Affinity Groups: Decentralized Resistance in an Age of Crises

How Do Small, Autonomous Collectives Build Power and Resistance Against Fascism, Capitalism, and Collapse?

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Look around and see escalating crises: Fascist movements gain a foothold, economic instability deepens, and environmental devastation accelerates. We need decentralized, grassroots organizing, and this has never been clearer. Affinity groups, small autonomous collectives bound by shared goals and mutual trust, offer a powerful model for resistance and survival.

These small groups (5-20 people) are not just relics of past anarchist movements but are essential tools for navigating the present moment. By operating without centralized authority and embracing direct action, affinity groups provide a resilient and adaptive framework for addressing urgent social, economic, and environmental challenges.

"The state is not something one can smash in order to destroy it; the state is a relationship, a way people relate to one another… We destroy it by contracting other relationships."

- Gustav Landauer, Revolution and Other Writings

As states crumble under the weight of their contradictions and institutions fail to protect the vulnerable, affinity groups serve as a lifeline for those seeking to reclaim agency over their lives. Unlike traditional hierarchical organizations, they do not rely on charismatic leaders or bureaucratic structures that can be co-opted, dismantled, or executed. Instead, they function through decentralized networks, ensuring that movements persist even in the face of repression.

This adaptability makes them uniquely suited to counteract the authoritarian creep and corporate profiteering that thrive in times of crisis. Whether through community defense, mutual aid networks, or direct action, affinity groups embody a politics of solidarity and self-determination in an increasingly hostile world.

History & Function

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The concept of affinity groups has deep roots in anarchist traditions, notably among Spanish anarchists, who organized their resistance through "asambleas de las tribus"—assemblies of the tribes. Murray Bookchin describes affinity groups as "a new type of extended family, in which kinship ties are replaced by deeply empathetic human relationships—relationships nourished by common revolutionary ideas and practice."

"The affinity group is a new type of extended family, in which kinship ties are replaced by deeply empathetic human relationships—relationships nourished by common revolutionary ideas and practice."

- Murray Bookchin, The Next Revolution: Popular Assemblies and the Promise of Direct Democracy

Their effectiveness also lies in their ability to quickly form or disassemble clusters with other affinity groups, expanding their reach while maintaining autonomy. As Alfredo Bonanno noted, while a single affinity group may initiate action, "the nature of the problem and complexity of intervention...require something more." This interconnected but leaderless structure ensures that no single point of failure can cripple a movement.

Redundancy & Resilience

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A core strength of affinity groups is their built-in redundancy. By distributing roles and responsibilities among members, these groups ensure continuity even if individuals are targeted or unable to participate.

In an age of surveillance, state violence, and economic precarity, this structure provides security and sustainability. Redundancy is not just a safeguard; it is an operational necessity that allows movements to weather repression, adapt to shifting conditions, and continue their work despite external pressures.

Praxis - Theory in Practice

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"Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world."

- Howard Zinn, You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train

Affinity groups manifest in various forms, such as:

• Community Defense is organized to protect vulnerable populations, resist state repression, and provide training in crisis intervention, de-escalation, harm reduction, rapid response, and self-defense.

• Community Gardens are cooperative food-growing initiatives that provide sustenance while fostering food sovereignty, environmental restoration, and resistance to corporate-controlled food systems.

• Community Kitchens prepare free or low-cost meal distribution efforts that ensure food security while fostering a sense of collective care and responsibility.

• Makerspaces are shared spaces where people can access tools, equipment, and expertise to create, repair, and innovate. This fosters self-sufficiency and reduces reliance on capitalist modes of production.

• Potlucks are community meals where food is shared, resources are pooled, and discussions take place in an informal setting. Sharing meals is an intimate process that strengthens social bonds and solidarity.

• Reading Groups are small study circles where participants collectively engage with radical theory, history, and organizing strategies. This fosters intellectual growth and strategic development.

These everyday practices are not merely social gatherings—they are acts of defiance and survival in a system that prioritizes profit over people.

Comparative Anatomy

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• Capitalism prioritizes profit and hierarchy, and it concentrates power in the hands of a few while dispossessing the many. Affinity groups reject these exploitative dynamics, emphasizing cooperation and shared ownership.

• Fascism relies on rigid authoritarian structures, nationalism, scapegoating marginalized people, and suppression of dissent. Affinity groups, by contrast, are inherently anti-authoritarian, embracing diversity, autonomy, and decentralized decision-making.

• Socialism advocates collective ownership, but many socialist systems rely on centralized planning and state control. Affinity groups challenge this by rejecting state authority altogether, demonstrating that cooperative models can function without bureaucracy.

Final Thoughts

“Donna con tavolette cerate e stilo” by Naples National Archaeological Museum via Wikimedia

"The most violent element in society is ignorance... True social change has never been brought about without a fundamental shift in the collective mind."

- Emma Goldman, Anarchism and Other Essays

While the state and corporate power conspire to extract every last resource from people and the planet and then blast off to Mars, affinity groups offer a blueprint for survival and resistance. They cultivate the skills, relationships, and infrastructure necessary to navigate systemic collapse, build alternatives, and resist authoritarian encroachment. Their flexibility and resilience make them indispensable in the fight for a just and livable future.

The world we know is unraveling, but within that unraveling lies an opportunity—to build networks of care, solidarity, and direct action that can sustain us through the storms ahead. Affinity groups are not just organizational tools; they are a way of life, a rejection of domination, and an assertion of collective power in the face of a failing system. In the ashes of the old world, they sprout the seeds of the new.

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