An Anarchist FAQ is a great resource for most questions you might have about anarchism. A basic idea common to all forms of anarchism is that the absence of hierarchy would maximize individual liberty and social equality. The largest difference in anarchist schools of thought is between "individualist" and "social" anarchists, though their methods and ideas are not incompatible, and it is generally acknowledged that no theory is completely ideal for every time and place. As to the idea of a power vacuum, the process of an anarchist revolution is to dismantle the institutions that make it possible for an individual or organization to "swoop in and take" control. Also consider that anarchists do not disappear after a revolution: The widespread theory and practice that brought about massive change in society would necessarily stick around to maintain the new society. Anarchists who struggled through a revolution and their children who grew up in a culture of resistance would not submit to a new ruler.
Thanks for the info! I do have a thought though. Isn't there the inherent risk that the anarchists who overthrew the status quo could themselves become the status quo? Especially if they stick around to maintain the new society, as you put it. Not to say those who fought so hard for success would become tyrants, but I could see it happening later down the line. It would be the same issue that communism has had in the past. Everyone is equal, but this guy is going to be put in charge to make sure of that. And then he collects more and more power. It started out well, but then fell apart.
The issues that communists have had in the past are rooted in what's called "vanguardism". This is essentially the idea that if a communist party gains control of the state, it can use the state machinery as an implement to conduct the revolution. Once the revolution is completed, the state would theoretically become redundant and dismantle itself. Unfortunately, hierarchical institutions are self-preserving, and generally incapable of purposefully destroying themselves. So the communist state eventually becomes self-interested and oppressive. A movement with a culture of resistance against hierarchy, and a goal of dismantling oppressive institutions rather than utilizing oppressive institutions, should not be susceptible to such failures. The AFAQ has a great section called H.5 What is vanguardism and why do anarchists reject it?Isn't there the inherent risk that the anarchists who overthrew the status quo could themselves become the status quo? [...] It would be the same issue that communism has had in the past. Everyone is equal, but this guy is going to be put in charge to make sure of that. And then he collects more and more power.