Will you explain anarchism to me?

Elle Griffin describes how a comment on Peter’s post about anarchy led to an extended exchange about what anarchism could mean in practice. The discussion centers on whether power can reappear inside an anarchist society, how communities might protect pockets of freedom, and why the idea of a global shift toward anarchy depends on wider coordination.

She says the correspondence has continued for more than a year and will now be published as a series called “Letters to an Anarchist,” with her letters appearing in Elysian Press and Peter’s responses appearing in his newsletter. The series will run for three weeks, end with a Substack Live discussion in early December, and keep comments open for readers.

Reading notes

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• A comment on Peter’s post about anarchy led to a longer conversation about anarchism.
• The main question is what happens when someone wants to take charge inside an anarchist society.
• Peter argues that power-hungry people have always been able to usurp or betray anarchist movements.
• He says there will always be change, so anarchists will always have to adapt.
• He also argues that anarchism is better suited to resist takeover because it does not leave existing institutions of power for someone to seize.
• A culture already shaped by authority makes tyranny easier today.
• The discussion turns to how to protect “pockets of freedom” while empires still stand.
• Elle connects this to temporary autonomous zones, Rojava, Tibet, and other communities that were overtaken.
• Peter says a global shift toward anarchy would need transnational coordination and a critical mass of anarchist sentiment.
• The correspondence will be published as “Letters to an Anarchist” over the next three weeks.
• The series will include cross-posting between the two newsletters and a Substack Live discussion in the first week of December.