# Politics and Governance in News from Nowhere

> Theme guide for News from Nowhere by William Morris.

The utopia has no formal politics or political parties; decisions are made by majority vote at local 'Motes' on practical matters, and the absence of class conflict renders traditional government and law unnecessary.

## Where it surfaces

- [Discussion and Bed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/news_from_nowhere_se/chapters/i-discussion-and-bed): The chapter opens with a political discussion at the League about the future of society, highlighting divergent Anarchist views and the process of debate.
- [IX: Concerning Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/news_from_nowhere_se/chapters/ix-concerning-love): Discusses the absence of law courts and conventional public opinion in regulating personal relationships, highlighting a shift from external authority to personal integrity.
- [XI: Concerning Government](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/news_from_nowhere_se/chapters/xi-concerning-government): The chapter is a direct discussion of the nature and purpose of government, contrasting the oppressive, class-based system of the 19th century with the stateless, voluntary cooperation of the new society.
- [XII: Concerning the Arrangement of Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/news_from_nowhere_se/chapters/xii-concerning-the-arrangement-of-life): The chapter discusses the replacement of government and law with custom, habit, and general assent, emphasizing a stateless, cooperative form of social organization.
- [XIII: Concerning Politics](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/news_from_nowhere_se/chapters/xiii-concerning-politics): The chapter directly addresses the question of politics in the new society, concluding that politics as known in the 19th century no longer exists.
- [XIV: How Matters Are Managed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/news_from_nowhere_se/chapters/xiv-how-matters-are-managed): The chapter is a detailed exposition of how a stateless, communist society manages collective decisions through local Motes, majority voting, and voluntary minority acquiescence, contrasting with the old system of parties and nations.
- [How the Change Came](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/news_from_nowhere_se/chapters/xvii-how-the-change-came): The chapter explores the political struggles between classes, the role of government in enacting reforms, and the failure of State Socialism as a political solution.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/news_from_nowhere_se/themes/politics_and_governance
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/news_from_nowhere_se/themes