Anarchism emerged out of the socialist movement as a distinct politics in the nineteenth century. It asserted that it is necessary and possible to overthrow coercive and exploitative social relationships, and replace them with egalitarian, self-managed, and cooperative social forms. Anarchism thus gave new depth to the long struggle for freedom.
The primary concern of the classical anarchists was opposition to the state and capitalism. This was complemented by a politics of voluntarily association, mutual aid, and decentralization. Since the turn of the twentieth century and especially the 1960s, the anarchist critique has widened into a more generalized condemnation of domination and hierarchy. This has made it possible to understand and challenge a variety of social relationships—such as patriarchy, racism, and the devastation of nature, to mention a few—while confronting political and economic hierarchies. Given this, the ideal of a free society expanded to include sexual liberation, cultural diversity, and ecological harmony, as well as directly democratic institutions.
Anarchism’s great refusal of all forms of domination renders it historically flexible, politically comprehensive, and consistently critical—as evidenced by its resurgence in today’s global anticapitalist movement. Still, anarchism has yet to acquire the rigor and complexity needed to comprehend and transform the present.
The IAS
The Institute for Anarchist Studies (IAS), established in 1996 to support the development of anarchism, is a grant-giving organization for radical writers and translators worldwide. To date, we have funded well over a hundred projects by authors from countries around the world. Equally important, we publish the Anarchist Interventions book series in collaboration with AK Press and Justseeds Artists’ Cooperative, the print and online journal Perspectives on Anarchist Theory, the Lexicon pamphlet series, and an Anarchist Imaginations series of books in collaboration with AK Press that began with Octavia’s Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements. We organize educational events and in the past, the Renewing the Anarchist Tradition conference. The IAS is part of a larger movement to radically transform society. We are internally democratic and work in solidarity with people around the globe who share our values.
Who We Are
The Institute for Anarchist Studies is composed of a policy making collective (board of directors) and a part-time, paid administrator. The IAS shares the work of the organization collectively, and is internally democratic, with everyone actively participating. We are a ‘working board.’
IAS Board of Directors
James Birmingham
Sarah Coffey
Jesse Cohn
Eleanor Finley
Hillary Lazar
Andrew Lee
Joseph Orosco
Zoé Samudzi
Theresa Warburton
Tate Williams
IAS Administrator
Fiona McDonald
IAS History
The Institute for Anarchist Studies was founded in 1996 by Chuck Morse, with the original sole purpose of providing grants to radical writers and translators around the world. Over the years, it expanded beyond the grant-giving program to include other projects, including publishing the journal Perspectives on Anarchist Theory both on our website, and in an annual print edition, co-publishing books with AK Press, both our Anarchist Interventions series and other titles including Octavia’s Brood and Angels with Dirty Faces, and maintaining a speakers bureau.
Contact Info:
IAS
PO Box 90454
Portland, OR 97290
Or send us an email at: info@anarchiststudies.org