State of lawlessness is a term that describes a situation in which there is no governing authority or laws to regulate behavior. ANARCHY and ANOMIE are two terms that are often used to describe this state of lawlessness. ANARCHY is a political philosophy that advocates the abolition of all forms of government and the organization of society into voluntary associations. ANOMIE is a condition in which social norms have broken down, leading to a lack of social cohesion and a sense of alienation from society.