Anarchy

Most online dictionaries define words the way people usually use them. That might sound fair, but it can make complicated ideas seem simpler than they really are. Dictionaries usually say “anarchy” means no order, no organization, or no control. That's how people talk about it, but it doesn't reflect what anarchism actually is.

Anarchism is a political theory that asks whether anyone should have the right to rule over others. It values individual freedom from domination and promotes caring communities where people are equal and decisions aren't forced on anyone.

Dictionaries make it seem like the only alternative to government is disorder. Just like calling democracy "mob rule" is misleading, calling anarchism "disorder" is misleading.

Look more closely and you'll see anarchism isn't about disorder at all. It's about questioning authority and promoting self-governing societies.

To learn about anarchist societies that actually worked, read this article on Listverse.