Direct action at the climate camp
Affinity groups
An affinity group is a small group of activists (usually from 3-20) who work together on direct action.
Affinity groups are organized in a non-hierarchical manner, usually using consensus decision making, and are often made up of trusted friends or other like-minded people. They provide a method of organization that is responsive, flexible and decentralized.
Affinity groups can be based on a common ideology (eg. anarchism), a shared concern for a given issue (eg. anti-nuclear) or a common activity, role or skill (eg. street medics). Affinity groups may have either open or closed membership, although the latter is far more common.
The use of affinity groups dates back to 19th century Spain, where they were called tertulias or grupos de afinidad by Spanish anarchists. They became popular again in the 1970s in the anti-nuclear movement in the United States and Europe. The 30,000 person occupation and blockade of the Ruhr nuclear power station in Germany in 1969 was organized on the affinity group model, as was a lot of the blockades of the G8 in Gleneagles last year. Today, the tool is used by many different people who use the structure as a way of support and to strengthen their struggle.
Affinity groups are self-sufficient support systems. A number of affinity groups may work together toward a common goal in a large action, or one affinity group might conceive of and carry out an action on its own. Sometimes, affinity groups remain together over a long period of time, existing as political support and/or study groups, and only occasionally participating in actions, others come together for an action and then disband at the end.
If you are planning to do direct action, it is a good idea to either form an affinity group or join an already existing one. Affinity groups serve as a source of support and solidarity for their members. Feelings of being isolated or alienated from the movement, the crowd, or the world in general can be alleviated through the familiarity and trust which develops when an affinity group works and acts together. By generating this familiarity, the affinity group structure reduces the possibility of infiltration by outside provocateurs. However, participants in an action should be prepared to be separated from their affinity group.
Affinity groups form the basic decision-making bodies of mass actions. As they all know each other and have some agreed guidelines before the action, they can make decisions quickly and react to situations, in a way that large grouds cannot. Indeed it is often a number of affinity groups having reached a decision that can quickly influence the direction of a crowd.
Every affinity group must decide for itself how it will make decisions and what it wants to do. This process starts when an affinity group forms. If a new person asks to join an affinity group, she/he should find out what the group believes in and what they plan to do, and decide if she/he can share it. Some groups ask that all members share a commitment to a particular way of life. Others, which have specifically formed to do a particular action, might have less sweeping agreements.
A group cannot hope to reach consensus decisions without having some base of agreement. Once a base is agreed upon, working out the details of specific issues and actions is not as difficult as one might expect, providing that there is a willingness to go along with a good idea, even if it is someone else's. If you find that you cannot work effectively with your group, it might be better to try to find another one.
Affinity groups for mass actions are often formed during direct action training sessions. It is a good idea to meet with your affinity group a few times before an action to get to know them if you are not already friends, and to discuss issues such as behaviour on actions, the role your group will play (in a large action), resistance to the forces of law and order etc. After an action, it is also helpful to meet with your group to evaluate and share experiences.
Most importantly, an affinity group is basically a way for mates to look after each other in situations, where it may be wise to do so. That is the fundamental basis for an affinity group and one we can all take part in. Other longer lasting affinity groups do have advantages to them; you know each other better the more you act together in stressful situations; but if you can't form that group know, then please do just get together with your mates. Discuss what you are going to do and look out for each other.