Once the most wanted woman in the U.S.S.R., the orphaned bottle worker and bandit turned anarchist militant Maria "Marusha" Nikiforova was founder of and tactician for the anarchist Black Army. After a period in Paris and Barcelona getting gender affirming care and robbing banks, Maria returned to Russia on the brink of revolution. In a time when even in far left circles women were often relegated to the sidelines, Maria refused these limitations and rose to achieve great respect and loyalty both from her comrades and the Ukranian people at large, and great contempt from Bolsheviks, nationalists, and capitalists. Mobilizing a volunteer army from a mix of anarchists and disaffected workers, Maria and her comrades lived collectively together in a caravan travelling the Ukranian countryside and redistributing wealth and arms from the rich and the police to the poor and working class people in each town they passed through. What began as a ragtag group of horses and derelict wagons, later moved onto an armored train they seized. Riding the snow covered valleys of Western Ukraine, they sent fear into the hearts of the bourgeoisie and governments of each town they passed through. Marusya was arrested many times by both the nationalists and Bolsheviks, and on more than one occasion people successfully stormed local jails to release her. In 1919, she was finally executed by the White Army who feared her escaping yet again. Though she had been a mentor and inspiration to Nestor Makhno, because she died in the war and undoubtedly because she was a woman, she was largely forgotten. Her caricature would go on to be used by the Bolsheviks to smear anarchists as greedy, power seeking bandits; though in practice she was neither; she was someone who lived and died altruistically and uncompromisingly opposed to hierarchy.

According to the news from Brazil, Bolsonaro lost his re election bid to Lula, who I’m hearing referred to as the “left wing” candidate. Here in the US, election season is in full swing with candidates making their last minute cases. So obviously elections have been on my mind lately.

I recently reread “Voting is Not Harm Reduction” and I felt a sense of invigoration as it reminded me salvation does not flow from the state, but from each of us working together. As the saying goes, only we save us. That said, I’ve gotten some vitriolic pushback on talking about the issues with voting (not on here, mind you). I understand people in the US are rightly concerned with the continuing march of fascism but serious times require serious discussions, including recognizing the limitations of voting as a means to change.

Normally this doesn’t bug me much, libs gonna lib, after all. Anarchism isn’t exactly the most popular political philosophy so I expect pushback. What annoys me is the implication that I am critical of voting because I hate marginalized communities and value my own self-righteousness over protecting vulnerable people. If you try to point out that liberal politicians have a dismal track record when it comes to capitulating to fascism, you get hit with the “this isn’t the time” or “we’ll push them further left after they’re in office.” Wasn’t that supposed to be the plan with Biden? Worked real great there…

I apologize for ranting here, sometimes I just get frustrated with people for refusing to even entertain a better way.

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I'm in urban planning and I want to figure out how I can better employ anarchist methods and ideals in my practice, whether paid or unpaid, government supported or not.

inb4 anarchism and urban planning are inherently conflicting, and power will always be most unequally distributed in cities, helped along by strong states, and anarchism can only be maintained in rural/small/off-grid communities.

What first got me interested in studying urban planning was James C. Scott, as of "Seeing like a State - How certain schemes to improve the human condition have failed", "The art of not being governed", "Weapons of the weak", "Against the grain"...

But though these readings do include some recommendations for planners, they mostly just speak against planning. But I wanna influence urban planning and the shape of cities. I lean materialist, and I believe one of the biggest opportunities for impact is in shaping cities and the built environment.

I have recently obtained a degree in urban planning. But I still feel woefully unequipped to yield it for my anarchist, materialist proclivities.

I know that what we call "the third sector" (and social enterprises) can be interpreted as leaning anarchist, as it - almost by definition - involves strong, informal, non profit, local communities.

I know that the third sector tends to exist in "third places". While third spaces can also be managed by private, for profit enterprises, ie. the second sector, the highest functioning third places tend to have very narrow profit margins, and are effectively run as non profits.

I know that these places function best when they're relatively central and accessible, and exist along desire paths between other everyday destinations, so that they don't demand detours and deliberate planning by the occupants.

And yet I know that these places often get relatively remote shit locations because they, because of their lean business model, can't pay much rent. I don't know how to solve that. I'm somewhat intrigued by the thought of occupying empty central offices and appropriating them as third spaces, while demanding that the non profits get special permission or that rent just shouldn't be that damn high, at least not for non profits.

Apart from that... heck, I feel like I'm fumbling. I worry that somehow my ambitions are just profoundly misguided.

Does anyone have any tips?

It should be stated that obviously what's realistic or even attractive depends on the size of the city. I'll take advice on cities of any size.

Thanks

Photograph taken today by Aurélien Morissard, from the AFP, documenting Macron's visit to the Marseille Town Hall, which we seized on the 17 October. I feel the picture is very telling and also a good use for propaganda and historical reasons, so I share it.

