1.2 Anarchism, the Anarchist Thoughts, and Libertarians

715 Pages·2017·6.15 MB·English

Legal Anarchism: Does Existence Need to Be
Regulated by the State?

Sirus Kashefi

A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies in Partial
Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

Graduate Program in Law
Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
Toronto, Ontario

September 2016

© Sirus Kashefi, 2016
Abstract

This thesis asks “does existence need to be regulated by the State?” The answer relies on “legal
anarchism”, an interdisciplinary, particularly criminal law and philosophy, and unconventional research
project based on multiple methodologies with a specific language. It critically analyzes and consequently
rejects State law because of its unjustified and unnecessary nature founded on unlimited violence and
white-collar crime (Chapters 1-4), on the one hand, and suggests some alternatives to the Governmental
legal system founded on agreement and peace (Chapter 5), on the other hand. It furthermore takes into
account the elements of time and space, which means the ecological, local, national, regional, and
international aspects of the legal system, in its analysis, critiques, and models.

Keywords: existence, State, repression, legal system, law, punishment, anarchism, legal anarchism,
anarchist alternatives

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Dedication

I dedicate this dissertation to endless non-human and human victims, particularly my sister Sedigh, of
unlimited cruelties of politicians and humanity as a whole. My sister is unspeakably suffering from
existential injustice. She is a real ocean of pains swallowing an ignorant and cruel family, forced marriage
at 14 year old, a poor, ignorant, and wicked husband, three highly problematic children, permanent injustice
imposed by the legal system, ... The Iranian States, before as well as after the Islamist Revolution, have
played an immense role in her victimization.

“Is He A Nihilist Dancer?

He makes fun of all scriptures
He plays with all philosophers
He challenges all authorities
He dances with all ideologies
Is he is a nihilist dancer?”
Sirus Kashefi1

