Impressions from the International Anti-Authoritarian Gathering in Saint Imier

From Direkte Aktion
By Jonathan Eibisch
August 5, 2023

Between July 19 and July 23, 2023, more than 4,000 people gathered in the Swiss village of Saint Imier to mark the 151st anniversary of the founding of the Anti-Authoritarian International at that location. This was chosen because of its geographical location as a hub of European countries, because of the asylum for persecuted revolutionaries in Switzerland, and because of the strong local anarchist structures. In terms of decentralization, autonomy and federalism, it still proves to be much more symbolic than any of the capitals of European capitalist nation-states could be.

History awareness, family reunion, meeting place and experiment

As a homeless and restless, work-shy and chronically skeptical fellow, I saw myself in no better place in mid-July than among randomly gathered comrades who had also made the journey. Understandably, I was curious in advance what to expect. Four aspects of this gathering struck me as important: the historical awareness, the character of a family reunion, the opportunity for encounter, and the lively experiment.

The meeting in Saint Imier contributed to the development of an anarchist historical consciousness or was an expression of that. Even 150 years ago, the anarchists located themselves in a resistant tradition. However, the emergence of the modern state, capitalism, the bourgeois nuclear family, nationalism and the renewed role of the churches created certain framework conditions to which the anarchist current within socialism positioned itself contrary. Accordingly, emancipation was conceived comprehensively and in various dimensions. The future form of society should be anticipated in advance, instead of relying on the political revolution and the assumption of state power. The federation of decentralized autonomous communities and the basic assumption of a rational self-organization of society served as a model, with the overcoming of private property and state government. It is important to remember that anarchists have continually been active in and influenced social movements. They wrote history, even if we hardly read anything about it in textbooks, and if we do, then only in a distorted way.

Second, at the International Anti-Authoritarian Gathering, a family reunion awaited us. Most of us go to such gatherings with mixed feelings. Rather than because of their genes, the comrades were related in their passions. And when things get passionate, it's known to quickly lead to conflict. Arguing is extremely important in order not to stagnate, to reach an understanding and because it is simply important how we position ourselves, where we want to go and how we act. However, controversies in anti-authoritarian scenes are often not conducted in a particularly respectful, understanding and goal-oriented manner, but rather polemically, aggressively and misunderstood. Perhaps what was really surprising was that they all came anyway: anarch@-syndicalists and insurrectionists, anarchist communists and individual anarchists, forest squatters, grassroots trade unionists, bohemians, insurgents and queer feminists. Separations should not be drawn clearly here. Yet certain ideas, activities, and battlefields shape those, the styles, and language of those who engage in them extensively. Anyone who has an eye for it recognizes this. From a historical and political-theoretical point of view, the supporters of the respective currents and groups have the same roots - which have nevertheless branched out like a network of roots from the very beginning. Whether and how this confused diversity could work together was an intriguing question regarding the gathering. Insurgents and queer feminists. Separations should not be drawn clearly here. Yet certain ideas, activities, and battlefields shape those, the styles, and language of those who engage in them extensively. Anyone who has an eye for it recognizes this. From a historical and political-theoretical point of view, the supporters of the respective currents and groups have the same roots - which have nevertheless branched out like a network of roots from the very beginning. Whether and how this confused diversity could work together was an intriguing question regarding the gathering. Insurgents and queer feminists. Separations should not be drawn clearly here. Yet certain ideas, activities, and battlefields shape those, the styles, and language of those who engage in them extensively. Anyone who has an eye for it recognizes this. From a historical and political-theoretical point of view, the supporters of the respective currents and groups have the same roots - which have nevertheless branched out like a network of roots from the very beginning. Whether and how this confused diversity could work together was an intriguing question regarding the gathering. Anyone who has an eye for it recognizes this. From a historical and political-theoretical point of view, the supporters of the respective currents and groups have the same roots - which have nevertheless branched out like a network of roots from the very beginning. Whether and how this confused diversity could work together was an intriguing question regarding the gathering. Anyone who has an eye for it recognizes this. From a historical and political-theoretical point of view, the supporters of the respective currents and groups have the same roots - which have nevertheless branched out like a network of roots from the very beginning. Whether and how this confused diversity could work together was an intriguing question regarding the gathering.

