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Anarchists in the Russian Revolution | Anarchists in the Russian Revolution | ||
Anarchists in the Italian Factory Occupations | Anarchists in the Italian Factory Occupations | ||
Revision as of 13:11, 19 October 2014
Welcome to AnarchyinAction.org!
A work-in-progress, AnarchyinAction.org will be a resource for anyone to research and write about how and when societies, communities, institutions, rebellions, movements and other social phenomena can function in the absence of coercive hierarchies--and how and when they can not. Anarchy, coming from the Greek words an (without) and archos (ruler) refers to a situation without rulers, without domination. We have collected hundreds of examples of anarchy in practice, many of them from the following works:
An Anarchist FAQ (excerpt)
Anarchy in Action by Colin Ward
Anarchy Works by Peter Gelderloos
Cartography of Revolutionary Anarchism by Michael Schmidt
Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution by Peter Kropotkin
People Without Government: An Anthropology of Anarchy by Harold Barclay
The Politics of Social Ecology: Libertarian Municipalism by Janet Biehl with Murray Bookchin (excerpt)
We sort these examples into four main categories. Anarchism refers to a political theory and practice that arose in the 19th century, aimed at abolishing coercive hierarchy and establishing a libertarian socialist society in its place. Anti-authoritarianism refers to a broader category of politics including groups such as the Wobblies and Zapatistas that oppose coercive hierarchy but do not call themselves anarchists. Third, a participatory category includes examples such as ancient Athens where anarchy is extended to many but not to all or even necessarily to most of society. Participatory politics encompasses anti-authoritarianism, which encompasses anarchism. Finally, the autonomous category refers to self-governed communities that shift power relations in a decentralized direction, including examples like the Paris Commune, which fell short of participatory governance.
In addition to the examples of anarchy in action, we created two additional categories, more or less for fun. In a nod to the naturalist Peter Kropotkin who saw cooperative activity as a factor of evolution, we add nonhuman anarchy to explore power relations in animal and ecological communities. Second, we add the category of fictional anarchy, which would include the planet Annares from Ursula K. LeGuin's novel The Dispossessed.
We do not claim to have conclusive evidence that anarchy is possible in all situations. Nor do we deny humans' innate potential for hierarchy and indeed for extreme cruelty. We present this resource as an attempt for curious and open-minded people to collaboratively explore the question of whether a horizontally-run world is possible and what this world might look like.
AnarchyinAction.org is a project of Capitalism vs. the Climate and of our friends at Get Libre and elsewhere. If you would like to get involved, please email dfischer@riseup.net.
Examples from An Anarchist FAQ
The Haymarket Martyrs
Building the Syndicalist Unions
Anarchists in the Russian Revolution
Anarchists in the Italian Factory Occupations
Anarchism and the Spanish Revolution
The May-June Revolt in France, 1968
Examples from Anarchy in Action
Vienna Psychoanalytic Society's child guidance service
Anarchism in the Cuban Revolution
Horizontal organization in British architecture
Work democracy
Swiss confederation
Anarchy in the American Revolution
New England Town Meetings
Mexican colonial proletarias
Peruvian 'barriadas
Tunisian gourbivilles
Indian bus tees
Turkish gecekondu
Venezuelan ranchos
Prestolee School
Institueion Libre de Enseiianza
Residential College for Students
1960 student revolts
Freetown playground
Skrammellegeplad playgrounds
Robinson Crusoe playgrounds
Brixham fishing cooperative
Brora mining cooperative
