Mutual Aid

The government have produced a report indicating what any socialist or anarchist could already tell you - that people need a sense of belonging and that, more often than not, that sense of belonging is tied to the locality in which they live. Indeed, in areas where that sense is nurtured or strong then community involvement tends to be reflected accordingly - be it in local schemes, neighbourliness, voluntary assistance or the challenging of anti-social behaviour.

Or, as Kropotkin put it, Mutual Aid.

Humans are, by necessity, social animals and, just as in the Animal Kingdom, our history and evolution has been furthered by societal relations. The myth of the individual determined by self-interest is just that - a myth (oh, and a misguided Tory belief). It is a fabrication founded on the belief of 'every man for himself' generally put forward by those in positions of power or wealth who have little insight into, or involvement in, the community ethos. Their Social Darwinism ethics allow them to feel comfortable about their privileged status while consolidating their power through the accumulation of, what should be, common 'property' - be it money, land, industry or food. Further, it also allows them to argue that 'everyone can have what they have' through hard work or ingenuity. In a country where hereditary wealth and property rights play a huge part in class definition that is clearly a lie.

If the only determining factor in the existence of humanity were our struggles against each other for the very basics of life, then we would have died out a long time ago. The fact that we are still here, and that you are reading this, is testament to our ancestors realisation that in working together the individual benefits through the good of the whole.

Throughout his masterpiece Kropotkin draws on numerous examples of Mutual Aid to illustrate the benefits that societal living brings - from the social animals through early civilisation and then onto Medieval life and finally up to the present day (at time of writing - circa 1900). The evidence is unarguable and I would urge you to read it for yourself if you haven't done so (given that you are here there is a pretty good chance you already have - and I am preaching to the converted).

Not only that but Kropotkin argues that the influence of power, via the State or apparatus thereof, plays a negative role and actively contributes to undermine good societal relations and development. Again, this is compelling - how many times have you heard the rhetorical question "What are the government/police/council doing about it?"

It is strange then that New Labour appear to have cottoned onto a tenent of socialist libertarianism at a time when they are trying to extend their power to all aspects of UK life (ID cards, DNA databases, more and more legislation, benefits threats through welfare reform and so forth). What's next? 'The New Labour Guide to Common Ownership of the Means Of Production' perhaps? One of the most interesting statistics contained within the report states that "Fifty-six per cent of the population identify with their locality first, compared with 25 per cent that identify with the nation." Nations are ruled by governments so the smaller figure must also surely reflect people's attitudes to centralised institutions of power - they don't identify with them. (Again, this is borne out by further evidence of mistrust of politicians and their motives)

In conclusion then, the case for localised anarchist communism - federated by geography or industry - is strengthened by the governments own research. As a result of such you can expect voluntary initiatives, strong local communities, good neighbours and, though I detest the word, empowerment. In short - Mutual Aid.