Works​ ​In​ ​Progress​ ​Newsletter,​ ​January​ ​2011

Community,​ ​Unity​ ​and​ ​Recovery

The​ ​effects​ ​of​ ​anarchism​ ​on​ ​cross-cultural​ ​community building​ ​in​ ​Alcoholics​ ​Anonymous

by​ ​Amy​ ​Levinson​ ​and​ ​Dean​ ​Worgan

Our​ ​common​ ​welfare​ ​should​ ​come​ ​first;​ ​personal​ ​recovery​ ​depends​ ​upon​ ​A.A.​ ​Unity​​ ​- Alcoholics​ ​Anonymous​ ​Tradition​ ​One​ ​read​ ​at​ ​every​ ​AA​ ​meeting​ ​globally.

The​ ​prime​ ​problem​ ​of​ ​Alcoholics​ ​Anonymous​ ​is​ ​how​ ​to​ ​grow,​ ​survive​ ​and​ ​prosper… Tradition​ ​One​ ​serves​ ​as​ ​a​ ​prudent​ ​reminder​ ​and​ ​warning​ ​that​ ​through​ ​our​ ​common​ ​welfare, unity​ ​and​ ​harmonious​ ​action,​ ​Alcoholics​ ​Anonymous​ ​lives​ ​or​ ​we​ ​die.​ ​Unity​ ​is​ ​our​ ​most cherished​ ​quality.​ ​-​ ​Bill​ ​Wilson,​ ​co-founder​ ​of​ ​Alcoholics​ ​Anonymous​ ​1969

When​ ​we​ ​come​ ​into​ ​AA​ ​we​ ​find​ ​a​ ​greater​ ​personal​ ​freedom​ ​than​ ​any​ ​other​ ​society knows.​ ​We​ ​cannot​ ​be​ ​compelled​ ​to​ ​do​ ​anything.​ ​In​ ​that​ ​sense​ ​our​ ​society​ ​is​ ​a​ ​benign anarchy.​ ​The​ ​word​ ​’anarchy’​ ​has​ ​a​ ​bad​ ​meaning​ ​to​ ​most​ ​of​ ​us….​ ​But​ ​I​ ​think​ ​that​ ​the​ ​gentle Russian​ ​prince​ ​who​ ​so​ ​strongly​ ​advocated​ ​the​ ​idea​ ​felt​ ​that​ ​if​ ​men​ ​were​ ​granted​ ​absolute liberty,​ ​and​ ​were​ ​compelled​ ​to​ ​obey​ ​no​ ​one​ ​in​ ​person,​ ​they​ ​would​ ​voluntarily​ ​associate themselves​ ​in​ ​the​ ​common​ ​interest.​ ​AA​ ​is​ ​an​ ​association​ ​of​ ​the​ ​benign​ ​sort​ ​the​ ​prince envisioned.​ ​-​ ​Bill​ ​Wilson,​ ​co-founder​ ​of​ ​Alcoholics​ ​Anonymous,​ ​1957.

A​ ​society​ ​entering​ ​into​ ​possession​ ​of​ ​the​ ​social​ ​capital​ ​accumulated​ ​by​ ​the​ ​labor​ ​of preceding​ ​generations,​ ​organizing​ ​itself​ ​so​ ​as​ ​to​ ​make​ ​use​ ​of​ ​this​ ​capital​ ​in​ ​the​ ​interests​ ​of all,​ ​and​ ​constituting​ ​itself​ ​without​ ​reconstituting​ ​the​ ​power​ ​of​ ​the​ ​ruling​ ​minorities…is comprised​ ​of​ ​an​ ​infinite​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​capacities,​ ​temperaments​ ​and​ ​individual​ ​energies:​ ​it excludes​ ​none.

Acknowledging,​ ​as​ ​a​ ​fact,​ ​the​ ​equal​ ​rights​ ​of​ ​all​ ​its​ ​members​ ​to​ ​the​ ​treasures accumulated​ ​in​ ​the​ ​past,​ ​it​ ​no​ ​longer​ ​recognizes​ ​a​ ​division​ ​between​ ​exploited​ ​and​ ​exploiters, governed​ ​and​ ​governors,​ ​dominated​ ​and​ ​dominators,​ ​and​ ​it​ ​seeks​ ​to​ ​establish​ ​a​ ​certain harmonious​ ​compatibility​ ​in​ ​its​ ​midst​ ​-​ ​not​ ​by​ ​subjecting​ ​all​ ​its​ ​members​ ​to​ ​an​ ​authority​ ​that​ ​is fictitiously​ ​supposed​ ​to​ ​represent​ ​society,​ ​not​ ​by​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​establish​ ​uniformity…It​ ​seeks​ ​the most​ ​complete​ ​development​ ​of​ ​individuality​ ​combined​ ​with​ ​the​ ​highest​ ​development​ ​of voluntary​ ​association​ ​in​ ​all​ ​its​ ​aspects,​ ​in​ ​all​ ​possible​ ​degrees,​ ​for​ ​all​ ​imaginable​ ​aims.

In​ ​the​ ​practice​ ​of​ ​mutual​ ​aid,​ ​which​ ​we​ ​can​ ​retrace​ ​to​ ​the​ ​earliest​ ​beginnings​ ​of evolution,​ ​we​ ​thus​ ​find​ ​the​ ​positive​ ​and​ ​undoubted​ ​origin​ ​of​ ​our​ ​ethical​ ​conceptions;​ ​and​ ​we

can​ ​affirm​ ​that​ ​in​ ​the​ ​ethical​ ​progress​ ​of​ ​man,​ ​mutual​ ​support​ ​-​ ​not​ ​mutual​ ​struggle​ ​-​ ​has​ ​had the​ ​leading​ ​part.​ ​-​ ​Peter​ ​Kropotkin,​ ​Russian​ ​Prince,​ ​revolutionary​ ​and​ ​geographer,​ ​foremost theorist​ ​of​ ​anarchism,​ ​1896,​ ​1902,​ ​1911.

Introduction

How​ ​many​ ​Alcoholics​ ​Anonymous​ ​(AA)​ ​meetings​ ​have​ ​I​ ​sat​ ​through​ ​pondering​ ​how​ ​it is​ ​that​ ​this​ ​alcoholic,​ ​agnostic,​ ​anarchist​ ​has​ ​managed​ ​to​ ​stay​ ​sober​ ​and​ ​find​ ​a​ ​philosophical home​ ​that​ ​makes​ ​me​ ​feel​ ​a​ ​part​ ​of​,​ ​rather​ ​than​ ​apart​ ​from​?

