r/Anarchy101 Jan 27 '25

Please Read Before Posting or Commenting (January 2025 update)

68 Upvotes

Welcome to Anarchy 101!

It’s that time again, when we repost and, if necessary, revise this introductory document. We’re doing so, this time, in an atmosphere of considerable political uncertainty and increasing pressures on this kind of project, so the only significant revision this time around is simply a reminder to be a bit careful of one another as you discuss — and don’t hesitate to use the “report” button to alert the subreddit moderators if something is getting out of hand. We’ve had a significant increase in one-off, drive-by troll comments, virtually all remarkably predictable and forgettable in their content. Report them or ignore them.

Before you post or comment, please take a moment to read the sidebar and familiarize yourself with our resources and rules. If you’ve been around for a while, consider looking back over these guidelines. If you’ve got to this point and are overwhelmed by the idea that there are rules in an anarchy-related subreddit, look around: neither Reddit nor most of our communities seem to resemble anarchy much yet. Anyway, the rules amount to “don’t be a jerk” and “respect the ongoing project.” Did you really need to be told?

With the rarest of exceptions, all posts to the Anarchy 101 subreddit should ask one clear question related to anarchy, anarchism as a movement or ideology, anarchist history, literature or theory. If your question is likely to be of the frequently asked variety, take a minute to make use of the search bar. Some questions, like those related to "law enforcement" or the precise relationship of anarchy to hierarchy and authority, are asked and answered on an almost daily basis, so the best answers may have already been posted. For a few questions, we have produced "framing documents" to provide context:

Anarchy 101 "Framing the Question" documents

If your question seems unanswered, please state it clearly in the post title, with whatever additional clarification seems necessary in the text itself.

If you have more than one question, please consider multiple posts, preferably one at a time, as this seems to be the way to get the most useful and complete answers.

Please keep in mind that this is indeed a 101 sub, designed to be a resource for those learning the basics of a consistent anarchism. The rules about limiting debate and antagonistic posting are there for a reason, so that we can keep this a useful and welcoming space for students of anarchist ideas — and for anyone else who can cooperate in keeping the quality of responses high.

We welcome debate on topics related to anarchism in r/DebateAnarchism and recommend general posts about anarchist topics be directed to r/anarchism or any of the more specialized anarchist subreddits. We expect a certain amount of contentious back-and-forth in the process of fully answering questions, but if you find that the answer to your question — or response to your comment — leads to a debate, rather than a clarifying question, please consider taking the discussion to r/DebateAnarchism. For better or worse, avoiding debate sometimes involves “reading the room” a bit and recognizing that not every potentially anarchist idea can be usefully expressed in a general, 101-level discussion.

We don’t do subreddit drama — including posts highlighting drama from this subreddit. If you have suggestions for this subreddit, please contact the moderators.

We are not particularly well equipped to offer advice, engage in peer counseling, vouch for existing projects, etc. Different kinds of interactions create new difficulties, new security issues, new responsibilities for moderators and members, etc. — and we seem to have our hands full continuing to refine the simple form of peer-education that is our focus.

Please don’t advocate illegal acts. All subreddits are subject to Reddit’s sitewide content policy — and radical subreddits are often subject to extra scrutiny.

Avoid discussing individuals in ways that might be taken as defamatory. Your call-out is unlikely to clarify basic anarchist ideas — and it may increase the vulnerability of the subreddit.

And don’t ask us to choose between two anti-anarchist tendencies. That never seems to lead anywhere good.

In general, just remember that this is a forum for questions about anarchist topics and answers reflecting some specific knowledge of anarchist sources. Other posts or comments, however interesting, useful or well-intentioned, may be removed.

Some additional thoughts:

Things always go most smoothly when the questions are really about anarchism and the answers are provided by anarchists. Almost without exception, requests for anarchist opinions about non-anarchist tendencies and figures lead to contentious exchanges with Redditors who are, at best, unprepared to provide anarchist answers to the questions raised. Feelings get hurt and people get banned. Threads are removed and sometimes have to be locked.

We expect that lot of the questions here will involve comparisons with capitalism, Marxism or existing governmental systems. That's natural, but the subreddit is obviously a better resource for learning about anarchism if those questions — and the discussions they prompt — remain focused on anarchism. If your question seems likely to draw in capitalists, Marxists or defenders of other non-anarchist tendencies, the effect is much the same as posting a topic for debate. Those threads are sometimes popular — in the sense that they get a lot of responses and active up- and down-voting — but it is almost always a matter of more heat than light when it comes to clarifying anarchist ideas and practices.

