cross-posted from: https://pawb.social/post/42620143

Their lives are blissful… free from the burden of self doubt.

Revolutionary Spain represents an example of extremely effective armed resistance to the rise of fascist forces backed by Hitler and Mussolini, surviving for years. By contrast, many established democracies collapsed relatively quickly when invaded.

For more information, you can check out an anarchist FAQ’s answer to the question, “Does revolutionary Spain show that libertarian socialism can work in practice?”. For a more current example of an anarchist society working in practice, you could also check out the Zapatista movement, an anarchist society which today consists of at least 300,000 people.

If you’re unfamiliar with anarchism, you probably have some misconceptions about it, so I encourage you to watch the Q&Anarchy video series by Thought Slime or have a look through an Anarchist FAQ, because it’s almost definitely nothing like what you think.

  • bearboiblake [he/him]@pawb.socialOPEnglish
    0·
    11 days ago

    Anarchists believe in rules, we just don’t believe in rulers. We believe that the people who live and work in a place should decide the rules of that place, rather than the king or billionaire or whoever.

    You should check out the Q&Anarchy video series, it addresses all of the concerns you have, and then some.

    • OriginEnergySux@lemmy.world
      0·
      11 days ago

      Doesnt address the insane amount of optimism with no long-term proof. Zapatista sounds great, but they are focused on the self-determination of indigenous Mayan communities. Its small and niche, different to an entire country with different races all mixed in with different views

      • bearboiblake [he/him]@pawb.socialOPEnglish
        0·
        11 days ago

        Anarchism is completely compatible with individuals acting according to their self interest - indeed, egoist anarchism is entirely centered around that concept, but other anarchist traditions are fully compatible with self-interest. An incredible amount of optimism in human co-operation and selflessness is not necessary.

        they are focused on the self-determination of indigenous Mayan communities

        You’ve unintentionally touched on what makes anarchism so stable - by its very nature because it is built by the people who live and work in an area, it can be perfectly attuned to meet their needs! An anarchist society formed in a city would be completely different from one formed in the rural countryside. It is not an imposed blueprint for society that follows some dogma, it’s an approach where everyone involved in the society has a say in how it’s run, and no one has power over others. That’s all!