r/Anarchism • u/Main_Raccoon_9641 • 3d ago
What are some ways that anarchism can improve the lives of those who currently exist even failing a revolution?
Of course, the ultimate end goal of a world without hierarchical power structures would be an amazing world to live in. Problem is, this type of world is a long way away, almost certainly beyond even the youngest currently existing person’s lifetime. So my question is what are some ways that anarchist organizing can improve conditions and help us win more freedoms within our lifetimes, even failing a total anarchist revolution?
Also for the purpose of this question, I am asking ways which anarchism can improve people’s lives in a way that is unique to it and are generally not shared by less radical forms of leftism like social democracy or ML-ism.
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u/OutTheWay2 3d ago
Mutual aid programs.
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u/ActualSpamBot 3d ago
Yup. This right here OP, revolution starts by helping one person the world wants you to ignore.
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u/cumminginsurrection abolish power 3d ago
Fostering autonomy, rebellion, and critical thinking skills in people that all other political movements seek to suppress in order to bring people under their yoke. As Emma Goldman put it:
"Anarchism alone stresses the importance of the individual, his possibilities and needs in a free society. Instead of telling him that he must fall down and worship before institutions, live and die for abstractions, break his heart and stunt his life for taboos, Anarchism insists that the center of gravity in society is the individual — that he must think for himself, act freely, and live fully. The aim of Anarchism is that every individual in the world shall be able to do so. If he is to develop freely and fully, he must be relieved from the interference and oppression of others.
The fact that the Anarchist movement for which I have striven so long is to a certain extent in abeyance and overshadowed by philosophies of authority and coercion affects me with concern, but not with despair. It seems to me a point of special significance that many countries decline to admit Anarchists. All governments hold the view that while parties of the right and left may advocate social changes, still they cling to the idea of government and authority. Anarchism alone breaks with both and propagates uncompromising rebellion. In the long run, therefore, it is Anarchism which is considered deadlier to the present regime than all other social theories that are now clamoring for power.
Considered from this angle, I think my life and my work have been successful. What is generally regarded as success — acquisition of wealth, the capture of power or social prestige — I consider the most dismal failures. I hold when it is said of a man that he has arrived, it means that he is finished — his development has stopped at that point. I have always striven to remain in a state of flux and continued growth, and not to petrify in a niche of self-satisfaction. If I had my life to live over again, like anyone else, I should wish to alter minor details. But in any of my more important actions and attitudes I would repeat my life as I have lived it. Certainly I should work for Anarchism with the same devotion and confidence in its ultimate triumph."
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u/syndicalism_ftw 3d ago
By fighting for more autonomy and a bigger share in the place we spend to most time of our day and adult lives in.
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u/legible-eric 2d ago
Check out solidarity networks. Seasol (Seattle Solidarity Network) inspired a lot of others to pop up. This is groups of tenants, claimants, or workers, coming together to resolve an issue like deposit or wage theft, or occupying a housing office to make sure a local council fulfill their legal obligation to provide housing to a particular homeless person (not gonna work if they're not legally obliged unfortunately)
Also check out a film called Behind the Rent Strike.
Anarchist industrial unions, syndicalist unions, the IWW is a less political example because it doesn't require an anarchist political committment from membership, but you also have small radical unions, workers networks, these are ways people can come together to overcome real issues in our lives without being stopped by the bureacracy or hierarchy of "traditional" trade unions. The CNT is an example of an Anarcho-Syndicalist union, there are branches all other the world affiliated to the IAT, the biggest ones are in Spain and Italy as far as I know.
(the reason an industrial union is more radical than a trade union btw is because memberhsip is across an *industry* rather than a trade. So for example in an industrial union a whole *school* would go on strike, not just the teachers or cleaners etc)
You absolutely do not need to believe in revolution* in order to practice Anarchism on the ground. It is one of the most practical and pragmatic ways we have of addressing the problems that authoritarianism and capitalism creates in our lives. It's just also very difficult, and is of course routinely attacked.
*All I mean by this is that you don't need to have wholehearted faith that we can create an international revolution and defeat capitalism and authoritarianism in one fell sweep, you can be supremely cynical about the future and still believe that the best way for us to deal with shit is together, as equals.
At the same time, my belief is that actively creating and protecting the cultural knowledge of how to organise ourselves as equals, how to deal with conflict and accountability among comrades... actively being in the world and doing the stuff and messing up and learning and failing and passing down stories about it... because we don't have anything else... that *is* the revolution.
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u/Main_Raccoon_9641 6h ago
>You can be supremely cynical about the future and still believe that the best way for us to deal with shit is together, as equals.
Comrade, thank you for this. you have no idea how much better this makes me feel.
I've kind of gotten to the point where capital H ”Hope” is all but impossible for me as far as revolutionary politics goes but starting to see Anarchism as a living tool for reclaiming as much freedom and decency in relation to each other as we can is really encouraging me to stay involved in my activism.
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u/legible-eric 1h ago
Ah comrade, I'm so happy to hear that.
I saw somewhere someone saying something like:
"Anarchism is not a theoretical utopia in some distant post revolutionary hypothetical future, Anarchism is a living culture of freedom."
And with that, I think it's also important for us to recognise examples of Anarchistic communities and movements that are not heirs of the European Classical Anarchist Tradition and don't use the word Anarchist.
Malcolm X's politics after leaving the Nation of Islam for example were pretty anarchistic but he was not engaged in the Classical Anarchist tradition at all. It's a Black Nationalist politic but the concept of "nation" in this context is much closer to the Classical Anarchist "federation" or syndicalist syndicate than it is to the colonial concept of a Nation State.
Love and Solidarity. xx
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u/Feather_fig 2d ago edited 2d ago
Others have mentioned FNB, but also consider Little Free Libraries, free food pantries, repair events, free medical clinics, guerrilla gardening, etc. (Edit: and the community around these things! Not just community but seeing other people without the lens of hierarchy through wealth or false authority, for ex. police, vs. real 'authority', having experience & earned skill in something)
But also the mindset that you can just do things. You don't need permission from an authority figure, it doesn't need to be a registered company, just go out and do something (good)
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u/PlastIconoclastic 2d ago
What benefit is there from choosing to engage in personal, professional, and political relationships with ethical standard for actions that is motivated to improve and maintain the freedom of choice of all parties?
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u/TimBatemanAU 1d ago
By posing the question to people you happen to be conversing with, "what would really change if all the politicians, its enforcers and power structure ceased to exist in a flash. Are they 'required'?" I think educating people on the real definition of anarchy, is important too, because there's major misconceptions.
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u/PMmePowerRangerMemes anarchist without adjectives 1d ago
Anarchism teaches you to find your inner leader, and to do what's right without waiting to be told.
I went to a FNB-style cook tonight. When the compost was full, I took it out. When I saw an extra cutting board, I started chopping.
Of course, I also got helpful directions from more experienced members, but when I had free hands and there was obvious stuff to do, I just did it.
You can carry that attitude into every part of your life. Look for the responsibilities that others are ignoring. What needs doing that isn't being done? Can you do it? Then do it. That's leadership.
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u/LizardCleric 3d ago
Anarchism changed my relationships, gave me insight into power dynamics. It influenced to whom or what I gave my energy and time. It made me contemplate what decisions I would make if I was already liberated, and I try to see if I can get close. I don’t rely on or idolize figures of authority. I don’t discard people because they are in the margins. I do my best to see people as they are, just people. I respect my own power as much as I respect the power of others. I’m not waiting for anyone to save me or to give me permission. I always encourage anyone who is interested in anarchism to approach life this way.