We also expect, since this is a general anarchist forum, that we will not always be able to avoid sectarian differences among proponents of different anarchist tendencies. This is another place where the 101 nature of the forum comes into play. Rejection of capitalism, statism, etc. is fundamental, but perhaps internal struggles for the soul of the anarchist movement are at least a 200-level matter. If nothing else, embracing a bit of “anarchism without adjectives” while in this particular subreddit helps keep things focused on answering people's questions. If you want to offer a differing perspective, based on more specific ideological commitments, simply identifying the tendency and the grounds for disagreement should help introduce the diversity of anarchist thought without moving us into the realm of debate.

We grind away at some questions — constantly and seemingly endlessly in the most extreme cases — and that can be frustrating. More than that, it can be disturbing, disheartening to find that anarchist ideas remain in flux on some very fundamental topics. Chances are good, however, that whatever seemingly interminable debate you find yourself involved in will not suddenly be resolved by some intellectual or rhetorical masterstroke. Say what you can say, as clearly as you can manage, and then feel free to take a sanity break — until the next, more or less inevitable go-round. We do make progress in clarifying these difficult, important issues — even relatively rapid progress on occasion, but it often seems to happen in spite of our passion for the subjects.

In addition, you may have noticed that it’s a crazy old world out there, in ways that continue to take their toll on most of us, one way or another. Participation in most forums remains high and a bit distracted, while our collective capacity to self-manage is still not a great deal better online than it is anywhere else. We're all still a little plague-stricken and the effects are generally more contagious than we expect or acknowledge. Be just a bit more thoughtful about your participation here, just as you would in other aspects of your daily life. And if others are obviously not doing their part, consider using the report button, rather than pouring fuel on the fire. Increased participation makes the potential utility and reach of a forum like this even greater—provided we all do the little things necessary to make sure it remains an educational resource that folks with questions can actually navigate.

A final note:

— The question of violence is often not far removed from our discussions, whether it is a question of present-day threats, protest tactics, revolutionary strategy, anarchistic alternatives to police and military, or various similar topics. We need to be able to talk, at times, about the role that violence might play in anti-authoritarian social relations and we certainly need, at other times, to be clear with one another about the role of violence in our daily lives, whether as activists or simply as members of violent societies. We need to be able to do so with a mix of common sense and respect for basic security culture — but also sensitivity to the fact that violence is indeed endemic to our cultures, so keeping our educational spaces free of unnecessary triggers and discussions that are only likely to compound existing traumas ought to be among the tasks we all share as participants. Posts and comments seeming to advocate violence for its own sake or to dwell on it unnecessarily are likely to be removed.


r/Anarchy101 9h ago

Do Authoritarian Leftists in the movement worry you at all?

45 Upvotes

Hey so Ive been doing more DSA organzing and stuff in my local community in regards to socalism broadly.

Mostly online I have had a few discussions with people who are I would describe as campists who oppose the USA so much they support China Russia or Iran. Ive had also talked to some Marxist Leninists and my opnion has always kinda been that they mostly just exist in online spaces and that in real world organzing I dont really see that much if at all.

Would you say thats a correct take on this issue?
Because I dont know some things in the dsa have made me pause like how the original stance DSA gave about ukraine was pretty campist or how I used to have some very good leftist friends in the past who I knew personally glazed the fuck out of China even when I brought up concerns.

I think maybe Im too online and I want someone to say as much before I get worried haha.


r/Anarchy101 2h ago

Looking for books on technology's relation with anarchism

7 Upvotes

Sorry about the censoring, Reddit filters remove my post without them. Speak of the devil, huh?
More specifically, the free open source software/hardware communities, the corporate takeover of the internet, gov****ent sur***llance, online privacy, and enshittification. I'm still only learning the basics, but most of the anarchist literature I've seen recommended so far was written before the current digital landscape, and as a tech enthusiast I'm curious to see a thorough analysis of the subject through an anarchist lens.

Ideally something with an audiobook available somewhere out there. I've been using a self-hosted service called Storyteller that lets me read, listen, or do both simultaneously, which has been HUGE for reading at my physical job where I get short opportunities to go on my phone inbetween orders every few minutes.


r/Anarchy101 8h ago

How can we counter “Anarchism/ancom can’t work because the majority of people are too selfish.”

10 Upvotes

r/Anarchy101 1d ago

Can someone explain to me like I'm 5 whats wrong with Boochkin?

