TOTW: Anarchism, Culture, and the Nation

A core principle of anarchism is rejection of nationalism. The view is derived from the principle that nationalism is a false ideology that divides the working classes or suppresses individual expression. But it is easier to levy critiques of dominant nations than oppressed ones. This question is not as irrelevant as many assume: it is dismissed as “it isn’t the 60s anymore” and “irrelevant for anarchists.” Palestine, Ireland, North American Land Back, Euskadi, and other movements for liberation continue. Palestine is obviously the most prominent and anarchists cannot afford to ignore it, whether from a revolutionary practice or a purely analytical perspective. But despite that, anarchists cannot just “go along” with the popular ideas of the times and must think for themselves. How can we engage in these struggles while also being honest about the logical outcome of nationalism, i.e. new states?

TOTW: Wither Theory?

Topic of the Week - In my local anarchist scene, anarchist theory and tendencies aren’t often discussed. There’s the obvious anarchist positions against capitalism, Marxism, and bigotries. But beyond that? Not much to say about theory of change, discussing the varieties of anarchist ideas, or even discussing the “big names” of anarchy: Bakunin, Kropotkin, Malatesta, Goldman, Bookchin, Aragorn!, or Zerzan. In fact, after a recent meeting, it was suggested to avoid centering particular anarchist beliefs, ie, anything beyond “capitalism, fascism, stalinism, and bigotry are bad.” This is because a statement such as “Fuck [person or idea]” may be interpreted by new folks as fact and not opinion. This is no shade on my people, I appreciate them deeply and some private context at least makes it somewhat understandable.

TOTW: On the creation of an anarchist culture

Topic of the Week - The our culture of systematic hierarchy and exploitation has permeated every aspect of our way of life to the point where one feel as though they must tread water or drown in it. The infrastructure of this machine of slavery and death is now actively implementing a new greater totalized state of centralization and control. Even within individuals these prisons are being built and rebuilt. On every level the society arounds us seeks to make us expandable pieces in its own mechanized self-perpetuation to the point where every other lifeway is foreclosed upon or recuperated into its function so that not only is going along with the program always easier feeling, but we are rapidly approaching a either such diffused spectacular culture that there are shrinkly few ways not to be a patriot or a brutal and violent reconstruction of the settler-colonial white supremacist core of the empire, at expense of all others. Each of these paths does little to mitigate the problems that spawned them. In this increasing state of normalized exceptions anarchists are pulled into the universalization of this process through the recuperation of their subcultures and the rejection of the now carved out hollow paths of subcultural divergence.

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ToTW: Work! What is it and do we have to do it!?

Working for the man, working on myself, this relationship is work, this relationship is working, working on this or that, this is my body of work, that is just what i do for work, work work work. It's a word we seem to use for every sort of action or arrangement that requires any effort, but what does it really mean? Many anarchists are anti-work but scrape themselves raw on tasks or endeavors that could be called work.

TOTW: Has Anarchist Muay Thai Gone Too Far? Some Questions for the movement

Guest Topic of the Week entry chosen by thecollective from Anathema Volume 11 Issue 1 Summer 2025 - Has Anarchist Muay Thai Gone Too Far? Some Questions for the movement

A quick note: Anarchist martial arts culture is a new phenomenon in the United States. It is generally a welcome one in the author’s view. Here’s a few questions the author is pondering.

TOTW: Doing It Ourselves

"If you wish to make a molotov cocktail from scratch, you must first invent the universe" - Carl Sagan, Seattle '99

Anarchists have been known to attempt to sever their dependence on dominant structures. For some this is a massive effort, like a revolution against global capital or insurrection to wear away at industry itself. For others this is more meaningful on the local scale, like cracking a squat or starting a community garden. 

Today let's focus on the smaller end of that spectrum. Let's talk about doing it all ourselves!

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TOTW: Recuperation and Social Signaling

Been reading and listening to people (notably Naomi Klein in Doppleganger but some youtubers as well) talk about how there is a growing tendency for valuable words and concepts to be coopted by our enemies or at least our non-friends. Fake news, The Other/othering, woke, and mutual aid are just a few of the ideas that have been (or are being) made into signifiers for people who we strongly disagree with.

Two part question then:

TotW: Fear and its Discontents

How do we, how do you, deal with fear? 

I want to do things that I am scared to do. By this I mean many things. I want to do things that scare me for personal growth, because dealing with fear makes me more capable and also more interesting to myself. I want to do things that scare me because I think that those things are challenges to the fucked up society that I live in. I want to do things that scare me because confronting fear with other people is a bonding exercise. 

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