14/07: Finding Tenable Anarchist Strategies
What sounds more tenable than total strategy:
- The left and activism are a small percentage of people in this country. Much more is out there. Activism isn't bad, but it isn't the only way. Anarchists have a long history of activism, but they also have a long history of building communes, starting worker co-ops and organizing workplaces. These activities are all still relevant to anarchists.
- Agitate in the workplace and connect through worker's associations, linked through circumstance, not trade or industrial unions. Unionize as a defensive strategy to prevent mass layoffs. Avoid the language of "bargaining power" and "democracy in action" as these both justify an end to workplace activities and marginalization through majority power. Accept your losses if they come, desperate people will accept compromise. This is normal. We want to maximize the potential of individuals in the workplace to claim power and make the break from normal for as long as they will it so. Not every campaign will be a winner, most might even lose.
-Create a worker co-op and connect it through worker/business associations. A worker co-op offers an alternative method of tolerating work for the purposes of creating a culture that advocates direct action. The worker co-op helps anarchist projects from relying on the state or the left for resources. Worker co-ops that are tied directly to the anarchist movement can grow our capacity to create a posterity of resistance. However, competing with the dominant economy could prove to be a problem as corporations grow larger and larger and resources grow more and more scarse. Then there are other obvious problems with small business interests and maintaining solidarity with the anarchist movement if repression sets in. However, by tieing together these co-ops in a loose network solidarity can become easier. The dangers of institutionalizing struggle still exists, especially if the worker co-op is perceived as a form of anarchy and not a form of resistance.
-Building rural communes and collective housing can be a big help for varying reasons. A rural commune can give space for regional anarchist events, extended skillshares and work sharing. It also has the capacity to practice methods of sustainability that aren't separate from its day-to-day activities, making experimentation easier. Communes built near forests can practice rewilding methods: hunting, gathering, structure building, herbalism, tool creation and other related skills and can act as a starting point for many anarchists that don't have the capacity to practice rewilding from an urban environment. Farm communes can practice permaculture, using polyculture and other methods of alternative agriculture as well as understand the strengths and weaknesses of the variety of possibilities that sustainability can be experimented with.
-Besides this, travelling life may be found of interest. Time and again I see anarchists reacting to Crimethinc acting as if their way of life isn't something that can be carried beyond youth. This is an extreme error in judgement. Crimethinc is a multi-ethnic, multi-racial version of gypsy culture, which has existed since before the times of feudalism. Irish travellers and crimethinc have similar methods of living and approaching life. Both travel the country to continue living their lifestyle. Illegal crimes and scams perpetuate their existance. Both are often anti-authoritarian and exist in small groups. Both have egoist and utilitarian views on property, taking what is necessary and losing what isn't. Crimethinc and travellers differ in a few respects. To my knowledge, crimethinc hardly presses beyond simple, petty crimes, while travellers have been known to pull off highly elaborate schemes. Travelers use a cant that is hard to understand for outsiders while crimethinc has not existed long enough to have developed in such a way. Crimethincers are distinctly anarchists and exist more than just travellers. Ex-travelers, sympathizers in life, lovers, friends and fans also make crimethinc more diverse than how they are known. I believe some sort of music band started crimethinc, but I'm out of the loop on that one.
-Create anarchist projects, some of this could become a worker co-op, but hopefully the future of anarchy won't involve transactions between comrades despite the popularity of our projects. Many magazines and zines are established like this, as well as various other projects. Our Indymedia allows people to use the cameras with only a suggested donation, which is mainly there for those that can afford it, which don't seem to be most anarchists I know of.
-Create anarchist discussion groups. These are very excellent because it often affirms or reaffirms anarchist sentiment in people who are in doubt of how they are anarchist. I never seem to be able to have discussion groups for more than a couple months without long breaks, so expect only a few of these at a time, but stay in contact with those that participate, if they enjoyed it, when it is attempted again, they will be more likely to come out. I don't know if any of my discussions affirmed anyone's anarchist principles, but I know that most that have participated in my discussions for any length of time are still anarchists.
-MORE ACTORS and SCREENPLAY WRITERS!!!! My ability to act and write is mediocre at best, but I'd like to be able to share my movies with others that make movies and those that enjoy underground movies rather than a general public. Zero funded, fully volunteer movies are totally awesome and anarchists making nonactivist films would be even better. I don't make activist films, I make mockeries of life. Directing and production is an easily learned skill for any movie lover, emulation of various shots and effects will make a movie you want to watch. Though my movie making skill is still low, I think my understanding of film has grown as I move along. Everyone should be an actor, its not hard unless you are nervous, if you aren't, its pretty easy. Yes, butcher your lines, B-movies are more than acceptable, they are fucking excellent!
