On Hierarchy

noun  hi·er·ar·chy \ˈhī-(ə-)ˌrär-kē also ˈhi(-ə)r-ˌär-\

Simple Definition of hierarchy

: a group that controls an organization and is divided into different levels

: a system in which people or things are placed in a series of levels with different importance or status

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hierarchy

There are two types of hierarchy: voluntary and involuntary.  I’m going to take a look at both types and show why voluntary hierarchies are completely compatible with anarchic philosophy.

Involuntary Hierarchies

The first example of an involuntary hierarchy that we all experience is when we are children.  Our parents have control over us, in most cases, as children are generally incapable of accomplishing all of the tasks required to survive and thrive.  As we get older, we reach a point in time when this hierarchy is no longer necessary and we begin our lives as independent adults.

We also see involuntary hierarchies when we are at school.  Our teachers rule over us, while additional administrators oversee us as well.  We are compelled to go to different classes, at various time intervals, until we are released back home.

Another example is government itself.  We have no say over what our government actually does.  We allegedly have some control through voting.  However, the people we vote for are in no way bound to do the things they say they will do.  In fact, they can do the exact opposite, and our only recourse comes years later in the form of another election.

One could argue that on the local level we have more control through political participation.  I would tend to agree with this, but I also recognize that this isn’t saying much, as I just pointed out how we have virtually no control over the higher levels of government, so saying you have more control over none isn’t exactly saying much.

Involuntary hierarchies are still a major part of our lives.  Some of this is necessary, such as in the case of raising children, but the vast majority of these hierarchies are not only unnecessary, but counterproductive to achieving the ends that we are seeking to achieve.

Voluntary Hierarchies

I have made a couple posts in my series, “Understanding Phish”, where I have written about my passion for the band from Vermont.  In high school, I became the resident expert on the band.  I had an unseenly collection of their music, a deep understanding of their songs and playing style, and a thorough grasp of their background.

It didn’t take long before some of my friends started showing an interest.  They knew that I had knowledge that they lacked, so they decided it would be wise to accept the fact that I was a leader in the field, in order to expedite their understanding of it all.  They voluntarily allowed me to pick shows for them to listen to.  They also listened to the knowledge I possessed and added it to their own base of knowledge.

Over time, some of these friends became even more passionate about Phish that I was.  A few just went to their 130th show together just about a week ago.  (I am at 32.)  Last time we all got together, it was very clear who the new experts were.  I drooled listening to their tales and insights, and quickly realized that the hierarchy had changed.  They were now above me, and I was totally cool with this, as they had clearly earned this role.

This example demonstrates an aspect of hierarchies that we all overlook.  They exist not only in the obvious scenarios, like at our jobs, but they exist in every aspect of our social lives as well.  

Even so, let’s take a look at another example.  It’s abundantly clear, that humans are very different and possess many different characteristics and skill sets.  Some people are taller, some shorter.  Some are fatter, some are skinnier.  Some can run quicker, do math more efficiently, and so on.

Let’s take a look at a football team.  The quarterback is more often than not, the leader of the team.  He calls the plays, reads the defense before the snap, makes any adjustments to the play that he deems necessary, and then executes the play.

There are many other players on the field that assist the quarterback in this process, and each one of them has a specialized role.  The center snaps the ball, the guards help the center protect the middle after the snap, the tackles protect the quarterback’s blindside, etc.

The coaches tell the quarterback what to do, the general manager tells the coach who to play, the owner tells the general manager what he can spend.  Each part of the chain listens to what the person above them says, in order to maximize the potential of their team.  If football teams abandoned this concept, and the players decided to change positions every play, then decided that they would just “figure it out” after the snap, I’m pretty sure they would go down as the least efficient team in football history.

Notice how in the two examples I provided, no force was necessary, and all of the participants actually benefited from the process.  Let’s take it one step further and look at a more relatable example.

Work

Most of us work for a living.  We have bosses, they have bosses, and we all listen to the people above us.  Our jobs are completely voluntary, as we are free to leave at any time, if we are not happy with this arrangement.  We are even free to start a new business that abandons the idea of a hierarchy completely.  Many are unhappy about this paradigm, and rather than blazing a new path for others to follow, they put down the very voluntary hierarchical system through which much of our world thrives.

This is incredibly short sighted.  Let’s imagine that Nicola Tesla was alive and in his prime, inventing away.  He would have people under him, helping his brilliant mind bring his ideas into the real world.  If this hierarchy weren’t in place, and they were all treated as equals, despite Tesla’s qualifications, the team would be far less productive.  We need brilliant people to lead others who lack the knowledge and skills, just like the brilliant people need these people to help them get stuff done.

Wealth

Some people have more capital than others.  Some were born into it, others acquired it through suspicious actions.  However, a lot of people have earned this money because they have specific skills and knowledge that others don’t, and they put those traits to work, while reaping the benefits.

This is simply supply and demand in action.  Not everyone can be Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, or Elon Musk.  Some people are just very rare, and thus very valuable.  If everyone were like them, then there would be no need for hierarchies, as we would just be a bland homogeneous blend of humanity.  But of course, this is not the case in the real world.

There is no reason to be jealous of those who earn more than you, it should just give you more motivation to better yourself.  There is also no reason to despise hierarchies, as hierarchies have yielded just about everything of value in the world today, thanks to people like these.

Anarchy

In an anarcho-capitalist society, you are completely free to despise hierarchies, and even start a community of like-minded people.  You can arrange your project however you would like, so long as no one is compelled through force in the process.  This model may fail, but it may also thrive and draw more people to it.  That’s phenomenal!  It’s the market in action, and if your ideas are the best, and other people see this, then you will “win”.

In an anarcho-communist society, you are not free to establish and work within hierarchies.  This goes against the philosophy, as the both means and ends of production are shared.  There is no room in this society for people who dissent.  In doing this, they have ironically established a hierarchy of people who disallow others from creating hierarchies.  It’s pretty strange, to be honest.

If they allow hierarchies, they then would be opening up a market of competition, and thus would not be anarcho-communists, but would rather be anarcho-capitalists who favored anarcho-communist ideals.

I have nothing against people who despise all forms of hierarchy.  People are free to think and believe whatever they would like, and I defend your right to disagree with me.  However, I view this position as being illogical and not grounded in reality.

Hierarchies can certainly be negative, especially when consent is removed from the equation, but voluntary hierarchies are natural, emergent, and a key part of our very nature.

Feel free to comment below with your thoughts.

-@derekareith