In​ ​AA​ ​meetings​ ​it​ ​is​ ​repeatedly​ ​said,​ ​”Keep​ ​coming​ ​back,”​ ​and​ ​people​ ​do.​ ​People​ ​of different​ ​ethnicities,​ ​opinions,​ ​perspectives,​ ​class​ ​standings​ ​and​ ​genders​ ​feel​ ​included enough​ ​to​ ​do​ ​so-regardless​ ​of​ ​their​ ​personal,​ ​political​ ​or​ ​cultural​ ​history​ ​and​ ​perspectives. Why​ ​is​ ​this?​ ​The​ ​answer​ ​to​ ​that​ ​could​ ​take​ ​many​ ​forms,​ ​but​ ​it​ ​is​ ​my​ ​intention​ ​to​ ​strip​ ​the question​ ​of​ ​inclusivity​ ​down​ ​to​ ​its​ ​core​ ​principles,​ ​in​ ​the​ ​spirit​ ​of​ ​”keeping​ ​it​ ​simple.”

My​ ​focus​ ​for​ ​this​ ​piece​ ​is​ ​to​ ​illustrate​ ​how​ ​classical​ ​anarchist​ ​philosophy​ ​and​ ​tradition, with​ ​its​ ​three​ ​key​ ​concepts-mutual​ ​aid,​ ​free​ ​association​ ​and​ ​voluntary​ ​cooperation-were codified​ ​in​ ​Alcoholics​ ​Anonymous​ ​history​ ​so​ ​strongly​ ​that​ ​it​ ​created​ ​a​ ​mini-social transformation;​ ​the​ ​creation​ ​of​ ​a​ ​community,​ ​culture​ ​and​ ​society​ ​which​ ​actively​ ​disengages from​ ​dominant​ ​power​ ​constructs.

Through​ ​literature,​ ​language​ ​and​ ​the​ ​creation​ ​of​ ​a​ ​common​ ​moral​ ​ethic​ ​of egalitarianism,​ ​unequal​ ​hierarchical​ ​relationships​ ​based​ ​on​ ​race,​ ​class,​ ​culture,​ ​gender, sexual​ ​orientation,​ ​etc,​ ​(all​ ​of​ ​that​ ​which​ ​comprises​ ​our​ ​uniqueness​ ​yet​ ​can​ ​keep​ ​us​ ​apart) are​ ​successfully​ ​mitigated​ ​in​ ​Alcoholics​ ​Anonymous​ ​to​ ​a​ ​significant​ ​degree. AA​ ​is​ ​a​ ​cross-cultural​ ​society​ ​in​ ​and​ ​of​ ​itself,​ ​and​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​rare​ ​instances​ ​in​ ​our​ ​era​ ​of​ ​a transformative​ ​community,​ ​created​ ​upon​ ​and​ ​still​ ​utilizing​ ​a​ ​classical​ ​anarchist​ ​structure.

Critical​ ​thinking​ ​points

Every​ ​AA​ ​meeting​ ​globally​ ​starts​ ​with​ ​a​ ​reading​ ​of​ ​the​ ​following​ ​preamble​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as all​ ​twelve​ ​traditions.

ALCOHOLICS​ ​ANONYMOUS​ ​is​ ​a​ ​fellowship​ ​of​ ​men​ ​and​ ​women​ ​who​ ​share​ ​their experience,​ ​strength​ ​and​ ​hope​ ​with​ ​each​ ​other​ ​that​ ​they​ ​may​ ​solve​ ​their​ ​common​ ​problem and​ ​help​ ​others​ ​to​ ​recover​ ​from​ ​alcoholism.​ ​The​ ​only​ ​requirement​ ​for​ ​membership​ ​is​ ​a​ ​desire to​ ​stop​ ​drinking.​ ​There​ ​are​ ​no​ ​dues​ ​or​ ​fees​ ​for​ ​AA​ ​membership;​ ​we​ ​are​ ​self-supporting through​ ​our​ ​own​ ​contributions.​ ​AA​ ​is​ ​not​ ​allied​ ​with​ ​any​ ​sect,​ ​denomination,​ ​politics, organization​ ​or​ ​institution;​ ​does​ ​not​ ​wish​ ​to​ ​engage​ ​in​ ​any​ ​controversy;​ ​neither​ ​endorses​ ​nor opposes​ ​any​ ​causes.​ ​Our​ ​primary​ ​purpose​ ​is​ ​to​ ​stay​ ​sober​ ​and​ ​help​ ​other​ ​alcoholics​ ​to achieve​ ​sobriety.​ ​-​ ​Preamble,​ ​Alcoholics​ ​Anonymous,​ ​1946.

Our​ ​leaders​ ​are​ ​but​ ​trusted​ ​servants;​ ​they​ ​do​ ​not​ ​govern.​ ​-​ ​Tradition​ ​Two,​ ​Alcoholics Anonymous,​ ​1946.

Anarchy,​ ​when​ ​it​ ​works​ ​to​ ​destroy​ ​authority​ ​in​ ​all​ ​its​ ​aspects,​ ​when​ ​it​ ​demands​ ​the abrogation​ ​of​ ​laws​ ​and​ ​the​ ​abolition​ ​of​ ​the​ ​mechanism​ ​that​ ​serves​ ​to​ ​impose​ ​them,​ ​when​ ​it refuses​ ​all​ ​hierarchical​ ​organization​ ​and​ ​preaches​ ​free​ ​agreement​ ​-​ ​at​ ​the​ ​same​ ​time​ ​strives to​ ​maintain​ ​and​ ​enlarge​ ​the​ ​precious​ ​kernel​ ​of​ ​social​ ​customs​ ​without​ ​which​ ​no​ ​human​ ​or animal​ ​society​ ​can​ ​exist.​ ​Only,​ ​instead​ ​of​ ​demanding​ ​that​ ​those​ ​social​ ​customs​ ​should​ ​be maintained​ ​through​ ​the​ ​authority​ ​of​ ​a​ ​few,​ ​it​ ​demands​ ​it​ ​from​ ​the​ ​continued​ ​action​ ​of​ ​all.​​ ​- Peter​ ​Kropotkin.

