The Anarchist in Me

For this months’ post, I highlight a short film made by the assistant editor of the Sitges Quarterly magazine, Gloria Gannaway. Although uploaded on YouTube roughly two months ago, it is a very interesting proposition in light of the political situations in Spain, Britain, the European Union and in the United States.

Of course, any government of a “western” country uses a system of governance (democracy, communism etc.), and employs an economic system based on the main ones taught in school being, capitalism or socialism just to name a few. One such ideology missing from my education was Anarchism.

Anarchism is the belief in the abolition of all government and the organization of society on a voluntary, cooperative basis without recourse to force or compulsion.

It wasn’t until I saw “The Anarchist in Me”, when I realized what a philosophy or movement it was. The film presents many personal perspectives and ideas people have and incorporate into their way of living.

According to Gannaway—“The Anarchist in Me” is a thirty-minute documentary about the Bound Together Anarchist Collective Bookstore and annual San Francisco Anarchist Book Fair in San Francisco, California. It takes a look at anarchism today in the U.S. through interviews with people of diverse age and background who are involved in the bookstore or the book fair. They talk about the importance of the bookstore and the book fair, what anarchism means to them, and why they call themselves anarchists.

The Bound Together Bookstore

Given the misleading stereotypes of anarchists disseminated by the media and the general lack of knowledge about or interest in anarchism in the U.S., this short film can serve as an introduction for people by listening to a variety of anarchists speak briefly and simply about their own ideas and personal objectives.

A common response among those who have seen the film is that it has made them interested in anarchism and made them want to learn more. It was surprising to some in that the ideas of anarchism are so familiar to them, and not so far removed from what they themselves think.

Bound Together: The Anarchist in Me

Where we are today, politically…

In Sitges last May (2015), Miquel Forns was re-elected to serve another term running until 2019. He has formed a new coalition municipal government for the legislative period 2015-2019, overseeing social policies, economic development, culture and sovereignty consisting of five regidores (councilors) from his party, Convergència i Unió; Sitges en Positiu, Capgirem Sitges and ERC have three regidores each, Nou Horitzó has two regidores, while Sitges Grup Independent and the PP each have one.