Anarchism is a political philosophy that advocates for the elimination of government and hierarchical social structures. Anarchists believe that individuals should be free to associate and cooperate with one another voluntarily, without coercion or centralized authority. They envision a society organized around principles of self-governance, mutual aid, and voluntary association. For example, decisions might be made through consensus in small communities, or individuals might freely choose to participate in cooperative ventures. Anarchism is not synonymous with chaos or violence; rather, it proposes alternative ways of organizing society based on freedom and voluntary cooperation.