No​ ​rulers,​ ​no​ ​masters

AA​ ​co-founders​ ​Bill​ ​Wilson​ ​(Bill)​ ​and​ ​Dr.​ ​Bob​ ​Smith​ ​had​ ​distinct​ ​roles​ ​and​ ​different viewpoints​ ​which​ ​they​ ​brought​ ​to​ ​the​ ​table​ ​during​ ​the​ ​writing​ ​of​ ​the​ ​early​ ​foundational​ ​tenets of​ ​the​ ​group.​ ​Bill,​ ​a​ ​successful​ ​stockbroker,​ ​traveler​ ​and​ ​socialite​ ​was​ ​primarily​ ​responsible for​ ​the​ ​early​ ​AA​ ​writings​ ​regarding​ ​the​ ​issue​ ​of​ ​setting​ ​up​ ​a​ ​community​ ​which​ ​provides access​ ​for​ ​all.​ ​A​ ​medical​ ​doctor​ ​by​ ​training,​ ​Dr.​ ​Bob’s​ ​contribution​ ​was​ ​primarily​ ​concerned with​ ​the​ ​more​ ​clinical​ ​aspects​ ​of​ ​the​ ​treatment​ ​and​ ​disease​ ​model​ ​of​ ​alcoholism.

Taken​ ​in​ ​a​ ​contextual​ ​sense,​ ​one​ ​must​ ​conjecture​ ​that​ ​Bill’s​ ​philosophies,​ ​politics​ ​and theories​ ​were​ ​a​ ​product​ ​of​ ​the​ ​1930’s,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​a​ ​well-read​ ​and​ ​rebellious​ ​mind.​ ​A​ ​long​ ​time joke​ ​in​ ​AA​ ​is​ ​to​ ​avoid​ ​telling​ ​an​ ​alcoholic​ ​what​ ​to​ ​do​ ​as​ ​they​ ​will​ ​most​ ​certainly​ ​do​ ​the opposite.​ ​The​ ​origins​ ​of​ ​this​ ​bit​ ​of​ ​philosophy​ ​may​ ​be​ ​seen​ ​in​ ​Bill’s​ ​complete​ ​opposition (despite​ ​prevailing​ ​societal​ ​structures​ ​at​ ​the​ ​time)​ ​to​ ​the​ ​concepts​ ​of​ ​rules,​ ​laws​ ​and​ ​top down​ ​leadership.​ ​As​ ​he​ ​stated​ ​in​ ​1946,​ ​AA​ ​is​ ​a​ ​”benign​ ​anarchy.”

In​ ​a​ ​1957​ ​publication,​ ​AA​ ​Comes​ ​of​ ​Age​,​ ​Bill​ ​clearly​ ​mentions​ ​the​ ​founder​ ​of​ ​modern anarchist​ ​philosophy,​ ​(the​ ​Anarchist​ ​Prince)​ ​Peter​ ​Kropotkin,​ ​who​ ​was​ ​also​ ​responsible​ ​for writing​ ​the​ ​definition​ ​of​ ​anarchism​ ​for​ ​the​ ​1911​ ​edition​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Encyclopedia​ ​Britannica​.

Bill​ ​stated​ ​that​ ​if​ ​no​ ​one​ ​was​ ​”compelled​ ​to​ ​do​ ​anything​ ​by​ ​anyone​ ​else,​ ​or​ ​compelled to​ ​obey​ ​anyone,”​ ​a​ ​society​ ​would​ ​be​ ​created​ ​granting​ ​”greater​ ​personal​ ​freedom​ ​than​ ​any other,”​ ​and​ ​that​ ​people​ ​would​ ​”voluntarily​ ​associate​ ​with​ ​one​ ​another”​ ​around​ ​their​ ​common interest​ ​(as​ ​in​ ​the​ ​desire​ ​to​ ​stop​ ​drinking,​ ​AA’s​ ​primary​ ​purpose​).​ ​Tradition​ ​five​ ​upholds​ ​the singleness​ ​of​ ​purpose​ ​of​ ​the​ ​AA​ ​community​ ​-​ ​to​ ​help​ ​other​ ​members,​ ​the​ ​still​ ​suffering alcoholic​.​ ​This​ ​tradition​ ​is​ ​based​ ​on​ ​the​ ​philosophy​ ​that​ ​the​ ​entire​ ​community​ ​shares​ ​a common​ ​bond,​ ​the​ ​suffering​ ​of​ ​alcoholism.​ ​Therefore,​ ​the​ ​members​ ​and​ ​the​ ​group​ ​are​ ​best suited,​ ​by​ ​sharing​ ​their​ ​own​ ​experience,​ ​to​ ​offer​ ​solutions.

The​ ​description​ ​of​ ​classical​ ​anarchism​ ​was​ ​defined​ ​in​ ​the​ ​informational​ ​resource​ ​of Bill’s​ ​era,​ ​the​ ​Encyclopedia​ ​Britannica,​ ​written​ ​by​ ​Kropotkin​ ​himself.​ ​My​ ​position​ ​is​ ​that​ ​this certainly​ ​influenced​ ​Bill’s​ ​formation​ ​of​ ​the​ ​principles​ ​of​ ​Alcoholics​ ​Anonymous.​ ​The​ ​practice of​ ​anarchist​ ​principles​ ​within​ ​early​ ​AA​ ​was​ ​in​ ​direct​ ​opposition​ ​to​ ​those​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Christian fundamentalist​ ​Oxford​ ​Group,​ ​whom​ ​AA​ ​broke​ ​away​ ​from.​ ​Oxford​ ​groups​ ​were​ ​hierarchical, fundamentalist​ ​and​ ​took​ ​issue​ ​with​ ​all​ ​the​ ​drunks​ ​from​ ​various​ ​social​ ​strata​ ​that​ ​Bill,​ ​Dr.​ ​Bob and​ ​early​ ​AA​ ​members​ ​would​ ​bring​ ​into​ ​groups​ ​and​ ​their​ ​personal​ ​homes.

Peter​ ​Kropotkin​ ​was​ ​a​ ​scientist​ ​and​ ​a​ ​naturalist.​ ​He​ ​was​ ​involved​ ​in​ ​several exploratory​ ​expeditions​ ​into​ ​Siberia​ ​where​ ​he​ ​closely​ ​observed​ ​the​ ​behavior​ ​of​ ​wildlife. Social​ ​Darwinism​ ​was​ ​all​ ​the​ ​rage​ ​around​ ​1900.​ ​Businessmen​ ​commonly​ ​used​ ​it​ ​to rationalize​ ​their​ ​predatory​ ​behavior,​ ​and​ ​still​ ​do.​ ​Kropotkin​ ​took​ ​on​ ​the​ ​social​ ​Darwinists​ ​with the​ ​book​ ​Mutual​ ​Aid​,​ ​citing​ ​many​ ​cases​ ​of​ ​mutual​ ​cooperation,​ ​rather​ ​than​ ​competition​ ​in nature.