Best,

Hi everyone, I'm Judas.

I hope this post is ok. I wanted to introduce myself and hopefully make some like-minded contacts as I'm feeling a bit like no-one at all gets me or has any desire whatsoever to try to recently.

I'm 41, white, cis-male, homoflexible dog-dad and I'm based in Warwickshire, UK. I have discovered through considerable experience that my political beliefs have radically outgrown the political sham we're all expected to participate in.

I'm anti-capitalist, anti-fascist, passionate about human rights, and a firm believer in mutual aid and community-led change. I'm still exploring anarchism fully, but the more I learn, the more I recognise ideas I've already been trying to put into practice for years. I just didn't realise that it was what it was, if that makes sense?

In 2022, I founded a grassroots LGBT+ & local community organisation that grew to around 70 members. We successfully supported people seeking asylum, challenged discrimination, questioned local authorities and politicians, contributed to local press coverage, and successfully challenged council campaigns, including securing the removal of signage unfairly targeting young people.

That probably sounds rather impressive. The less glamorous reality is that an awful lot of it has been one bloke, a laptop, an unreasonable number of emails and a Jack Russell (photo attached for hopefully the benefit of cute-canine-clout) who contributes absolutely nothing administratively. This is especially true as the group began to really get up the noses of the local authorities, community influences such as the church, the fed and the wider institutions including the local M.P who actively hates me - which I'm THRILLED about of course. One of my greatest personal achievements; even if I do say so myself. Unfortunately, the smear campaign was real and it drove a lot of members out and set running scared.

So, frankly, I'm exhausted.

I live with degrees of diagnosed PTSD, depression and anxiety, which can make consistency and everyday functioning really quite difficult. Some days I can challenge and shake up an entire institution a bit. Other days I struggle to answer a damn text message.

I've spent years trying to create community for other people, yet somehow ended up feeling profoundly lonely myself. There's a certain irony in that which isn't entirely lost on me.

I'm not looking for sympathy or someone to rescue me. I'd just truly love to connect with people who share my values, whether that's through friendship, mutual aid, anti-political discussion or even practical organising.

Outside of the activism, I'm a theatre obsessive, writer, voracious consumer of memoirs and psychology books, and someone whose brain insists on turning practically every conversation into a fucking musical.

I'd particularly love to meet people around Warwickshire/Leicestershire/ Northamptonshire or generally the Midlands, although I'm equally happy connecting further afield of course.

I'm curious how others here handle their calling to activism and connect with others who may have built sustainable, genuinely supportive communities and not completely burnt themselves out in the process.

Because right now I still continue to believe wholeheartedly in collective action. I'm just beginning to realise that the collective part is rather important. And "no man is an island."

Hope to connect soon,

Jude

Hi everyone,
I would like to ask recommendation on some must read books about anarchism but also some new "wave" of thinkers orr books not directly about anarchism but that are, in your opinion, really interesting to develop a new way of thinking/seeing political and social matters.
Thanks!

Socjalny Kongres Kobiet is a grassroots, independent initiative in Poland that brings together trade unionists, tenant activists, caregivers, students, and journalists. Unlike traditional mainstream women's congresses, it focuses on working-class issues, labor rights, and economic inequality from a feminist perspective

https://www.instagram.com/socjalny_kongres_kobiet/

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1847830109995000

Have a mutual aid project you'd like to promote? In need of some aid yourself? Let us know.

Please note that r/Anarchism moderators cannot individually verify or vet mutual aid requests

I was having a nice sunday, i have been off instagram for a month pretty much . Hoping not to return to it .

Anyway, I decided to check my dms . I do that every once in a while just in case someone reached out so I can tell them that im not using the app actively.

I see that i have received a dm from a friend of mine, she often has similar views to mine regarding the devastating results of the system we live in, the unfairness that happens around the world and many other views . Sometimes she drops views or opinions in which i dont agree with but i genuinely found them to be harmless.

She sent me a video from an interview of elon musk, basically making him look like a creative advanced genius.

She sent me a text underneath abt how much she admires him and finds him attractive?

Sorry but how does one with such awareness about the shit happening around us like drops such a line? Unfortunately she was being serious, safe to say I'm definitely not returning back to instagram.

How does the media even get to such a point? Is it bc theres a new documentary coming out abt how awful he is and some bot accounts are trying to make him look good? And why does she even think so positively abt him ?

I'm genuinely puzzled, have been for this day .

I'm not a pacifist - but I'm trying to understand the other side better, so I can be better at diversity of tactics

So! Nonviolent activists: if you could recommend ONE article for people like me to read, what would it be?

It could be something correcting misconceptions, arguing for your methods, anything. Book chapter suggestions are as welcome as articles :). Thankyou for your help!

