someone help understand Anarchy. How does it work as a government? Is it just libertarianism?

[Xithras]

13. No, it's not libertarianism. In fact, it can be quite socialist.

Before I even start, I should mention that anarchism has a LOT of different branches, some with radically different belief systems than others.

Social anarchism is basically socialism melded with direct democracy. It can be summed up as: "You are free to do with yourself whatever you would like, as long as it only impacts you. Things that impact everyone are decided by the community as a whole." This extends beyond simple governance, and into things like the production of goods, courts, the management of trade, and the ownership of resources. Everything is owned communally, and the community chooses how things get run.

The core of anarchism is the anti-statist position. It sees formal government as inherently oppressive, because the threat of violence can be found behind everything the government does. It also acknowledges that anyone can opt out of the system, but in doing so they lose their voice in society (it is beneficial to the individual to contribute to the society).