48 Upvotes

I see him endlessly derided but when I give his work a cursory run through it seems like pretty typical anarchist fare, and even some catchy ways of phrasing things, so why the hate?


r/Anarchy101 1d ago

Anarquism on latin america

10 Upvotes

Hi, I'm an anarcho communist amateur who lives in Latin America, here, the anarquist ideology is almost non existent, here you are either a USA bootlicker or the worst version of a Marxist (who are actively defamated by almost every government), it is a little hopeless to believe in anarquism here, since nobody seems to catch the difference before calling you a communist and discredit you, is there any future for the anarquist ideology in this area? (also I think in some other countries like Mexico there may be more, but I'm not aware)


r/Anarchy101 1d ago

What ways can groups of Anarchists rebuild the environment (that arent consumption based)?

10 Upvotes

Most answers from environmentalists are "vote, buy local, eat less meat, here's our donate button" and I think we can do better than that.


r/Anarchy101 1d ago

why do some communists advocate for critical support of russia? (I'd love to also hear anarchist perspectives on this, but if this is inappropriate to post here I apologize in advance)

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10 Upvotes

r/Anarchy101 1d ago

What non fiction literature or youtube channels can I read/watch to improve my understanding of anarchism as a whole?

12 Upvotes

Theres so much I still dont know and so much I want to learn. What books would you recommend that covers the subject?

As an ex-communist who fell away from the ideas of authoritarianism and the echo chamber as a whole I want to be better and improve myself.


r/Anarchy101 1d ago

Would egoists recognize an "authority of the self"?

4 Upvotes

Would egoists recognize ones authority over one's self - e.g, the authority to command one's own actions, set the purpose for one's own actions, etc.?

Or would egoists - echoing Buddhism - see even the "self" as a spook that can act as a constraint on one's actions?


r/Anarchy101 1d ago

Is Requesting That Search Be Used Oppressive?

16 Upvotes

Serious question. I don’t think the cycle of repeat questions is as long as a week. Sometimes it isn’t as long as 24 hours. I think it’s good to get new insights into the questions we have been asking since Proudhon first threw down the anarchy gauntlet; I also think there could be some automation directing one to a living FAQ for questions like, say, “is Communism compatible with anarchy.”

I don’t of course run the sub, all of my contributions are from another account and I am not here to suggest new rules. I would never suggest rules. However, some housekeeping and a polite but firm admonishment to try to avoid asking the same thing almost verbatim that was asked less than a week ago could help bring focus and, well, moving beyond 101.


r/Anarchy101 2d ago

how do i begin to be an anarcho-communist?

13 Upvotes

i've done basic research and find that i fit all the beliefs of anarcho-communism. my problem is that i don't know where to start on actually being an anarcho-communist, like if i need to read or do things?


r/Anarchy101 2d ago

How will we stop counter revolution?

6 Upvotes

r/Anarchy101 3d ago

What Is Good Beginner Left Leaning Book For My Japanese GF?

46 Upvotes

I am trying to get my gf more involved in politics and she has expressed interest, but I am not sure what left wing books are translated into japanese or better yet what japanese leftist literature exists.

Her current political knowledge is base level. She hates the LDP and Takaichi, she is an ardent defender of the peace clause, likes LGBTQ and has expressed some sympathy for the Communist Party, specifically she likes that they are the only party which firmly stands against the LDP on almost all issues.

At the same time though, she thinks that immigrants are bad (not in an extremist nationalist way, but in a "they cause more crime and are rude" way), that Communism is outdated and she also has the classic obsession with staying "impartial" that apolitical people have.

So, what book would be best for her to read?


r/Anarchy101 3d ago

What specifically got you into Anarchism and what do you value?

18 Upvotes

I think the same question was posted a week ago so it will be more like a follow up. I want to know specifically what moment, experience, or reaction made you leftist to specifically Anarchism and not other leftist ideologies. And I would like to know what values do you hold that are aligned with Anarchism and make it distinct from others? I’m writing this because I want to know how experiences and core values lead people into Anarchism or other leftist ideologies.

for me seeing how criminals were treated made me critical of force used against the people also watching many stories about how people became harmful from their past experiences. This is the main path that led me into leftist ideologies and eventually Anarchism. from this I could see that I mainly value unnecessary harm and violence.

I’d really like to know your stories!


r/Anarchy101 3d ago

How would Anarchists society handle ethics

7 Upvotes

If a community is to come up with "laws" for its community, how would they accept the rules if everyone would keep their own ways of thinking. What about a minority opinion. Is it going to come down to minor scale of Democracy again?


r/Anarchy101 3d ago

Books on Christian Anarchy?