I’m quite a layperson when it comes to this subject, but everything I’ve studied about anarchism so far shows that there are conflicts between it and communism. For instance, didn’t Karl Marx criticize anarchism and the ideas of Proudhon, which led him to develop communism? And even though Bakunin may have liked Karl Marx at first, didn’t he eventually become his enemy, specifically by disagreeing with the concept of a communist government?

Half Viet/Hakka half Italian-Southern Cone Indigenous here, looking for some fellas to talk about anarchist perspectives on Indigenous issues, as I currently live in Vietnam where not a lot of people are exposed to Indigenous South Americans in a non-cartoonish way (most people here still think Natives are savages, even my Italian-Native father who identifies as Italian)

Por hablantes español: soy un indígeno de Karukinka y Patagonia, tribu mapuche, selk'nam, yagán, tehuelche

I've been investigating a lot about Anarchism since 2 months or more but all the info i find is (at least for me) difficult to understand and/or boring. Maybe it's because i'm a kid and a very brainrotted one but i need your help guys 🥺🥺. I know the the main things and the principles of Anarchism but i still don't get it and idk what things should i know and use and stuff

(Sorry if i didn't use the words well i don't speak english that fluid)

The Best Protest Songs

Contemporary Protest Songs

1. “Shock to the System” by Billy Idol

Inspired by the Rodney King beating and the power of recording police brutality.

1. “Testify” by Rage Against the Machine

A prophetic attack on political manipulation, mass media, and the machinery of power.

1. “Holiday in Cambodia” by Dead Kennedys

One of the best punk soundtracks for heading out to a protest. A vicious attack on privilege and hypocrisy.

1. “Volunteers” by Jefferson Airplane

A psychedelic anthem of counterculture and revolutionary rebellion.

1. “Eve of Destruction” by Barry McGuire

A classic warning about war, racism, and political failure.

1. “White Riot” by The Clash

A raw punk anthem about class divisions and social unrest.

1. “Police Truck” by Dead Kennedys

A satirical attack on police brutality and abuse of authority.

1. “Know Your Rights” by The Clash

A sarcastic take on civil liberties and state power.

1. “Biko” by Peter Gabriel

A haunting tribute to anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko.

1. “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” by Gil Scott-Heron

A spoken-word critique of consumerism and mass media.

Classical and Traditional Protest Songs

1. “Bella Ciao” (Traditional Italian partisan song)

The iconic antifascist resistance anthem. Try Yves Montand’s recording.

1. “L’Internationale” (Traditional revolutionary anthem)

The historic anthem of international labor and socialist movements. A French-language choral version captures its revolutionary spirit.

1. “Guantanamera” by Pete Seeger

A folk classic based on verses by Cuban independence revolutionary José Martí.

1. “The Times They Are A-Changin’” by Bob Dylan

An enduring anthem of social and political change.

1. “We Shall Overcome” (Traditional; popularized by Pete Seeger)

A defining anthem of the American civil rights movement.

1. “Which Side Are You On?” by Florence Reece

A labor movement classic about class struggle and solidarity.

1. “A Change Is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke

A moving anthem of hope amid racial injustice.

1. “Masters of War” by Bob Dylan

A fierce condemnation of those who profit from war.

1. “Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival

A classic attack on privilege and the unequal burden of war.

1. “Ohio” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

Written in response to the 1970 Kent State shootings.

1. “For What It's Worth” by Buffalo Springfield

An iconic soundtrack to the political unrest of the 1960s.

1. “Universal Soldier” by Buffy Sainte-Marie

An antiwar song examining individual responsibility for militarism.

1. “I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag” by Country Joe and the Fish

A darkly comic attack on the Vietnam War.

1. “Strange Fruit” by Billie Holiday

A devastating musical protest against racial lynching.

1. “Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around” (Traditional)

A civil rights anthem of determination and collective resistance.

1. “The Internationale” (French revolutionary tradition)

A foundational anthem of working-class solidarity and international revolution.

There you go. These are some of the best protest songs for a playlist rooted in punk, rock, folk, antiwar music, and revolutionary history.

Here's a little poem of anarchocommunist critique of modern society that anyone will appreciate:

"Revolution speaks to those who hear it! A wanderlust biting, sorrowful song. Tunes long lost to the ages and minds of the masses. A spirit ignored, in short of change inside oneself. Among many, there ye be told a song without lyrics. Revolution speaks to those who hear it. Take your charge at the bourgeoisie after you hear it. One must not wait for humanity's soul, calling from the sorrowful, leached out song. The revolutionary spirit inside us shall no longer be ignored. Men with great wealth, privilege and power shall no longer divide us upon invisible threads of labels. Nor shall we longer be slaves to their will, interests and profits. For we whom don't share with. Come together with spirit! Revolution speaks to those who hear it! Shake off your chains rightfully so but they won't let us easily go. The tune is inside us all." Side Note: I hope anyone reads this poem and shares it to their comrades and friends. Have a good read and a good night. 😊

(As U.S southern)