Kropotkin​ ​states​ ​that​ ​the​ ​key​ ​value​ ​of​ ​society​ ​should​ ​be​ ​social​ ​equality​ ​and opportunity.​ ​In​ ​his​ ​view,​ ​the​ ​ruling​ ​class,​ ​powered​ ​and​ ​supported​ ​by​ ​government​ ​(and corporate​ ​capitalism​ ​in​ ​our​ ​era)​ ​maintains​ ​inequality,​ ​creating​ ​an​ ​oppressed​ ​class​ ​with resultant​ ​extreme​ ​disparities​ ​in​ ​access​ ​to​ ​wealth,​ ​power,​ ​decision-making​ ​and​ ​resources.​ ​No one​ ​person​ ​is​ ​free​ ​when​ ​any​ ​other​ ​is​ ​oppressed.

Dependency​ ​on​ ​our​ ​fellows,​ ​voluntarily​ ​joining​ ​in​ ​solidarity​ ​with​ ​those​ ​still​ ​suffering, and​ ​taking​ ​action​ ​to​ ​remove​ ​the​ ​source​ ​of​ ​individual​ ​suffering​ ​creates​ ​a​ ​society​ ​transformed from​ ​the​ ​need​ ​for​ ​power,​ ​wealth​ ​and​ ​resources.

In​ ​1936,​ ​a​ ​large​ ​scale​ ​anarchist​ ​action​ ​must​ ​surely​ ​have​ ​caught​ ​Bill’s​ ​attention. Certainly,​ ​the​ ​mainstream​ ​US​ ​media​ ​at​ ​the​ ​time​ ​was​ ​fascinated​ ​with​ ​the​ ​Spanish​ ​Civil​ ​War and​ ​covered​ ​it​ ​in​ ​detail.​ ​The​ ​uprising​ ​by​ ​landless​ ​peasants​ ​who​ ​seized​ ​the​ ​country’s​ ​means of​ ​production​ ​and​ ​nationalized​ ​utilities​ ​was​ ​international​ ​news–​ ​which​ ​also​ ​covered​ ​workers organizing​ ​collectives​ ​to​ ​handle​ ​labor​ ​and​ ​administrative​ ​functions.​ ​Bill​ ​would​ ​have​ ​been​ ​in the​ ​formative​ ​first​ ​years​ ​of​ ​his​ ​own​ ​recovery​ ​as​ ​he​ ​watched​ ​societal​ ​transformation​ ​in​ ​Spain. Wages​ ​were​ ​equalized,​ ​profit​ ​was​ ​removed​ ​as​ ​the​ ​motive​ ​for​ ​industrial​ ​activity,​ ​rates​ ​were lowered​ ​for​ ​public​ ​access,​ ​and​ ​people​ ​organized​ ​at​ ​the​ ​local​ ​level​ ​to​ ​produce​ ​what​ ​their community​ ​needed.​ ​In​ ​the​ ​words​ ​of​ ​one​ ​collectivist:​ ​”those​ ​who​ ​had​ ​less​ ​now​ ​ate​ ​more​ ​and better​ ​-​ ​no​ ​one​ ​went​ ​short.”​ ​Society​ ​was​ ​transformed​ ​based​ ​on​ ​the​ ​needs​ ​of​ ​all,​ ​not​ ​profit​ ​for the​ ​wealthy.

Elements​ ​of​ ​anarchism​ ​in​ ​Alcoholics​ ​Anonymous

The​ ​links​ ​between​ ​Alcoholics​ ​Anonymous​ ​and​ ​classical​ ​anarchism​ ​become​ ​even clearer​ ​when​ ​viewing​ ​the​ ​correlating​ ​elements.​ ​AA​ ​is​ ​a​ ​society​ ​without​ ​political​ ​power inequalities.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​not​ ​enforced​ ​by​ ​rules​ ​and​ ​resultant​ ​punishment,​ ​there​ ​exists​ ​no​ ​scarcity​ ​of resources​ ​falsely​ ​created​ ​by​ ​power​ ​differentials​ ​(and​ ​upheld​ ​by​ ​government​ ​and​ ​corporate capitalism​ ​for​ ​the​ ​pure​ ​profit​ ​of​ ​the​ ​few).​ ​There​ ​are​ ​no​ ​elite,​ ​no​ ​ruling​ ​class​ ​and​ ​no​ ​minority class.​ ​The​ ​three​ ​elements​ ​of​ ​classical​ ​anarchism,​ ​free​ ​association,​ ​voluntary​ ​cooperation and​ ​mutual​ ​aid​ ​are​ ​the​ ​foundation​ ​and​ ​success​ ​of​ ​Alcoholics​ ​Anonymous. Free​ ​association​-our​ ​innate​ ​right​ ​of​ ​freedom​ ​to​ ​be​ ​with​ ​anyone​ ​regardless​ ​of​ ​social,​ ​racial, gender​ ​or​ ​class​ ​standing.

Voluntary​ ​cooperation​-the​ ​right,​ ​the​ ​power​ ​and​ ​the​ ​moral​ ​responsibility​ ​that​ ​every member​ ​has​ ​to​ ​actively​ ​participate​ ​at​ ​all​ ​levels​ ​in​ ​the​ ​creation​ ​and​ ​maintenance​ ​of​ ​a community​ ​whose​ ​primary​ ​purpose​ ​is​ ​to​ ​meet​ ​the​ ​needs​ ​of​ ​all​ ​members,​ ​and​ ​thereby​ ​the common​ ​good.

Mutual​ ​Aid​-the​ ​sharing​ ​of​ ​resources​ ​and​ ​labor​ ​for​ ​the​ ​mutual​ ​benefit​ ​of​ ​each individual​ ​member​ ​and​ ​thereby​ ​the​ ​whole​ ​community.

