XmrBazaar (beta)

What’s the difference between “market anarchism” and “anarcho-capitalism”? Citing Center4StatelessSociety article,

«The difference between market anarchism and anarcho-capitalism is contentious, and somewhat semantic. Anarcho-capitalists choose to use the word “capitalism” because they believe it denotes a laissez-faire system of economics, free from government control. Market anarchists are far more critical of capitalism, as they believe the term “capitalism” does not denote a truly freed economic system. Market anarchists avoid using the word “capitalism” because it often refers to our current, unfree economic system, dominated by corporations and vast income inequality. Market anarchists say that “capitalism” places too much emphasis on capital, implying rule by the owners of the means of production, a form of oppression which market anarchists oppose. Many market anarchists believe that in a freed society, the world would look very different from how it looks now under state capitalism. They believe that freed markets would not result in corporate domination and hierarchical firm structure. If such firms did exist, they would be few and far between. As Gary Chartier and Charles Johnson write in Markets Not Capitalism, “Market anarchists believe in market exchange, not in economic privilege. They believe in free markets, not in capitalism.”

Adherents of anarcho-capitalism believe a capitalist, laissez-faire economic system is desirable for maximum freedom and human flourishing. Market anarchism does not seek to prescribe a desirable economic system. Instead, market anarchists recognize that not everyone in a free society will desire to engage in a profit-oriented market, and alternative voluntary economic systems, such as cooperatives, gift economies, and communes, may flourish. While market anarchists may often advocate market exchange, pluralism and decentralization are also of great significance. As long as these different voluntary economic systems can peacefully coexist, market anarchists take no issue with such alternatives.»

One of the main problems with anarcho-capitalism is, of course, that it is not really anarchist: paradoxically, while anarchy advocates the absence of hierarchy and authority, ancap is indeed resisting the state, but does not resist the workplace hierarchy at all. Quoting Bob Black, «the source of the main and direct violence experienced by the typical adult is not the state, but the employer. In a week, your immediate supervisor gives you more direct orders than the police do in ten years». (Black was openly anti-leftist, by the way — he hated the leftists just as much for the same workplace fascism, or arguably even worse.)

Hierarchies are destructive: I deny economic, racial, or gender hierarchies as much as I deny state's. I will not present other arguments against capitalism (or anarcho-capitalism) here, leaving room for discussion.

Here few more good short articles (mostly no longer than this post) for further reading:
• Are market anarchists for or against capitalism? https://c4ss.org/are-market-anarchists-for-or-against-capitalism
• Advocates of Freed Markets Should Embrace “Anti-Capitalism” https://c4ss.org/content/1738
• On Inequality, Injustice, and Anti-Capitalism https://c4ss.org/content/31650

Also, a bit longer article, rather micro-book, good intro into market anarchism is “Markets not capitalism”. Read it
• here: https://marketsnotcapitalism.com/
• or here: https://www.scribd.com/document/68608541/Markets-Not-Capitalism-Individualist-Anarchism-Against-Bosses-Inequality-Corporate-Power-and-Structural-Poverty

I think anarcho capitalism would violate the agorist principal of noncoercion, while market anarchism wouldn't, as "need" is often exploited to create an unappreciated assymetric power dynamic, as well as one party often not being fully informed. I tend to specifically think of capitalism/"capital" as meaning specifically the arbitraging of vulnerability/need/desperation.

I don't agree necessarily with your take on hierarchy. In many cases hierarchy is natural and critical. You would want a brain surgeon to be telling their assistants what to do, simply based on experience and knowledge. Some people have deserved natural authority in certain contexts. Imposed, artificial hierarchy is different. But in general people naturally flock to good leaders. Plus, some people literally prefer to follow.

I would say that the problem with calling these race/gender type things "hierarchies", is that much of it is actually just differences. Actual differences. Races, genders, IQs are not uniform. Everyone has their talents and weaknesses. And the left goes too far in trying to avoid "hierarchy" but denying/destroying natural niches in the process.

I'm glad you brought this up actually. I never really contemplated the distinction of the terms, though I did know I liked markets and anarchism, but not capital in the Marxist sense, nor anarcho-capitalism in the way it's often expressed.

With anarcho capitalism you'd kinda just have what we already have: dominant, monopolistic corporation-governments who are so massive that everyone basically works/eats/lives at one brand or another of "the company store".