Anarchy as Order The History and Future of Civic Humanity

by Bamyeh, Mohammed A.

• ISBN13: 9780742556737
• ISBN10: 0742556735
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-05-16
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Summary

This original and impressively researched book explores the concept of anarchy__unimposed order__as the most humane and stable form of order in a chaotic world. Mohammed A. Bamyeh traces the historical foundations of anarchy and convincingly presents it as an alternative to both tyranny and democracy. He shows how anarchy is the best manifestation of civic order, of a healthy civil society, and of humanity's noblest attributes. The author contends that humanity thrives on self-regulation rather than imposed order, that large systems are inherently more prone to tyranny than small systems, that power is the enemy of freedom, and that freedom and community are complementary rather than opposing values. He concludes that a more rational world is produced not by delegated representatives but by direct participation in common affairs. Bamyeh offers a concise philosophy of anarchy in the context of war, civil society, global order, experiences of freedom, solidarity, the evolution of modern states, and tax systems. He distinguishes anarchy from more familiar ways of thinking about the relationship between state and society that highlight the importance of power and control for social order. Further, he argues that the necessity for expert guidance or social collaboration in some areas of common public life does not require such areas to be run by a grand, overarching, or representative state. A cogent and compelling critique of the modern state, this provocative book clarifies how anarchy may be both a guide for rational social order and a science of humanity.

Author Biography

Mohammed A. Bamyeh is professor of sociology at the University of Pittsburgh. His previous books include The Ends of Globalization, The Social Origins of Islam, and Of Death and Dominion.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. vii
The Idea
Anarchy as a Science of Humanity	p. 3
What Is Anarchy?	p. 27
Around the Idea
Civil Society and the State	p. 71
Trust and the Politics of Alliance	p. 119
Freedom and Commitment	p. 143
Anarchy as a Destination	p. 191
Bibliography	p. 223
Index	p. 233
About the Author	p. 241
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