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Macro-Panarchism

An association (or individual) which is relatively free and self-governing we call a ‘autonic unit’ or ‘auton’. However often associations of people are not left to decide their own affairs but are taken captive by another who wish to use them for their own purposes. Where this results in an association having to ‘produce’ a particular output ‘mechanically’ on a particular input then we say that it is a ‘doulonic (slave) unit’ or ‘doulon’.

A ‘Panarchic’ society is likely to be one made up of lots of self-governing units or ‘Autons’ each affecting the environment of the others but still free to choose the best path for its individual in the situation it faces. In some cases it may be possible for such a society to run ‘anarchically’ – i.e. with no strong system of regulation – however usually it is better for such a society to have a system of governance such that some autons are given special powers to regulate the other autons and keep the whole society happily balanced.

However this system may break down and an auton may ‘turn bad’ and seek to take control of others without concern for their welfare. In this case the other autons may find that their environment is being manipulated such that they have trouble finding a happy place to be. Eventually their internal decision-making capability may be interfered with so that they can no longer ‘think straight’ and become a doulon -– a mind-slave of the ruling auton.

A fully monocratic society results when a single ruling auton is able to turn all the other functional units of society into mechanistic doulons -– each doing a particular job that they wish doing. Hence the whole of society becomes a kind of machine geared to a single purpose, and the individual needs and wishes of the people involved are disregarded.


Ideological Panarchism

Let is consider the situation where a single auton has gained great power and part of the society has become doulonic in its service.

In this case it is necessary to try and create autons wherever possible who may be able to combine and challenge the power of the ruling auton.

Such an active auton (i.e. here meaning a ‘free-thinking and politically conscious person or group’) could seek to interact with , or change the environment of other individuals who are doulonic, (i.e. indoctrinated or otherwise trapped by the ‘bad’ monocratist auton), so that they become free, and encouraged to work for Panarchy (the common good).

Action could also be taken to disrupt the workings of the doulonic machine, or alternatively action could be taken to disable the ruling auton itself.

However any such active Panarchistic autons can expect retaliation from the powerful monocratist auton and the doulonic machine it controls.

September 2005