What would happen if there were no law and order in society?

Lets say there were no police or system of law, instead it was everybody for themselves..

How would society be organized, and which segments of the population would be disadvantaged the most? Would people organize into large groups for safety? Would women and children be victimized?

Without law and order we would have anarchy, but only for a short amount of time. People need to have a hierarchy, need some form of structure. During the anarchy there would probably be pillaging, vandalism, rape, murder, and torture. The use of our technology could lead to all out destruction of our planet- but i'll assume they won't have assess to military bases. Still, cars and heavy machinery would most likely cause many accidents because there would be no street lights, or regulations to keep the other car on the other side of the line.

However, you've asked how society will be organized and by assuming that the society will have organization you are stating that there will be an executive branch (which is the police). We dub them police but they are really just instigators for a rule. If organization happens once our system collapses than the hierarchy will create their own executive branch and dub it anything they like.

The result is usually a dictator being propped up by the citizens after they tire of chaos. The likelihood of a democracy working without law and order for a populous of over 300 is very low, so that state will probably create a totalitarian or authoritarian environment. The executive branch will just enforce the leaders view.

The disadvantaged really depend on whether the state is authoritarian or totalitarian. If the leader follows an authoritarian doctrine they will permit some form of individual freedom, and this means that when they become to tyrannical it will be easier to overthrow them. This is because the leader will function in a way where they are the party. This usually means that killings will be at the discretion of the leader, to which he'll probably use his own prejudice to disadvantage part of the population.

If they become totalitarian the entire country will become an aspect of the government. The bureaucratic machine that needs to be made will enable the tyranny. This usually leads to the most ruthless killings because anyone can become an enemy of the state.

Our current system is one that, though flawed, has been the best form of checks and balances so that the individual populous is safe guarded.

Jayson,

There's no need to guess at what would happen. The evidence is right there to be observed. Somalia has no government to speak of. Society breaks down into areas governed by warlords who enforce their rule through violence.

I'm sure you can look up enough detail on Somalia to see how terrible a place it is for everyone so I'm not going to type up a storm on the obvious, but I'm sure you can guess how it would be and who would be the victims.

This has been the case throughout history in all areas of the world where good people have not banded together to rule and enforce peace.

-Kevin

There are today a number of failed governments which can give you an idea of the scenario.Total chaos, you can have an insight by questioning refugees from these countries.

Chaos would befall society. We have become dependant on rules.

Yeah your pretty much right nothing good comes out of having no order.