[Avodah] anarchy/libertarianism

[Steven J Scher]

A recent reference on Areivim to some of our kehilla as libertarians has 
returned my mind to contemplating a question that I have been thinking 
about on and off for a year or two:  Is it permissible to be an anarchist 
or a libertarian?

First a note: The way I am using these terms, both refer to political 
philosophies that reject government, and may in fact see government as 
inherently bad.

The difference between the two -- although it may not 
really be relevant for the discussion here -- is that libertarians tend to 
more or less favor the status quo power relations in society, and wish to 
see government removed from any impediment to the playing out of those 
relations.  Private power is fine, but public power is not.

In contrast, anarchists wish to see the status quo power structure overturned.
Anarchists are interested in eliminating any kind of power, whether it be 
economic power or governmental power.  They strive for a rejection of all 
hierarchies.  (Although, some anarchist philosophies do have a role for 
the power of social censure).

So, the question is whether either of these philosophies, are halachically 
acceptable.  I suspect that, at least in their pure forms they are not, 
but my Torah knowledge is far 
too limited to be able to say this with any confidence.  I turn, 
therefore, to the wisdom of Avodah to hear what people have to say about 
this.

There are a few things that I do know about that I think are relevant:

1) Prof. Shalom Rosenberg (Hebrew U), writing in one of the volumes of the 
Orthodox Forum series, states that he believes that Jewish society will 
ultimately be anarchistic.  However, it seems that he is talking about 
yemai mashiach... at the very least it seems to be that he is referring to 
a time when all Jews are yiras shemayim.  The bulk of his essay is on 
democracy, and accepting democractic decisions even if we disagree with 
them (I havn't read most of this essay closely).

2) More relevant is Devarim 17:14-15, where, according to some 
opinions, HaShem commands us to have a king.

3) This contrasts, though, with Shmuel's reluctance to appoint a king, and 
with HaShem's statement that the people's desire to have a king is a 
rejection of Him.

4) Abarvanel, at least, argues that a king was not necessary.

Of course, all of this may only be relevant when we have re-established a 
Torah state.  Is there anything relevant to what we can advocate for in 
current society -- whether in a Jewish, but non-Torah state, or in 
non-Jewish states?  And, is an anarchist society a possibility for the 
messianic age?

I await your responses eagerly.

- Steve



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Steven J. Scher              sjscher at eiu.edu         Listen to WEFT 90.1FM
Department of Psychology     217-581-7269            www.weft.org
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, IL 61920            "V'od shehaya efshar lehem b'lo basar"
USA                             "Furthermore, they could have gone without
                                 meat [altogether]" -- Rashi to Exodus 16:8