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Acknowledgements

I express my deepest gratitude to the following Professors who have made this thesis possible by
their academic reviews and expertise.
I would like to thank my supervisor Professor Dayna Nadine Scott for her important role and
continuous support in solving the issues related to the first version of my thesis as well as helping me to
defend the thesis. Contrary to my first supervisor, she has sincerely been very disponible, comprehensible,
and patient. She has also improved my dissertation by her thoughtful comments and useful suggestions.
I would also thank Professors Liora Salter and Edward Peter Stringham for admitting to take part in
the supervisory committee and giving feedback and suggestion, which have facilitated my thesis defense.
Their opinion and expertise have certainly enriched my dissertation.
Besides them, I have no debt toward any person in writing this thesis, except Professor James
Martel who carefully read the three Chapters (at that time, I did not divided the Chapter 1 into two Chapters
of 1 and 2) and gave several creative comments and ideas. I would thus like to thank him for his kindness,
trustworthiness, encouragement, suggestions, and criticisms that I have used in the context as well as
appendix B of this thesis.
I recognize that the language of the thesis is very vehement, but hopefully honest. I do accordingly
emphasise that I have critically analyzed “the institution” and not “the person” at all, since naming some
people in this thesis means “a structural analysis” that has nothing to do with any “personal attack”, which is
not undoubtedly my business. Furthermore, I am certainly an alone individual who must survive by her own
capacities in a jungle or psychiatric hospital that we call the world in which presenting some unconventional
ideas – of which this thesis would be an example – is so difficult, if not impossible. Let me accordingly
invoke Carl Gustav Jung, “Loneliness does not come from having no people about one, but from being unable to
communicate the things that seem important to oneself, or from holding certain views which others find
inadmissible.”2 For instance, does not academia make some individuals, i.e. those who are unable to adapt,
alone or excluded through its horrible hierarchy and rules?
My thesis hopefully neither follows York University’s ideology, nor obeys Osgoodian and anarchist
propaganda, but it mostly depicts my own opinion as some misanthropic critiques of authorities, forcibly
realized through my existential but painful experience and knowledge. For instance, under the academic
and economic pressure and censorship resulting in my huge pains and struggle, including my two hunger
strikes, against a very cruel system, I had to highly censor the two versions of this PhD thesis (particularly
my detailed arguments against lawyering, academia, and politics) in order to defend it possibly, and to
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obtain my second PhD title eventually. I hope that this highly censored version will somehow enjoy the
freedom of speech, cherished by academia itself! And as Sophocles said in Oedipus the King, “In the time
you will know all with certainty; time is the only test of honest men, one day is space enough to know a rogue.”
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Table of Contents
Abstract .................................................................................................................................................................... ii
Dedication ............................................................................................................................................................... iii
Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................................. iv
Table of Contents .................................................................................................................................................... vi
Synopsis of Thesis ................................................................................................................................................... x
Figure 1: The Schematic Plan of the Thesis ......................................................................................................... xiii
Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................. 1
Chapter 1: The Critical and Controversial Concepts .............................................................................................. 11
1.1 Synopsis................................................................................................................................................. 11
1.2 Anarchism, the Anarchist Thoughts, and Libertarians ............................................................................ 11
1.2.1 Anarchism: From Broadness to Adjectivelessness ..................................................................... 12
1.2.1.1 Anarchism and Libertarianism: To Be or Not To Be Contrary ............................................. 12
1.2.1.2 Anarchism Without Adjectives ............................................................................................. 15
1.2.2 The Anarchist Movements, Schools, Publications, and Organizations ....................................... 17
1.2.3 The Libertarians: A Privileged and Spoiled Caste ...................................................................... 17
1.3 The Importance of Anarchism ................................................................................................................ 20
1.4 Legal Anarchism: A Complex Discipline ................................................................................................. 22
1.5 Power and Authority ............................................................................................................................... 26
1.5.1 The Similarities and Differences ................................................................................................. 27
1.5.2 The Critiques of Authority ........................................................................................................... 29
1.5.2.1 The Ideological Justification of Authority ............................................................................. 29
1.5.2.2 The Destructive and Corrupting Aspects of Authority .......................................................... 33
1.6 The State ................................................................................................................................................ 38
1.7 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 42
Chapter 2: Some Elements of the State ................................................................................................................. 44
2.1 Synopsis................................................................................................................................................. 44
2.2 State Jurisdiction .................................................................................................................................... 45
2.2.1 The Creation of Frontiers and the Protection of Citizens ............................................................ 45
2.2.2 The Nation-State: The Belligerent and Dirty Misadventures ....................................................... 46
2.3 The State and Democracy ...................................................................................................................... 51
2.3.1 From Liberal Democracy to Theocratic Democracy .................................................................... 51
2.3.2 Anarchist Democracy ................................................................................................................. 53
2.4 Statelessness ......................................................................................................................................... 56
2.5 The State and Human Nature ................................................................................................................ 59
2.5.1 An Old Question in Political Philosophy ...................................................................................... 60
2.5.2 The State’s Effects on Human Nature ........................................................................................ 61
2.6 Extremity ................................................................................................................................................ 63
2.6.2 The Extreme Suffering: Organized and Unlimited Violence ........................................................ 70
2.6.2.1 The Scale, Intensity, and Legitimacy of State Violence ....................................................... 71
2.6.2.2 The Overregulation and Overcriminalization of Individuality and Sociality .......................... 73
