Anarchist Prophets: Disappointing Vision and the Power of Collective Sight

Anarchist Prophets by James R. Martel explores the potential for radical democratic politics by contrasting anarchism with archism, a centralized and hierarchical political form that dominates contemporary politics. Martel highlights the figure of the anarchist prophet who leads efforts to regain authority for the community and render themselves obsolete. He locates anarchist prophets in a range of philosophical, literary, and historical examples, demonstrating how anarchist forms of collective vision and action can provide the means to overthrow archist authority.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 05 August 2022
Publisher: Duke University Press

Anarchist Prophets: James R. Martel's Exploration of Radical Democratic Politics
Anarchism and archism are two distinct political forms that have shaped contemporary politics. Archism, a centralized and hierarchical political structure, is a secularization of ancient Greek and Hebrew prophetic traditions. It dominates contemporary politics through the promises of peace and prosperity or the threat of violence made by prophets. In contrast, anarchism is a decentralized and egalitarian political system that emphasizes collective judgment and vision.

Anarchist prophets play a crucial role in anarchist politics. They are individuals who lead efforts to regain the authority for the community that archism has stolen. Their goal is to render themselves obsolete and cede power back to the collective so as to not become archist themselves. Martel locates anarchist prophets in a range of philosophical, literary, and historical examples, from Hobbes and Nietzsche to Mary Shelley and Octavia Butler to Kurdish resistance in Syria and the Spanish Revolution.

One of the key themes of Anarchist Prophets is the idea of collective vision and action. Martel argues that anarchist forms of collective vision and action can provide the means to overthrow archist authority. He highlights the importance of shared values, mutual respect, and collective decision-making in creating a more just and equitable society.

Anarchist prophets also challenge the notion of hierarchy and power. They argue that power should be distributed equally among all members of society and that hierarchies are inherently oppressive. Martel provides examples of how anarchist movements have challenged and dismantled hierarchies, such as the Occupy movement and the Arab Spring.

However, Martel also acknowledges the challenges of anarchist politics. He notes that anarchism can be difficult to implement in practice and that it can be vulnerable to authoritarianism and violence. He suggests that anarchist movements need to be well-organized and disciplined and that they need to be able to respond to changing circumstances.

In conclusion, Anarchist Prophets is a thought-provoking and insightful book that explores the potential for radical democratic politics. James R. Martel juxtaposes anarchism with archism to show how archism dominates contemporary politics through the promises of peace and prosperity or the threat of violence. Anarchist prophets play a crucial role in anarchist politics by leading efforts to regain the authority for the community and by challenging the notion of hierarchy and power. While anarchist politics can be difficult to implement in practice, it offers a promising alternative to the current system of authoritarianism and inequality.

Weight: 503g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478018414