I wanna preface this with: I’m learning and I want to learn. I have so many questions and I’d love to hear the perspectives of some seasoned anarchists on my thoughts and questions. I’m here to learn, and I greatly appreciate any input anyone can give.
I’m confused. I have so many anarchist friends, and I politically relate to them on a very very deep level. In a lot of ways I consider myself an anarchist, I sympathise with it for so many reasons:
- I’ve been let down by so many electoral movements the last 10 years, and there’s somethin so empowering about not asking or waiting for help
- Anarchist calisthenics has changed my life, not asking for permission to change things, to take charge
- I believe in the power of the grass roots, that ultimately, if enough of us got together, we can make the change we want
- Whenever a disaster occurs, look around: there’s anarchists everywhere. In natural disasters? Anarchist groups are found distributing food, water and shelter. In homeless crisis? They’re found in soup kitchens distributing food.
- It challenges systems of power by default that governments use to harm marginalised folk
Despite all of this? I’m still a member of my country’s Green Party. We have a very progressive leader and their policies could make a huge difference to my life and the people I care about, my community, everyone. While I’m not going to rely on them to win power, or even to hold onto their promises, I can’t help but feel like it’s still worth campaigning for them because I feel like it moves me closer to a country where more of us have the help we need.
Some of my anarchist friends shit on these electoral parties (even if they’re super progressive). And I understand why, and I feel it’s difficult to critique them for it, because electoral politics has rarely won us any consistent safety or justice.
But as a disabled trans person, I’ve been on the shit side of the state so often… that no matter who’s in power, I’ll always feel like an adversary to the state. Because at the end of the day: the state has power, and it’s difficult to invision a state that doesn’t abuse vulnerable groups (perhaps that’s a problem?).
On the other hand? I also feel like… The state is a central entity that can organise large amount of resources much easier than the people themselves can. And after centuries of capitalism, is it possible for enough of us to work with each other to build power, community, care and resources outside of the constraints the government and state give us?
I’m also well aware that anarchism isn’t the absence of hierarchy necessarily, it’s the conscious understanding and consent to hierarchy that we choose (if I’m understanding it correctly). Whether that’s through choosing people to lead certain things or groups to do it etc. but then I’m also like: is it human nature that problematic hierarchies occur, whether through governance or anarchism?
That’s my other question: the way I feel I’m an anarchist is as an activist. Which is to say: when I cover up fascist stickers and propaganda in my city? I’m not waiting for the government and I don’t care about the laws that prohibit me from doing it. But as far as changing things on a societal and cultural level? I feel this conflict: I feel the need to work within electoral politics to temper the rise of the far right parties in my country… but at the same time I recognise this system is a sinking ship, and therefore? I want to build resources, community and support on the ground irrespective of government.
I don’t know… I’m very confused and I don’t know what I’m thinking, saying or doing. I feel like these contradictions are incompatible with anarchism. But do my values and praxis make me an anarchist, even if I’m participating in electoral politics? Am I wrong for wanting to seek some electoral power to at least have a leader in my country that’s NOT a raging transphobe, or neo Nazi?
I know don’t necessarily have to choose between the two (though I guess it depends on who you ask), but I wonder: how do you reconcile the contradictions?
You are not doing an anarchist action by voting and by actively being a member of the party no you aren’t an anarchist. Can’t believe this community; even worse than relutincly voting is actively participating and being a part of a bourgeois electoral party and i can’t believe people are defending this as if its some understandable action. You may believe you are “doing good” but no party politics isn’t something an anarchist does that’s basic.
Electorialism is irreverent to anarchism. Our time and effort can be better spent on building up parallel communities.
I vote every 4 years because it’s a material choice of 10 minutes in line at the local school or a fine worth an hours work if I don’t. If someone wants to vote because they think it might do harm reduction, who cares? What matters is where they’re spending their energy.
Way I see it, ditch the party campaigning, vote for them if you want - it won’t make a difference, and focus on something more beneficial.
You sound less like you want to know what to call yourself¹ and more like you want to resolve what you feel is a contradiction. Do correct me if I’m wrong here.
Purism is of limited utility. So how do you fit your values commonly associated with disparate ideologies together? I have ideas, but I want to see evidence you’ve tried this rather than just fitting yourself to a prefab mould before I tell you what occurs to me.
I’m very confused and don’t know what I’m thinking saying or doing. does this make me an anarchist?
