Ratified at founding conference on 18th December 2022
1: Who we are:
The AnarCom Network is a group of like-minded individuals organising in local groups (where possible) under a loose national network.
We are a revolutionary anarchist communist working-class organisation that advocates the abolition of the State and capitalism in favour of a horizontal network of voluntary associations through which everyone will be free to satisfy their needs. The liberation of our class, the working class, of itself, by itself, for itself! We aim for a classless society and the abolition of the class system.
We oppose all forms of political power, hierarchy and domination. We believe in mutual aid, working class autonomy, free association and working-class solidarity with the ultimate aim of overthrowing capitalism and wage slavery.
As Anarchist Communists we believe that capitalism is at the heart of exploitation whether that be human, animal or environmental.
We believe in Internationalism as espoused by the First International and as such subscribe to the belief in “No War But The Class War”.
Exploitation is expressed in terms of class, race, gender, gender identity, sexuality, disability, health, age, and ability. The ruling classes use these to divide the working class and as anarchist communists we oppose and reject all forms of exploitation and discrimination and we believe all human beings should be equal.
We support the right for everyone to express who they are as long as it doesn’t dehumanise anyone else or any other group of people in society.
Identity commodification and class struggle:
Individuality is key to community and it’s collectively, our strength. The individual and autonomy are central to anarchist communism. The power of identity forged in struggle and uniting in solidarity is an engine of revolutionary social transformation.
The State has every interest in subverting this as in every other struggle. It tries to pitch us against each other. As a class they try to fragment us on sex; race; age; sexual orientation; birth gender and gender identity; health status and disability.
They offer us false solutions other than liberation from class oppression in angry cross-class alliances that treat our identities like a partisan tug-of-war.
We need to believe the authentic ‘lived experience’ voices of our class. Our identity is not a commodity to be consumed or sold.
Identity is political because it is personal, not to be defined by others (either sociologically or by the state). We are who we say we are, but reject the illusion that our liberation is compatible with capital. We support the fight for every oppressed person to live without repression or discrimination.
Consequently, we reject the agendas set by people from outside our communities or cross-class alliances. It is not for them to dictate, direct or speak on behalf of our class.
2: Aims and Principles:
1. We are committed to the class struggle and liberation through our own collective action and organisation.
2. It follows that we reject the state, political parties and leaders of every persuasion. All are the source of our organised repression and subjugation.
3. We therefore oppose parliamentary democracy and the sham of elections as a deliberate deception to paralyse and subdue working class choice and action. The idea that the ballot box makes us equal, that the banker and the beggar somehow share power in the voting booth is a spectacular deception.
4. It follows that in refusing hierarchy and power, we reject the god concept and religion. While hope, faith and spirituality are humanistic qualities, their organised manipulation is not. We seek a truly human community free from delusion or fantasy.
5. We recognise the importance of the trade union movement in defending working people whilst acknowledging their inability to be the organisations capable of ridding society of the scourge of capitalism. It follows that we are opposed to the action-limiting role of trade unionism and its Labour establishment.
6. The capitalist class divides and exploits us internationally. Consequently, we must struggle for its overthrow through resistance and solidarity across the globe. It follows that we reject illusory ‘national’ solutions and the concept of national liberation.
7. We refuse to play along with reformism, cross class alliances, fronts and collaboration that seek ultimately to divide our class and dilute our struggle.
8. We do not shy away from confrontation and support the right of working people to defend themselves. We also know that individual acts of violence- under any banner – cannot destroy the social relationship we fight against; capitalism. The fight against capitalism and for a liberated society is founded on organisation, education and agitation.
9. Our struggle is both practical and urgent. The generation that may witness our extinction is probably here. We face a binary choice of capitalism’s war against us in all its forms, or its revolutionary abolition. War or Revolution!
10. We are revolutionary internationalists. We reject sectarianism and work for principled cooperation with other class struggle revolutionary activists, groups and Internationals at home and abroad.
3: Membership:
Membership is open to individuals and groups (also known as affiliates) resident in the UK who agree with our Aims &Principles, Constitution and are in broad agreement with the basic historical revolutionary positions above.
Certain workers have roles and interests that are incompatible with the aims and principles of anarchist communism and are barred from membership.
