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What about anarchist states? Does that make them an oxymoron?


Yes. But only if you think anarchist == anarchy. In reality, anarchist == anarchism, which is a collectivist/socialist philosophy masquerading as anarchy.

A state based on anarchy is an oxymoron.


there are several very different models of a anarchist society, some are based on collectivist/socialist others on capitalism/individualism.


Yeah, the Individualist Anarchists prefix Anarchist with "individualist". The Anarcho-capitalists add a suffix to it. Both groups understand that Anarchy ("No Authority") is being altered by their beliefs, and is therefore not a pure Anarchy.

Only the Collectivist/Socialist Anarchists have the audacity to call themselves "Anarchists" without any qualifying suffix or prefix. The fact that they've coined "Anarchism" (of which they are "Anarchists") to mean something that isn't a pure Anarchy is extraordinarily disingenuous.


That's a misuse of the word, I'd say. "Anarchy" was usurped to somehow describe some sort of "violent" lack of rule/order. I.e. Riots, mobs, looting, Molotov cocktails, you name it. Very unfortunate indeed.

Even now, the official definition is "a state of disorder due to absence or nonrecognition of authority." Though, the origin is: "...from anarkhos, from an- ‘without’ + arkhos ‘chief, ruler.’"

At least, when used properly as a qualifier to a system of government (or lack thereof), it has much much better connotations associated with it. Though, again, that depends on who you ask and which type of "anarchy" you're describing. You get ridiculously odd ones such as "anarcho-communism".


The Anarchist model is based on communities, the concept of state doesn't exist.




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