I’ll try not to take that as an insult, but I’m pretty sure anyone self aware of any ideology that allows self awareness feels that way sometimes.
¹that’s for communicating not thinking. Tell people what communicates what you’re trying to communicate in that moment. Don’t stress about totalizing definitions. Fuck that shit.
you’re totally right, I think it’s more about the contradiction than the label itself.
as far as integrating my anarchist values go:
- Do I campaign go for the English Green Party? Yeah. Do I expect that to change everything and liberate us all? Not really. I recognise that it would help more of us if we had a party that advocates for UBI, better trans rights and rights for disabled folk. I recognise it’s make our aims as anarchists easier if we’re not operating on survival mode as much.
- i also feel like, in electoral politics, the Greens are the only ones right now advocating against fascism in our political system. Again, I don’t think they’re going to be our hero when it comes to stopping fascism, that work needs to be done by the people on the grass roots. So the anarchist part of me recognises that it’s vital to build community power, to destroy the systems of power that fascists build on a local level and educate people to do the same.
- In the same vein as “not waiting for electoral power to save us”, I’m working on providing resources for my community. There’s no use in campaigning for electoral power if you’re just sitting there watching the current govt kick the shit out of your community. For me that means using my skills: developing websites to distribute information for my community (vague but don’t wanna dox myself), educating the people around me to get them on board, to work with food banks, hosting community events for trans people (I’m trans).
- I also engage in mutual aid. I have virtually no money to give at the moment, but when I do? I always donate whatever I can. Not that it’s about money anyway. I always offer to help with doctors appointments, form filling and providing resources or information about transition to any of my friends or their friends. I still have a lot to learn about mutual aid but I’m working on it.
I guess that’s how I reconcile the contradictions. Can’t say it feels like enough, hence the post I suppose. I think for me, not engaging in an electoral movement that’s spreading anti fascist talking points and moving people over from the right is an opportunity that feels reckless to miss. Because as much as I’d love it if enough people on the ground got into anarchism and learned, that’s not the reality I’m living in, and while I build that reality I feel like this is a good compromise? Idk, I feel like I could be operating from a lot of logical fallacies.
Eh, enough. So here’s my thought: the state currently exists.
The state is a piece of shit that wants to enslave or kill you.
The state is unlikely to give you anything you want without a gun to its head or a lot of shaming; external pressure/organizing
The state finds it easier to concede when it can pretend its doing so on its own terms and isn’t concedeing, you’re conceding, shut up
There’s more to organizing than the state, which does fundamentally fucking hate you
Am I wrong for wanting to seek some electoral power to at least have a leader in my country that’s NOT a raging transphobe, or neo Nazi?
Nope, but it might not mean you’re an anarchist. I stress the word “might.”
Anarchy is a philosophy, not a destination, as you kind of alluded to. I plan to vote in the coming elections and continue to participate in electoral politics, because I recognize that this system will not be replaced simply by non-participation. There are not yet enough anarchists to just overturn what has been the norm for a long time.
That does not mean, however, that I will be satisfied with this system. It’s going to continue to take years of effort to wrest power from the hands of the undeserving. I may never see the kind of governance I think will work at scale, but if I can be part of making that become people’s reality someday, then I will have done my part.
It sounds like you’re coming around to communalism, which is the kind of anarchy I like. It’s also the most viable path, imo, to see anarchy become a reality, because helping each other at a small scale was always the point for me.
Big governments don’t work—even when they’re good—because they are unable to effectively respond to the immediate needs of a growing and changing populace. They can catch many disabled people in a broad net, for example, and provide help, but the minute somebody doesn’t fit the mould, they fall through the cracks or get left behind entirely. A community, though? They know you, what you need, and they are already there with you to help.
I think it’s good that you’re asking questions. Keep it up! Don’t be satisfied with “good enough.”
Yes, communalism! I’ve read about that, it’s really resonated with me. I definitely want to learn more. Will have to pick up some more books.
Thanks for your response, it’s very thoughtful provoking. Particularly the point about big governments and small vulnerable groups slipping through the cracks. Because I very much agree with that perspective.
I have a lot of learning to do, but I’m excited. Thanks again! ☺️
Damage reduction by electoral politics is also good. If you manage to shift the government in a significant way towards less oppression by some miracle, even better.
