I'm not sure why the surveys have been getting such a low number of
anarchists, but they have and I think the numbers are flawed.
My guess is that questioners aren't prompting for it.
I'd guess Occupy Philadelphia is 5%-25% anarchists (especially now more
that the movement is smaller and the core is more radical), and the
most-active members are maybe 80% anti-capitalist. It depends on how
you define "anarchism". There are flamboyant anarchists who dress like
punks and go around waving black flags, and then there are laid back
anarchists (like me) who will maybe tell you that is what they believe
if you talk to them for five minutes.
I think a lot of anarchists don't identify as such (due to a lack of
positive anarchist role models and negative media), and you'd get a
higher number for anti-capitalists.
If you look at how many people are against capitalism and want
participatory democracy (both core anarchist values), you'd get a
different result than if you ask how many people identify as anarchists.
You'd also get some cross-over with socialists, trotskyites (very few in
Occupy Philly), and communists.
My experience in the US student movement (United Students Against
Sweatshops, Student Environmental Action Coalition, Movement for
Demoracy and Education - 180) was that there were tons of anarchists.
You'll also get different numbers if you ask the question at the start
of the movement, versus asking it after the police have done their first
mass arrest and/or evicted the occupation (and after a month or two of
educational events) - there is a radicalizing effect of being involved
in the movement.
Aaron
On 4/12/2012 4:34 PM, jake@??? wrote:
> Hi Occupy Research folks,
>
> There is a US senate candidate in WI whose new ad is saying
> "OWS is largely a group of self-described anarchists who want a hand
> out in the form of high paying jobs regardless of merit. What ever
> happened to self reliance in America"
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0VTPksbxgE
>
> He also says ows is like Wall Street itself because they "simply want
> a free ride" off the taxpayer.
>
> I'd like use OR data to debunk this claim. I know preliminary results
> of surveying suggested only a tiny fraction of survey respondents
> self-described using a form of the word anarchism, but I was hoping on
> more finalized data and will be contacting the campaign directly.
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Gus Wynn, Editor
> Opednews.com <http://www.opednews.com/amerigus>
>
>
>
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