Anarchist Homogeneity is a farce. Debates rage among Anarchists on the best way to do things and the short coming of this or that particular system of economic distribution. Pretty soon these debates descend into ad hominem and the standard denunciations of an opponant. What these people fail to realise, however, is that such homogeneity among the Anarchist movement – in any future Anarchist society is impossible.

Ultimately the decision about how one wishes to run ones life relies solely on the individual and those whom they may seek counsel from. Not everyone is going to fancy taking part in a commune or working for a business. Under Anarchism, individuals choose to organise how they see fit — and there is nothing you can do to make them do it your way. It’s about time many of us faced this reality.

All these different methods of organisation proposed by the many different Anarchists are all in competition with one another. If one particular system is trialled and fails amongst that community, people will adopt a better one or innovate the one they have. Different systems will work in different places and among different people as variables differ from place to place.

These debates that get so charged with all the emotional feelings tend to neglect this understanding; Anarchism is diverse by its very nature. It’s not going to be homogeneous, nor is it going to be uniform. The state is a one-size-fits-all approach to life while Anarchism isn’t. This sentiment is embodied, at least partially, in the principle that every individual will act in their own interest at that time based on currently held knowledge. They may not act in their own best interest, but that doesn’t matter. It’s not up to you to look out for another’s folly, unless the other party has expressed such a wish.

We need to avoid the totalitarian approach that leads to the fallacy of a homogeneous Anarcho-x society. It just doesn’t work like that.