Thirdly, the meeting was to become a meeting place in which agreed or casual exchanges could take place in order to strengthen and pulsate the anarchist networks. I do not know whether this was also seen by the internationally networked secret services. However, in no other European country could the participants come together so undisturbed by the police as in Saint Imier. At the meeting, I realized what I had little understood before: discussion itself is an important practice to be nurtured and expanded. So a great murmur rose from the event. I can't remember any other event of this magnitude where such an interested exchange took place. I became particularly aware of this on Saturday evening, when the marketplace was lined with hundreds of people chatting and enjoying their fellowship. Those who are linguistically proficient or particularly interested could also take part in the debates of comrades from other countries and learn from them. Others met acquaintances from their countries of origin again or stayed more in their respective groups. Whether in workshops, at concerts, in the food queue or on the meadow - encounters were possible on many occasions if you looked for them. And in fact, proven anarchists were usually far more open than many of their colleagues, at least in the German radical left. was able to take part in the debates of comrades from other countries and learn from them. Others met acquaintances from their countries of origin again or stayed more in their respective groups. Whether in workshops, at concerts, in the food queue or on the meadow - encounters were possible on many occasions if you looked for them. And in fact, proven anarchists were usually far more open than many of their colleagues, at least in the German radical left. was able to take part in the debates of comrades from other countries and learn from them. Others met acquaintances from their countries of origin again or stayed more in their respective groups. Whether in workshops, at concerts, in the food queue or on the meadow - encounters were possible on many occasions if you looked for them. And in fact, proven anarchists were usually far more open than many of their colleagues, at least in the German radical left. if you were looking for them. And in fact, proven anarchists were usually far more open than many of their colleagues, at least in the German radical left. if you were looking for them. And in fact, proven anarchists were usually far more open than many of their colleagues, at least in the German radical left.

After all, the Saint Imier gathering was a great social experiment. We are familiar with major events such as festivals or political camps, as well as local scenes in which explicit anarchists are mostly in the minority. But what would happen if several thousand of them came together? Would they develop a common sense of history and relate to it? At what points could the clans reconcile and come to an understanding, and at which points would tensions and conflicts inevitably arise? Would the encounters and the exchange at the meeting inspire and motivate us, rather frustrate or even bore us? How much structure does it take to organize such a major event - in the kitchen, the book fair, the campsite, the workshop and cultural program? And how much openness and trust in the process of self-organization do you have to bring with you so that the participants do not succumb to their chronic anti-authoritarian reflexes and rebel on principle? Ultimately, no one could predict what would happen...

Bustle, confusion and spontaneity

The atmosphere of the meeting was one between festival and congress, between alternative camping holidays and serious networking efforts. She moved between the desire to create a common identity and to mark differences, should become an educational event and a place for celebration. In my perception, this was not an indecisiveness, but a wild mix that shaped the peculiar character of the International Anti-Authoritarian Gathering. The participants were best prepared if they knew what they felt like doing and what they were interested in and at the same time brought the openness, the spontaneity and a few friends with them to get involved in the unplanned.

In contrast to the 2012 meeting - and the criticism of it - there was no fixed and assessed program, but a digital mask in which you could submit a workshop in advance. This had two consequences: In a quarter of the registered workshops, the hosts did not show up at all. There may be various reasons for this, but it is annoying when participants wanted a certain input or aligned their paths accordingly. It was then often suggested by some of those present that the workshop should nevertheless be carried out spontaneously and that the knowledge available in each case be brought together. For this reason, the quality of the content offered and its methodical development and communication varied enormously. Furthermore, the way the program was put together resulted in that isolated events with conspiracy mythological, anti-Semitic or patriarchal thought patterns were offered. While no serious hijacking of the program has occurred, it is difficult unless at least some red lines are more clearly defined. Incidentally, the focus of the events was by no means solely on anarchist history, insights into social struggles or concepts. On the contrary, offers for theatre, self-reflection and practical tips were very popular. Incidentally, the focus of the events was by no means solely on anarchist history, insights into social struggles or concepts. On the contrary, offers for theatre, self-reflection and practical tips were very popular. Incidentally, the focus of the events was by no means solely on anarchist history, insights into social struggles or concepts. On the contrary, offers for theatre, self-reflection and practical tips were very popular.

There was also a celebration from Thursday evening - with old acquaintances from previous meetings, friends from their own cities and others who spontaneously got together in groups. While hundreds were sweating at concerts in the "Salle de Spectacles", in the anarchist cultural center "Espace Noir" in the village center, the empty ZAF or smaller rooms, it remained surprisingly quiet on the campsite and in the gym. The fact that it was an atmosphere in which most of the participants treated each other with great care and respect for most of the time only becomes clear when compared to other events of this size. Many participants were also willing to help out with setting up and dismantling, cleaning the toilets or at a bar. Nevertheless, the care team in particular was often understaffed and was sometimes misunderstood as a kind of service group. There were certainly also people who consumed the meeting and apparently only saw their contribution in their presence. A fundamental criticism of the organizational group is that it did not appear to be approachable during the meeting - and thus took a piece of the responsibility for the framework that it had helped to create.

While many of the participants found themselves queuing at the canteen kitchen at mealtimes and almost certainly met acquaintances there by chance or were able to join groups of strangers sitting around, the book fair in the large ice rink was worth the trip in itself. At the various stands, one could look at classic and brand new books and zines, pick up patches and postcards, leaf through newspapers and get involved in conversations. The exchange of publications has always been part of anarchist gatherings, like the exchange of stories, practical tips, thoughts, contacts and bodily fluids. For my part, I am saturated with books and was therefore more interested in encounters, which, however, also began to overwhelm me from the third day.

