Colin Ward explains what anarchism means and who anarchists are in this illuminating and accessible introduction to the subject. He considers anarchism from a variety of perspectives theoretical, historical and international, and by exploring key anarchist thinkers from Kropotkin to Chomsky.

Definitions and ancestors -- Revolutionary moments -- States, societies, and the collapse of socialism -- Deflating nationalism and fundamentalism -- Containing deviancy and liberating work -- Freedom in education -- The individualist response -- Quiet revolutions -- The federalist agenda -- Green aspirations and anarchist futures.