How To Start a Revolution?: Creating a New Society in Our Communities
I had recently read and discussed with friends and fellow anarchists about an article published by the Agorist Nexus, in regards to the idea of Agoraforko, a “fork” or derivation of Anarchapulco, an anarchist convention held annually in the city of Acapulco, Mexico. We did not have many good things to say about it: if anything, Anarchapulco seemed more a kind of escapism than a fruitful venture in regards to learning and spreading anarchist ideas; Agoraforko isn’t much different.
The idea of anarchists meeting up together as practiced by both events seemed quite performative: it’s treated as a kind of convention, with its fandom being anarchism. The author of that aforementioned article, Lily Forester, had said with pride that the event has “evolved to something more like, ‘Come meet, mingle, and explore with like minded folks in a beautiful part of Mexico.’ ” For a furry convention, comic book convention, etc., that’s fine and dandy; however, for a political movement, such is a frivolous venture in entertainment. In the long run, it’s not optimal for revolution.
I’m more than willing to admit that all work and no play will make Jack a dull boy. If we acted seriously all the time, only focusing on work, work, work, we would have already lost. It is also a fact that some semblance of work and practiced is mixed in with these events: Anarchapulco has guest speakers, to talk about pressing issues; similar events, such as the annual Anarchist Book Fair, help bring more organizations together to share literature and theory, and support each other. Still, they still have that main flaw: they are treating anarchism like a fandom more than a movement.
Many other issues abound with such events: The costs of admission, travel, and stay to these events acts as unintended economic gatekeeping, with attendees either being more affluent or having saved up over a long period of time (recent problems of inflation doesn’t help matters). The restriction of a once a year event does not make for a firm foundation to make connections with other anarchists; and the event being limited to one place hinders the possibility of organizing with others on a local scale, beyond the limits of the convention. The main people going to these events are anarchists, which are good, but it doesn’t spread the ideas as needed. The general attitude as well makes it a social function more than fruitful action: it’s an important step, but we can’t just “meet and mingle” our way out of the State.
The main issue is that lack of fruitful action: it’s why I was frustrated and disappointed when learning about it. As anarchists, we should be focused on spreading the ideals of anarchism, organizing within our communities, teaching people to be self-sufficient, helping the disenfranchised, the homeless, minority groups, every person who is dealing with tyranny, and fighting against the State and all systems of domination. We should have fun, we should enjoy life; what’s the point of revolution if we can’t dance to it? But we also shouldn’t be living in bad faith, we shouldn’t be trying to escape from our reality: we have to act to bring about the revolution.
While such events like Anarchapulco are unsatisfactory, the goal of having anarchists come together is quite a worthy project. Talking with my friends, we devised a few ideas, as well as a possible way to help organize and spread anarchism.
We know the convention model which the previously mentioned events are based on aren’t optimal, so why don’t we try a different model? How about the flea market: they’re set up locally, so distance isn’t as much of an issue; there’s no admission cost, so it’s affordable to attend; and it happens regularly, usually weekly and on a Saturday or Sunday, meaning that time isn’t as much an issue because more people generally are free on the weekends and can always come another time without waiting long. Along with that, it gives an opportunity to support local businesses and to meet new folks in your community, to get together with them.
Now, flea markets are good for promoting businesses: why don’t we expand upon it? Why can’t we not only have booths for local businesses, but also for local trade workers? It can be a good place to teach people good skills, as well as find more people to do business with. What about the farmer? He can both sell his goods, maybe raw milk and eggs and meat, along with teaching kids about living on a farm and raising crops and animals. How about local leaders, activists, experts on foraging, self-defense? Especially pertinent, what about anarchists, who can come together and meet local community members as well and teach those ideas to the populace?
Alternate forms of trade can be opened up: cryptocurrencies, exchanging with gold or silver, bartering and trading one good for another, etc., can take form, creating a sort of miniature counter-economy. People from many walks of life, with their own projects, can come to trade items and ideas, and can grow more by knowing their fellows. And with all said, anarchists can share their ideas, not only be telling, but by showing what it leads to, with this marketplace as an example. Ethical ideals, political actions, community organization, all of those things can be accomplished and have firm ground to support themselves on within this place of solidarity.
Imagine this: on a Saturday afternoon you go to a local community get-together. You see see a local welder showing an example of his trade; you meet with the local farmer to get some fresh goat’s milk; you talk politics with your neighbor, whose kids are being shown the different types of wild berries from a forager. You learn about new ways to compost from the local gardener; you hear about and volunteer with a group who wants to help clean up the streets by picking up garbage together. Someone trades their homemade pickles for some hand-carved chairs; a mutual aid group to help mothers in need help raise funds. Church leaders, political organizers, philosophers and theorists come to speak with others. And anarchist ideals, of love, of compassion, of treating your neighbor well and helping them out, of advocating and practicing freedom: all are done and spread to the community through this marketplace, this kind of agora.
The convention-styled events of Anarchapulco and Agoraforko are not going away anytime soon. Nor should they: while they are suboptimal, they still have their uses. However, with this new piece, with this new bedrock for the revolution, further and greater ground may be made, to share anarchism to many people, of many facets of life. We can connect with people more, grow in understanding of each other, and thus create a more peaceful, freed environment, one where justice is at its root, and love is at its center. We can create a new society within the shell of the old.
The responsibility is, as always, on us: we can’t merely dream about such an option. We have to make it ourselves. The only question left is how did you help start it? How did you help the Revolution begin?
