Introduction

Here is a list of all the new additions to the FAQ. An list of older changes can found here.

The version number of the FAQ changes as follows. A major change results in then the version number is increased by one (from version 10.2 to version 11, for example). If a minor change is being made then the current version is increased by 0.1 (for example, from version 10.2 to 10.3).

As far as new anarchist and libertarian links are concerned, we will add them when we get enough to make an update worthwhile. These updates have no effect on the FAQ version number as we don't want to inflate it higher than the content deserves.

We hope that this makes it clear to visitors!

What's New in the FAQ?

VersionDateWhat's New
13.2
18-AUG-2009

Section I.4
Signification revision of section on "How would an anarchist society function?"

section I.5
Signification revision of section on "What would the social structure of anarchy look like?". Some sub-sections have been merged (the old I.5.10 and I.5.11) and some have been substantially changed (the old I.5.13 and I.5.14 have been merged into the new I.5.11). Section I.5.3 has been renamed and its previous material included in I.5.2. The new section I.5.3 discusses the means by which delegates remain under control from below.

13.1
18-JUN-2009

Section I
Signification revision of the introduction and first three sub-sections ( I.1, I.2 and I.3) of section I on What would an anarchist society look like?

Section I.3.3
Complete revision of section I.3.3, which is now on What is socialisation?.

Section I.1.5
New section on Does capitalism efficiently allocate resources?, discussing why attempts to portray socialism as "impossible" downplay the allocative inefficiencies of the current system.

Appendix 3.1
Slight change to the appendix Reply to errors and distortions in David McNally's pamphlet "Socialism from Below". This is to include an introduction which notes that McNally has now distanced himself from this pamphlet as well as the addition of more quotes on party dictatorship by Trotsky to the section 15 (Did Trotsky keep alive Leninism's "democratic essence"?).

An Anarchist FAQ blog
An Anarchist FAQ now has an official blog. This is used to post news as well as extra material which cannot be included in the main body of the FAQ.

This revision was made as part of getting the second volume of the FAQ ready for publication.

13.0
11-NOV-2008

An Anachist FAQ: Volume 1
An Anarchist FAQ, at long last, has now been published by AK Press. Volume 1 (introductions, sections A to F, plus the appendix on the symbols of Anarchy) is now available (ISBN: 978-1902593906)

Section H
Significant revision of the section on the anarchist critique of Marxism. Removing of section H.2.15 as this is covered elsewhere in section H as well as section H.2.16 (on the Spanish Revolution) as this is covered in section I.8.11.

Section H.6
New section on the Russian Revolution, including an expansion of what were sections H.3.15 and H.3.16 plus a new subsection on labour protest under Lenin (Section H.6.3).

This revision was made as part of getting the second volume of the FAQ ready for publication.

12.2
08-FEB-2008

The Symbols of Anarchy
Significant revision and re-organisation of the appendix on the appendix on the Symbols of Anarchy. Adding some new information, clarifying the roots of the black and red-and-black flags in working class and generally improving it.

This revision was made as part of getting the first volume of the FAQ ready for publication and so is really part of release 12.0

12.1
27-OCT-2007

Section G
Significant revision, re-organisation and expansion of the section on individualist anarchism. Expands in more depth why it is as anti-capitalist as other kinds of anarchism. Special thanks to individualist anarchist Shawn Wilbur for his comments and feedback on this revision.

The following revisions were made as part of getting the first volume of the FAQ ready for publication and so are really part of release 12.0

Section A.3.9
Revision of the section on primitivism to clarify a few issues.

Section F.2.2
The addition of a few quotes by leading "anarcho"-capitalist Walter Block on slave contracts. Which, in itself, shows how far that ideology is from genuine anarchism.

This is part of the process of getting the FAQ ready for being published by AK Press. Volume one (sections A to F, plus the introductions and appendix on the symbols of anarchy) is nearly ready for publication. We will announce the exact date later this year.

12.0
19-JUL-2007

Section C.7
Revision of section C.7 on what causes the capitalist business cycle.

Section C.8
Revision of section C.8 on why state control of credit does not cause slumps and the limitations of Keynesianism.

Section C.9
Revision of section C.9 on what causes unemployment (and it is not high wages or unions) and why the NAIRU is class warfare by the rich.

Section F
Revision of section F. Why "anarcho"-capitalism is not a form of anarchism.

Section F.3.2
New section on why there cannot be harmony of interests in an unequal society.

Introduction
Slight changes to the original introduction.

Tenth Anniversary of An Anarchist FAQ!
Slight changes to the 10th Anniversay introduction.

Bibliography
Slight reorganisation of the bibliography to include a new section on works about anarchism and anarchists but written by non-libertarians.

This is part of the process of getting the FAQ ready for being published by AK Press. Volume one (sections A to F, plus the introductions and appendix on the symbols of anarchy) is now ready for publication. We will announce the exact date soon.