These​ ​elements​ ​are​ ​combined​ ​within​ ​Alcoholics​ ​Anonymous​ ​to​ ​form​ ​the​ ​foundation​ ​of inclusivity​ ​that​ ​facilitates​ ​the​ ​success​ ​of​ ​the​ ​program.​ ​Anyone​ ​who​ ​walks​ ​in​ ​the​ ​door​ ​is welcome,​ ​(​free​ ​association​).​ ​All​ ​members​ ​have​ ​the​ ​responsibility​ ​and​ ​right​ ​to​ ​participate​ ​in the​ ​fellowship​ ​at​ ​any​ ​level​ ​for​ ​the​ ​common​ ​good,​ ​(​voluntary​ ​cooperation​).​ ​The​ ​program​ ​is based​ ​on​ ​actively​ ​helping​ ​each​ ​individual​ ​to​ ​alleviate​ ​their​ ​suffering​ ​through​ ​being​ ​of​ ​service to​ ​one​ ​another​ ​and​ ​AA​ ​as​ ​a​ ​whole,​ ​through​ ​focusing​ ​on​ ​the​ ​newcomer​ ​(AA’s​ ​primary purpose),​ ​friendship,​ ​formal​ ​sponsorship,​ ​and​ ​access​ ​to​ ​all​ ​levels​ ​of​ ​service​ ​work​ ​positions (​mutual​ ​aid​).

The​ ​traditions

If​ ​AA​ ​has​ ​no​ ​authority​ ​to​ ​govern​ ​its​ ​individual​ ​members​ ​or​ ​groups,​ ​how​ ​shall​ ​it​ ​ever be​ ​sure​ ​that​ ​the​ ​common​ ​welfare​ ​does​ ​come​ ​first?​ ​How​ ​is​ ​it​ ​possible​ ​to​ ​be​ ​governed​ ​without a​ ​government?​ ​If​ ​everyone​ ​can​ ​do​ ​as​ ​he​ ​pleases,​ ​how​ ​can​ ​you​ ​have​ ​aught​ ​but​ ​anarchy?” The​ ​answer​ ​seems​ ​to​ ​be​ ​that​ ​we​ ​AA’s​ ​cannot​ ​really​ ​do​ ​as​ ​we​ ​please,​ ​though​ ​there​ ​is​ ​no constituted​ ​human​ ​authority​ ​to​ ​restrain​ ​us.​ ​Actually,​ ​our​ ​common​ ​welfare​ ​is​ ​protected​ ​by powerful​ ​safeguards.​ ​The​ ​moment​ ​any​ ​action​ ​seriously​ ​threatens​ ​the​ ​common​ ​welfare, group​ ​opinion​ ​mobilizes​ ​to​ ​remind​ ​us;​ ​our​ ​conscience​ ​begins​ ​to​ ​complain…So​ ​it​ ​is​ ​we​ ​learn that​ ​in​ ​matters​ ​deeply​ ​affecting​ ​the​ ​group​ ​as​ ​a​ ​whole,​ ​”our​ ​common​ ​welfare​ ​comes​ ​first.” Rebellion​ ​ceases​ ​and​ ​cooperation​ ​begins​ ​because​ ​it​ ​must;​ ​we​ ​have​ ​disciplined​ ​ourselves. Eventually,​ ​of​ ​course,​ ​we​ ​cooperate​ ​because​ ​we​ ​really​ ​wish​ ​to;​ ​we​ ​see​ ​that​ ​without​ ​AA​ ​there can​ ​be​ ​little​ ​lasting​ ​recovery​ ​for​ ​anyone.​ ​We​ ​gladly​ ​set​ ​aside​ ​personal​ ​ambitions​ ​whenever these​ ​might​ ​harm​ ​AA.​ ​We​ ​humbly​ ​confess​ ​that​ ​we​ ​are​ ​but​ ​”a​ ​small​ ​part​ ​of​ ​a​ ​great​ ​whole.”​​ ​- AA​ ​Grapevine,​ ​1946.

The​ ​AA​ ​traditions​ ​can​ ​be​ ​found​ ​at​ ​most​ ​AA​ ​meetings​ ​in​ ​large​ ​print​ ​upon​ ​the​ ​walls, and​ ​are​ ​read​ ​at​ ​the​ ​beginning​ ​of​ ​each​ ​meeting.​ ​The​ ​main​ ​purpose​ ​of​ ​the​ ​traditions,​ ​written​ ​by Bill​ ​in​ ​1946​ ​after​ ​a​ ​”huge​ ​internal​ ​AA​ ​struggle​ ​to​ ​adopt​ ​them”​ ​is​ ​to​ ​provide​ ​a​ ​unifying foundation​ ​for​ ​the​ ​entire​ ​community​ ​by​ ​emphasizing​ ​common​ ​welfare​ ​over​ ​individual preference,​ ​personality​ ​or​ ​desire.​ ​The​ ​well-known​ ​AA​ ​phrase:​ ​”principles​ ​before​ ​personality,” is​ ​an​ ​open​ ​invitation​ ​for​ ​anyone​ ​to​ ​participate​ ​without​ ​fear​ ​of​ ​domination​ ​or​ ​judgment​ ​by individuals​ ​or​ ​the​ ​group.​ ​The​ ​traditions​ ​provide​ ​AA​ ​with​ ​an​ ​egalitarian​ ​framework . A​ ​higher​ ​power​ ​with​ ​no​ ​power

The​ ​only​ ​reference​ ​to​ ​the​ ​word​ ​”authority”​ ​appears​ ​in​ ​tradition​ ​two​ ​which​ ​states:​ ​”For our​ ​group​ ​purpose​ ​there​ ​is​ ​but​ ​one​ ​ultimate​ ​authority​ ​-​ ​a​ ​loving​ ​God​ ​as​ ​He​ ​may​ ​express Himself​ ​in​ ​our​ ​group​ ​conscience.​ ​Our​ ​leaders​ ​are​ ​but​ ​trusted​ ​servants;​ ​they​ ​do​ ​not​ ​govern.” Appearing​ ​in​ ​Step​ ​two​ ​of​ ​the​ ​twelve​ ​steps​ ​of​ ​Alcoholics​ ​Anonymous​ ​is​ ​a​ ​further​ ​description​ ​of the​ ​concept​ ​of​ ​what​ ​this​ ​one​ ​authority​ ​is:​ ​”God​ ​as​ ​we​ ​understand​ ​him.”

The​ ​person​ ​responsible​ ​for​ ​this​ ​inclusion​ ​was​ ​Jim​ ​Burwell,​ ​an​ ​early​ ​AA​ ​member​ ​(who was​ ​instrumental​ ​in​ ​the​ ​publicity​ ​of​ ​the​ ​widely​ ​read​ ​1941​ ​Saturday​ ​Evening​ ​Post​ ​article

describing​ ​AA).​ ​Jim​ ​was​ ​an​ ​atheist​ ​who​ ​later​ ​described​ ​himself​ ​as​ ​a​ ​”militant​ ​agnostic,”​ ​and got​ ​”the​ ​God​ ​bit​ ​toned​ ​down.”

