Undisciplined Podcast Flowers in Dying Structures: Anarchism w/ Ruth Kinna
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Jul 4, 2021 
Ruth Kinna, a professor of political theory and author, delves deep into anarchism's historical and contemporary relevance. She explores how this political tradition contrasts with Marxism and critiques state power, arguing for mutual aid and collaborative politics. Kinna highlights the demonization of anarchist movements in media and discusses their intersections with feminism and critical race theory. She emphasizes the importance of local production to tackle ecological crises and shares her research on non-hierarchical governance structures.
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Student Discovery Of Anarchism
- Ruth Kinna discovered anarchism as a student through a course on the Spanish Civil War and an inspiring lecturer.
- That encounter redirected her academic path into a lifelong study of anarchist ideas and history.
Anarchism As Self-Government
- Kinna frames anarchism as a political tradition rooted in socialism that emphasizes equality and self-government.
- The core difference from other socialists is the insistence that people should govern themselves, not be governed by a central authority.
Why Anarchists Split From Marxists
- The split with Marxism happened in the First International over whether socialists should use state power.
- Anarchists argued state instruments reproduce hierarchy and cannot deliver genuine equality.
