Darvond: I think Anarchy can work, just that most people don't work with anarchy.
If you want to substitute a government you need reasonable, self-conscious and somewhat empathic individuals (ergo decentralization at the level of an individual should be possible). Most people are not like that at all. Anarchy would only work in a utopia, ironically.
LesTyebe: I believe this novel is an attempted demonstration of why government, instead of anarchy, is necessary.
Indeed. Children are also prone to testing their own social limits if left to their own devices, whereas adults may just keep on going with what they're used to (as much as possible) even if "the government" breaks down. I guess some people never grow up anyway, so it's a good allegory.