In​ ​AA​ ​culture​ ​the​ ​concept​ ​of​ ​God​ ​is​ ​decided​ ​upon​ ​by​ ​the​ ​individual​ ​experiencing​ ​a spiritual​ ​awakening.​ ​Conceptions​ ​can​ ​take​ ​many​ ​forms,​ ​influenced​ ​by​ ​local​ ​demographics, and​ ​may​ ​include:​ ​AA​ ​itself,​ ​the​ ​power​ ​and​ ​synergy​ ​of​ ​the​ ​group,​ ​atheism,​ ​agnosticism, mysticism,​ ​many​ ​international​ ​religions,​ ​Native​ ​American​ ​spiritual​ ​paths,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​more whimsical​ ​personal​ ​concepts,​ ​or​ ​none.

Group​ ​conscience

Group​ ​conscience,​ ​as​ ​practiced​ ​in​ ​most​ ​AA​ ​groups,​ ​means​ ​unity​ ​of​ ​purpose​ ​through consensual​ ​decision-making​ ​about​ ​issues​ ​affecting​ ​AA.​ ​Official​ ​governance​ ​and​ ​authority​ ​in AA​ ​do​ ​not​ ​exist.​ ​Group​ ​conscience​ ​allows​ ​for​ ​every​ ​meeting​ ​to​ ​be​ ​run​ ​differently​ ​within​ ​the overarching​ ​singleness​ ​of​ ​purpose​ ​of​ ​AA.​ ​Specific​ ​cultural​ ​traditions​ ​may​ ​be​ ​evident​ ​in​ ​some meetings,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​those​ ​whose​ ​members​ ​are​ ​comprised​ ​primarily​ ​of​ ​one​ ​ethnic​ ​group.

Cussing​ ​may​ ​be​ ​the​ ​norm​ ​in​ ​some​ ​groups​ ​but​ ​not​ ​others​ ​where​ ​small​ ​children​ ​are present.​ ​Meetings​ ​are​ ​not​ ​facilitated​ ​homogeneously,​ ​they​ ​take​ ​different​ ​forms,​ ​yet​ ​all meetings​ ​rely​ ​on​ ​the​ ​three​ ​tenets​ ​of​ ​classical​ ​anarchism.

The​ ​AA​ ​structure​ ​as​ ​a​ ​whole​ ​is​ ​kept​ ​safe​ ​from​ ​the​ ​rules​ ​and​ ​moral​ ​codes​ ​of​ ​any​ ​one​ ​person or​ ​group’s​ ​ideology.

Money,​ ​property​ ​and​ ​prestige

An​ ​A.A.​ ​group​ ​ought​ ​never​ ​endorse,​ ​finance,​ ​or​ ​lend​ ​the​ ​A.A.​ ​name​ ​to​ ​any​ ​related facility​ ​or​ ​outside​ ​enterprise,​ ​lest​ ​problems​ ​of​ ​money,​ ​property,​ ​and​ ​prestige​ ​divert​ ​us​ ​from our​ ​primary​ ​purpose.”​-AA​ ​Tradition​ ​Six.

Neither​ ​money​ ​nor​ ​conformity​ ​plays​ ​any​ ​role​ ​in​ ​membership.​ ​An​ ​AA​ ​group​ ​can​ ​be any​ ​two​ ​people​ ​who​ ​call​ ​themselves​ ​such,​ ​giving​ ​groups​ ​the​ ​freedom​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​in​ ​their​ ​own cultural​ ​traditions,​ ​which​ ​occur​ ​at​ ​bilingual​ ​meetings,​ ​agnostic,​ ​disability,​ ​senior​ ​and​ ​gay meetings.​ ​These​ ​meetings​ ​are​ ​open​ ​to​ ​anyone.​ ​Class​ ​standing,​ ​ethnic​ ​backgrounds,​ ​gender, disability​ ​-​ ​all​ ​are​ ​non-issues.​ ​AA​ ​members​ ​are​ ​told​ ​that​ ​alcoholics​ ​come​ ​from​ ​every​ ​walk​ ​of life;​ ​unity​ ​is​ ​the​ ​key​ ​to​ ​survival​ ​of​ ​AA,​ ​and​ ​thereby​ ​survival​ ​of​ ​the​ ​individual.

The​ ​traditions​ ​focus​ ​on​ ​the​ ​protection​ ​of​ ​the​ ​group​ ​from​ ​accumulation​ ​of​ ​wealth, property​ ​or​ ​prestige.​ ​This​ ​model​ ​was​ ​clearly​ ​developed​ ​on​ ​the​ ​foundation​ ​of​ ​anarchist philosophy,​ ​which​ ​views​ ​accumulation/hoarding​ ​of​ ​resources​ ​by​ ​the​ ​few,​ ​as​ ​opposed​ ​to equal​ ​resource​ ​sharing,​ ​as​ ​the​ ​major​ ​factor​ ​that​ ​divides​ ​people.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​stated​ ​in​ ​the​ ​traditions unequivocally​ ​that​ ​AA​ ​is​ ​to​ ​be​ ​fully​ ​self​ ​supporting,​ ​declining​ ​outside​ ​contributions,​ ​no outside​ ​(or​ ​inside)​ ​influence​ ​can​ ​lobby​ ​for​ ​self​ ​or​ ​institutional​ ​gain.

Outside​ ​issues,​ ​autonomy​ ​and​ ​anonymity

The​ ​autonomy​ ​of​ ​each​ ​group​ ​and​ ​AA​ ​as​ ​a​ ​whole​ ​is​ ​protected​ ​from​ ​authoritarian hijacking.​ ​As​ ​Bill​ ​saw​ ​it:​ ​”With​ ​respect​ ​to​ ​its​ ​own​ ​affairs,​ ​each​ ​AA​ ​group​ ​should​ ​be responsible​ ​to​ ​no​ ​other​ ​authority​ ​than​ ​its​ ​own​ ​conscience.”​ ​This​ ​tradition​ ​also​ ​protects​ ​the​ ​AA community​ ​from​ ​dominant​ ​personalities​ ​who​ ​might​ ​strive​ ​to​ ​seize​ ​power​ ​and​ ​control.​ ​Power is​ ​retained​ ​at​ ​the​ ​micro​ ​level,​ ​and​ ​volunteer​ ​service​ ​work​ ​positions​ ​in​ ​regional​ ​or​ ​national positions​ ​are​ ​time-limited​ ​as​ ​agreed​ ​upon​ ​by​ ​consensus​ ​at​ ​the​ ​national​ ​level.​ ​At​ ​the​ ​local level,​ ​rigid​ ​methodologies​ ​of​ ​doing​ ​things​ ​are​ ​discouraged-the​ ​traditions​ ​state:​ ​”each​ ​AA group​ ​needs​ ​the​ ​least​ ​possible​ ​organization.”

