Examples of Anarchy

Historical Example of Anarchy

In an era of union worker oppression and military control, the Spanish Civil War of 1936 showcased a noteworthy historical example of anarchism against the nationalist General Francisco Franco, that evidently ended in failure. During World War I, the nation had become more industrialized and generated a strong working class of citizens who were reluctant to deviate from their traditional lifestyles. Mistreatment and poor working conditions were common and, as a result, provided a catalyst for rebellion against their corrupt rulers. While some reacted with individual acts of terrorism, others wished to simply remove themselves from these harsh conditions and return to a more familiar, rural, and communal way of life outside of government control (“Anarchists in the Spanish Civil War”, para. 9). As the movement began to expand, the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT) was formed, which would later become one of the largest libertarian trade unions who are still in existence today (“What is the CNT?”, para. 2). Internal power struggles in the organization, along with the power of Franco’s forces, led to a crippling defeat. The history of the revolution has since then not only served as a realistic blueprint of a functional classless society, but one where socialists and anarchists can collaborate in harmony.

Bibliography:

Bailey, Geoff. “Anarchists in the Spanish Civil War.” International Socialist Review, 2002, www.isreview.org/issues/24/anarchists_spain.shtml. Accessed 1 Apr. 2018.

“What is the CNT?” Translated by Toms, Libcom.org, 14 May 2011, www.libcom.org/library/what-cnt. Accessed 1 Apr. 2018.

Fictional Example of Anarchy

In the stealth-action video game Metal Gear Solid 2, the terrorist group called The Sons of Liberty attempted to overthrow the government to return to a state of anarchy. The plan was to capture an environmental complex called The Big Shell, that was secretly housing a new type of nuclear weapon called Arsenal Gear, and use it to deploy an electromagnetic pulse bomb into the skies of Manhattan to render digital technology useless (“Sons of Liberty (Terrorist Group)”, para. 2). The result would allow individuals to be free from the manipulation of a secret organization known as The Patriots, who regulated the country under the guise of a constitutional democracy. The leader of the group, codenamed Solidus Snake, was a former U.S. president who fell out of grace with The Patriots after becoming nothing more than a pawn in their grand scheme of global censorship. By attempting to control the digital flow of information in society, The Patriots wished to write history as they see fit, and filter out any other forms of “truth” that did not fall in line with their ideals. While Solidus’ intentions were noble, the player is forced to confront and defeat him to prevent a chaotic political vacuum that would endure if The Patriots were to be eradicated. The Sons of Liberty group was inspired by the American colonists under the same name during the Revolutionary War, who retaliated against British rule. The group’s flag is also a direct reference to the famous Rattlesnake Flags, originally created by Benjamin Franklin in 1754, to symbolize their revolutionary ideals as well as their leader’s codename of “snake” (“Sons of Liberty (Terrorist Group)”, para. 7).

Bibliography:

“Sons of Liberty (Terrorist Group).” Metal Gear Wiki, www.metalgear.wikia.com/wiki/Sons_of_Liberty_(terrorist_group). Accessed 1 Apr. 2018.