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THEORY Autarchism involves: 1. UNDERSTANDING how power is exercised and how this effects people's quality of life. 2. ENCOURAGING A SPIRIT among people to make changes to how they behave, even against obstacles. 3. REDUCING SUPPORT for the centre, by using its services less, working less hours for it, paying less into it. 4. BUILDING CAPABILITY for people to do things for themselves - especially by bringing people together into small groups which develop trust and understanding among their members, and provide opportunity for personal growth. 5. SETTING UP PROJECTS which can provide goods and services and all the needs of life. PROCESSES A chapter should consider the processes of STUDY, FELLOWSHIP, TASKWORK, RECRUITMENT and MAINTENANCE and how they can be fostered. An Autarchist needs to STUDY to get assistance in the development of their understanding of the world, what makes it tick, and how it is possible to have a good influence upon it. A chapter may set up study groups to help their members to study. A chapter also has the responsibility to choose study materials from good sources. An Autarchist needs to come together in FELLOWSHIP with others. A chapter should facilitate the setting up of fellowship groups - small groups of people who meet up on a regular basis - such as one evening a fortnight - perhaps in one of their member's houses. A fellowship group should arrange its own activities with the primary aim of building bonds of trust between its members, giving them an opportunity to contribute to what is going on, and seeking to meet their needs for companionship or other need. An Autarchist needs also to be engaged in TASKWORK (purposeful activity) which is self-directed. Taskwork usually has some clear goal which needs to be achieved and will stretch the capabilities of those taking part, helping them develop. Sometimes taskwork will be chosen mainly for its training benefit, but wherever possible Autarchist should seek out tasks which meet some real need. An Autarchist also needs to work on RECRUITMENT - spreading the message about Autarchism into the outside world and seeking to get new people involved in Autarchic activities. Those running an Autarchist chapter also need to consider MAINTENANCE - i.e. all those little jobs that need to be done to keep things ticking over. IDEAS FOR ACTION - INDIVIDUAL As an Autarchist acting Individually you could: 1. Spend less time watching the official Television news - and more time looking at independent news sources e.g. on the Internet. 2. Reduce your working hours so that you have more time for your family, community life or political activity. 3. Support local food producers e.g. by buying at farmers markets. 4. Ensure that you have sufficient stocks of food and necessities available so that you can ride out any likely disruptions. 5. Try and reduce your use of the modernist banking system. In particular you should seek to reduce the interest payments you pay - most easily by not borrowing money in the first place! 6. Join a local LETS scheme. (A grassroots Labour Exchange where you do jobs for other people for tokens for which other people will do jobs for you) IDEAS FOR ACTION - COLLECTIVE As Autarchists acting Collectively you could set up: 1. Political Study Groups. To help people understand how power is distributed in society and how the current distribution is kept in place. 2. Fellowship Groups. (Small groups who of people who are committed to meeting each other on a regular basis e.g. an evening a fortnight in a member's house). Fellowship groups are organised more formally than ordinary social activity and may have people of a mix of ages. Fellowship groups can get involved in any kind of activity but the emphasis should be on encouraging people to build bonds of trust with each other. 3. Taskwork Groups. Taskwork is activity where the emphasis is on a group of people working together in a team towards a particular goal. 4. Social Activities. Opportunities for people get to know each other and enjoy themselves together. 5. Talks and Discussions. Opportunities for people to be inspired by new ideas and to share their thoughts with others. 6. Research Teams. People who are willing to research a particular issue in detail and report back to everybody else. 7. Independent News. Set up your own publication giving your own understanding of what is going on in the world. There is plenty of good source material on the Internet but most people never get to read it. They might benefit if somebody could read it for them and provide a faithful digest. Spring 2006, Revised 2009 |