The State: Monopoly, Power, and Alternatives  

The Cayonu Society (7200 BCE) 

One of the earliest examples of a stateless community is Cayonu, which is an Anatolian settlement in modern-day Turkey. This community underwent a significant social development whereby it had evolved from a hunter-gatherer community to a more settled, communistic community. This decentralized system, which is occasionally viewed as an early example of anarchist communism, was successful and lasted for around 3,000 years. Cayonu demonstrates that a communal system can create stability and social change in the absence of a centralized state. 

The Zapatistas of Mexico 

A more recent example is the Zapatista movement in the Mexican state of Chiapas that began in 1994. The Zapatistas, workers and indigenous people for the most part, rose up in rebellion against exclusion and marginalization. The movement gave birth to an autonomous, self-governing community built from the ground up. Collective decisions are made democratically by community assemblies, reversing traditional political hierarchies. This model, in its avoidance of formal ideological labels, is anarchistic in nature. The Zapatistas have endured to this day, providing basic services and mutual aid to their members. 

The concept of a state itself is often predicated on dominance, relying on violence and oppression to establish order. The power of citizens is circumscribed in such systems. Leaders are generally elected on the basis of wealth and influence, and citizens must choose among candidates who may not act in their interests. Furthermore, most legal codes prioritize the authority of the state over individual liberty. For instance, in a report issued by The Sentencing Project, about 46% of federal convictions in the United States were for the so-called "victimless crimes" of drug offenses. 

Another problem is the state monopoly over services. It is unlawful in a majority of countries to provide certain services, for example, medical care, without the state's approval. This can restrict individuals from providing mutual aid and low-cost care, for instance, long waiting lists or expensive hospital charges, from being available to others. The threat of being fined or accused of a crime dissuades voluntary, community-based efforts from competing with governmental services. 

The goal of a stateless society is not the creation of a "fend for yourself" anarchist world. Instead, it is based on principles of mutual aid, voluntary association, and decentralization. Resources and services in this system are managed by a collective of workers or a community council. Rules are created as needed to address community issues, and traffic regulations and other infrastructure are addressed at the local level. 

This model also challenges the traditional view of a social contract. Citizens are able to separate from a community and join another or form their own. The common skepticism about how a stateless society would handle offenders can be addressed at the community level. If one breaks a rule, the community has options other than state punishment. These can include banishment, social dissociation, refusal to provide mutual assistance, or the application of force proportionally to an aggressive action. These mechanisms have as a priority the good of the community and its ability to self-govern free from central authority.