Hello, the other day I was talking with a local activist who told me about the challenges they had when trying to have anarchists work with other organizations, they is currently working on minority rights, and he told me how their organization is too far away from anarchist ideals and it’s hard to make cooperation happen.

For instance he works with immigrants, and this org is small and has leaders. While the anarchists think it’s no good. But in the end this means less strength to help people who are struggling.

I work with many anarchists who can work with people who aren’t anarchists, but I am aware that problems may arise. What challenges have you faced, and how do you deal with it ?

  • Star Wars Enjoyer A
    1•3 years ago

    This probably isn’t useful, and I’m not an anarchist. But when I was one of the leaders of a local leftist party, we had to start an Anarchist wing, just to get the Anarchists to stop being antagonistic towards the ‘authoritarian’ members. Ultimately all the antagonizing did was keep the party from fulfilling goals and made us have to let go of opportunities.

    I very strongly believe that Anarchists who’re looking to get involved in local efforts need to be aware of ‘lifestylists’ and actively oppose them in activist circles. Hell, Communists should be aware of them too. Because all lifestylists ever do is bicker about ‘authority’ and keep the organization from being capable of doing good. Infighting is far more of a detriment to the broader leftist movement than any other attack on our ideals and our character, if you’re experiencing a lot of infighting from certain groups, identify whether or not they’re actually informed on what they’re talking about, and figure out if it’s worth letting them drive wedges into your activist efforts. If they actually care to help, they’ll shut up and help. If they don’t, then just don’t bother with them.

    • @rockroach@lemmy.mlOP
      1•3 years ago

      Thank you for your answer.

      identify whether or not they’re actually informed on what they’re talking about, and figure out if it’s worth letting them drive wedges into your activist efforts. If they actually care to help, they’ll shut up and help. If they don’t, then just don’t bother with them.

      We are not a single organization, but many orgs, so for now it would be time to build brides between orgs so we can actually cooperate when we agree, and agree to not work together when we don’t.