An Introduction To Urban Anarchy

I question if anarchism can be achieved on a large scale unless it is first implemented on a smaller scale. There may be many ways to achieve anarchism, but I am going to be focusing on smaller scale solutions that we can participate in now. The concept of building an anarchist society within the state to a point where it outweighs the state simply shedding the shell of the state as it grows. The reality is that theory and application will differ. How can we expect this system to be implemented when it has nothing to model after? Most do not understand what anarchism is. This is why we must model and teach anarchism.

We can not create a Utopian ideal of anarchism, but the practical details will alter and adjust as we implement and learn from what we create. This means with our theories we go ahead building what we foresee and as we build we make practical workable solutions which spring from our theories. As anarchists we are often held to a higher standard than others. Because they implement solutions under the systems they promote they feel the current systems are justified no matter how failed and unethical it is. We are asked often to end crime, poverty and any other social or cultural ill. The problem with this is that they are asking anarchism to do what their systems have proven unable to do.

Anarchist solutions may not maintain the current norms of society. Dynamics and conditions will change. The basic ways of life may be altered more drastically in some areas. Anarchists are not conservative in the truest sense of the word. Anarchism will not maintain the current status-quo of society. I am often asked how as an anarchist I will maintain certain accepted norms under the system. The reality is that not all accepted norms will be maintained. Seeking to conserve the status-quo is not something anarchism can support.

Looking at areas we can withdraw from the system and minimize rulers or presence of the corporation or the state is something we can do. At times this may be accepting less corporate or state influence with some presence. There has been the idea of  ‘dropping off the radar’ which is often seen as the ‘rugged individualist’ running off to the wilderness to escape the system. This is something I am avoiding. I wish to remain in the Urban core. This lets us integrate the solutions into society while keeping it in the view of others.

In my next few articles I will be looking at transportation, food, production, cooperatives, mutual aid and how we can begin to create anarchist economies within our cities. I am not interested in moving to other cities or having others make a pilgrimage to where I live to implement a stateless society. I am interested in looking at areas where we can use mutual aid to work with non-anarchists and anarchists alike to create alternatives to the current system. I will talk about what I am doing and what directions I hope my work and production can go.

The beauty of anarchism is that I only present a few solutions to each issue. In an anarchist society we will only be limited to what we can conceive. I hope that most of what I present will be accepted by both the libertarian-socialist or the anarcho-syndicalist as well as the agorist. I am writing the next few articles on Urban Anarchy as an Anarcho-Inclusivist. This is not to embrace capitalism, but to embrace individuals whose ethics can fit in with mine be they anarchist, democrat, socialist or anything else. If your end goal is not anarchism you can still benefit from the concepts I will be writing about, and we can work together to create real changes in society and culture that are in a positive direction.