Two Cheers for Anarchism: Six Easy Pieces on Autonomy, Dignity, and Meaningful Work and Play

Having studied how people in marginal societies deal with the state, Yale political scientist and anthropologist Scott (The Art of Not Being Governed) found himself drawn to a study of anarchism. This brief, six-part study is the result. Having concluded that revolution too often leads to such repressive regimes as France's Committee of Public Safety or the Soviet state, Scott began to examine leaderless mass efforts%E2%80%94disorganized strivings towards social improvement. Scott recognizes that anarchism is not a panacea and that there are problems that only government can treat. Nevertheless, he expresses a strong dislike for centralized governance and a preference for expanding chaos. He refers to his sections as "fragments," highlighting the book's key shortcoming: every chapter seems rushed and incomplete, as though Scott were hurrying to get his thoughts down on paper before they vanished. Illus. (Nov.)