2.6.2.2.1 The Extreme Rules ...................................................................................................... 74
2.6.2.2.2 The Extreme Sanctions ................................................................................................ 75
1.6.2.2.3 The Place of Freedoms and Rights .............................................................................. 81
2.6.2.3 State Violence Against Nature ............................................................................................ 84
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2.6.2.3.1 From Political Violence Against Animals ...................................................................... 84
2.6.2.3.2 To Political Violence Against the Entire Environment .................................................. 87
2.7 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 90
Chapter 3: The Anarchist Analysis and Critique of the Law and Punishment ......................................................... 94
3.1 Synopsis................................................................................................................................................. 94
3.2 The Introductive Notices ......................................................................................................................... 96
3.3 The Critiques of the Law ........................................................................................................................ 98
3.3.1 The Substantive Critiques of the Law ..................................................................................... 99
3.3.1.1 The Materialistic Critiques ............................................................................................. 100
3.3.1.2 The Psychological Critiques .......................................................................................... 102
3.3.1.3 The Legal System ......................................................................................................... 106
3.3.1.3.1 The Law School ..................................................................................................... 106
3.3.1.3.1.1 The Corporate Center of Indoctrinating Future Lawyers .......................................................... 107
3.3.1.3.1.2 Racist Obedience to the Law.................................................................................................... 110
3.3.1.3.1.3 The Lack of Transparency and Democracy .............................................................................. 113
3.3.1.3.1.3.1 Academic and Legal Dictatorship .......................................................................................... 113
3.3.1.3.1.3.2 The Academic and Legal Sanctions Against the Outsiders ................................................... 116
3.3.1.3.2 Lawyering .............................................................................................................. 117
3.3.1.3.2.1 The Lawyers ............................................................................................................................. 117
3.3.1.3.2.1.1 The Very Bad Reputation and Moral Bankruptcy .................................................................. 117
3.3.1.3.2.1.2 A Corporatist and Propagandist Institution of Obedience ...................................................... 120
3.3.1.3.2.2 The Judges .............................................................................................................................. 126
3.3.1.3.2.2.1 The State Sacred and White Men ......................................................................................... 126
3.3.1.3.2.2.2 The Selected Dictators .......................................................................................................... 128
3.3.2 The Procedural Critiques of the Law .................................................................................... 131
3.3.2.1 The Myth of Equality before the Law ............................................................................. 131
3.3.2.2 The Myth of the Presumption of Innocence .................................................................. 134
3.4 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 136
Chapter 4: State Stigmatization and Repression .................................................................................................. 139
4.1 Synopsis............................................................................................................................................... 139
4.2 The Mechanisms of State Control: State Repression v. Protest Permission ........................................ 141
4.2.1 Absolute Power to Repress ...................................................................................................... 142
4.2.2 Begging Permission to Protest Against State Violence............................................................. 147
4.3 Delegitimization: The State Against Its Own Rules .............................................................................. 150
4.3.1 Historical Delegitimization......................................................................................................... 153
4.3.2 Modern Delegitimization ........................................................................................................... 157
4.4 Judicial Legitimacy: The Anarchists vs. the State Criminals ................................................................. 166
4.4.1 Accepting vs. Denying Judicial Legitimacy ............................................................................... 166
4.4.1.1 An Accepted Court ............................................................................................................ 167
4.4.1.2 A Denied Court .................................................................................................................. 170
4.4.2 A Forced Justice for the Libertarians ........................................................................................ 173
4.4.3 An Impotent Justice for the State Criminals .............................................................................. 176
4.5 Conclusion: The Hopeful Revolts or Revolutions ................................................................................. 180
Chapter 5: The Anarchist Alternatives .................................................................................................................. 184
5.1 Synopsis............................................................................................................................................... 184
5.2 The Problems and Principles ............................................................................................................... 192
5.2.1 The Problems ........................................................................................................................... 194
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5.2.1.1 The Problems of Utopianism ............................................................................................. 194
5.2.1.2 The Problems of Organization ........................................................................................... 197
5.2.1.2.1 Unbalanced Organization between Individualism and Socialism ............................... 197
5.2.1.2.2 The Affinity Groups .................................................................................................... 199
5.2.1.2.2.1 Platformist Anarchism ......................................................................................... 200
5.2.1.2.2.2 Synthesist Anarchism ......................................................................................... 202
5.2.1.2.2.3 Class Struggle Anarchism .................................................................................. 203
5.2.1.3 The Problems of Labour .................................................................................................... 205
5.2.1.3.1 The Leftist Criticisms and Solutions ........................................................................... 206
5.2.1.3.2 The Rightist Criticisms and Solutions ......................................................................... 210
5.2.1.3.3 The Leftist Criticisms of Labour in a Free Market System .......................................... 214
5.2.1.4 The Problems of Natural Resources and Technology ....................................................... 218
5.2.1.4.1 The Natural Problems ................................................................................................ 218
5.2.1.4.1.1 The Rightist Approach ........................................................................................ 219
5.2.1.4.1.2 The Leftist Approach .......................................................................................... 226
5.2.1.4.1.2.1 From the Ownership of the Environment ............................................................................... 226
