Federacja Anarchistyczna (Anarchist Federation or (FA)) is a federation of Polish anarchist organizations. The federation was founded in 1988 (initially founded as "Międzymiastówka Anarchistyczna" (MA) or the Inter-City Anarchist Association) and was inspired by the Pre-World War group the Anarchist Federation of Poland. MA began as a loose collective for multiple anarchist organizations where they could meet and coordinate movements. In 1989, the organization rebranded to FA and formalized itself ideologically.
FA aims to "create a self-governing society, created on a voluntary basis".
History
Międzymiastówka Anarchistyczna In May 1988 Janusz Waluszko (a member of the anarchist group Ruch Społeczeństwa Alternatywnego {RSA}) and Krzysztof Galiński (a member of the anti-communist group Ruch Wolność i Pokój) first developed the idea of the Inter-City Anarchist Association, calling it a "network of positive exchange". In drafting the proclamation for their new organization, Waluszko and Galiński declared they were unable to fight the state alone, and instead needed to organize for that purpose.R. Antonów: Under the Black Banner. Anarchism in Poland after 1980 . Wrocław: 2004, p. 295. The inaugural manifesto of the Anarchist Intercity in June 1988 reads:
In their manifesto, Waluszko and Galiński proposed that they planned to carry out anarchist activism through: joint rallies and festivals; mutual assistance in organizing theatrical performances, puppet theaters, rock concerts, poetry evenings, cabarets, recitals, exhibitions, lectures, demonstrations and manifestations, discussions, processions, museums and film screenings, shows, diaporamas, happenings, publishing activity, and creating anarchist libraries.Ruch Anarchistyczny – Tak!. W: D. Kaczmarek (red.): Ruch Społeczeństwa Alternatywnego 1983–1991. Poznań: 2009, s. 120 i n.
During the July and August 1988, the Silesian Freedom and Peace movement carried out an event in Białogóra's Hyde Park. It was attended by representatives of the anarchist movement from all over Poland, such as: Marek Kurzyniec, Grzegorz Kmita, Janusz Waluszko, and Krzysztof Skiba. Members of Totart from Gdańsk and Waldemar Fydrych, the founder of the Orange Alternative, also attended. Here, MA began recruiting members, eventually growing to 500 individuals by September 1988. On 30 October 1988 in Gdańsk, MA held their first convention at Międzymiastówka, having been inspired by the Międzymieście anarchist group. The meeting was attended by approximately 100 anarchists, with anarchists from France, Poland, and the USSR in attendance. The meeting was held at the homes of an RSA member but was interrupted by police, resulting in 4 arrests. The rest of the attendees reconvened at St. Nicholas Church in Gdansk, where they finished the meeting.R. Antonów: Pod czarnym sztandarem. Anarchizm w Polsce po 1980 roku. Wrocław: 2004, s. 298 i n. At the beginning of 1989, the first, and last, issue of MA's newspaper "Pet in the Butter" was published, which preceded the later "Biuletyn Federacji MA" and "Biuletyn Informacyjny Federacji Anarchistycznej" newsletters.M. Blaut. The anarchist press in the People's Republic of Poland . "Bulletin of the Poznań Anarchist Library". No. 4, p. 38 et al, 2006.
In June 1989, the Second Meeting of the Anarchist Inter-City Council was held in Dobrzeń Wielki. During the meeting, the organizational shape of the anarchist movement was discussed. The organisers of the convention proposed the creation of a federation of anarchist groups. The aim was to prevent the "chaos of information" resulting from the existence of many different groups within the movement. The organizers also proposed the adoption of a common ideological declaration, believing that this adoption would held the consolidation of the community. Most of the participants were in favor of transforming the MA into a more formalized structure. There were, however, also voices of opposition. For example, Zbigniew Sajnóg from Totart sent a letter to the organizers, in which he proposed to keep the concept of the MA as a loose network of contacts between anarchists. In the end, however, the final decision transformed Anarchist Association Inter-City into the Federation of Anarchist Inter-City. During the time that the creation of the federation was still being discussed, various actions under the banner of the MA were already taking place in the country.R. Antonów: Pod czarnym sztandarem. Anarchizm w Polsce po 1980 roku. Wrocław: 2004, s. 299 i n.
Federacja Anarchistyczna
In November 1989, a third meeting was held in Warsaw, during which the name of the organisation was changed to "The Anarchist Federation", which is still used today. During the meeting, it was also resolved that all decisions, if they concern the Federation as a whole, can only be made at conventions. This meant that internal matters pertaining to the federation could only be passed by majority vote, and in the case of "external" matters, (i.e. all initiatives addressed to the general public signed as the Anarchist Federation) the right of veto would be recognised.R. Antonów: Pod czarnym sztandarem. Anarchizm w Polsce po 1980 roku. Wrocław: 2004, s. 302. The overall goal of FA, as agreed upon by its members is:Biuletyn Federacji Anarchistycznej”. nr 3., cyt. za: R. Antonów: Pod czarnym sztandarem. Anarchizm w Polsce po 1980 roku. Wrocław: 2004, pg. 303.
FA's formal ideology at the time was primarily to denounce consumerism, capitalism and Bolshevik communism. They protested against re-privatization, selling off national assets, enfranchisement of the nomenklatura, progressive social stratification, Poland's 'submission' to the International Monetary Fund. They also criticized the actions of Tadeusz Mazowiecki's government, considering his actions a betrayal of the ideals expressed in the anarcho-syndicalist's concept of a "Self-governing Republic".
