principles

1) The Anarchist Bookfair collective affirms and promotes values of mutual aid, genuine democracy, anti-authoritarianism, autonomy and solidarity. We reiterate our opposition to capitalism, imperialism, patriarchy, racism, colonialism and all other forms of oppression; we will not accept anyone to participate in the Anarchist Bookfair that perpetuates or promotes these attitudes.

2) The Anarchist Bookfair collective will respect the autonomy of individuals, groups and booksellers that we invite to participate in the Anarchist Bookfair and related activities.

3) The Anarchist Bookfair is a space to network around, highlight and aid struggles, both local and international.

4) The Anarchist Bookfair strives to promote anarchist ideas through workshops as well as the bookfair itself, be that the introduction of these ideas to the public, or the elaboration of these ideas and dialogue between anarchist tendencies. We have a spirit of openness towards the different traditions, visions, and practices of anarchism.

5) Priority within the bookfair itself will be on the written word (books, pamphlets, zines, audiovisual materials) by groups including publishers, distributors, and action-oriented groups as well as individuals. We will also accept, on a case-by-case basis information, participation from community/activist groups, small publishers, and vendors of materials such as buttons, T-shirts or patches who fit within these principles.

6) Our priority in seeking out vendors/participants will be on materials in French, English, and Spanish.

7) We do not accept the participation of political parties in the bookfair.

8) The individuals who regularly attend Anarchist Bookfair meetings and are actively involved in organizing constitute the Anarchist Bookfair collective. Two months before the Anarchist Bookfair, the collective will name its members for the purposes of decision-making at the actual bookfair.

9) Decisions are made by consensus at Anarchist Bookfair collective meetings. The Festival of Anarchy projects need only to be discussed and agreed to at a meeting, at which point they are autonomous.

 

"Responsibility and collective discipline should not cause alarm; they are the fellow travelers of the practice of social anarchism"

-Nestor Makhno

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