A Step Away From Capitalism: Part 2
As a disclaimer for this series of articles, on how to transition away from capitalism. I will focus on certain avenues of various alternative institutions. With that said, not one of these is the complete answer, rather a part of a network to build the kind of alternative institutions that need to be developed.
Some of them do involve capitalism to a point. It is possible to inject radical ideals and aims into these models, plus turn current business practices on its head to advance the kind of organization you would like to see.
And more importantly. If one does not apply respective principles and values into these alternative institutions, then it does not make them an alternative to capitalism. Just because you call something like a “coop” or “community organization” and still apply conventional models to those entities, then they really do not serve the purpose for the people or the area. So it begins.
When I lived along the Mississippi River in Iowa in 2003. I came across this art space, where people came in to do their work, held art classes, put on social events as well as art shows. While the coordinator explained about the space. They went on to describe themselves as a collective. Admittedly I raised my eyebrow when they mentioned that. The last time I heard the term “collective” was listening to my mentors of the 60s and 70s when they were a part of collectives. Never thought I would hear that term in the 21st century. So what is a collective and what goes along with such an organization?
Let me turn that over to Sprout Distro, a zine distribution and publisher based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
“A collective is a group of individuals who work together on a common project without relying on internal hierarchies. Collectives can be large or small. They might exist temporarily or over long periods, and membership in them is voluntary. Any group — whether it’s a social club, NGO, or political organization — that has a board of directors, boss, manager, guru, or president is not a collective. In our current society, most formal organizations use a system of ranking that concentrates decision-making power in the hands of a minority that then uses this power to serve their own interests. This is exactly what collectives are designed to prevent. In collectives, leadership happens naturally and fluidly. All skills and knowledge are shared, not hoarded by an elite. This means that duties and responsibilities can be rotated among a collective’s members and that they can be revoked if anyone starts abusing their power. This horizontal structure is a dynamic and vital way to constantly increase member-empowerment. In many ways, collectives are the basic form of organization among anarchists. Collectively-run projects can include: magazines, cafes, infoshops, prisoner support groups, bicycle cooperatives, community gardens, publishers, etc…”
Collectives is not a new, hipster trend. The idea of collectives goes back to the turn of the 20th century on the international stage. The moment of history that collectives are related to mostly is during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s. Why are collectives important? Matt from Firefly Collective addresses that
“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…However, the point I want to make is that as a collective (rather than an individual),…can have a stronger impact contributing to such struggles as well as initiating campaigns and struggles… 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.”
Matt goes on to the point on how to develop your own collective.
“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…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?…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.”
One of the topics of conversation among collectives and radicals is how to keep spaces open. It would be great to have spaces stay open and conduct the work that needs to be done through them. Until we move away from capitalism, we need to find ways to keep spaces open as well as continue our work to serve the people. This is where the topic of raising funds can be contentions. Should there be admission for events? Do we ask people to pay for the classes that are being held? Dare we ask people to contribute money?You would be amazed how many passionate conversations this author has participated in on this very topic. Plus, to see collectives fold due to the notion that asking for contributions was being a “capitalists”. On a personal note, I too have struggled with this topic.
There was a lot of exploration of what other collectives are doing. So what is my synthesis to this question? The one aim a collective needs to value the most, is people over profit. If your collective is solely about making money, and not serving the people or building an alternative. Then you need to rethink your model. Believe me when I say that it is a hard to ask for money. But in order for collective spaces to stay open, we need to ask something. If you are an artist collective, then it would be having people pay for classes. A bookstore or cafe collective, then your product will keep your doors open. Your membership to the community garden will help keep the project going. These are a handful examples of what is going on in the United States. And of course, the donation jar, as well as the promotion of the donation button on the website, will always be there.
The work we are doing cannot be done as an individual. Working in a collective is the best way to continue the work we are doing. Plus the development of a collective will assist to build the alternative institutions we would like to see in our communities. With that said.
Let’s build a future worthy of our dreams.