Standard tractor factory
Durham worker-managed mines
Gheel mental health care
Synanon
Alcoholics Anonymous
Claimant's Union
Eyes on the street
Examples from Anarchy Works
Grassroots Hurricane Katrina relief
Providence Plantations
Igbo
Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp
Italian factory occupations
Boston Area Liberation Medic Squad
Bay Area Radical Health Collective
US Modern schools
Albany Free School
Quechua Farmers School
Universidad Transhumante
1969 Alcatraz occupation
Bonnot
New Guinea highlands
Open Source
Wikipedia
Free Stores
Freecycle Network
Taita Hills
Village Alternatif, Anticapitalist et AntiGuerres
Free Republic of Wendland
Stonehenge
Ghana shantytown
FEJUVE
Mjondolo
Symphony Way
Parisian urban gardeners
Cuban agriculture decentralization
Maori
Global Ecovillage Network
-Old Bassaisa
-Ecotop
-Earthhaven
-Tehuantepec
Minnehaha Free State
Bilston Glen
Anti-Shell resistance
Tonga
Seattle 1919
Exarchia
Rotuman
Wapole inmates
Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo
Zapotec
Navajo
Critical Resistance
Take Back the Night
Philly's Pissed
Philly Stands Up
Red Cloud's War
2007 Lakota declaration of independence
Mohawk road blockade, 1990
Bolivia water protests
Albania
Hamburg 1986-7
Copenhagen 1986
Can Masdeu
Gwangiu
Hungarian Revolution
Zapatistas
Tsimihety
Basque autonomous villages
-Lakabe
-Aritzkuren
-Rala
-Uli
La Solana autonomous villages
Longo Mai
Mas de Granier
-Transkarpaty
Anarchist Black Cross
RAWA
No Border Network
!Kung
Whiteway Colony
Examples from Cartography of Revolutionary Anarchism
First Wave, 1868-1894
International
International Brotherhood
International Alliance of Socialist Democracy
International Working Person's Association
Anti-Authoritarian International
Spain
Spanish Regional Federation (FRE)
Spanish Regional Labour Federation (FTRE)
Spanish Regional Anarchist Organisation (OARE)
Pact of Union & Solidarity (PUS)
National Confederation of Labor (CNT)
Spanish Regional Workers' Federation (FORE)
Cantonalist Revolt of 1873-1874
Mexico
Proletarian Circle (CP)
Grand Circle of Mexican Workers (GCO)
Uruguay
Regional Federation of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay (FRROU)
Worker's Federation (FO)
Cuba
Artisan's Central Council (JCA)
Labourer's Circle (CT)
Cuban Labour Confederation (CTC)
United States
Central Labor Union (CLU)
Russia
Northern Worker's Union (NWU)
Second Wave, 1895-1923
International
Federation of Labour Exchanges (FBT)
Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)
1903 Macedonian Revolt
1907 International Anarchist Congress
1913 Syndicalist Conference in London
Insurgent Committee of Revolutionary Partisans
Industrial Workers' Association (IWA)
Netherlands
National Labour Secretariat (NAS)
Federation of Freedom-loving Communists (FVC)
France
General Confederation of Labour (CGT)
Anarchist Communist Alliance
Anarchist Federation
Co-ordination of Anarchist Groups
Libertarian Communist Organization
Libertarian Alternative
Committee for the Defence of Revolutionary Syndicalism (CDSR, member of IWA)
Russia
1905-1907 Russian Revolt
Trans-Siberian Railway
Anarchist Federation of the Altai (AFA)
Siberian Industrial Workers of the World (IWW-Siberia)
Autonomous Industrial Commune
All-Russian Confederation of Anarcho-Syndicalists (ARKAS)
Bleikhman's Petrograd Anarchist Communist Federation (PACF)
Union of Anarcho-Syndicalist Propaganda (MFAG)
Black Guards
United States
Industrial Workers of the World-US (IWW-US)
China
Teahouse Labour Union
Guangzhou commune
Confederation of Labour Associations (GLH)
Hunan Workers' Association
Black Societies
Korea
Black Societies
Wonsan General Trade Union
Free Trade Union
Argentina
Argentine Regional Workers' Federation (FORA)
Argentine Regional Workers' Confederation (CORA)
Argentine Regional Workers' Federation of the 5th Congress (FORA-V)
Argentine Regional Workers' Federation of the 9th Congress (FORA-IX)
Argentine Libertarian Alliance (ALA)
