However, when you start asking a few people of this kind, you often encounter blank stares or hollow phrases that suggest it is more about pure following than a real conviction. Truly genuine "anarchists," as they are called, do not only exist within the punk movement, as is often mistakenly thought. It is a politically, socially, and philosophically grounded idea that was already mentioned in ancient Greece ("An-Archia").
But what is anarchy and anarchism, actually? What do anarchists want, and why do we hear so little from them?
These and many other questions are addressed in Horst Stowasser's work "Life Without Boss and State." Notably, the clear and lively language sets it apart from other representatives of anarchist literature, which often tends to be rather dry. One does not need to be a studied political scientist to understand the book and its contents.
The book is divided into an introduction and seven additional chapters. Each chapter follows a simple scheme:
The "story" can be seen as a small narrative section that leads the reader into the following topic. This is followed by the "history" section, which takes the previously described story part and places it in a historical context. One could say that it goes "behind the scenes" and, alongside the literary entertainment value, provides a bit of factual and specialized knowledge. The final part, the "moral," is essentially – as the word suggests – the section where "the moral of the story" is examined more closely. What happened? Why did it happen? What can we learn from the experiences and mistakes today and do differently? Mr. Stowasser cleverly integrates some basic anarchist ideas, which, however, do not claim universal validity. He also points out "flaws" and problems that anarchists faced in the past and those they might still face today.
Thematically, it is quite colorful. One embarks on a mental journey to Romania, Argentina, Uruguay, Spain, Mexico, and also Germany. All these countries are sprinkled with more or less significant narratives of anarchist history. Whether it is the Machno movement, the Spanish Civil War, a self-managed house run by children, union organization including some general strikes, or simply the question of the legitimacy of violence: "Life Without Boss and State" covers a satisfactory range of topics where there is certainly much to learn.
Of course, it must be said that this is anything but an objective non-fiction book. However, one must give the author credit for noting this himself at the end of the book. According to his own statement, it is not a "scientific or historical work," but rather "biased" and should thus be evaluated accordingly. This biased character is also noticeable, especially in the language.
But not only this honest note is worth mentioning, but also the reference that every reader is free in their decision to become more active, meaning: One can further inform themselves based on the provided literature references or start doing something on their own (whatever that may look like). The book thus has a direct call to action. It essentially urges the reader not only to stop at the book but also to possibly draw some personal consequences for their further life (if they find any points of contact with anarchist ideas).
In my opinion, Horst Stowasser has created a truly recommendable work with "Life Without Boss and State," which could be particularly interesting for "newcomers" in this field. There is a wealth of information, variety, and many further notes to deepen the printed knowledge of the 192-page book in the form of additional sources. Thus, even "old hands" can certainly take away a hint or two, which is self-evident.
However, it must be firmly established that this is a book that outlines the fundamentals (!) of anarchism and provides corresponding food for thought. Those who have been intensively dealing with the topic for several years and have read various literary works will probably find less benefit or enjoyment in it. Even the savvy revolutionary heroes, who bring enthusiasm but lack a solid theoretical understanding, will not find a treatise or "guide" here. Instead, it engages in educational work that aims to demystify the "evil specter of anarchism" and thus give it a new face.
I also count myself among those who have held a few more complex books on this topic. For my part, I am very pleased that there is an easily understandable and comprehensive "guide" to this very complex subject. The language is contemporary, there is a bit of visual material to review, and there is a clear, easily understandable structure through the principle of "story-history-moral." One could hardly wish for more.
Of course, it speaks for itself that one does not stop after Horst Stowasser. There are many other works that exhibit a completely different, more detailed quality and are thus far more informative. One may certainly view "Life Without Boss and State" as the first stop on a long and exciting journey.
I cannot avoid the term "purchase recommendation" here. Those with a budding interest should take more than just a glance and dive into the magical and fascinating world of anarchy.
Just as a note: Of course, this review is also not free from ideological convictions and a certain bias. For me, this topic represents a "matter of the heart," and I sincerely hope that people will engage more deeply with the subject instead of blindly adopting the thought patterns of "anarchy = chaos."
Accordingly, I would like to recommend serious and proper literature, as I have also come across various... "works" that in no way lived up to the description of "book." I would like to spare those interested in this topic from this misstep and hope that they are not deterred by the bias of the author of these lines.
