Development of benefits of being part of the Movement

Considering that all of the respondents are still involved in the Dutch anarchist movement, one can assume that there have been positive developments of the benefits of being an activist as well. The following sections will review the benefits related to practical factors, social benefits and identity benefits that the respondents of this research experienced and are still experiencing during their time in the movement.

6.3.1 Material benefits

One very practical benefit that a number of respondents have mentioned is the connection between their activism in the anarchist movement with the work that the participants practise.

“I live self-sufficient now. The things you see over there, we have made them ourselves (…). First for the anarchists, but then I found out that a lot of people like them. Then we got them printed” (Respondent 5)

Another respondent even made a conscious choice regarding the education and later the profes- sional career in order to contribute to the movement in as many ways as possible:

“I became that [the job] from my experience with activism. I saw a lot of wrongs there in society and I thought ‘Hey, there are also a lot of regulations and power relations which I could do something about from my perspective; improve something by oppose it with knowledge. (…) And at this moment, my activism is overlapping a lot with my work and some people might not call me an activist because they think that it is more work than activism, but I think it is [activism]” (Respondent 7)

Whereas some of the respondent see this combination of work and activism as a necessity, there are also direct benefits that can be drawn from this connection from which the participants gain financially, intellectually and on other levels related to their work. One example:

“I met people there [in the movement] who come with new ideas, who ask questions after a reading which I or my colleagues didn’t think about before, so question from

their experience as an activist in the movement which I can then use for my work. So, this is really productive, it really adds something, yes” (Respondent 2)

Whether the financial or work-related gains are a significant reason to stay involved in the movement is doubtful, not only because none of the participants refers to them as such, but also because the capitalist attitude is generally not part of the anarchist ideology. Next to this factor, the respondents did not detect other practical advantages of being involved in the movement, except, as already stated before, the advantages of the movement’s connection to the culture of squatting.

6.3.2 Social Benefits: Broadening the Social Context

Looking at the social benefits however, the respondents had a lot of positive experiences to share. The first, and one of the most significant advantages, is that the involvement in the movement created “life-long friendships” (Respondent 8). Even though section 5.4.1 has shown that the participants already had a social life before joining the movement, the anarchist scene offered friends with new perspectives that support the participants’ values and beliefs. Also, through the national as well as international cooperation between different anarchist – and other radical left- wing groups, the respondents were able to build a network with people they may not have met otherwise.

“Through the different activities, I know people from South-Africa, or other parts of Africa and in America. I suddenly know people from all over the world. (…) If I ever go travelling the world, I will find places to sleep everywhere. This is the beautiful thing about anarchism and the squatted houses. If you have the connections, you can go everywhere” (Respondent 9)

Another respondent emphasized the differences of members within the movement which adds to the attractiveness of the movement:

“The movement is for some part really young, for another is it my generation. But a big group are people that were born after I stopped with my activism [in other radical left- wing group] which makes it nice to hear that their experiences are to some extent the same as mine but still different. Yes, it is really exciting to get to meet new people” (Respondent 2)

movement did broaden the social context for most of the respondents of this interview, a few emphasized that these friendships are also deepened by the experiences that the activists share with each other.

“I made really good friends and people who help each other unconditionally” (Respondent 9)

Other comments by the respondents show that this social cohesion within the movement goes beyond the times that the group gathers or comes together for other activist activities:

“(…) for example putting up posters, or organizing information events. But well, when this was done, then you went for a beer and before you know it, it is late again” (Respondent 6)

“We had this specific idea for an anarchist and vegan village. We looked for people back then and this was a way to bring other people to us” (Respondent 5)

Therefore, one can conclude that the respondents also had social motivations to stay involved as they have developed friendships which evolved around the activism for and within the movement.

6.3.3 Identity benefits

The last category of advantages that the respondents experienced during their activism in the Dutch anarchist movement are identity benefits. In other words, all other aspects that affect the identity of the participants positively.

One of these aspects is the good feeling to reach specific goals. One respondent recalls the time in which the left-wing movement including the anarchist movement was supported by other people:

“But as a social movement, you had the idea that you had some power and that you could enforce some changes. (…) We had the population behind us and were really popular, even though some really violent things happened. These moments were there for sure. (…) Especially in a few districts you had the power. The police did not come in these districts and if they did, they had to behave. And if they really wanted to evict [a house], then they came with the military and strong repression that made them really unpopular and we even influenced the policies for a big part” (Respondent 8)

Another respondent had similar experiences:

“There were things through which we gained publicity and thought ‘Hey, we can convince other people as well’. It was amazing to do and I definitely saw my role in this” (Respondent 7)

Another aspect that is perceived as a positive factor by the respondents is the inspiration that other members have offered which significantly influenced how the world and life is conceived.

“And then I find it really inspiring to get to know more radical people and yes, they inspire me more. The things that are new and which made and still make me really happy” (Respondent 2)

This happiness is also experienced by another respondent who compares the anarchist life with the fellow anarchists with a stereotype everyday life of non-activists:

“(…) A big advantage are of course the people who just accept you. It really is a strange group of people. You know, the world is so different if you spent a few days in a well-established anarchist group. Then is it so different than working from 8 to 5, sitting in your house in the outskirts of a big city. Life is so different, it is so much better” (Respondent 9)

6.3.4 Reasons to stay involved

In conclusion, one can see that the reasons to get involved have not only been strengthened but also extended which resulted in a motivation to stay involved in the movement. For some, involvement in the movement offered a chance to plan a professional career not within, but for the foals of the movement. However, the most important benefits are experienced in the social and identity cate- gories: Many of the respondents have established a number of good friendships within the anarchist scene which make up the majority of the social connections for them. A second factor is that these friendships create a feeling of belonging to other activists across borders. Finally, the respondents felt positive influences on their identity, for example by experiencing successes with the movement or by expanding one’s views.