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Title: Anarchism And Collective Organization Author: Matt Date: 2001 Language: en Topics: Northeastern Anarchist, anarchist organization Source: Retrieved on 15th October 2021 from http://nefac.net/node/17 Notes: By Matt (Firefly Collective). Published in The Northeastern Anarchist #2, Summer 2001.
Because of the frequent mass demonstrations that have been occurring in
the past couple of years, a lot of people in the anarchist movement have
formed, joined, participated in, or otherwise been involved with an
affinity group. In fact, many people have been turned on to anarchist
politics after experiencing first hand the efficient and empowering
action that can come out of a solid affinity group. Working closely with
people that share a mutual trust and respect, as well as a common
strategy and vision proves the anarchist method of organizing far better
than the most eloquent anarchist thinker. After all, it has its roots in
what most of us consider to be the farthest reaching attempt at
anarchist social revolution — the Spanish Civil War.
What is of note that relates very closely to then and now is that the
anarchist affinity groups of the Spanish Civil War didn’t form in the
weeks prior to July 1936 — in many cases, they had been around for
years. They formed as study groups for self-education; for propaganda
purposes — printing and distributing newspapers and pamphlets: they
formed as class conscious individuals saw a need for more organization
at the grassroots level, more widespread radical education, and a more
strategized method of agitation.
Today, when considering what work we are doing and have been involved
with, and what type of impact we, as anarchists, will have in the
future, the question of forming collectives becomes a very important one
to look at. From the perspective then that working in collectives and
helping others to form them is something that anarchists should be
doing, I hope to discuss some of the practical considerations that might
come up in the formation of a collective and its subsequent work.
Most of us have spent a lot of (generally well spent) time and energy
working as individuals in coalitions, networks, and organizations that
are generally synthesist with their politics — groups that form around a
specific issue or campaign or that do specific, routine projects with
folks from a multitude of political persuasions involved. There is often
little discussion of politics and the space to discuss theory and
tactics as they might relate to a strategy of struggle is generally
absent. We can and need to question the overall strategy behind this
type of work and the effectiveness at achieving stated goals but there
are instances where this work has been and continues to be important.
The Zapatista support work in the US and Canada, and the activity being
undertaken to free Mumia have often happened under this structure.
Recent local anti-FTAA coalitions have also shown that this work can be
positive and effective.
However, the point I want to make is that as a collective (rather than
an individual), anarchists can have a stronger impact contributing to
such struggles as well as initiating campaigns and struggles that we can
be openly radical with and assure that the work is carried out with a
revolutionary perspective even though we may be fighting for a reformist
victory. Not only that, but in a collective with people we know well,
respect, and trust we create an environment ripe for personal and
political growth. We can take a small step in the process of creating
social alternatives to our alienating and competitive existence under
capitalism.
Deciding to join or form an anarchist collective is more of a decision
about working with a particular group of people than committing to do
political work. Both are important, but since most of us are, in some
capacity or another, already involved with radical politics the former
needs more consideration. With that in mind, the choice of people you
want to work with takes on more priority and immediacy than specific
projects or campaigns you might engage in. Looking around you at work,
in your neighborhood, city, town, or at school, ask yourself who it is
that you respect; who’s been involved with projects that you thought
were solid; who, in your conversations seems to argue along similar
lines as yourself; who is someone you could learn from as well as
potentially teach something to? These are some of the questions that can
lead to the formation of a collective. If it is probably accurate to
assume that anarchists number about 1 to every 1,000–10,000 people in
North America then most of us shouldn’t have too difficult of a time
finding other people that would be interested in forming a collective.
A common mistake to avoid is starting a collective with people simply
because they call themselves anarchists. In North America today, there
are “anarchists” that brutalize women, “anarchists” that vote for
presidents, “anarchists” that care more about their patches than real
social change, and “anarchists” who think a huge majority of the human
population should die. The point here isn’t to call for some abstract
theoretical anarchist purity, but to be aware that a common strategy and
vision is sometimes easier to find with people who do not label
themselves as anarchists. What should never be overlooked in the
formation of a collective is that, anarchists or not, the group must
have theoretical and tactical unity.
The members of any collective should not only share the same political
analysis but the strategy and tactics involved must be agreed upon as
well. This is a major point that distinguishes the collective form of
organizing from more broad-based coalitions or networks. In pursuing
this unity, one of the more important things that a newly formed
collective can do is draft out a political statement detailing not only
a critique of the contemporary system but a vision as well. This
collective discussion, though obviously inward functioning, can
establish a solid framework for long-term involvement in social
movements. Though it is fluid and changes as the collective’s
experiences do, writing the statement begins the process of helping
those involved in the collective to become more articulate and
knowledgeable in regards to understanding our exploitative and
oppressive system. In addition, it offers a concise picture of your
politics to other individuals or collectives that may be interested in
the work you’re doing and possibly want to start a relationship. It also
engages our desires and imagination in thinking about a vision for a
society where life could be enjoyed rather than stolen.
Oftentimes, a collective is viewed with suspicion and seen as exclusive
or elitist by other activists. This is usually an issue of people not
understanding the organizational idea of a group that functions with a
closed membership. The point isn’t to act as an all-star team of
activists but to build trust and relationships while being engaged in
social struggle from a common platform. It is important to explain this
to people and to address those who express interest in joining. When it
doesn’t make sense to open the membership to an individual who is
interested in joining, the collective should encourage and help that
person to form another collective. This project of encouraging others to
form collectives should be a constant one for any collective. In
addition to constantly advocating for others to self-organize, another
way a collective can combat the perception of exclusivity is by getting
involved with current struggles in your area or by initiating campaigns
in your community that present the possibility for numerous people and
groups to work together. This will give the group visibility and show
that your collective doesn’t exist for reasons of ideological purity.
While there may be some work that is more effectively accomplished by
the collective alone, don’t let the group devolve into some kind of
activist nucleus that is only concerned with perpetuating its existence.
It is definitely time for anarchists to begin to seriously consider
getting more organized. Moving beyond the protest circuit and looking at
ways to transform the anarchist movement, into something rooted in the
community and educated from experience confronting the system where we
meet it on a day to day basis, begins not only a revolutionary strategy,
but its examination as well. And in many ways, forming collectives and
engaging in social struggle at that level mirrors a vision of an
anarchist society where autonomous, egalitarian, non-hierarchical groups
of people work with each other and with other collectives to achieve
common goals. That model opposed to leaders, inimical to authority and
oppression, and at odds with reformism should give us a basis of
organization that can begin to challenge the entire system.