1. Why An Anarchomatic Firm, and a discussion of flawed yet real prospects?

1.1 Introduction to this piece.

The concept of an anarchist firm challenges traditional business models by prioritizing ethical practices and direct action. David Graeber [cite] highlighted that Marxism often focuses on revolutionary strategy, while anarchism emphasizes revolutionary practice. This suggests that an anarchist firm could create ethical and equitable structures in its operation. This article envisions such a firm and explores its potential to operate in an unequal world to create a fairer one.

Anarchist organizations and movements offer ethical structures by recognizing democracy as a better form of collective decision-making than hierarchical structures. However, in the real world, since they do not integrate with the capitalist system, they often suffer from a lack of funds and resources. This can cause them to enter a survival model rather than one that promotes anarchist values. The authors respect and recognize these efforts. Our goal in this piece is not to criticize existing movements but to explore an option for a flawed, almost parasitic anarchism that can generate revenue in the real world to sustain and replicate itself.

Prefiguration is often touted as a greater anarchist tactic by creating organizations that already fit with anarchist values [cite], as opposed to historical vanguardist ideas, where one group gains the power to tweak the entire system into non-hierarchy, usually without much success. Prefiguration is...TODO [cite].

Here, we discuss a prefigurative organization that hopes to adopt internally anarchist models of conduct while externally interfacing with the world in revenue-generating and activist ways. It is, in a sense, operating as a kind of market socialist firm. The authors recognize the flawed and problematic relationship between market revenue generation and anarchist modes. This piece is about exploring that problem and evaluating if such an organization is still worth pursuing.

In the vein of the fiction authors Le Guin and Banks, even a flawed anarchism is much better than the alternatives, and should be investigated.

In another way, it is now uncontroversial in the vegan/vegitarianism movement that even being mostly yet not totally vegan is a great outcome vs not at all vegan.

1.2 The state of world systems today.

According to Branko Milanovic in "Capitalism Alone" [cite], capitalism is today unambigiously the only system running the world today. He talks of western liberal democratic capitalism and eastern political capitalism which have differences but both are integrally capitalistic.

TODO. There are many problems with this system, add them here.

1.3 Anarchism in the past and today.

The idea of an anarchist firm isn’t purely theoretical. Mondragon Corporation in Spain, worker-owned cooperatives in the southern U.S., and anarchist enclaves in Europe show the viability of cooperative business models. These organizations demonstrate the resilience and sustainability of alternative economic structures in various contexts.

1.4 What does anarchism offer the historical moment of today.

1.5 The problem of revenue, and/or sustainability.

2. Context, Conditions, and Opportunities

2.1 Contemporary Economic Conditions and Transitions

2.2 Opportunities

2.3 Constraints from Idealism

2.4 Constraints from Contemporary Conditions

2.5 Real-World Examples

3. Hypothetical Example Scenario: Anarchomatics 230 (A230)

3.1 Structure

Anarchomatics 230 (A230) is a democratic workers’ co-op that combines AI and complex systems solutions for consulting and activism. It operates on a one-member, one-vote system, ensuring equal decision-making power. An AI assistant supports transparency and efficiency but does not influence decisions. A230’s structure aims to provide financial stability and meaningful work, balancing professional success with societal impact. A primary goal is to develop an operational model that can be adapted and reused by other groups, promoting ethical collaboration and cooperative business practices.

Key considerations for A230 include:

A230 seeks to offer members security similar to a pension while enabling them to contribute to societal good.

Imagine you’ve just joined A230, where all members hold an equal stake and share decision-making power. Your salary reflects the firm’s current revenue, which comes primarily from high-impact AI and complex systems consulting projects. A230 works with non-profits, research institutions, community organizations, and corporate clients, choosing projects that align with its values. Although corporate clients are often ethically imperfect, A230 focuses on incremental improvements rather than absolute purity. Balancing ethical integrity with financial sustainability is a complex problem the firm continually navigates, aiming to evolve and learn in a challenging business environment.

3.2 Example 1: The Activist

As an activist at A230, you use AI and complex systems to support community projects addressing economic inequality, climate adaptation, and social justice. You might work with local organizers to develop models that simulate policy impacts on community health or design adaptive strategies for cities facing environmental crises. Your role involves applying advanced models in real-world settings, supporting grassroots movements, and researching decentralized networks and emergent behaviors in social systems.

3.3 Example 2: The Worker

As a worker at A230, you consult for corporate clients using AI and complex systems to address business challenges. With A230’s strong reputation, you can choose projects that align more closely with the firm’s values. You might help a company improve its supply chain efficiency, reducing waste and environmental impact, or develop a predictive model for a tech firm to enhance employee well-being. While these clients may not be ethically perfect, A230 aims for incremental improvements, showing that ethical considerations can influence corporate decision-making. This work supports the firm’s financial stability while demonstrating its commitment to positive social outcomes.

4. Investigations Needed

4.1 Parasitic Anarchism (Governance and Decision-Making)

I find most anarchist movements are starved of funding, making mere survival difficult. I'm trying to investigate here a type of anarchist structure which quite conciously operates with some moral greyness so that it can capitalise on revenue sources inside the heart of capitalism, corporate budgets.

If this firm is fully democratic and has illegitimate internal hierarchies we may call it anarchist, however if the firms clients are all corporates then it seems highly flawed.

The point of this project is to investigate this flaw and see if there is a way to handle it without trouble.

If this flaw could be handled it could open up a new frontier of collaboration between specialised technologists and activists.

4.2 Financial Sustainability

What business model balances ethical values and financial stability?

4.3 Client Selection

How to select corporate clients that, while imperfect, align with the firm’s values?

4.4 Compensation and Equity

How to ensure fair compensation that motivates members while promoting equality?

Which legal frameworks support cooperative models while protecting autonomy?

4.6 Scalability and Replication

How to grow or replicate without compromising core values?

4.7 Balancing Activism and Revenue

How to allocate resources between activism and consulting?

4.8 Technology and Data Ethics

How to ensure ethical use of AI and complex systems models?

4.9 Reusable Operational Structure

How to create a framework others can adopt to establish similar co-ops? Document everything. Be as open as possible.

5. Conclusion

Neoliberalism equates innovation with competition, assuming firms create value through constant product improvements. This view is limited by short-termism and conformity. A more holistic approach emphasizes diversity and the freedom to explore new ideas without market pressures.

An anarchist firm could foster a “society of diverse equals,” where innovation arises from individuals pursuing their own goals. This environment would encourage original thinking and novel combinations, addressing complex societal needs beyond consumer satisfaction.

An anarchist firm represents a radical rethinking of the workplace, prioritizing ethical practices, financial stability, and societal impact. By embracing democratic governance, decentralization, and long-term resilience, such a firm offers an alternative to traditional capitalist structures. Whether as a worker or an activist, members of A230 contribute to a vision where technology and collaboration empower communities and transform societies for the better.