What Being A “Tribal Anarchist” Means To Me

By Jason Thompson

I have had some people inquire about the term “tribal anarchist.” They often view such a term as an oxymoron. Looking at the strict individual definition of anarchy it would make sense to view it as such. Anarchy tends to follow the definition of having no authority or being without rule. When added to the tribal, which denotes a group and thus an organisation we see the apparent condradiction more clearly. However, what is often ignored is that the term can be befiting of groups. Groups of anarchists are not strange in the history of man. Anarchists congregate together often and have a group mentality of “us vs. them.” What is the bond? it is usually reduced to “do what you want to do, just don’t hurt anyone else.” Over time this philosophy obviously leads to fracturing and different groups by basic human nature.

So what is different about tribal anarchism? What does it mean? Tribal anarchism is first off, based on sovereignty of the individual. The individual chooses his tribe and values so this cannot be negated in the course of nature. The individual chooses which people to associate with usually based on common values, family, etc. each tribal group will therfore be different though possibly sharing many values and ideas. Secondly,tribal anarchism is based on the sovereignty of the group, which imo is why tribal comes before anarchist. Each group has its needs and structure, no matter how “anarchistic” the individuals claim to be. Structure is not the enemy of the anarch when the structure fits the anarchs worldview. The individual who claims no affiliation with any other human or any value system is a nihilist, not an anarchist. The major difference between tribal anarchism and regular anrchism that I see is admitting this fact, admitting that in the course of nature we group ourselves together with specific people and ideas, seek out similiar minds and work toward making those things reality.

Tribalism is simply this gathering together. As there are diverse people groups, ideas, values, religions we believe that each and every group has a right to gather together into a cohesive, sovereign whole and to have full right to decide how they shall live and be without interference from another group. This makes room for the diversity in nature and does not have the falsity of “do what you want to as long as you harm no one else”, which as mentioned, is unsustainable within the same group either ideologically or realistically. tribal anarchism throws out the bullshit utopian visions that have never been able to become relaity in the earth. Instead it relies on the will of the group to stand as sovereign and to defend its own, which again fits the laws of nature very well.

For my own part my tribe is simple. It is literally my family. They come first. We are sovereign and if I deem anything outside of that to be a hinderance to our freedoms they will be addressed as such. Second it is the people who I have relationships with close to me like friends and neighbors. Third, those who ideologically share my values, beliefs, etc no matter where they may be geographically. These beliefs have to do with blood, our common ancestors, genetic memory and goals for the future, and for the sake of my children a moral code. Their religion is not so important to me, but values like honor and integrity are.

I personally believe that we are eventually heading to a balkanisation because so many varied groups are fighting to draw from the same well. As nature takes her course people will group up according to some of the things I have addressed. Family and blood will be first and foremost and then there will be groups who mix and mingle. When this happens the natural progression to tribal anarchy will take place. Out of this there will be times of war, times of peace like under any other human endeavor. Eventually smaller groups will combine with like-minded groups and form nation states and the whole human drama can start over again.

The anarchist claims to support individual freedom. To do so they have to support the rights of indivduals to align themselves with groups. Whether they do support such things or not will not change the course of time. My family is my tribe. My blood runs through my son as my father’s blood runs through me, and in so being, my father’s blood runs through my son. His father’s blood runs through all of us. This goes back to our beginning. That beginning is contained in us and the memories of triumphs and struggles are in our DNA. They shaped our genetic traits, the way our minds work and give expression to our potential. To NOT honor such a thing and choose associations wisely in this world is to spit in the face of eternity and time which helped shape who we are. It is to rebel against yourself.