About

Introduction and Principles

The International of Anarchist Federations (or in French, Internationale des Fédérations Anarchistes or Castellano, Internacional de Federaciones Anarquistas, IFA) is an active coordination of social anarchist organisations.

It was founded during an international anarchist conference in Carrara, Italy, in 1968 by the three existing European federations of France, Italy and Spain as well as the Bulgarian federation in French exile. Other groups were also present in the formation of the IAF including the London Federation of Anarchists.

IAF-IFA has since aimed to build and improve strong and active international anarchist structures. The federations who are part of IFA believe that such an organisation is necessary to co-ordinate their international work and efficiently co-operate towards their mutual aims.

In order to further improve the quality of exchange and co-operation, IAF also keeps close contact with other anarchist organisations.

International of Anarchist Federations (IAF-IFA) principles (also called our Associative Pact)

This version of our associative pact includes all changes agreed at the Congress in Frankfurt in  2016.

Preamble

The International of Anarchist Federations (IAF – IFA) is an international organization of anarchist federations which, through its statement of principles and action is related to the principles of the First International set up in Saint-Imier (Switzerland) in 1872.

The IAF – IFA fights for:

the abolition of all forms of authority whether economical, political, social, religious, cultural or sexual. the construction of a free society, without classes or States or frontiers, founded on anarchist federalism and mutual aid.

The action of the IAF – IFA shall always be based on direct action, against parliamentarism and reformism, both on a theoretical and practical point of view. The federations joining the IAF – IFA commit themselves to develop the most efficient solidarity amongst them in all fields of activity, to cooperate and co-ordinate any initiative, to provide a regular aid to the IAF – IFA and its secretariat, to develop, at a world level, the anarchist action. Every federation being autonomous concerning its propaganda and its development.

Membership and Resignation

To join the IAF – IFA a federation must :

Acknowledge the statement of principles and the action of the IAF – IFA as defined by the congresses. present its demand for membership to the secretariat which is committed to communicate it to all the members of the IAF – IFA. If no opposition from an adherent federation is raised within the next six months, the membership immediately becomes effective. The latter will have to be unanimously ratified by the next congress. If an opposition is raised, only the congress can reconsider the demand for membership.

Membership implies the payment of a subscription the amount of which being determined by the congress.

Organisational structure:

IFA is an organization of anarchist federations which involves several anarchist gtoups at the national level (a country), regional level (geographical area) and/or local level (city).

The IAF-IFA does not acknowledge territorial borders imposed by states. The IAF-IFA prefers that only one federation should exist in a territory to better co-ordinate the struggles against governments. However, the IAF-IFA will allow in principle the membership of multiple member federations in the same territory, provided that the existing member or members for the territory raise no objection.

Should the secretariat be aware of durable and confirmed inactivity from a member federation, it is committed to inform every member of the IAF – IFA. If no objection is raised by any member federation within the next six months, the resignation will become effective. The resignation will have to be unanimously ratified by the next congress. If an opposition is raised, only the congress can reconsider the resignation. Should a resumption of activity be notified, that federation may propose its application for membership to the IAF – IFA in accordance with the statement of principles.

In the absence of any federal organisation at a territorial level, groups may also join the IAF -IFA, providing they commit themselves to the creation of a federation within the boundaries of the territory they refer to. That membership is but provisory, the IAF – IFA reserving the right, within the frame of the congress, to reconsider such membership if it has not led up to the constitution of a federation. The new federation must apply for membership to the IAF -IFA.

The anarchist groups and the anarchist federations wishing to cooperate with the IFA that are not in the condition to assume the responsibilities of membership may ask to be associated as an “associated project”. They can attend meetings and make proposals, but they don’t take part in decision-making. The same procedure as for “members” is applied for the admission and exclusion of “associated projects”.

International connections

The IAF – IFA fosters cordial links with the whole anarchist movement in its fight against all forms and structures of domination (exchanges of information, solidarity, etc.) and may invite its delegations to attend its sessions.

Congresses

The IAF – IFA gathers in a congress, every FOUR years. In case of necessity, the congress takes place earlier.

The congress unanimously decides on the orientations and lines of action for the IAF – IFA. One year before it gathers, a meeting of the secretariat and the people in charge of the international relations in the different federations, will define the agenda, the date and place of the IAF – IFA congress.

The congress debates on the initiatives of the organisation and unanimously entrusts a member federation to name the members of the IAF – IFA secretariat which task is to put into practice the mandates defined by the congress.

Secretariat

The secretariat has the task to take care of the relations with the person in charge of international matters in each federation. They will meet together and/or within geographical areas every six months. The secretariat represents the IAF – IFA and has the task to work to its influence and development.

Furthermore :

  • it stimulates contacts and internal debates of the IAF – IFA.
  • it advertises the cases for which it is necessary to develop international aid. it publishes a federal bulletin, point of reference for correspondence and internal debate in the organisation.
  • it takes care of the publication of propaganda, material linked with the resolutions and actions of the IAF – IFA.
  • it gives an account of its activities and of the execution of its mandates. The secretariat presents itself as resigning before the congress

Respect of the statement of principles

Not to respect the practical or ethical commitments listed above calls into question, de facto, the membership to the IAF – IFA. That shall be ratified by the next congress.

Modifications to the statement of principles

Any proposal concerning a modification to the statement of principles hereby has to be presented to all federations members of the IAF – IFA at least one year before the congress that will examine it.

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