People in every part of the world recognize the concept of government and
would, in the overwhelming majority of cases, be able to identify
institutions in their society that constitute government. Furthermore, most
people accept without question that government is necessary, assuming
that without it orderly and civilized existence would be impossible.
Although they may disagree about the organization of government and the
role it should play, they are nevertheless convinced of the need for some
kind of government. However, the widespread occurrence of government
and its almost uncritical acceptance worldwide does not in itself prove that
an ordered and just society can only exist through the agency of
government. Indeed, one particular school of political thought is dedicated
precisely to establishing that government is unnecessary, and to bringing
about its abolition. This is anarchism, anarchy literally meaning ‘without
rule’.