Anarchy
Anarchy (New Latin anarchia, from Greek anarkhi, from anarkhos, without a ruler : an-, without ; see a-1 + arkhos, ruler ; see
archon) is a term that has a number of different but related usages. Specific meanings
[1] include 1) absence of any form of political authority; 2) Political disorder and confusion; and 3) absence of any cohesive principle, such as a common standard or purpose.
- In the first meaning of "absence of political authority", an anarchy can refer to a theoretical or actual society based on the principles of one or more strains of the political theory anarchism (see also anarcho-communism for an overview of left-wing anarchists and anarcho-capitalism for an overview of right-wing anarchists). Advocates of one or other form of this theory have often named their newspapers, magazines and pamphlets, in various languages, "Anarchy", or used the word in book titles. For example:
- Anarchy, a magazine published in London in the 1960s and 1970s;
- ;
- Anarchy, a book by Errico Malatesta;
- Anarchy!: An Anthology of Emma Goldman's Mother Earth, edited by Peter Glassgold.
See also:
anarchism,
- In the second and third meanings (and by some interpretations the first as well), we find the common application of the term to states of political disorder. According to the 2003 CIA World factbook, there is one nation in the world today, namely Somalia, in a state of anarchy, in that civil government has collapsed and rule in parts of the country is by mob and warlords, who often clash with bloody results. There are a few others (Afghanistan, Albania, Burundi, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Rwanda) in which government is described as "emerging" or "transitional", and which were in anomie in the near past. The Solomon Islands is described as tending towards anomie because "violence, corruption and crime have undermined stability and civil society". Another example would be The Anarchy, the name most often given to the period of civil war and unsettled government which occurred in England during the reign of King Stephen of England.
See also:
anomie,
chaos,
- Anarchy Online is a computer game.
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