5.2.1.4.1.2.2 To the Liberation of the Environment .................................................................................... 231
5.2.1.4.2 The Technological Problems...................................................................................... 234
5.2.1.4.2.1 Radical Anarchism .............................................................................................. 235
5.2.1.4.2.2 Moderate Anarchism .......................................................................................... 242
5.2.1.4.2.3 Excessive Anarchism ......................................................................................... 247
5.2.1.5 The Problems of Money and Taxation ............................................................................... 250
5.2.1.5.1 The Monetary Problems ............................................................................................. 251
5.2.1.5.1.1 The Leftist Approach .......................................................................................... 251
5.2.1.5.1.2 The Rightist Approach ........................................................................................ 254
5.2.1.5.2 The Taxing Problems ................................................................................................. 257
5.2.2 The Principles ........................................................................................................................... 261
5.2.2.1 The Principle of Endless Alternatives ................................................................................ 262
5.2.2.2 The Principle of Agreement and Contract ......................................................................... 266
5.2.2.2.1 The Foundation of Anarchism .................................................................................... 266
5.2.2.2.2 The Godlike Contract ................................................................................................. 270
5.2.2.3 The Principle of Decentralization and Autonomy through Federation ................................ 273
5.2.2.4 The Principle of Non-Aggression ....................................................................................... 276
5.2.2.4.1 The Anarcho-Capitalist Approach .............................................................................. 277
5.2.2.4.2 The Critiques and Challenges .................................................................................... 279
5.2.2.5 The Green Principle .......................................................................................................... 282
5.2.2.6 Free Love .......................................................................................................................... 287
5.3 The Alternatives ................................................................................................................................... 291
5.3.1 The National Alternatives ......................................................................................................... 292
5.3.1.1 The Individualist Alternatives ............................................................................................. 292
5.3.1.1.1 The Pure Approach .................................................................................................... 292
5.3.1.1.2 The Synthesist Approach ........................................................................................... 295
5.3.1.1.3 The Critiques of the Individualist Alternatives ............................................................ 297
5.3.1.2 The Socialist Alternatives .................................................................................................. 299
5.3.1.2.1 Some Key Ideas......................................................................................................... 299
5.3.1.2.1.1 The Preventive Effects of Public Opinion and Participation on Criminality ......... 299
5.3.1.2.1.2 The Temporary Autonomous Zones and Squatting ............................................ 301
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5.3.1.2.2 The Mutualist Justice ................................................................................................. 303
5.3.1.2.3 The Collectivist Justice .............................................................................................. 308
5.3.1.2.4 The Communist Justice ............................................................................................. 311
5.3.1.2.4.1 Equality and Consumption According to Need ................................................... 312
5.3.1.2.4.2 The Rainbow Family of Living Light .................................................................... 314
5.3.1.2.5 The Syndicalist Justice .............................................................................................. 316
5.3.1.2.6 The Eco-Anarchist Justice ......................................................................................... 319
5.3.1.3 The Capitalist Alternatives ................................................................................................. 324
5.3.1.3.1 The Free Market Law and Punishment ...................................................................... 325
5.3.1.3.1.1 The Crimes Against the Individual and Her Property .......................................... 327
5.3.1.3.1.2 The Crimes Against the Environment ................................................................. 330
5.3.1.3.2 The Free Market Enforcement Agencies ................................................................... 332
5.3.1.3.3 Some Critiques of the Capitalist Alternatives ............................................................. 336
5.3.2 The International Alternatives ................................................................................................... 339
5.3.2.1 The Rightist Alternatives ................................................................................................... 340
5.3.2.2 The Leftist Alternatives ...................................................................................................... 344
5.4 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 348
5.5 My Alternatives and Final Notices ........................................................................................................ 352
5.5.1 The Alternatives ........................................................................................................................ 353
5.5.1.1 The National Principles ..................................................................................................... 353
5.5.1.1.1 The Principle of Existence ......................................................................................... 354
5.5.1.1.2 The Principle of Freedom to Choose ......................................................................... 355
5.5.1.1.2.1 The General Elements ........................................................................................ 355
5.5.1.1.2.2 The Legal Elements ............................................................................................ 359
5.5.1.2 The International Principles ............................................................................................... 361
5.5.2 The Conclusive and Critical Notices ......................................................................................... 362
5.5.2.1 The Severe Criticisms of the Anarchists and Legal Anarchism ......................................... 363
5.5.2.2 My Uncertain Contribution to Legal Anarchism ................................................................. 367
Bibliography ......................................................................................................................................................... 372
In English and French ................................................................................................................................ 372
In Farsi ....................................................................................................................................................... 453
Appendices .......................................................................................................................................................... 454
Appendix A: Acronyms ............................................................................................................................... 454
Appendix B: Professor Martel’s Comment on My Thesis’ Three Chapters (before dividing the Chapter
1 into two Chapters of 1 and 2) .................................................................................................................. 455
Footnotes ............................................................................................................................................................. 457
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Synopsis of Thesis

