Noam Chomsky
Worth Reading:
Murray Bookchin Worth Reading:
Jacques Ellul,(d.1994) Worth Reading:
Hakim Bey
Worth Reading:
Daniel Guérin,(d.1988) Worth Reading:
Guy Debord,(d.1994)
Bob Black Worth Reading:
Lorenzo Kom'boa Ervin Worth Reading:
Fredy Perlman,(d.1985) Worth Reading:
Derrick Pike
Worth Reading: John Zerzan
Worht Reading:
L. Susan Brown and Contemporary Anarcha-Feminism Worth Reading:
Other AnarchaFeminists
Initially coming to prominence in the field of linguistics, Chomsky has since become known for his scathing critiques of neoliberalism, U.S. foreign policy, and global capitalism. A libertarian socialist, Chomsky's political works usually focus on specific issues--such as the media, terrorism, the Middle East--instead of vague theory. The best summary of Chomsky's anarchist leanings are his introduction to Daniel Guérin's Anarchism: From Theory to Practice.
The most prominent eco-anarchist living, Bookchin combines elements of what he calls "social ecology", communalism, and anarchism to create a school of thought unlike most others. Rejecting "anti-humanistic" and mystical views of nature, Bookchin proposes an anarchistic vision which rings of Kropotkin and Proudhon, as well as the Spanish Syndicalists. However, from the little Bookchin I have read, he seems to be vehemently anti-religion, writing it off as "superstitious".
Fusing Christianity with anarchism as few have, theologian Jacques Ellul promoted a radically pacifistic ideology before his death in 1994. Primarily interested in ethical questions regarding technology, it was in 1988--with the publication of Anarchy and Christianity--that Ellul turned his attention to the intersection of Chrisitanity and anarchism. While he held that an anarchist outlook was most consistent with a Biblical view, he also reached the conclusion that anarchy was a somewhat unrealistic goal.
The weird eccentric cousin of anarchist thought, Hakim Bey defies description. Drawing on Taoism, chaos theory, Nietzsche, and others, Hakim Bey uses a very stream-of-consciousness writing technique to drive home some very libertarian notions. Attacking everything from pop culture to hierarchy, Hakim Bey's works are not for the faint of heart.
Starting out as a Trotskyist and ending up as a libertarian socialist, Daniel Guérin is perhaps best-known for his excellent work, Anarchism: From Theory to Practice. Aside from anarchist ideas, Guérin was also active in anti-fascist and gay rights movements. Not necessarily an original theorist, his writing on anarchism is nonetheless lucid, thorough, and enjoyable.
French Situationist Guy Debord did much to popularize libertarian ideas in the events of the late 1960s in France and Europe. Admittedly influenced by Marxism--especially French Marxism like Henri Lefebvre--Debord nonetheless was a potent libertarian thinker. To him, advanced capitalism had reduced all of our relationships to mere "spectacles" and creativity was hopelessly stifled. This made revolution all the more necessary. Debord and other situationists influenced much of the revolutionary activity that took place in France in 1968.
Worth Reading:
Bob Black is a very controversial figure in anarchism from what I understand. Coming from a post-Situationist view of things, his anarchist vision seems to have no room for the anarchisms of Bookchin, the anarcho-syndicalists, or the anarcha-feminists. These strains are labelled obsolete and reactionary by Black. Going a step beyond most libertarians, Black asserts that our current work-oriented society must itself be ABOLISHED and a more play-oriented or "ludic" society must result. It sounds very radical, but keep in mind, in their day, so did Bakunin, Proudhon, Kropotkin, and Malatesta.
The Abolition of Work, and other essays
The only African-American anarchist I have been able to find in all of my research is this man. Taking the concept of "Black Nationalism" a few steps beyond (Ervin is an ex-Black Panther), he advocates "Black Anarchism". Like the name says, African-Americans are to organize themselves anarchically. The results will be racial communes free from the interference of the State, and of course, the end result is a stateless society. I was able to find little information on him on the internet.
An extremely prolific anarchist with many areas of interest, Perlman was a consummate activist. Influenced by Marxism, economics, and good old-fashioned anarchism, themes like alienation were common to Perlman's works. Whether participating in labor activities around the globe, writing anarchist theory, or starting up a cooperative bookshop, Perlman did almost anything to propagate libertarian and anti-authoritarian ideas.
A radical anarcho-pacifist, Pike has been quite prolific and virtually one of the only contemporary anarcho-pacifist voices I could find in my research.
Calling his version of anarchism "primitivist", Zerzan advocates an extreme form of eco-anarchism. He repudiates civilization altogether, and is even acquainted with Unabomber Ted Kazcynski. He has also recently gained notoriety for his minor role in the Seatle anti-WTO Riots, where he and some followers intiated some mild, but violent, activities against businesses and corporations.
Brown considers herself an anarcho-communist, but I would place her in the individualist tradition. She flat out states that an association is nothing more than a grouping of individuals, and this smacks of Stirner. The name of her main work says it all. So, contrary to what she says, Brown is an individualist anarcha-feminist.
More Contemporary Anarchist and Left-Libertarian Thinkers, Writers, and Activists on this page.
1.Wendy McElroy may not belong here because of her capitalist tendencies, but I really rather enjoy her extreme emphasis on personal liberty...so I put her here for kicks. Also, Freedom, Feminism, and the State is a great anthology that has some good works of anarchism in it. Her introduction to it is pretty good, too.