There​ ​are​ ​opinions​ ​galore​ ​within​ ​AA​ ​on​ ​every​ ​subject,​ ​as​ ​in​ ​any​ ​society.​ ​Yet​ ​by expressly​ ​limiting​ ​the​ ​effects​ ​of​ ​issues​ ​outside​ ​of​ ​community​ ​concerns​ ​within​ ​the​ ​discussions that​ ​occur​ ​in​ ​AA,​ ​those​ ​of​ ​politics,​ ​race​ ​and​ ​religion​ ​in​ ​particular,​ ​AA​ ​leaves​ ​the​ ​dominant culture​ ​outside​ ​the​ ​door.​ ​No​ ​individual’s​ ​history,​ ​religion,​ ​race,​ ​culture,​ ​economic​ ​standing, disability​ ​or​ ​orientation​ ​limits​ ​their​ ​access​ ​to​ ​the​ ​group​ ​or​ ​program​ ​of​ ​recovery.​ ​Culture​ ​is evident​ ​in​ ​group​ ​meetings,​ ​as​ ​people​ ​share​ ​their​ ​history,​ ​but​ ​the​ ​primary​ ​AA​ ​message​ ​of recovery​ ​is​ ​in​ ​its​ ​availability​ ​to​ ​all,​ ​regardless​ ​of​ ​anything.

Anonymity,​ ​the​ ​great​ ​equalizing​ ​factor,​ ​is​ ​the​ ​reason​ ​AA​ ​exists​ ​as​ ​a​ ​functional anarchistic​ ​organization.​ ​Anonymity​ ​creates​ ​equality.​ ​Members​ ​are​ ​all​ ​bound​ ​together​ ​by​ ​a common​ ​purpose,​ ​no​ ​matter​ ​where​ ​they​ ​come​ ​from​ ​or​ ​who​ ​they​ ​are.​ ​There​ ​is​ ​no​ ​allowance for​ ​power-grabbing,​ ​or​ ​the​ ​emergence​ ​of​ ​charismatic​ ​leadership​ ​in​ ​the​ ​seeking​ ​of​ ​common welfare.

To​ ​sum​ ​up:​ ​For​ ​thousands​ ​of​ ​alcoholics​ ​yet​ ​to​ ​come,​ ​AA​ ​does​ ​have​ ​an​ ​answer.​ ​But there​ ​is​ ​one​ ​condition.​ ​We​ ​must,​ ​at​ ​all​ ​costs,​ ​preserve​ ​our​ ​essential​ ​unity;​ ​it​ ​must​ ​be​ ​made unbreakably​ ​secure.​ ​Without​ ​permanent​ ​unity​ ​there​ ​can​ ​be​ ​little​ ​lasting​ ​recovery​ ​for​ ​anyone. Hence​ ​our​ ​future​ ​absolutely​ ​depends​ ​upon​ ​the​ ​creation​ ​and​ ​observance​ ​of​ ​a​ ​sound​ ​group Tradition.​ ​First​ ​things​ ​will​ ​always​ ​need​ ​to​ ​be​ ​first;​ ​humility​ ​before​ ​success,​ ​and​ ​unity​ ​before fame.​ ​-​ ​Bill​ ​Wilson,​ ​1946

Sharing

The​ ​open​ ​and​ ​free​ ​sharing​ ​of​ ​individual​ ​experience,​ ​strength​ ​and​ ​hope​ ​by​ ​any Alcoholics​ ​Anonymous​ ​member​ ​regardless​ ​of​ ​anything​ ​is​ ​directed​ ​at​ ​identifying​ ​the​ ​strands that​ ​tie​ ​the​ ​common​ ​experience​ ​together,​ ​and​ ​defining​ ​the​ ​solutions​ ​that​ ​will​ ​be​ ​most​ ​likely​ ​to succeed​ ​regardless​ ​of​ ​external​ ​factors,​ ​social​ ​or​ ​political​ ​constructs,​ ​issues​ ​of​ ​race,​ ​culture, class,​ ​religious​ ​fundamentalism,​ ​power​ ​dynamics,​ ​sexual​ ​orientation​ ​or​ ​gender.

Any​ ​opinions​ ​are​ ​no​ ​greater​ ​or​ ​lesser​ ​than​ ​anyone​ ​else’s.​ ​Members​ ​have​ ​the​ ​right​ ​to listen​ ​or​ ​not,​ ​and​ ​to​ ​take​ ​suggestions​ ​from​ ​others​ ​or​ ​not.​ ​Rules​ ​are​ ​non-existent,​ ​no​ ​one​ ​is told​ ​that​ ​they​ ​must​ ​do​ ​something​ ​a​ ​member​ ​tells​ ​them​ ​to,​ ​and​ ​there​ ​is​ ​no​ ​threat​ ​of punishment​ ​or​ ​penalty.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​suggested,​ ​to​ ​find​ ​the​ ​commonalities​ ​in​ ​others​ ​experiences,​ ​find the​ ​shared​ ​solutions​ ​to​ ​alleviate​ ​personal​ ​suffering,​ ​whilst​ ​at​ ​the​ ​same​ ​time​ ​carry​ ​this message​ ​onward​ ​to​ ​alleviate​ ​the​ ​suffering​ ​of​ ​others.​ ​The​ ​concepts​ ​of​ ​open-mindedness, willingness​ ​and​ ​honesty,​ ​as​ ​contained​ ​in​ ​the​ ​literature,​ ​contribute​ ​to​ ​effective​ ​cross-cultural community​ ​building.​ ​Racism,​ ​intolerance,​ ​bigotry​ ​and​ ​derogatory​ ​language​ ​towards

individuals​ ​or​ ​cultures​ ​are​ ​effectively​ ​shut​ ​down​ ​by​ ​group​ ​members​ ​under​ ​AA’s​ ​singleness​ ​of purpose​ ​of​ ​the​ ​AA​ ​group​ ​which​ ​is​ ​to​ ​carry​ ​the​ ​message​ ​of​ ​recovery​ ​to​ ​everyone​ ​in​ ​the​ ​group.