Celebrations, organization and tensions

The big issues were also dealt with, probably the most intensely the relationship to the war in Ukraine. From traditionalist anarchy-syndicalists from Italy, whose anti-militarism was presented in rather rhetorical terms, to supporters of the non-violent currents who called for desertion and insurrectionists who propagated sabotage, to people who could understand that one took up arms against the Russian invasion, all positions were represented. People from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus were stunned by the ignorance of their comrades and were partially attacked. Unfortunately, no agreement could be reached at the meeting, but the rifts that the anarchist scene divides between and within the various countries were bitterly revealed.

A smaller conflict developed because the organizing group had set up a campground for FLINTA and queer people, but did not consider that both terms exclude certain groups and have different effects. In fact, few anarchists do so by aggressively aligning themselves with one camp while making insinuations hostile to the other. Nevertheless, the debate about which subjects of gender and sexual emancipation are referred to is not insignificant. In the end, some people decided to open their own queer campground and organized various workshops themselves, as well as a party on Friday evening, which was very popular. However, the house of the parish of St.

More serious was a conflict with the French group Federation Anarchiste. The latter refused to take back a book critical of Islam whose foreword was written by Michel Onfray, who now collaborates with the extreme right in France and pursues cross-front politics. After the police murder in Nahel and the ongoing protests, it was understandable that people who were racially discriminated felt provoked and others showed solidarity with them. Regrettably, members of the Federation Anarchist showed no insight even after a six-hour mediation meeting, sabotaged a meeting of understanding between the groups represented at the book fair and behaved extremely aggressively.

The subject was revisited Sunday afternoon at an open mic event. Before this began, the space was taken up by chanting and shouting protesters, who sat down on the stage. They positioned themselves as migrants and racially oppressed and vehemently criticized the exclusions that took place at the gathering. Instead of white middle-class children taking drugs, partying and making sure of their political identity, the world is burning down today, people are murdered by the police, left to drown in the Mediterranean or have to vegetate in refugee camps. The criticism was correct and gave rise to the anger and dissatisfaction that had built up in various groups over the course of the day. The meeting was not particularly child-friendly either, nor was it barrier-free. Furthermore, participants from Latin American countries noted that it hardly does justice to a self-image of internationality, but should rather be called a European gathering - which did not primarily concern the number of participants from different countries, but above all the often missing view beyond the European horizon. Personally, I can hardly understand why this criticism came to a head because some white anarchists still wear dreadlocks. It then appeared bizarre that a punk also said that he had been “discriminated against” because a workshop on the oppression of men was rejected, just as another speaker manipulatively denied that that there is such a thing as cultural appropriation. What remained of this torn discussion was an oppressive feeling.

Despite justified criticism, I would have wished the organizing team that other participants had also expressed their appreciation. After all, it's a lot of work to organize such a big event without paying yourself. It is self-explanatory that one cannot do justice to all demands and expectations - especially when they come from anarchists who take themselves far too seriously and at the same time far too little seriously. However, it also became clear that more participants than expected did not come to celebrate a historical event or their own political identity, but hoped for more concrete solidarity with their struggles and debates on a larger scale. The latter could be designed, but would require targeted and clever preparation.

Decomposition, return and reverberation

Due to the turbulent atmosphere, I was probably not the only participant who found it difficult to pay attention to their own limits. Others also had enough and long ways ahead of them and left on Sunday afternoon. Some of the travelers had gotten together and hung around for a few more days or continued to make ends meet. There was a lot to dismantle and clean up. The town left the impression of a mob of colorful people who mostly behaved in a friendly and careful manner, but who walked across the train tracks, didn't camp in the designated area, sprayed walls and didn't take it too seriously when paying in the supermarket. It is to be hoped that the local comrades did not draw too much ire from those who felt they were affirming their anarchist identity, by provoking on principle. They have nine years in rotation to organize a new edition in one of the most privileged and wealthiest spots in the world. I would take part again myself, especially now that I have an impression of what I could expect there.

However, it would actually be time to collectively discuss the controversial issues in large groups. Decisions cannot be made at such a meeting. The perspectives and positions are too different for that and the followers of different currents and groups only meet occasionally in their local and regional scenes. Of course, everything is right and important: the labor dispute and the uprising, changing one's own life and the social revolution, organizing oppressed minorities and contact with the neighbors. Defining a common strategy or a shared policy to that end can only occur to those who have not yet despaired of the anarchist family reunion. Or those who have learned that its true value lies in discovering deep commonalities in extreme diversity, thus withstanding tensions without drifting off into arbitrariness. Learning to trust and to experience that the truly radical and emancipatory changes are happening every day and quietly, while at the same time pursuing the yearning for a very different form of society to be possible is a potential benefit to be gained from the International Anti-Authoritarian Gathering could move to Saint Imier.

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