No no no electoral politics and being an active campaigner for a bourgeois party for “harm reduction” is not anarchist behavior at all I can’t believe what our movements come to recently no past anarchist was campaigning for William Jenning Bryan or other “progressives” for harm reduction and sure don’t blindly follow them but also don’t ignore all their arguments and all anarchist valued and philosophy to do electorilism.
People really do not grasp the concept of “dual power” and harm reduction when it comes to anarchist “participation” in electoralists systems.
You don’t try to shift it to be less oppressive. None of this “change the system from the inside” nonsense. It is oppressive by its very fundamental nature. The only reason for an anarchist to participate in the electoralist system is to protect the interests of the collective and ensure that you are able to conduct your internal business as you see fit. This means lobbying and leveraging your local power to prevent private industry from forcing their way in to extract the wealth of your community while simultaneously facilitating the existence of anarchist structures.
Essentially, you become a roadblock for private interests while facilitating the growth of anarchist and community interests.
I mean you don’t have to agree with anarchists 100% to be an anarchist. I’m extremely anti-electoralism myself but we can totally agree to disagree on this issue.
I’m not an anarchist, but I’m friends with several from my mutual aid group–many of them, though not all, vote.
There are better options than others in every election. No sense making your goals more difficult when you have an option to not. It’s not an endorsement of the system, just one tool of many that can be used. Just don’t settle on only voting. It’s not “Vote;” it’s “Vote and…”
It’s not “Vote;” it’s “Vote and…”
I’d almost say it’s “… Yadda yadda yadda, and Vote”. Voting is quick, relatively easy, and largely insignificant. We blow it out of proportion, mostly so we can scream at equally impotent people voting for someone different.
But when you have a large engaged community of activists all working toward a desired outcome, that begins to look a lot like a voting base, too.
again like i have to say to everyone on this thread they are not just voting but actively a member and campaigning for an electoral party very different discussion.
I am gonna wait until you respond to a couple of folks here before I address the issues you haven’t been intervened are anarchist praxis, electoralism, and your personal values.
But like others read, Anarchism is a praxis, just like electoralism. Also, it would do us great to know which “Green Party” you’re talking about. Political parties label themselves anything but their praxis. If you campaign, tbbh, you are wasting your time.
Actually I do have a couple more fundamental nitpicks.
The state is a central entity that can organise large amount of resources much easier than the people themselves can.
IMO this is contrary to the thesis of anarchism, and it’s just not true. Decentralized systems are much more nimble. Free people in free systems are free to adapt. Anarchism is not against organization at scale. We just need to make sure that large-scale organizations are limited in power and scope, and are based on principles of free association and refusal to oppress others.
And after centuries of capitalism, is it possible for enough of us to work with each other to build power, community, care and resources outside of the constraints the government and state give us?
Emphatic yes!
So I guess… with relation to the big government thing, I think another comment has got me on side with what you’ve said here. But I still… Idk I struggle to see it as more effective because I suppose I don’t know of any examples. Like the way I’m seeing it right now is: my country has had 20 years of crippling austerity, of which I’ve fallen victim to. Don’t get me wrong, mutual aid is amazing, but I don’t feel like there’s enough of it in our communities to be as effective right now . But then, I guess that’s more of an “there’s not enough people doing it yet” kind of thing than anything else.
I think that’s why I’ve become a hell if a lot more keen to build local community, particularly with people who engage in mutual aid. So that we can all be in community together and provide for each other.
The state is not primordial, did not form overnight. No other form of organization is or will either.
Except overnightoatsism, but that has a lot of problems; is primarily concerned with breakfast
Vote or not, and don’t judge others.
Anarchists waste too much energy debating electoralism, even while our numbers are too small alone to make any difference.
Progressive victories only come when the working class is organized well enough to press masses of workers to vote for progressive tickets.
this person is not just voting they are campaigning and an active member of a party there is a difference there even if everyone else is ignoring it.
CEO? Of anarchism?
You keep using this word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
You know there is such thing as joke handles right? That’s the point.
I think this is the crux for me. Like don’t get me wrong: I’d love it if we were all enlightened anarchists, but we’re not right now. Meanwhile, fascism is on the rise in my country and the state is harming my people. I recognise I can’t fully rely on the state to help, but it feels like providing resources to both anarchist movements and an anti fascist environmental party could certainly be a lot worse. Though ultimately my goal would be to have enough people on the ground reliant on each other tha the government to build power.
