In Ursula K. Le Guin’s 1972 novel The Dispossessed, a rather poignant moment occurs when the protagonist Shevek has to accept the possibility that the anarchist planet he lives on may not be exempt from alienating (or “dispossessing”) power relations, even though it has no formal governmental structure.

Reacting in surprise to his friend Bedap, he says, “What are you talking about, Dap? We have no power structure.” In response, Bedap reminds him that there are several ways to exert influence over labor; that, for better or for worse, existing beyond a top-down governmental structure doesn’t automatically evade coercive power. Just because there is formally “no power structure” doesn’t mean there are no power relations. Shevek is stuck believing that his own planet’s structure, by definition, defies oppression and dysfunction.

Shevek’s confusion reflects an abiding belief on the Left that bad political outcomes exclusively lie with those other political structures, but certainly wouldn’t happen under the one we embrace.