Fighting authoritarianism requires constituting authority collectively, not abandoning it

Evidence

Part of what’s involved in re-floating this concept of paternalism is defending the concept of education, and also defending the concept of authority; and differentiating the concept of authority from that of authoritarianism. Authority based on expertise, knowledge, skills — there’s nothing wrong with that, providing it isn’t abused. … Part of a democratic political project is not eliminating authority, but constituting authority collectively. The best way of fighting authoritarianism is not abandoning the question of authority — which will always re-assert itself in one form or another, if one simply ignores it — but of constituting authority in this collective way. — Mark Fisher (edited by Darren Ambrose), K-Punk, 2174

Categorization

• DEFINE: Sharply distinguishes authority (expertise-based) from authoritarianism (fear-based power) — a useful analytic distinction.
• DEEPTHINKING: The claim that besting authoritarianism means constituting authority collectively — rather than abolishing it — resists one-sentence compression and reframes a whole debate about the anti-authoritarian left.
• XREF: connects to: Enlightenment critique exposes tradition-based authority as authoritarian — Mark Fisher (edited by Darren Ambrose), K-Punk: The Collected and Unpublished…, 1925; Authoritarian dispositions can attach to whichever authority happens to be in power — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 2906; Authoritarian submission comprises willing, uninduceable compliance with authorities — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 128 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• The family’s anti-authoritarian elements serve to stabilize existing authority relations #complicates (0.74) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 619
• Authoritarian dispositions can attach to whichever authority happens to be in power #qualifies (0.72) — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 2906
• Authoritarian submission comprises willing, uninduceable compliance with authorities #complicates (0.71) — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 128