I don't like spending this much time arguing against campism but they just keep talking at me.
this post was submitted on 09 Oct 2026
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All governments are authoritarian at some point. Even anarchist communities theoretically will exert force on intruders by mustering up the people where they are, where they live.
Exerting force ≠ authoritarian. These words have completely different meanings. For example, community defence against an authoritarian state can involve the exertion of force, but would be categorically anti-authoritarian.
Sorry, I should have said intruders as well as internal bad faith actors.
There will still be psychopaths and sociopaths and serial killers and pedophiles in a communist or anarchist society.
Communities will still need to deal with those malignant people, whether by outcasting/exiling/deporting them or inflicting punishment + delivering rehabilitation. Those activities will be authoritarian over the bad actors.
No, those activities would not be authoritarian over bad actors. Authoritarianism specifically involves concentrated hierarchical power that operates without accountability or consensus. Anarchist communities would handle bad actors in a bottom-up manner, even from the perspective of the bad actor.
Also, your use of the terms "psychopath" and "sociopath" are harmful. These are medical conditions and should not be stigmatized. People with these conditions can lead normal lives if they get the help that they need.
Edit: Apologies if I come across as a bit of a pedant. I just think it's important that these terms are used correctly. <3
I was meaning authoritarian as in the sense of authority being commonly understood as the legitimate power of a person or group over other people. And my argument was that even communist and anarchist societies will use power over other bad actors inside that society if those bad actors pose as threats to the prevailing political system.
If a bad actor seeks the pain and suffering of others, regardless of their mental health, or even if a bad actor seeks to persuade a society's peoples away from the prevailing political principles, such as someone advocating for hierarchy in an anarchist society or a capitalist advocating for private property in a communist society, then those societies will still use their power to self preserve those modes of political power.
To the bad actors, those societies will appear authoritarian.
According to that logic the warsaw uprising was also authoritarian because the rebels imposed their will onto the nazi occupiers.
there is a difference between using force as a means of self defense and for dominance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_d8_VpLc-k
Shouldn't have just said intruders. Of course self defense isn't authoritarian. Authoritarianism takes place above and over a society's own people. I meant to also include internal bad actors like psychopaths, sociopaths, serial killers, rapists, pedophiles, racists, etc. For those criminals within society, it's still best to remove them from that same society via exile/deportation or take away their rights to punish them then rehabilitate them. Those actions will appear as authoritarian to the bad actors.
Oh okay that makes sense now
Upvoting not because I agree but because this claim is very common and needs visibility.