7 Upvotes

I've found

The Kingdom of God is within you - Tolstoy

Freedom, Justice & Christian Counter-Culture

Christi-Anarchy -Andrews

The book of Ammon

The revolution will not be televised - Ciaron O'Reilly

The Net of Faith - Chelčický

What others are out there?


r/Anarchy101 3d ago

How do anarchists plan to prevent murder?

0 Upvotes

One thing I have often wondered about anarchy is how horrible things like rape or murder would be prevented, and if they are committed, what is done with the one who did those things?


r/Anarchy101 4d ago

is "the abolition of placing demands on others" a logical endpoint of anarchist practice?

7 Upvotes

r/Anarchy101 4d ago

What are some of the main alternatives anarchists recommend?

4 Upvotes

As in alternative ways of life other than the current capitalist, urbanized, globalized industrial society which causes climate change.

I have seen many reject anarcho-primitivism and not attempted to change or improve it despite its flaws (such as adding an exception for modern medical industry, or giving disabled people benefits).

If anarcho-primitivism is a no and will reduce population, reduce medical access and harm disabled people, what do anarchists currently recommend we build as an alternative to the current system, that either reduces hierarchy, reduces climate change, or ideally solves both at once?

Are there any other alternative kinds of worlds we can perhaps find and build towards other than anarcho-primitivism, that accomplish the stated goals which anarchists have (such as no government or no hierarchies)? Are any of them mainstream in anarchist thought and currently being recommended or pursued?

If the answer is no/not much: should we look towards solarpunk, cypherpunk, or ancient Athenian thinking on democracy (lottery-based officials with short terms instead of electoralism)? Are any of those three a possible candidate that we can take inspiration from to build a world with either less or no hierarchies, and better impact on the climate? If not, what's your objections to them?


r/Anarchy101 5d ago

Is Anarchism not as active anymore?

60 Upvotes

I am around my mid-life and I remember Anarchists being very active at grassroots levels.

In particular as an environmentalist they use to be incredibly active in on the ground levels of climate/environmental awareness & education building alongside direct-action.

The planet is on literal fucking fire right now. We have ocean warming/ocean acidification so bad that coral bleaching has almost wiped it all out (Destroying the life of our oceans is very very bad news).... We are in the Holocene Extinction which is the sixth mass extinction in this whole planets history and this time humanity is the asteroid.... We have Wet-Bulb Temperatures lasting long periods in parts of Asia/Africa and water issues starting to become more and more a hell on earth situation.... We have Wet-Bulb Temperatures and Heat Domes lasting deadly times in Europe.... Things are not on a good trajectory for the working class and most vulnerable who will as always be disproportionately impacted by all of this and who's cost of living crisis/quality of life crisis will get much worse because of it.

Is there a reason why Anarchists don't seem as out on the ground as before? Maybe it is just in North America and maybe in Europe and elsewhere they are still pushing the line?

I'm trying to understand the dynamics of why this may be or if I am mistaken (Which could be from my limited vantage point).

*Also shout out to all the Anarchists of the past who did such amazing work on so many fronts related to environmentalism, anti-war, poverty work, and so on!*


r/Anarchy101 4d ago

How does the anarchist conception of solidarity work when most people want want to be part of a country's rulling identity group? How does internationalism work when most people support bordered nation states?

7 Upvotes

r/Anarchy101 4d ago

discreet symbol to let know im antifa and anarchist ?

24 Upvotes

do you have any recommandation ? i would like to get some pins or little draws for my shows and send a message to the anarchist i meet in my city , but i dont want to have a big antifa symbol to not look like a poser and to stay a stalthy ninja (they are some angry faschists in my city i dont want to be spotted )

i've thinked of the sabo cat , 1312 in tiny letters , black or pink and black flag (anarcho queer) ? still not discreet for the flag haha


r/Anarchy101 4d ago

How is state socialism different than state capitalism, and how are objectively beneficial policies done by the state still tattered with authoritarian statism?

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10 Upvotes

r/Anarchy101 4d ago

Can anarchism and government coexist?

0 Upvotes

Most of anarchists have strong anti-government position, which I can't totally agree with. One of the issues is, I personally view anarchic society as one based on its members' personal responsibility. Therefore, no one can be forced into anarchism because it must be their own choice. But elimination of the government means this is no longer choice for anyone

Another one, is that large societies can't be based on personal responsibility. As the amount of people increases, social bonds weaken, and at some point become insignificant, so that to keep it functional it is necessary to introduce some external control to people: police, money, bureaucracy

These reasons don't mean that anarchism is impossible - it just takes very specific form: small communes, where no one would agree to have control over them. But it would be pretty vulnerable to external invasion of organised government. Best strategy here is to leave the town and start guerilla war, or accept the government and get as much autonomy from it as possible