The first misconception about “anarchy” is that it represents a chaotic, disorderly, law of the jungle, ruthless existence. This is held by the majority of citizens whose only information about anarchism is what is provided by authoritarians (teachers, parents, politicians, religious leaders, etc.) who wave “anarchy” around to scare people into submissive behaviour. In fact, the word “anarchy” has been so debased and misappropriated by Capitalist interests that many anarchists call themselves “Libertarian Socialists” in order to disassociate themselves from the automatic negative connotations of “anarchy.”

So what does anarchy mean? Well, if you look in the Canadian Oxford Dictionary Second Edition you will find the first meaning of anarchy is “disorder, esp. political or social.” This is exactly what I am referring to when even institutions like Oxford University Press, present a colloquial understanding of anarchy as the official first definition. If you go back to the Greek, “anarchy” simply means “without a ruler” or “without authority” and there is no association with a disorderly society. In fact, most anarchists favor an “orderly” society – simply one that is not based on authoritarian or hierarchical structure but rather worker control and participatory democracy.

“Anarchism, therefore, is a political theory that aims to create a society which is without political, economic or social hierarchies. Anarchists maintain that anarchy, the absence of rulers, is a viable form of social system and so work for the maximization of individual liberty and social equality. They see the goals of liberty and equality as mutually self-supporting.” - Infoshop.org