The Institute for Anarchist Studies (IAS)

The IAS

The Institute for Anarchist Studies (IAS), established in 1996 to support the development of anarchism, is a grant-giving organization for radical writers and translators worldwide. To date, we have funded over a hundred projects by authors from countries around the world. Equally important, we publish the Anarchist Interventions book series in collaboration with AK Press and Justseeds Artists’ Cooperative, the print and online journal Perspectives on Anarchist Theory, the Lexicon pamphlet series, and our new series of books in collaboration with AK Press beginning with Octavia’s Brood. We organize educational events such as Anarchist Theory Tracks, onetime talks, and in the past, the Renewing the Anarchist Tradition conference. The IAS is part of a larger movement to radically transform society. We are internally democratic and work in solidarity with people around the globe who share our values.

The IAS Projects

Lexicon Pamphlet Series

The Lexicon pamphlet series, a project of the Institute for Anarchist Studies (IAS), aims to convert words into politically useful tools—for those already engaged in a politics from below as well as the newly approaching—by offering definitional understandings of commonly used keywords. Each Lexicon is a two-color pamphlet featuring one keyword or phrase, defined in about 2,000 words of text, and all pamphlets are available for free from the IAS, or can be downloaded here for printing and sharing. The first five pamphlets, designed by Josh MacPhee of Justseeds Artists’ Cooperative and printed by P&L Printing in Denver, are: “Power” by Todd May, “Colonialism” by Maia Ramnath, “Gender” by Jamie Heckert. “Anarchism” by Cindy Milstein, and “White Supremacy” by Joel Olson.

Perspectives on Anarchist Theory Journal

Perspectives on Anarchist Theory is published by the Institute for Anarchist Studies. It includes recent essays by IAS-supported writers, feature articles with anarchist views on contemporary issues, book reviews, and updates about IAS activities. Perspectives is both a print and an online journal. Perspectives will continually post new articles on this website, so check back often for new content. The print edition, with cover design and layout by Josh MacPhee, comes out annually, and is available from AK Press.

Perspectives on Anarchist Theory is edited and produced by a collective that includes Paul Messersmith-Glavin, Maia Ramnath, Lara Messersmith-Glavin, Sara Rahnoma-Galindo, and Kristian Williams.

Anarchist Interventions Book Series

Radical ideas can open up spaces for radical actions, by illuminating hierarchical power relations and drawing out possibilities for liberatory social transformations. The Anarchist Intervention series—a collaborative project between the IAS and AK Press—strives to contribute to the development of relevant, vital anarchist theory and analysis by intervening in contemporary discussions. Works in this series will look at twenty-first-century social conditions—including social structures and oppression, their historical trajectories, and new forms of domination, to name a few—as well as reveal opportunities for different tomorrows premised on horizontal, egalitarian forms of self-organization.

Given that anarchism has become the dominant tendency within revolutionary milieus and movements today, it is crucial that anarchists explore current phenomena, strategies, and visions in a much more rigorous, serious manner. Each title in this series, then, will feature a present-day anarchist voice, with the aim, over time, of publishing a variety of perspectives. The series’ multifaceted goals are to cultivate anarchist thought so as to better inform anarchist practice, encourage a culture of public intellectuals and constructive debate within anarchism, introduce new generations to anarchism, and offer insights into today’s world and potentialities for a freer society.

A percentage of the net sales from each title in the Anarchist Interventions series is donated to the IAS, thanks to the generosity of each author.