This book was put together by activists from Rebel City who have been going into schools and colleges in the UK to have talks and discussions with students about Anarchism.
Why is this important? To be blunt, it is about getting our message across. Creation of a society based on self-government, solidarity and equality involves radical changes to current practices, institutions, and behaviours. Human beings already possess and often practice most of the attributes necessary to create and sustain this very different society. However, we are under no illusions about the presence of selfish and competitive attitudes; traits encouraged by the cheerleaders of the capitalist system – big business, ‘entrepreneurs’, politicians, bankers – currently invited into educational institutions. Welcomed as role models, their aim is to prepare students for life as workers, consumers, and supporters of the capitalist system. Our aim is to counter this influence. Ongoing education will be an important part of creating an anarchist society and has the potential to start the revolutionary process in the here and now. Our discussions with students not only challenge capitalist values, such as the wage system, competition, and ownership, they also promote the values that would underpin our ideal society. Through alternative, non-hierarchical education we aim to encourage independent thinking, freedom, and the co-operation required to promote interdependence and mutual aid. Getting into educational institutions hasn’t been easy. Media portraits of anarchists as bomb throwing hooligans don’t help, but our vision is also at odds with the increasing commercialisation of education. However, it has been hugely rewarding and, as our reputation grows, increasingly successful. Young people everywhere are desperate for a better society. Why not offer young people in your area the opportunity to engage with Anarchism, the best alternative to the current system?