Federations vs confederations

Submitted by Gulai Polye on May 30, 2016

What is the difference between these 2? And what is the best for organising in a socialist or anarchist way?

When googling this there is a lot from a statist perspective, so it becomes useless for our purpose.

Proudhon said:
"In a mutualist confederation, the citizen gives up none of his freedom, as Rousseau requires him to do for the governance of his republic!"

But he also said
"“The federative system is applicable to all nations and eras, since humanity is progressive in all generations and all races, and the politics of federation, which is par excellence the politics of progress”"

CNT is a confederation too

One quote from a statist point of view says:
"By definition the difference between a confederation and a federation is that the membership of the member states in a confederation is voluntary, while the membership in a federation is not."

Does that mean all anarchist organisations are confederations?

But i see many anarchist organisations that label themselves as a federation, like FAI is one: "Federación Anarquista Ibérica"

The Pigeon

8 years 2 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by The Pigeon on May 31, 2016

'Federations are made of cottonwood and balsamic, whilest confederations are made of juniper'
Yari Hundig, Considerations of Being and Nonbeing, Volume I

Chilli Sauce

8 years 2 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Chilli Sauce on May 31, 2016

Wasn't there another thread on this recently?

Gulai Polye

8 years 2 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Gulai Polye on May 31, 2016

So Juniper is more horisontal while cottonwood is more vertical?

Auld-bod

8 years 2 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Auld-bod on May 31, 2016

Chilli #3

Yes
https://libcom.org/forums/theory/are-anarchists-advocates-federalism-or-confederalism-31072013