Anarchism and the Catholic Worker

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Christian Anarchism

There is a handy online archive of “The Common Good”, the magazine of the Christchurch Catholic Worker in New Zealand.

The archive includes this article: “Anarchism and the Catholic Worker” by Jim Consedine.

One of the principle guiding influences within the development of Catholic Worker philosophy has been the principle of anarchism. The three most influential figures of the Catholic Worker- Peter Maurin, Dorothy Day and Ammon Hennacy – all professed to being anarchists at some time in their lives. Since any discussion of anarchism usually produces huge negativity, it is useful to reflect on its influence within the history of the CW.

 

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Kropotkin on Human Nature in Politics

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anarchism, politics, power

We do not advocate Communism and Anarchy because we imagine men to be better than they really are; if we had angels among us we might be tempted to entrust to them the task of organising us, though doubtless even they would show the cloven foot very soon. But it is just because we take men as they are that we say: “Do not entrust them with the governing of you. This or that despicable minister might have been an excellent man if power had not been given to him. The only way of arriving at harmony of interests is by a society without exploiters and without rulers.” It is precisely because men are not angels that we say, “Let us arrange matters so that each man may see his interest bound up with the interests of others, then you will no longer have to fear his evil passions.”

Source: The Place of Anarchism in Socialistic Evolution

Three Cheers for “Two Cheers for Christian Anarchism”

I’ve just read the new book from James C. Scott – Two Cheers for Anarchism: Six Easy Pieces on Autonomy, Dignity, and Meaningful Work and Play. I enjoyed his previous work so much that I had to own this one. I can happily report that it is simply fantastic.

First of all the book has been beautifully designed. From the elegant cover  to the typography and page layout it is a gem. The only error seems to be that the Acknowledgements are incomplete. Secondly, the writing is brilliant, being both snappy and fun. The book consists of numerous “fragments”, examples from his life and experiences that illustrate his approach to looking at social problems and their solutions.

The overall thrust of the book is to encourage readers to develop an anarchist perspective to view the world, an anarchist political imagination, if you like. In this way he helps us to see our own fragments, and in doing so, Scott claims that we will be able see things more clearly than we otherwise would. He also encourages us to practice what he playfully calls “anarchist calisthenics”, by which he means regular (daily) acts of minor law-breaking so that when the situation arises for major disobedience, our rebellious muscles are exercised and ready.

Published by Princeton University Press: Two Cheers for Anarchism: Six Easy Pieces on Autonomy, Dignity, and Meaningful Work and Play