About
With the upcoming Complex Anarchism Symposium, we will be exploring the intersection between anarchism and complexity science. Anarchy, despite its popular definition as a state of disorder, is rather a mode of being where we organize ourselves voluntarily, that is, without coercion from a central controller or hierarchical system. Such decentralized organization happens to be a characteristic feature of many complex systems -- with their many interacting components, these systems exhibit emergent patterns and self-organized goals. During the symposium, we aim to apply and explore the interplay between these practices and concepts in order to experiment with alternative ways to organize our society.
Below you can find more information on suggested topics, methodology and ways to contribute. In our vision text you can find more background info on the motivations and ideas underpinning this event.
Time and location
Timing: May 19-23, 2025
Location: Brussels region, Belgium.
- From Monday evening to Friday, we will be staying at 'Den Everketel', a scouting location in Vilvoorde, near Brussels. Sleeping options include a dormitory or tents.
- On Monday (and possibly Friday), we will spend the day at the Caldarium in Brussels (Wautierstraat 121, 1020 Laken). If you can only join for one day, Monday is the best option.
Costs + Funding
We ask for a sliding-scale or free donation, either to cover basic living costs or to support the expenses of the organizers, some speakers, and those who cannot afford to contribute as much.
Sliding scale fee:
- 0-120: in need → below coverage, as is made available via solidarity funds
- 120: basic → covers rent / food / technical aspects
- 200: standard → covers basic + travel expenses for contributors and organizers
- 400: standard + solidarity / those externally funded → covers basic + expenses for contributors and organizers + those in need
We’re on a shoestring budget. At the moment, production costs are low (550 euro rent for 5 days), but we are still looking for catering/technical options. We will update you as soon as the costs are confirmed.
We are also applying to a couple funding options with some optimism, but we have the chance of being denied. Due to this uncertainty, as well as amount limits, we strongly request anybody with access to institutional/external funds to help support those in need. In order to comfortably allow them access, we need to plan ahead and coordinate such allocations. Please look into any options you may have and apply on time!
Get involved
We encourage any and all who want to bring their unique perspective or interests to our event.
If you wish to attend, please fill out this form. That way, we can estimate the number of participants, constraints, desires, shareable skills/equipment, and can contact you later with more info.
If you have a workshop or activity proposal, please add it to propositions. This can be fully worked out or a vague idea or methodology you want to try out. We aim for this to be a place of exchange and co-developing, where proposals can connect and build upon each other, or where new ideas can emerge. If you do not yet have a clear idea, take a look at existing proposals to give feedback or get inspired.
If you want to contribute to our organisation directly, please reach out via the same form. We have a Notion space for asynchronous collaboration, regular online meetings, and a Signal group for communication. If you can think of other people, places, organizations, or email lists where there might be interest, do not hesitate to share!
Topics
Across disciplines
- How can complex systems concepts help us self-organize within and between groups and societies?
- How could anarchistic principles structure human collaboration?
- How can we learn from spontaneous coordination of animals, body parts, or neurons to better organize human collectives?
Across scales
- How do system constraints and network structures (collectives vs. hierarchies) incentivize individual strategies (altruism vs. competition)?
- How do individual properties (homogeneity vs. heterogeneity) influence group-level information processing (coherence vs. adaptability)?
Alternative perspectives
- How could a decentralized economic system work (oeconomy)? How can we reorganize society to prioritize common goods or living conditions (degrowth)?
- Which kinds of features could help prevent entrapment in ‘vicious cycles’ (of corruption, wealth inequality, addiction)?
- How can we use different mathematical structures that are more 'anarchistic', e.g. not following a total order?
- How would bottom-up (active/direct) participation in complex systems differ from top-down prediction and control?
Realizing change
- How could anarchism and co-creative mutual aid groups evolve in the future?
- What role can people with a background in exact sciences play in social practices?
Methodology/concept
Our aim is to put theory into practice – to create a self-organised space for experimentation and collaboration across disciplines and scales. Rather than one-sided information transmission of typical conferences, we will develop alternative means to bring each other together and facilitate spontaneous exchange of ideas and practices. Think about unconference, open space technology, games to illustrate concepts, simulation games, LARP, future narrating, projects, hackaton, relational mapping, map out the symposium, the symposium as a game/challenge, discussions, talks, co-creation of a paper/zine, etc.
The symposium is largely structured by a gradient between input and collaboration over the five days. The first two days will consist mainly of talks in order to both share experience and inspire new thought. The last two days, on the other hand, will focus on self-organized exchange between those with similar interests and to stimulate future partnerships, whether it be scientific studies or social organizations. The self-organized exchange will feature planned activities such as interactive games and workshops, and allow for spontaneously organized discussions, as per the interest of the participants. Each day will step forward, emphasizing the intention to establish relations that last beyond this event.
In-Person/Hybrid + Attendance
Due in part to technical limitations, in part our desire for in-person contact, we will limit our Zoom/hybrid connection. We are weighing options as to when and how much connection to plan.
The reality of hybrid attendance is that you will get a block of time to give a talk, you can stay for the rest of the hybrid symposium, but you will unfortunately miss out on some in-person connection and discussion.
Deadlines
- Propositions & confirmation of contribution: April 15, 2025
- Form & confirmation of participation: May 4,2025
We would like to know what the contributions and participants are by those days in order to make a program and arrange logistics; but it is still possible to join later if space allows.
Vision
For a deeper exploration of the motivations and ideas underpinning this event, see our Vision. This text can also provide more background on the aforementioned topics.
