The Anarchist Lens with Michael Malice - WBD497

Michael Malice is an anarchist, author, and podcaster. In this
interview, we discuss declining versus flourishing US cities,
transitioning away from the state, Ukraine and Putin,
conspiracies to cancel, challenges to free speech, and the
enfeeblement of the media and education system.


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Anarchism has quickly evolved from being an extreme ideology,
which was at best a interesting thought experiment, to a
political vision whose merits are being given increasingly
serious consideration. Even those who believe in the power of
collectivism are questioning the effectiveness of our current
institutions.


But with power comes responsibility. Do anarchists truly believe
that tearing down the state and its associated power structures
will result in a better world? Or is there a more nuanced and
pragmatic approach? Is retention of some collective organisation
desirable? Would decreased centralization and dominance of the
state be a sufficient victory for anarchists?


Whatever the end state envisioned by advocates of scholars such
as Bakunin, Goldman, Berkman and Rothbard, there are plenty of
power structures that anarchists believe require radical
reconstruction. Mainstream media, universities, schools, and rent
seeking businesses: they are all targets.


Even if some anarchists are changing to think that a better and
fairer world does not mean starting again from the ground up,
don’t think that their objective is anything short of an
extensive reordering of society.