Since the word anarchism first appeared, the various states have been doing all they can to get rid of those who support the theory and practice of anarchism. It obviously worries them that the people should want to control their own affairs and remove power and wealth from the handful of parasites who have for far too long had an unearned monopoly on on both. Their attacks will use whatever they have at their disposal, phony science, propaganda, indoctrination, (education) violence and intimidation. In spite of this it hasn't gone away, if anything, there are probably more anarchist now than there has ever been. The idea that people can manage their own affairs better than a privileged parasitical elite can, is now more obvious than ever. However, the state never gives up without a fight, so it will continue to intimidate, misrepresent and use overt and covert means to try to destroy the idea that people will benefit more from self-management, co-operation, free association and mutual aid, working in federated communities based on sustainability. Why so many people still fall for the states line that we are better off living in a system of power and privilege to the few, is a bit of a mystery to me.
The following article was taken from Redpepper
"The International Conference of Rome for the Social Defence Against Anarchists, which took place between 24 November and 21 December 1898, agreed to a series of measures to clamp down on anarchist activities and propaganda.
These included the establishment of new surveillance agencies; arrangements for the exchange of intelligence among participating countries; new laws on the possession and use of explosives; bans on membership of anarchist organisations and the distribution of anarchist publications; a prohibition on rendering assistance to anarchists; limits on press coverage of anarchist activities; and mandatory capital punishment for assassination of heads of state.
The conference was convened in response to a wave of anarchist violence, including the assassination of Empress Elisabeth of Austria at Lake Geneva on 10 September 1898. It also agreed to an early version of suspect ‘profiling’ – the ‘portrait parlé’ method of criminal identification, based on Alphonse Bertillon’s system of classifying criminal suspects according to physical characteristics of parts of their head and body.
Britain was the only participating country that refused to sign the conference’s final protocol."