Structure
Formal Organization Organizationally, the Anarchist Federation is composed of 'sections'. As described by FA: "An FA section is a self-governing group of people who have declared their desire to join the FA, constitute an organizational unit, can pass resolutions within the group, and have been accepted at the FA convention into the Anarchist Federation." For a group seeking to join FA, it must accepted by majority vote at a FA convention, with all sections carrying veto power. Every section is entitled to one vote and may withdraw from the FA should it desire. A section may also be expelled from the Federation at the request of another section at an FA convention – the decision on this matter is made by majority vote with the right of veto.
The Anarchist Federation Information Office operates in the period between conventions, forming decisions on current, external affairs. The office coordinates the flow of information between sections, acts as a liaison between sections, updates the contact list of all sections, and adopts resolutions.
The groups making up the Federation enjoy a high degree of autonomy. The sections must, however, agree with the overall ideological beliefs of the Federation, which "unites people whose aim is to overthrow the hierarchical social order which contradicts the idea of freedom and democracy", and which strives to "create a self-governing society, formed on a voluntary basis". It is incumbent upon a particular section to organize a FA convention, and all groups belonging to the Federation are required to participate once a convention is called. "Contact" members (non-section groups) who pledge to perform tasks for the Federation must submit a report at the next convention on their work in carrying out those tasks. If they cannot attend the next convention, they are required to submit a written report.
Conventions The Anarchist Federation has described their conventions as: "the most significant manifestation of the activity of anarchist structures on the national forum".P. Malendowicz: Polski ruch anarchistyczny wobec współczesnych wyzwań politycznych. Piła: 2007, pg. 74. Conventions typically end with the issuance of resolutions.Zob. R. Antonów: Pod czarnym sztandarem. Anarchizm w Polsce po 1980 roku. Wrocław: 2004, pg. 305–316. During the Eighth Congress of the FA, held in June 1992 in Warsaw, the ideological declaration of the Anarchist Federation called "The Majority Plane" was passed;Zob. R. Antonów: Pod czarnym sztandarem. Anarchizm w Polsce po 1980 roku. Wrocław: 2004, s. 312. so far (November 2010) thirty-seven conventions have been held.
Sections At the turn of the 20th and 21st century over a dozen sections from all over the country belonged to the FA, including Gdansk, Krakow, Warsaw, Poznan, Wroclaw, Kielce, Lodz, Lublin, Sochaczew, Slupsk and Koszalin. Between 1989 and 1998 a libertarian group from Katowice was also active in the Anarchist Federation.R. Antonów: Pod czarnym sztandarem. Anarchizm w Polsce po 1980 roku. Wrocław: 2004, pg. 322. The Anarchist Federation is no longer active in Warsaw, since the section there announced that it was leaving the Federation in October 2021. Currently, the Anarchist Federation consists of the following sections:
FA Czestochowa – Autonomous Anarchist Group FA Cracow, FA Łódź – Black Banner, FA Poznań, FA Rzeszów, FA Silesia, FA Wrocław
Additionally, their membership also consists of "contacts" (smaller groups which will eventually become sections). These include:
FA Bydgoszcz, FA Gniezno, FA Konin, FA Leszno, FA Lublin, FA Nowy Sącz, Ostrów Wielkopolski FA, Szczecin FA, Zielona Góra FA
Activities and Beliefs
FA describes two separate types of anarchist activity they engage in:R. Antonów: Pod czarnym sztandarem. Anarchizm w Polsce po 1980 roku. Wrocław: 2004, pg. 333.
Direct actions – demonstrations, pickets, happenings, etc; Publishing activity.
FA has previously rallied around both domestic issues, specifically adopting policies on: anti-state, anti-government, pro-environmental, anti-fascist, anti-military, and anti-worker exploitation issues. They have additionally taken up policies on international issues, previously protesting against the actions of individual states and international organizations, and having specifically criticized globalization. Since their inception, FA has not changed their policies on the topics of: pro-choice, anti-militarism and pacifism, communalism, and free education.
FA has organised protests against corporations, in particular McDonalds, and foreign governments, namely against the military intervention of the USA in Afghanistan and Iraq, and against Russia's 1994 invasion of Chechnya.R. Antonów: Pod czarnym sztandarem. Anarchizm w Polsce po 1980 roku. Wrocław: 2004, pg. 342. The Anarchist Federation has also protested against the G8 summits, the European Economic Forum in Warsaw, NATO, the installation of the missile defence shield in Poland, and the United Nations climate summit in Poznań in 2008. Anarchists from the FA also participate in protests called "Food Not Bombs".
National Government Protests FA has stated their anti-parliamentary policies and boycotting activities derive from ideals of Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, Mikhail Bakunin and Peter Kropotkin.Zob. R. Antonów: Pod czarnym sztandarem. Anarchizm w Polsce po 1980 roku. Wrocław: 2004, pg. 334. FA will release anti-election posters, and leaflets in protest of Polish and international elections, being particularly critical of representative democracies. On the topic of voting, FA has stated, "The whole truth about voting can be summed up in one sentence: by voting, you give others power over yourself. By choosing one or many masters, whether for a short or long time, you give up your own freedom". These leaflets are predominately posted online, often with the phrases:
"Compatriots! And now we don't give a damn about you! With greetings from the newly elected deputies and senators of the Republic of Poland"