ANARCHIST QUESTION AND ANSWER Q Would people be able to travel outside an
anarchist society? A Such a simple question, such a complex answer.
Obviously people who live within an anarchist community would be able to
travel extensively within that community. Problems arise if they want to
travel outside that community. If they wish to travel they would need a
passport that's recognized outside their community and they would need
resources to pay for travel expenses once they leave. The same problem
arises when people want to enter an anarchist society. Are they able to
enter at will and share the resources that are held in common or do limited
resources mean that arrivals, especially transient stayers need to be
placed on a priority list. As far as travel outside is concerned a passport
would need to be issued and resources would have to be made available to
anarchists who want to travel so they can meet their projected expenses. As
an anarchist community does not use money as a method of exchange, foreign
currency needs to be found for those who want to travel. This currency
could be obtained by trading with non-anarchist communities or it could
come by exacting a levy on visitors. People who want to live or visit a
particular anarchist community would need to be invited and hosted by that
group. People who want to visit who are not invited or hosted may have to
pay an up front amount in foreign currency for the time they will be
spending there. This payment would meet all their needs while visiting,
food, transport, accommodation and entertainment. The foreign currency
earned could be used to meet the costs of anarchists who need or want to
travel overseas. Those who need to travel because of education, family and
health reasons would have priority over those who just want to have a
holiday. A transparent mechanism would have to be developed, by which those
who want to have a foreign holiday are chosen. One way of approaching the
dilemma, if funds are limited, could be by placing the names of those who
want to travel in a lottery. Those chosen would have access to foreign
currency to bankroll their trip. Those that miss out could try again. Those
chosen would be ineligible to enter the draw for a few years. The reason
I've chosen what seems to, at first glance, be a relatively simple question
is to highlight how complex the situation can become for an anarchist
community that has to live with non anarchist neighbors. In such a
situation, compromises need to be made and imaginative solutions need to be
considered. In order to exist, an isolated anarchist community needs to
interact with the countries around them. If they don't give this important
question the most serious consideration, they may find that economic
boycotts and military threats will limit their chances of survival.
