Why are anarchists in favour of direct democracy?
for more on the nature of anarchist confederation). Kropotkin’s comments on federalism between communes indicate this (a syndicate can be considered as a producers’ commune): “The Commune of tomorrow will know that it cannot admit any higher authority; above it there can only be the interests of the Federation, freely accepted by itself as well as other communes. . .” [Words of a Rebel, p. 83] Nor need federalism conflict with autonomy, as each member would have extensive freedom of action within its boundaries: “The Commune will be absolutely free to adopt all the institutions it wishes and to make all the reforms and revolutions it finds necessary.” [Op. Cit., p. 83] Moreover, these federations would be diverse and functional. Economic federation would a produce a complex inter-networking between associations and federations. In Kropotkin’s words: “Our needs are in fact so various, and they emerge with such rapidity, that soon a single federation will not be sufficient to satisfy the
