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What is the Anarchist Study Project?
The ASP was founded in 1997 by a small group of anarchists who believed that anarchist theory had become confused and often outdated.
The objective of the group is to clarify, update and develop anarchist ideas and methods for the 21st Century.
We are an unstructured, informal affinity group, organised by member initiative & co-ordinated by democratically selectable/deselectable facilitators.
We hold regular discussion meetings in Central London and publish essays and graphic texts on all aspects of anarchism and socio-political affairs.
The ideas and publications we produce are not intended to be definitive, dogmatic or authoritarian statements but are intended to widen anarchist theoretical resources.
We have no collective ideological line other than a belief that anarchism entails free thought, pluralism and experimentation. Convictions create convicts.
All our published material is the result of detailed debate and general consensus of those taking part in the dialogues, with the exception of personal essays which contain the individual views of members. Though even the latter are not unmodified products isolated from intensive debate. We promote consensus on basic values, however one of these values is the free expression and affirmation of personal belief.
Our views are constantly open to change. As these progress some published material may be withdrawn and rewritten, and radical reappraisals are always possible (and fun).
We do not aim to produce a tunnel visioned, systematic school of thought. But are concerned with developing a variety of approaches in a connected and coherent opposition to the established order. Any apparent 'over-emphasis' of any particular stance at any period of our development has been the result of the make up of the group. We aim to be a broad cross-section of opinion but obviously this is not always possible. Any statements like "they're all a bunch ---ists" is only true because you haven't contributed. Probably because you're frightened of having your views challenged!
The collective is open to all non-dogmatic anarchists (or anyone interested in developing anarchist theory). All we ask is that you are open minded and respect the opinions of others. We accept all open Class Struggle, Individualist, Environmentalist, Nihilist and Counter Culturalist viewpoints as valid perspectives within a genuinely Revolutionary Anarchism. But deny that any of these contain the whole picture. We support strength and unity through diversity rather than the coercive ideology.
In the past year the ASP has greatly expanded its membership, particularly following the participation of several of our members in the Mayday Conference of 1998.
We are also interested in networking with other similar groups and would like to see a wide range of these groups develop nationally and internationally.
