Building the Federation: a Primer for Forming Local Anarcho-Communist Collectives

[from NEFAC Membership Handbook; first edition, September 2000]

As we see it, the anarcho-communist vision of society is fundementally based
on federalism and collective organization. In keeping consistent with this
vision, we feel that it is important for this federation to establish a
membership that consists mainly of active anarcho-communist collectives.

Each collective should consist of at least three federation members (see NEFAC
Constitution for membership requirements) from a given area. These collectives
would be free to organize themselves internally as they see fit, so long as
the remain egalitarian, directly democratic, and do not violate the
organizational and political framework of NEFAC.

Once in the federation, collectives would be responsible for carrying out any
tasks on the federation's behalf which they accept voluntarily. Collectives
are expected to keep each of their individual members informed of the
federation's activities, and maintain regular contact with the federation
including regular reports of collective activity. Each individual collective
should function as a semi-autonomous unit, consulting and co-operating with
other federated collectives, but acting on their own initiative (i.e.
voluntarily accepting federal mandates).

Why Organize Local Collectives?

For those NEFAC members who already participate in local anarchist and
activist groups, a specifically anarcho-communist collective might seem
useless to your ongoing politics. However, because NEFAC has a broader
membership than an isolated local group, a federated collective would provide
a good opportunity to create a strategic dialogue among anarchists doing work
in different groups in your area, and offer a means to coordinate this work
with other collectives in the region.

In addition to acting as a resource for local activism and anarchist agitation
and propaganda, collectives are also able to participate more fully within
federation activities. Instead of isolated individuals being involved with the
federation primarily on the regional level, members who have local collectives
can shape the federation to suit their local situations and needs.

How Do We Organize a Local Collective, and What Do These Collectives Do Once They Are Formed?

NEFAC collectives should organize themselves as self-managed, semi-autonomous
groups of revolutionaries who work together in order to propagate anarchist
ideas and coordinate their activities within communities, workplaces, and
social movements. They should meet regularly and designate people to be in
charge of calling people and reminding them of meeting locations and times,
keeping meeting notes, and collecting dues. Obviously these should be rotating
tasks.

Once a local anarcho-communist collective is formed, federation members can
utilize these groups as a means for:

1. Serving as a forum for discussion on how to better participate in broad
   coalitions as revolutionary anarcho-communists. In this way anarchists don't
   feel isolated in coalitions with sectarian-left groups or liberal organizations.
2. Supporting the work of members within local groups in the form of sharing
   tasks, such as postering, media contacts, fundraising, etc.
3. Creating a participatory forum for theoretical development and the
   discussion of anarcho-communist politics, revolutionary history, etc.
4. Supporting the work and development of anarcho-communist strategy within
   larger social movements, as well as a structure where this strategy can be
   critically discussed and evaluated.
5. Ensuring full collective participation within federation politics (for
   example, local groups can discuss and debate proposals between conferences)
6. Distributing agitational and propaganda materials produced by the federation.
7. Providing a structure for bringing new members into the federation.
8. Organizing fundraising events on behalf of the federation (which would go
   towards funding federal projects, supporting the warchest, etc.)
9. Mobilizing people for local demonstrations or campaigns.
10. Hosting NEFAC congresses or strategy meetings.