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Title: Anarcho-pacifism Author: Harold Barclay Date: 2009 Language: en Topics: pacifism Source: Retrieved on 22nd November 2021 from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9781405198073.wbierp1663 Notes: Published in The International Encyclopedia of Revolution and Protest.
Anarcho-pacifists hold that anarchism is a philosophy of non-violence,
arguing that since anarchism opposes all domination, it cannot endorse
the worst form of domination, which is violence upon another person.
While pacifism remains a minority position among anarchists,
anarcho-pacifists have considerably influenced other anarchists in their
emphasis on non-violent civil disobedience as a means of protest.
Perhaps a majority of anarcho-pacifists are Christians, basing their
belief on the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7). The most famous was Leo
Tolstoy, who, via his influence on Gandhi, is among the most influential
of anarchists. The earliest Christian anarcho-pacifist was probably Adin
Ballou (1803–90). Later Christian anarchists include Russian
existentialist philosopher Nikolai Berdyaev (1874–1948) and French
theologian Jacques Ellul (1911–94).
A few Christian sects might be placed in this category as well, although
none would appreciate being called anarchist. The conservative
Anabaptist sects such as the Old Order Amish and the Hutterites believe
there are two kingdoms: that of the world, represented by the state and
violence, with which no Christian may be associated, and the kingdom of
God, represented by the church as a holy community living according to
the New Testament. Accordingly, they have always resisted state
interference in their lives. A group of Russian origin bearing some
similarities to the Society of Friends (Quakers) is the Doukhobors,
within which the Sons of Freedom subsect has, at least until recent
times, been very militant in its opposition to state attempts to direct
their lives. Catholic Worker is another Christian anarcho-pacifist
organization.
Apart from religious anarcho-pacifists, there are also those who
consider themselves secular, most of whom reject religion. Many base
their pacifism and anarchism on the innateness of the principle of
mutual aid. Gustav Landauer (1870–1919), Bart De Ligt (1883–1938), and
Paul Goodman (1911–72) are examples of secular anarcho-pacifists.
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REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED READINGS
Berdyaev, N. (1938) Slavery and Freedom. London: Geoffrey Bles.
De Ligt, B. (1989) The Conquest of Violence: An Essay on War and
Revolution. London: Pluto Press.
Ellul, J. (1991) Anarchy and Christianity. Grand Rapids, MI: W. B.
Eerdmans.
Goodman, P. (1946) Drawing the Line. New York: Random House.
Hawthorne, H. B. (Ed.) (1955) The Doukhobors of British Columbia.
Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press.
Hostetler, J. A. (1963) Amish Society. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins
University Press.
Hostetler, J. A. (1974) Hutterite Society. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins
University Press.
Landauer, G. (1978) For Socialism. St. Louis: Telos Press.
Miller, W. D. (1973) A Harsh and Dreadful Love. New York: Liveright.
Tolstoy, L. (1967) On Civil Disobedience and Non-Violence. New York:
Bergman.
Woodcock, G. and Avakumovic, I. (1968) The Doukhobors. Toronto: Oxford
University Press.