Anarcho-Communist Port-workers' Group (ACAOP)
Resistance Society of the Port-workers of the Capital (SROPC)
Uruguay
Uruguay Regional Workers' Organisation (FORU)
Brazil
Brazilian Labour Confederation (COB)
Chile
Chilean Labourers Federation (FTCh)
Industrial Workers of the World- Chile (IWW-Chile)
Paraguay
Paraguayan Regional Workers' Organisation (FORPa)
Paraguayan Regional Workers' Centre (CORP)
National Revolutionary Alliance (ANR)
Workers' Trade Union Reorganisation Council (CORS)
Cuba
Havana Labour Federation (FOH)
Cuban Workers' Confederation (CTC)
Cuban National Labour Confederation (CNOC)
Mexico
House of the World Worker (COM)
Mexican Regional Workers' Organization (FORM)
General Confederation of Labour (CGT)
Peru
Peruvian Regional Workers' Federation (FORPe)
Local Workers' Federation of Lima (FOL)
Columbia
Columbian Workers' Federation (FOC)
Bolivia
Local Workers' Federation (FOL)
Feminine Workers' Federation
Bolivian Regional Workers' Confederation
Ecuador
Guayas Workers' Regional Federation (FORG)
Ecuadoran Regional Federation of Labor (FTRE)
Spain
National Confederation of Labour (CNT)
National Workers' Union (UON)
(renamed General Confederation of Labour (CGT))
Portugal
National Workers' Union (UON)
General Confederation of Labour (CGT, member of IWA)
Mexico
Mexican Revolution of 1910
Mexican Industrial Workers of the World (IWW-Mexico)
Mexican Liberal Party (PLM)
Industrial Union of North and South America (UIANS)
Liberation Army of the South (ELS)
National Agrarian Party (PNA)
Ireland
Industrial Syndicalist Education League (ITGWU)
Bulgaria
Federation of Anarchist-Communists of Bulgaria (FAKB)
Vlassovden Confederation
Anarcho-Syndicalist National Confederation of Labour (ASNKR)
Ukraine
Revolutionary Insurgent Army of the Ukraine (RPAU)
Italy
Italian Syndicalist Union (USI, member of IWA)
Italian Workers' Party (POI)
Revolutionary Anarchist Socialist Party (PSAR)
Union of Communist Anarchists (UCAI)
Italian Anarchist Union (UAI)
Germany
Free Workers' Union of Germany (FAUD)
Free Association of German Trade Unions (FvDG)
German Anarchist Federation (AFD)
Federation of Communist Anarchists of German (FKAD)
German Workers' Union of Germany (AAUD)
General Labour Union--Unity Organisation (AAU-E)
Third Wave, 1924-1949
International
Federation of Anarchist-communist Groups of Poland and Lithuania (FAGPL)
East Asian Anarchist Federation (EAAF)
American Continental Workingmen's Association (ACAT)
North African Libertarian Movement (MLNA)
Anarchist International Relations Commission (CRIA)
Continental Commission of Anarchist Relations (CCRA)
Poland
Anarchist Federation of Poland (AFP)
General Workers' Federation (GFP)
Union of Trade Unions (ZZZ, member of IWA)
Polish Syndicalist Union (ZSP)
Korea, South China, and Manchuria
Korean Anarchist Federation's Chinese Exile Section (KAF-C)
Korean Youth Federation in South China (KYFSC)
Manchurian Revolution of 1929-31
--Shinmin Prefecture (General League of Koreans or HCH)
Korean Anarchist Federation (KAF)
Korean Anarchist Communist Federation (KACF)
Korean Anarchist Federation in Manchuria
Federation of Free Society Builders (FFSB)
Korean Revolutionary Federation (KRF)
Spain
Spanish Revolution
--CNT's 1936 Zargosa Congress
Iberian Anarchist Federation (FAI)
Libertarian Youth Federation of Iberia (FIJL)
Libertarian Youth (JJLL)
Durruti Column
Friends of Durruti (AD)
France
International Revolutionary Syndicalist Federation (FISR)
National Confederation of Labour (CNT)
Francophile Anarchist Federation (FAF)
Italy
Italian Anarchist Communists (FdCAI)
General Italian Workers' Federation (CGIL)
Britain
Anarchist Federation of Britain
Syndicalist Workers' Federation (SWF)
Japan
Japanese Anarchist Federation (JAF)
Federation of Free Labour Unions (FFLU)
Conference of Labour Unions (CLU)
Japanese Anarchist Club (JAC)
Anarchist Federation
Germany
Federation of Libertarian Socialists (FFS)
Netherlands
Independent League of Trade Unions (OVB)
