someone asked elsewhere how anarchism would deal with a pandemic, with no legal systems to regulate masking, quarantining, etc.

this is largely the wrong question. anarchism is not devoid of social structures, it’s devoid of legal systems and prisons. (thread)

social structures in stateless societies (thousands of these have and do exist) fill these sorts of roles. a social understanding of protecting each other can deal with covid reasonably effectively.

what we’re seeing here is the failure of law, not the failure of social structures. “do this or you are a criminal” does not engender social behavior or good will between people. it is law that is failing us.

some countries have used law —in addition to cultural understandings— to stay safe. but let’s be clear: it is the sense of “we take care of each other” that has allowed this to work, not men with guns threatening to ruin people’s lives for stepping out of line.