Anarchism: & Society

“community syndicalism.”  means the building of community assemblies which can address the issues of their members and propose means of directly tackling them. It would mean federating these assemblies into a wider organisation. 

The idea of community assemblies has a long history. Kropotkin, for example, pointed to the sections and districts of the French Revolution, arguing that the masses were “accustoming themselves to act without receiving orders from the national representatives, were practising what was to be described later as Direct Self-Government.” 

The CNT organised rent strikes during the early 1930s in Barcelona. In 1931, the CNT’s Construction Union organised an “Economic Defence Commission” to study working-class expenses such as rent. The basic demand was for a 40% rent decrease but also addressed unemployment and the cost of food. The campaign was launched by a mass meeting on May 1st, 1931. Three days later, an unemployed family was re-installed into the home they had been evicted from. 

More recently, in Southern Italy, anarchists have organised a very successful Municipal Federation of the Base (FMB) in Spezzano Albanese. This organisation is “an alternative to the power of the town hall” and provides a “glimpse of what a future libertarian society could be” (in the words of one activist). The aim of the Federation is “the bringing together of all interests within the district. 

In this way, local people take part in deciding what effects them and their community and create a self-managed “dual power” to the local, and national, state. They also, by taking part in self-managed community assemblies, develop their ability to participate and manage their own affairs, so showing that the state is unnecessary and harmful to their interests. In addition, the FMB also supports co-operatives within it, so creating a communalised, self-managed economic sector within capitalism.

Critiques of anarchist ideas about society 

First, anarchists often do not provide clear plans to achieve their vision. There have been small attempts to practice anarchism, but no large-scale society based on these ideas has been established. This raises doubts about whether anarchism is a feasible political goal or merely a lofty utopian dream.

Additionally, critics argue that anarchists have an overly positive view of human nature. Many conservatives believe that government is necessary to ensure people behave reasonably and responsibly.

See Thomas Hobbes's 1588-1679  pessimistic view of human nature

Collectivist anarchists also misunderstand the significance of private property. See Pierre-Joseph Proudhon (1809-1865) 'What is Property?   Liberals contend that the inherent desire for ownership is part of human nature, suggesting that shared ownership would lead to dissatisfaction.

Socialists further argue that collectivist anarchists are misguided in thinking equality can exist without a government to manage the economy. They see the government as vital to protect the poor from exploitation. Socialists also believe that anarcho-capitalists cannot create a stable society, as capitalism inherently leads to winners and losers. Those left behind would likely be unhappy, especially in a system without a welfare state. see Mutualism