Where individuals are unable to be part of a local due to distance etc we will try to create a “regional” contact area which may be attached to an existing local, or a group of “isolated” individuals.
As this is a loose network where there is not a local we will put people in touch so they can support each other on a regional level with the aim to building a local group.
The following groups of people may not become members as their roles and interests are incompatible with the aims and principles of anarchist communism.
These include:
- Police and prison officers
- Those who have the power to restrain or imprison in detention centres of all varieties
- Bailiffs
- Full-time trade union officials- We define a full-time trade union official as one who is employed by the union and accountable to the union bureaucracy rather than the rank and file.
- Officers or holders of executive positions in political parties
- Scabs
- Those who have ultimate power to hire and fire or those whose primary role in the workplace is to hire and fire.
- Those who have the ultimate power to remove benefits
Subs:
Subs are payable, the amount is based on a minimum amount as decided by the individual considering their own personal circumstances. The suggested minimum is £1 per month. Subs allow members to feel part of an organisation as well as committing to the organisation and will be used to pay for publicity and other costs incurred by the network.
Local groups may want to raise subs and pay a group “fee/donation” as an act of membership to the network.
All members have the right to:
- Free expression of their ideas
- Have their ideas and morals respected as long as they remain in line with our constitution
- Attend all events organised by the organisation and its affiliates
- Have full access to information about all AnarCom Network decisions and activities
- Remain in disagreement with decisions and activities of the Anarcom Network, so long as they abide by the Constitution.
- To distribute or not all materials produced by the network.
Decision making:
All decisions will be made by the membership.
Local/Regional:
Local decisions will be made by local membership as long as they are in line with the constitution.
National:
National decisions will be kept to a minimum and will mainly take place at the National Conference once per year.
In the case of an emergency decision or where an immediate decision is needed then this can be done at an emergency meeting or via the email list.
Contacts:
Contact will where possible be carried out face to face but for national contacts we have a WhatsApp group and we also try to keep members informed via email.
We will also make provision for online meetings, texts or messenger where necessary or preferred by members.
National Conference:
Once per year we will have a National Conference open to all members but incorporating a delegate system to streamline votes.
The Conference will discuss national issues, deal with internal issues and have reports from groups and individuals.
Where feasible we will try to have this meeting face to face but will try to incorporate online and other methods as requested to make sure members are represented.
Delegates:
Local groups would nominate a member to be a delegate who would represent the local in decision making at National Meetings.
Regional groups can either delegate someone or take part as individual members.
Internal Bulletin and minutes:
An Internal Bulletin will be produced prior to the National Conference in order to facilitate decision making.
Minutes should be completed for both local, regional and national meetings and be available to all members.
Officers:
All officers are recallable at any time.
National Secretary (NS):
The members will elect a National Secretary who is responsible for membership enquiries and organising the National Conference. The National Secretary can delegate tasks to other members.
Treasurer:
At the time that it becomes necessary a Treasurer will be elected at a National Conference. For the time being as needed the NS will cover this and provide details of monies as asked by any member.
International Secretary/Secretariat IS):
The members will elect an International Secretary. At this time members will make informal contacts with international comrades and groups. The IS will keep an informal list of contacts.
4: Complaints and disciplinary:
Complaints:
Where a complaint is brought by a member then a “panel” of 3 members not associated with the complaint will be convened in order to investigate and action the complaint. All complaints will be treated as strictly confidential.
A full written investigation, decision and action which is anonymised will be made available to any member upon request. Where sensitive information is included this can be left out unless deemed absolutely necessary to the complaint decision.
Disciplinary:
Where a member has deemed to have breached the Constitution or as a result of a complaint it is felt further action is needed then a panel of 3 members will be convened in the same way as a complaint to investigate and decide if any action should be taken.
Appeals:
All members have a right of appeal. An appeal will be looked at by another member not associated with the complaint/disciplinary or the decision panel.
- Future Changes:
As the Network grows we will change the make-up of the above allowing more member democracy in all decisions. We may also want to make additions and revisions as both the organisation and the world around us changes.
The constitution can only be changed by a member vote of 2 thirds at a National Conference
AnarCom Network 