Mexico
General Delegation of the CNT (CNT-DG)
Venezuela
Venezuelan Regional Workers' Federation (FORV)
Cuba
Federation of Anarchist Groups of Cuba (FGAC)
Cuban Libertarian Alliance (ALC)
General Confederation of Labor (CGT)
Fourth Wave
International
Anarchist Black Cross (ABC)
International of Anarchist Federations (IAF)
Iberian Anarchist Federation (FAI)
North African Libertarian Movement (MLNA)
Libertarian Communist International (ICL)
Libertarian Communist Organisation (OCL)
Libertarian Alternative (AL)
Cuba
Second Escambray Front
Student Revolutionary Directorate (DRE)
Cuban Confederation (CTC)
Anarchists within the 26th of July Movement
Cuban Libertarina Movement in Exile)
Sweden
Swedish Workers' Central Organisation (SAC)
IWW Marine Transport Workers' Industrial Union (MTWIU)
Chile
Chilean IWW
General Confederation of Labour (CGT)
National Workers' Unity Movement (MUNT)
Chilean Workers' Central (CUT)
anarchist faction in Movement of hte Revolutionary Left (MIR)
Anarcho-Communist Unification (CUAC) / Libertarian Communist Organisation (OLC)
Argentina
Ship-building Workers' Federation (FTB)
New Zealand
1951 syndicalist resistance
China
Yunan guerilla campaigns
1968 revolt
Federation of the Provincial Proletariat (Shengwulian)
Anarchist Federation
Bolivia
Bolivian Regional Workers' Confederation (CORB)
Feminine Workers' Federation (FOB)
Rhodesia
Industrial and Commercial Union of Sourthen Rhodesia (ICU yase Rhodesia)
Uruguay
Uruguayan Anarchist Federation (FAU)
Revolutionary Popular Organisation 33 (OPR-33)
Worker-Student Resistance (ROE)
National Convention of Workers (CNT)
South Korea
Autonomous Workers' League (AWL)
Autonomous Village Movement (AVM)
Czechoslovakia
1968 revolt
France
1968 revolt
Direct Action (AD)
Libertarian Communist Federation (FCL)
Thought-Battle Organisation (OPB)
Union of Libertarian Communist Workers (UTCL)
Alternative Libertaire
Anarchist Revolutionary Organisation (ORA)
Italy
1968 revolt
Proletarian Action Anarchists Groups (GAAP)
Italian Anarchist Federation (FAI)
Federation of Communist Anarchists (FdCA)
Japan
1968 revolt
Mexico
1968 revolt
Pakistan
1968 revolt
Poland
1968 revolt
Polish Anarchist Federation (FA)
Yugoslavia
1968 revolt
United States
1968 revolt
Germany
1968 revolt
Movement 2 June (M2J)
Senegal
1968 revolt
Argentina
Libertarian Resistance (RL)
Iraq
Workers' Liberation Group (Shagila)
Iran
The Sceam of the People (CHK)
Britain
Angry Brigade (AB)
Canada
Direct Action (AD)
Spain
Interior Defense (DI)
First of May Group (GPM)
Iberian Liberation Movement (MIL-GAC)
Groups of International Revolutionary Action (GARI)
Anti-capitalist Autonomous Commandos (KAA)
Vietnam
Neutralist Tribune
Russia
Left Opposition (LO)
Movement of Revolutionary Communards (MRC)
Free General Workers' Union (SMOT)
Ukraine
Communist League of Anarchists
Czechoslovakia
Anarcho-Syndicalist Federation
Anarchist Federation (AF) / Czech and Slovak Anarchist Federation (CSAF)
South Africa
Federation of South African Trade Unions (FOSATU)
Examples from Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution
Khoikhoi people
Paupan people
Aleut people
Dayak people
Village community
Buryats
Kabyle people
Peoples of the Caucasus
Medieval guild
Labor unions
Strikes
Worker cooperatives
Lifeboat Association
Cyclists' Alliance
Gymnasts' Societies
Alpine Clubs
Froebel Unions
pedagogical societies in Germany
religious charitable associations
scientific, literary, artistic, and educational societies
Mutual-Aid in slum-life
Examples from People Without Government: An Anthropology of Anarchy
Northwest coast indigenous peoples
Plateau Tonga
Anuak
Ibo
New Guinea indigenous peoples
Ifugao
Land Dayaks
South American Indians
Nuer
Samek or Lapps
Imazighen
Santals
Anabaptists
Examples from The Politics of Social Ecology: Libertarian Municipalism
New England Town Meetings
Parisian Sections
Swiss confederal leagues
Other Examples
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee
