Anarchism vs. Horizontalism

Attribute	Anarchism	Horizontalism
Definition	A political philosophy that advocates for the abolition of hierarchical systems of power	A social movement that emphasizes collective decision-making and non-hierarchical structures
Organizational Structure	Decentralized, non-hierarchical organization	Emphasis on horizontal decision-making and consensus-based processes
Goals	To create a stateless society based on voluntary cooperation and mutual aid	To promote equality, autonomy, and participatory democracy
Historical Roots	Emerged in the 19th century as a response to industrial capitalism and authoritarianism	Developed in the late 20th century within social movements like Occupy Wall Street and the Zapatistas
Tactics	Direct action, mutual aid, and community organizing	Horizontal decision-making, consensus-building, and direct democracy

Anarchism

Anarchism is a political philosophy that advocates for the abolition of hierarchical systems of power, such as the state, capitalism, and patriarchy. Anarchists believe in the principles of voluntary cooperation, mutual aid, and direct democracy. They reject the idea of a centralized authority and instead promote decentralized forms of organization. Anarchism encompasses a wide range of ideologies, from individualist anarchism to social anarchism.

Horizontalism

Horizontalism is a form of organization that emphasizes non-hierarchical structures and decision-making processes. It emerged in the late 1990s in Argentina during the economic crisis and social movements that followed. Horizontalism prioritizes equality, participation, and consensus-building among its members. It aims to create a more democratic and inclusive society by empowering individuals and communities to self-organize and make decisions collectively.

Values and Principles

Both anarchism and horizontalism share similar values and principles, such as decentralization, autonomy, and self-management. They both reject top-down forms of authority and seek to create more egalitarian and participatory systems of governance. Anarchists and horizontalists believe in the importance of direct action, solidarity, and grassroots organizing to challenge oppressive structures and create alternative ways of living and organizing society.

Organizational Structure

One key difference between anarchism and horizontalism lies in their approach to organizational structure. Anarchism is a broader political philosophy that encompasses a range of ideologies and strategies, including syndicalism, mutualism, and platformism. Anarchists may advocate for different forms of organization, such as federations, affinity groups, or communes, depending on their specific goals and beliefs.

Horizontalism, on the other hand, is more focused on the specific practice of creating non-hierarchical structures within social movements and grassroots organizations. Horizontalists prioritize consensus-based decision-making, rotating leadership roles, and open assemblies as ways to ensure that power is distributed equally among all members. Horizontalism is often associated with the idea of "leaderlessness" and the belief that everyone should have an equal voice in the decision-making process.

Strategy and Tactics

Another difference between anarchism and horizontalism is their approach to strategy and tactics. Anarchists may employ a variety of tactics, including direct action, sabotage, and civil disobedience, to challenge oppressive systems and create social change. Anarchists often advocate for a diversity of tactics and believe that different approaches may be necessary depending on the context and goals of a particular struggle.

Horizontalists, on the other hand, tend to focus more on creating alternative forms of organization and building prefigurative politics within their movements. Horizontalists prioritize building relationships, fostering trust, and developing consensus-based decision-making processes as a way to create a more democratic and inclusive society. Horizontalism is often seen as a way to practice the values and principles of anarchism in a concrete and tangible way.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while anarchism and horizontalism share many values and principles, they differ in their approach to organizational structure, strategy, and tactics. Anarchism is a broader political philosophy that encompasses a range of ideologies and strategies, while horizontalism is more focused on creating non-hierarchical structures within social movements and grassroots organizations. Both anarchism and horizontalism offer valuable insights and practices for challenging oppressive systems and creating more democratic and inclusive forms of organization and governance.