The core of the anarchist tradition is that power is always illegitimate, unless it proves itself to be legitimate. So the burden of proof is always on those who claim that some authoritarian, hierarchic relation is legitimate. If they can’t prove it, then it should be dismantled. Can you ever prove it? Well, it’s a heavy burden of proof to bear, but I think sometimes you can bear it. But the question that always should be asked uppermost in our mind is, Why should I accept it? It’s the responsibility of those who exercise power to show that somehow it’s legitimate. It’s not the responsibility of anyone else to show that it’s illegitimate. It’s illegitimate by assumption. If it’s a relation of authority among human beings which places some above others, that’s illegitimate by assumption. Unless you can give a strong argument to show that it’s right, you’ve lost. (Noam Chomsky)