- The left and activism are a small percentage of people in this country. Much more is out there. Activism isn't bad, but it isn't the only way. Anarchists have a long history of activism, but they also have a long history of building communes, starting worker co-ops and organizing workplaces. These activities are all still relevant to anarchists.
- Agitate in the workplace and connect through worker's associations, linked through circumstance, not trade or industrial unions. Unionize as a defensive strategy to prevent mass layoffs. Avoid the language of "bargaining power" and "democracy in action" as these both justify an end to workplace activities and marginalization through majority power. Accept your losses if they come, desperate people will accept compromise. This is normal. We want to maximize the potential of individuals in the workplace to claim power and make the break from normal for as long as they will it so. Not every campaign will be a winner, most might even lose.
-Create a worker co-op and connect it through worker/business associations. A worker co-op offers an alternative method of tolerating work for the purposes of creating a culture that advocates direct action. The worker co-op helps anarchist projects from relying on the state or the left for resources. Worker co-ops that are tied directly to the anarchist movement can grow our capacity to create a posterity of resistance. However, competing with the dominant economy could prove to be a problem as corporations grow larger and larger and resources grow more and more scarse. Then there are other obvious problems with small business interests and maintaining solidarity with the anarchist movement if repression sets in. However, by tieing together these co-ops in a loose network solidarity can become easier. The dangers of institutionalizing struggle still exists, especially if the worker co-op is perceived as a form of anarchy and not a form of resistance.
-Building rural communes and collective housing can be a big help for varying reasons. A rural commune can give space for regional anarchist events, extended skillshares and work sharing. It also has the capacity to practice methods of sustainability that aren't separate from its day-to-day activities, making experimentation easier. Communes built near forests can practice rewilding methods: hunting, gathering, structure building, herbalism, tool creation and other related skills and can act as a starting point for many anarchists that don't have the capacity to practice rewilding from an urban environment. Farm communes can practice permaculture, using polyculture and other methods of alternative agriculture as well as understand the strengths and weaknesses of the variety of possibilities that sustainability can be experimented with.
-Besides this, travelling life may be found of interest. Time and again I see anarchists reacting to Crimethinc acting as if their way of life isn't something that can be carried beyond youth. This is an extreme error in judgement. Crimethinc is a multi-ethnic, multi-racial version of gypsy culture, which has existed since before the times of feudalism. Irish travellers and crimethinc have similar methods of living and approaching life. Both travel the country to continue living their lifestyle. Illegal crimes and scams perpetuate their existance. Both are often anti-authoritarian and exist in small groups. Both have egoist and utilitarian views on property, taking what is necessary and losing what isn't. Crimethinc and travellers differ in a few respects. To my knowledge, crimethinc hardly presses beyond simple, petty crimes, while travellers have been known to pull off highly elaborate schemes. Travelers use a cant that is hard to understand for outsiders while crimethinc has not existed long enough to have developed in such a way. Crimethincers are distinctly anarchists and exist more than just travellers. Ex-travelers, sympathizers in life, lovers, friends and fans also make crimethinc more diverse than how they are known. I believe some sort of music band started crimethinc, but I'm out of the loop on that one.
-Create anarchist projects, some of this could become a worker co-op, but hopefully the future of anarchy won't involve transactions between comrades despite the popularity of our projects. Many magazines and zines are established like this, as well as various other projects. Our Indymedia allows people to use the cameras with only a suggested donation, which is mainly there for those that can afford it, which don't seem to be most anarchists I know of.
-Create anarchist discussion groups. These are very excellent because it often affirms or reaffirms anarchist sentiment in people who are in doubt of how they are anarchist. I never seem to be able to have discussion groups for more than a couple months without long breaks, so expect only a few of these at a time, but stay in contact with those that participate, if they enjoyed it, when it is attempted again, they will be more likely to come out. I don't know if any of my discussions affirmed anyone's anarchist principles, but I know that most that have participated in my discussions for any length of time are still anarchists.
-MORE ACTORS and SCREENPLAY WRITERS!!!! My ability to act and write is mediocre at best, but I'd like to be able to share my movies with others that make movies and those that enjoy underground movies rather than a general public. Zero funded, fully volunteer movies are totally awesome and anarchists making nonactivist films would be even better. I don't make activist films, I make mockeries of life. Directing and production is an easily learned skill for any movie lover, emulation of various shots and effects will make a movie you want to watch. Though my movie making skill is still low, I think my understanding of film has grown as I move along. Everyone should be an actor, its not hard unless you are nervous, if you aren't, its pretty easy. Yes, butcher your lines, B-movies are more than acceptable, they are fucking excellent!
anarchafairy wrote: