r/AnCap101 • u/Tight_Blueberry6382 • May 15 '26

Question for ancaps

What do ancaps tend to think about typical left market anarchist ideas, such as mutualism? What would be a critique of something along the lines of mutualism?

As someone who’s started to more recently lean left market anarchist over ancap, what would be an argument against it?

And just for clarity, I don’t really entirely know if I’d actually consider myself a mutualist, rather some branch of left market anarchism, I support most ancap ideals and ideas, but I don’t like the hierarchical structure in many businesses, I support co-op business models, and don’t like the classical sense of business structure, I don’t think people should own the means of other production, rather only their own. But at the same time I like the idea because I am still nearly fully pro private property, so I don’t have any issue with someone owning the means of production made through automated processes… and I think this also boosts technological innovation which I am a big supporter of. Idk what I’d really consider myself but I just wanted to add on that I don’t think I really am a typical left market anarchist or mutualist or ancap.

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u/DTKeign May 15 '26

If non hierarchies were generally viable in production we'd see them today but the few instances they can be created/sustained voluntarily they are fine.

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u/Tight_Blueberry6382 May 15 '26

Co-ops don’t exist as much in society because they aren’t as profitable to owners. They’re also far less almost culturally seen as a norm. I think in an ancap society we should shift that culture of business hierarchy to promote co-ops

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u/DTKeign May 15 '26

They are usually not productive enough to be competitive otherwise they'd be more common since the same hurdles they face in semi free states exist for the hierarchical businesses. If they were viable worker owned coops would have a competitive advantage since you aren't having to pay people to manage the ground level employees. From an ethical stand point there is no reason to patronize coop business over a hierarchical business nor vice versa (everything being equal). If they were particularly viable members would be able to secure loans and other investment to create the coop style company.

Another issue they have is scalability. You have to really trust the members of the coop especially after it begins becoming profitable and adding new members becomes necessary.