The dissertation aims to demonstrate that the State is neither justifiable nor necessary. In
approaching the question of whether “existence needs to be regulated by the State”, it focuses on anarchist
theories, which conventional legal scholarship misunderstands or ignores, by putting forward arguments
based on “legal anarchism”. The critique focuses on criminal law due to its crucial position in justifying and
supporting the need for Government as the most important and solicited institution of modernity. Divided
into five Chapters, the dissertation aims to understand both the epistemology and necessity of the State
according to anarchist thinking. As such, the thesis canvasses the opinions about the legal system
consistent with the individualist, socialist, capitalist, and synthesist libertarians. It questions why all
anarchist schools of thought, except the minimalists (questionably believing in a minimal State close to
anarcho-capitalism), argue against the State’s nature and justification as the exclusive source of law and
order. We cannot indeed understand an anarchist society without considering these critiques of
Governmental epistemology and necessity. This society struggles to avoid the overwhelming State violence
and corruption that is left unchallenged, if not furthered, by the legal establishment. State legal systems are
actually impotent toward the white-collar criminals, including State actors themselves, but tough vis-à-vis
the blue-collar criminals.
The research strategy engages with very diverse anarchist thinkers from the left to the right sides of
the political spectrum, and from the traditional to the modern schools. In order to examine their theories and
alternatives to Government, legal anarchism categorizes them into individualist (e.g., Stirner, Armand, and
James Walker), socialist (e.g., Godwin, Bakunin, Kropotkin, Malatesta, Goldman, Berkman, Bookchin,
Chomsky, Falk, and Zerzan), and capitalist anarchists (e.g., Friedman, Rothbard, Hoppe, and Stringham),
without denying their degree of permeability or synthesis insomuch as they can simultaneously share
certain characteristics, principally, of anarchism, individualism, socialism, marketism, and religion (e.g.,
Proudhon, Spooner, Tolstoy, Tucker, and Chartier). Legal anarchism does indeed use a synthetic
methodology to treat the relationship among Government, humans, and non-humans, since, as various
libertarian literatures emphasize, Government has monopolized the regulation of all life and death through
a sophisticated system of law and punishment. Despite the fact that legal anarchism, as a dependent
discipline, relies on anarchist and legal literatures, it, as an independent discipline, has its own autonomy
and liberty to analyze, criticize, or develop them with its specific terminology.
To appreciate the anarchist analysis and critique of State law requires the understanding of several
key concepts central to legal anarchism. Legal anarchism defines these terms according to its synthetic
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