Radical Mutual Aid and Community Power

Explore the intersection between anarchist theory and community power. These fields share a fundamental commitment to human liberation and the dismantling of authoritarian hierarchies. Dr Mark Baldwin argues that while social work is often embedded within the capitalist state, it can adopt prefigurative practices such as mutual aid, direct democracy, and decentralisation. The author contrasts this perspective with traditional Marxist or radical models, emphasizing individual autonomy and collective self-organisation as superior alternatives to state-controlled welfare. By rejecting coercive power, an anarchist approach encourages practitioners to build egalitarian relationships that prioritise the self-defined needs of service users. Ultimately, the source calls for a politically engaged and disobedient form of practice to challenge the oppressive structures of modern austerity.