes the growing
importance both in capitalist production in the state organization, reports technocratic.
The capitalist system is characterized by parsseulement oppression of those who own the
means of production, but also a division between those who run the machine and those in
his service. Similarly, the State, whether in capitalist societies in the USSR or
totalitarian regimes is characterized by bureaucratic domination exercised by those who
are responsible for coordinating functions. This topic is resumed in the post-war period,
and particularly during the 1970s, a number of anarchists and anarcho-syndicalists, such
as Louis Mercier Vega-through the critique of techno-bureaucracy.
Irene (AL Paris North East)
[1] For the recovery of this theme Bakunin, see "heavenly kingdom and state apparatus" in
AL No. 208, Summer 2011.
Bron : a-infos-en@ainfos.ca