Ecoanarchism: A critical defence

Abstract

This article challenges the increasing perception within green political theory that the statist critique of ecoanarchism has proven decisive. Through a critical analysis of ecoanarchism's two dominant strands—bioregionalism and social ecology—the opening sections identify and explore the alleged deficiencies which are viewed by ecoanarchism's detractors as indicative of the need for state-like institutions. In particular, criticisms which focus on potential difficulties with securing collective action amongst, distributive justice between, and a commitment to democracy within, ecoanarchist polities, are identified as being central to the statist critique. The final sections of the article, however, question the purchase of each of these criticisms. It is argued that claims regarding the necessity of centralized institutions with coercive powers tend to be overstated, while many of the criticisms levelled at ecoanarchist political structures may also be directed at the state system itself.