A uniform definition in the English language of Anarchy, and Anarchism, describes a system that is lawless – lacking governance; but, what does “lack of governance” truly mean? Taken from connotation in society, direly publicized by the mass media, this sense of lawlessness is construed to individuals who feel they are bound by no one and nothing. Is this state of mind, that no rules apply to an individual, the lack of governance?
By regular definition governance refers to a system of government involving authority is being exerted in some way or form. Currently all individuals are under governance, not one civilized society runs without a centralized or decentralized government. Through a process, whether the individuals are involved or not, the society is given human law to follow. Human law exists beyond moral beliefs, such as economics, civil liberties, etc. These human laws follow, almost accordingly, to the majority belief. If the statement proceeding holds true in current society, this defines what it means to be under governance – to be under governance is to follow human law. But, then, what is it to live with the lack of governance?
Living without governance would be living without human law. What can be left once human law has disappeared? Natural law. Humans, and most other animals, appear to be innately social creatures. Once human law is removed, all that is left is raw social instinct. Murder happens, there are things disputed to cause murder; but, murder is disruptive to social order. Almost every individual feels some sort of repulsion when contemplating murdering another individual. The same can be said when it comes to theft, yes it does happen – but how often in a neutral situation will an individual steal from another individual? There are many counter arguments to these statements, but one must think how individuals may act outside of social ailments.
It can be clearly seen that the lack of governance is merely the removal of human law, and the reinstation of natural law. Anarchism is not the removal of social structure and its basic order, in fact it is the restoration. Anarchism is the idea to remove the instated human law, and to replace it with a more natural order. This is what the lack of governance truly is.
