what if anarchism were a recursive function?

  1. what if anarchism were a recursive function?
  2. function as metaphor
  3. examples
    1. anarchism(tenants, landlords)
    2. anarchism(workers, bosses)
    3. anarchism(leadership, group members)
    4. anarchism(Palestine, Israel)
  4. inspired partially by

function as metaphor

This is not a serious attempt to reduce anarchism to some code to be followed. It's just a metaphor to play with, maybe helping to uncover a fresh perspective.

Here is some vastly oversimplified pseudocode attempting to express anarchism as a recursive function applied to relationships between a and b.

# treat these concepts like black box abstractions
# justice() and hierarchy() are tests performed,
# or questions asked, with answers rooted in
# theory
from theory import justice, hierarchy

# solidarity() and resist() represent action,
# no matter how little, that changes
# the relationship between a and b to
# be more fair. 
from praxis import solidarity, resist

def anarchism(a, b):
    # test relationship between a and b for
    # unjust hierarchy
    if hierarchy(a, b) and not justice(a, b):

        # disadvantaged has the least power
        disadvantaged = a if a.power < b.power else b
        # powerful has the most power
        powerful = a if a.power > b.power else b

        # recursive call to self includes increased
        # solidarity for the disadvantaged and 
        # resistance to the powerful
        return anarchism(solidarity(disadvantaged),
                    resist(powerful))
    else:
        # without unjust hierarchy we have anarchism?
        return true

Anarchism constantly seeks to identify and abolish hierarchies by standing in solidarity with the disadvantaged while resisting the powerful.

The above pseudocode checks if a hierarchy exists in the relationship between a and b, and if there is justice. With an unjust hierarchy this function recursively calls itself until it that hierarchy is abolished, applying more solidarity and resistance at each iteration.

Repeatedly applying solidarity and resistance each step develops on what was before, starting small and eventually ?building enough power to dismantle even the greatest ?hierarchies.

examples

anarchism(tenants, landlords)

Rent creates a hierarchy with the tenant as the disadvantaged. But why is rent a thing at all, and what justice is there in collecting it?

Solidarity with tenants could mean putting together a picnic to build community and trust. It could mean organizing or helping a tenant union, which is also an excellent way to resist landlords.

Building trust and organizing are the steps towards greater strategies like rent strikes. Squatting, resisting renovictions, creating new housing cooperatives are other important strategies.

anarchism(workers, bosses)

Hierarchy is pretty obvious at work. We have to work to eat and pay rent, but too many of us don't understand ?wage slavery for what it is, or what it makes us.

Organizing or participating in your union practices solidarity with fellow workers. Unions are stronger when members are involved and participating. Building solidarity in the ranks could be as simple as reminding members about meetings or offering rides.

The more solidarity that can be created among the workers, the more effective they will be able to unite at the bargaining table or picket line.

anarchism(leadership, group members)

Hierarchy probably exists in your organization, but is it fair? Is there any structure or process? Here solidarity could be developing structure for better transparency, so that new members can participate without breaking into a clique. Or resistance to the powerful might simply mean pulling aside a privileged ally who dominates meetings and asking them to reflect.

Creating space for quiet members to speak and contribute, words of encouragement for the member trying something new, words of welcome for the new member.

anarchism(Palestine, Israel)

Maybe the most awful unjust hierarchy in the world exists in the occupied territories of Palestine. After an ethnic cleansing known as the Nakba settlers established an ethno-state of Israel in the lands where Palestinians had lived for generations. Israel created an apartheid system with multiple tiers of justice and rights, and Palestinians are at the bottom.

Since October 7th, 2023 Israel has escalated its genocide in Gaza by bombing the entire area to rubble, repeatedly targeting hospitals, schools, refugee camps, and journalists.

Solidarity with Palestinians means going to protests, participating in the BDS movement, raising awareness, demanding a permanent ceasefire, demanding that Israel stop being supplied with weapons.

inspired partially by