How do we spread anarchism?

a guest post

Q: What are some novel and radical ways to spread the true meaning of anarchy, to counteract the false/negative image that the dominant culture tries to impose?

A: Despite what popular media likes to say, anarchism is, above all, a framework of love. It is built on the belief and trust we have in each other and the confidence that we can create a better world. It is healing, nurturing, compassion, and anything but negative. As a literature nerd, I spend a lot of time thinking about the way in which narratives shape our collective beliefs. Art imitates life, but we also imitate the art we see. The most popular works of speculative fiction are dystopian. Each of these hells are born from the collapse of government and the overarching structures that dictate how the world is run. In these worlds, this only ever leads to conflict, and it devolves into every person for themselves. Selfishness abounds. Countless murders, constant thievery, calculated deceit—an instant reversion to “human nature.”

Anarchy is demonized in these narratives, as it is equated with destruction and death. It’s hard to conceive of a positive future once government and the state cease to exist. Imagination is such a scarce and precious resource that is drained by these narratives. Unfortunately, for most people, this type of fiction is where the exploration of anarchy stops, the point where their imagining of the future is wired to be dangerous and negative.

It’s extremely important that we create meaningful speculative fiction that positively portrays what anarchy would look like. Answering “what ifs” and spreading theory will only do so much when one of the largest sources of people’s perceptions of anarchy is dystopian fiction. Fiction is an incredibly underused tool in the Revolution, one that can be an especially effective antidote to false images of anarchy.

If you’re creative in any capacity, write: short stories, novels, plays, short films, movies. Rewrite the collapse of the state to not be the end of the world, but as an environment in which mutual aid and care guide the creation of a better one. Share these stories. If you’re a teacher, student, librarian, or somebody else who regularly interacts with a high number of people in an educational environment, use this as a prompt. Whether or not you explicitly call it anarchy, ask your students, fellow peers, and visitors what the end of the world would look like if it didn’t default to a dystopia. Challenge them to write about it. Start a literary magazine or organize an anthology of short stories about anarchy as the rekindling of deep love for each other. Lead a book club that provides a space to share and discuss these narratives. Whatever you do, make sure your work is actually shared with/is accessible to people who have been taught to fear anarchy. It’s great to discuss these things in organizing circles, but these types of narratives, as told through fiction, need to reach people who misunderstand and demonize anarchy.

Getting people to read your writing is notoriously difficult, especially if you are an indie writer. Combatting more popular dystopian fiction with speculative fiction that more accurately, comprehensively, and positively depicts anarchy— dare I say, makes it desirable— is a longer term project that won’t happen overnight. However, in community circles, it might happen sooner. Drop speculative fiction literary mags in lending libraries. Ask the librarians at your local library if they would be willing to buy a few copies of an anthology you edited to put into circulation (they often have a shelf full of new releases, which could give more visibility). Put together book displays at your school, especially in popular spaces at universities. Donate the stories you write and collect to schools, retirement homes, and jails (this involves a lot of logistical headaches, but it can be done).

Aside from fiction, there are some more immediate steps that can be taken to combat anarchy’s false narratives. If there are any beloved public places or events in your hometown,— for example, a random field of wildflowers that the city miraculously hasn’t destroyed because it’s a popular place for families to picnic in the summer; lending libraries where neighbors not only trade books, but also school supplies and seeds; pop-up events that don’t accept money but operate from trades instead; any other third spaces or events not sponsored through city government— then make sure people recognize that those were made possible, to some degree, by anarchism. This could be as simple as putting up signs or stickers saying something along the lines of “Anarchy Made This Possible” or “Anarchy Would Bring More of This.” Bonus points if there is a QR code or some other way to link to more information or a short work of speculative fiction :)

In addition to reminding people of anarchy’s role in already-existing community events and spaces, you can host your own. Organize events that intentionally create a space for people to understand and explore what “human nature” really means. Counteracting the myth of the selfish individual is a powerful way to counteract the fear that people feel when they hear “anarchy.” Organize a neighborhood potluck and explain that anarchy would look more like this instead of hoarding food from greedy thieves. Organize free skillsharing workshops to not only teach something useful, but to also remind people that education would still exist in a world of anarchy. Show people how basic needs and wants would be fulfilled outside of the state.

Finally, it’s important to share the wins that direct action (specifically, anything done from an anarchist framework) has achieved. Actions speak louder than words. Sharing the successes of direct action and mutual aid shows that life after statal collapse isn’t bleak. Life after statal collapse will reflect what we have done and will continue to do.

As Becky Chambers, self-described “hopepunk” fiction author says in To Be Taught, If Fortunate: “When the world you know is out of reach, nothing is more welcome than a measurable reminder that it still exists.” In this world, nothing is more welcome than a reminder that the world will still exist post-collapse, and it doesn’t have to be worse. Anarchy can become that reminder.