AA​ ​Fellowship

The​ ​moral​ ​imperative​ ​within​ ​Alcoholics​ ​Anonymous​ ​is​ ​to​ ​voluntarily​ ​help​ ​people regardless​ ​of​ ​any​ ​factor.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​embodied​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Responsibility​ ​Statement​ ​penned​ ​in​ ​1965:​ ​I am​ ​responsible.​ ​When​ ​anyone,​ ​anywhere,​ ​reaches​ ​out​ ​for​ ​help,​ ​I​ ​want​ ​the​ ​hand​ ​of​ ​AA always​ ​to​ ​be​ ​there.​ ​And​ ​for​ ​that,​ ​I​ ​am​ ​responsible.

Members​ ​are​ ​taught​ ​that​ ​sobriety​ ​is​ ​maintained​ ​primarily​ ​by​ ​helping​ ​other​ ​alcoholics in​ ​AA.​ ​Every​ ​member’s​ ​responsibility​ ​is​ ​that​ ​their​ ​personal​ ​resources,​ ​in​ ​this​ ​case​ ​their method​ ​of​ ​maintaining​ ​sobriety​ ​from​ ​alcoholism,​ ​be​ ​shared​ ​with​ ​the​ ​newcomer,​ ​or​ ​anyone walking​ ​into​ ​an​ ​AA​ ​meeting​ ​with​ ​a​ ​desire​ ​to​ ​stop​ ​drinking.​ ​The​ ​meaning​ ​of​ ​fellowship​ ​in​ ​the context​ ​of​ ​resource-sharing​ ​within​ ​AA​ ​is​ ​to​ ​freely​ ​spend​ ​time​ ​together,​ ​with​ ​people​ ​whom​ ​one normally​ ​may​ ​not​ ​have​ ​had​ ​reason​ ​to​ ​associate​ ​with​ ​in​ ​the​ ​dominant​ ​society.

Shared​ ​language​ ​usage​ ​is​ ​formed​ ​in​ ​communities​ ​so​ ​that​ ​people​ ​can​ ​understand each​ ​other​ ​without​ ​regard​ ​to​ ​differences​ ​in​ ​culture.​ ​Shared​ ​language​ ​breaks​ ​down​ ​divisions and​ ​builds​ ​community.​ ​Within​ ​AA​ ​certain​ ​concepts​ ​may​ ​have​ ​their​ ​own​ ​lingo,​ ​backstory, phrase,​ ​quote​ ​or​ ​joke​ ​that​ ​may​ ​be​ ​retold​ ​repeatedly.​ ​These​ ​may​ ​have​ ​drifted​ ​in​ ​from mainstream​ ​society,​ ​and​ ​become​ ​appropriated​ ​into​ ​AA’s​ ​shared​ ​language,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​Easy Does​ ​It,​ ​a​ ​common​ ​phrase​ ​heard​ ​in​ ​meetings​ ​world-wide.​ ​The​ ​origin​ ​of​ ​this​ ​phrase​ ​is​ ​the 1863​ ​play,​ ​”The​ ​Ticket-of-Leave​ ​Man,”​ ​and​ ​which​ ​was​ ​used​ ​in​ ​the​ ​comic​ ​strip​ ​”Hawkshaw the​ ​Detective”​ ​from​ ​1913-1947.

For​ ​a​ ​successful​ ​anarchist​ ​organization​ ​to​ ​work​ ​members​ ​must​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​understand and​ ​communicate​ ​with​ ​each​ ​other​ ​without​ ​the​ ​cultural​ ​lens​ ​of​ ​their​ ​own​ ​experiences​ ​and history​ ​warping​ ​the​ ​view.

AA​ ​has​ ​been​ ​denounced​ ​as​ ​a​ ​cult​ ​by​ ​outsiders​ ​with​ ​their​ ​own​ ​biases​ ​and​ ​opinions; however​ ​when​ ​one​ ​starts​ ​to​ ​understand​ ​the​ ​language​ ​of​ ​AA,​ ​it​ ​becomes​ ​clear​ ​that​ ​bias​ ​and opinion​ ​(both​ ​in​ ​and​ ​out​ ​of​ ​AA)​ ​is​ ​just​ ​that-an​ ​individualist​ ​approach​ ​which​ ​doesn’t​ ​contribute to​ ​alleviating​ ​the​ ​group’s​ ​stated​ ​purpose.​ ​One​ ​of​ ​Bill’s​ ​favorite​ ​sayings,​ ​”Every​ ​group​ ​has​ ​the right​ ​to​ ​be​ ​wrong,”​ ​highlights​ ​every​ ​group’s​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​continually​ ​transform.

Although​ ​there​ ​exists​ ​a​ ​tendency​ ​within​ ​AA​ ​to​ ​quote​ ​”approved”​ ​literature,​ ​there exists​ ​no​ ​tradition​ ​in​ ​the​ ​AA​ ​principles,​ ​traditions​ ​or​ ​other​ ​writing​ ​that​ ​advocates​ ​censorship of​ ​any​ ​materials,​ ​as​ ​long​ ​as​ ​it​ ​”pertains​ ​to​ ​the​ ​principles​ ​of​ ​AA​ ​or​ ​is​ ​approved​ ​by​ ​a​ ​GROUP CONSCIENCE​ ​-​ ​then​ ​it​ ​is​ ​perfectly​ ​acceptable​ ​to​ ​be​ ​read​ ​by​ ​any​ ​AA​ ​member​ ​or​ ​in​ ​an​ ​AA meeting.”​ ​Early​ ​participants​ ​read​ ​from​ ​a​ ​diverse​ ​array​ ​of​ ​materials:​ ​Shaker​ ​writings,​ ​world religions​ ​and​ ​philosophy…​ ​and​ ​shall​ ​we​ ​say​ ​anarchist​ ​theory​ ​as​ ​well.

The​ ​term​ ​Conference​ ​Approved​ ​Literature​ ​simply​ ​denotes​ ​books​ ​and​ ​materials copyrighted​ ​and​ ​published​ ​by​ ​AA​ ​World​ ​Services.​ ​As​ ​Bill​ ​saw​ ​it:​ ​”Here​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Foundation​ ​we are​ ​not​ ​policemen,​ ​we’re​ ​a​ ​service​ ​and​ ​AA’s​ ​are​ ​free​ ​to​ ​read​ ​any​ ​book​ ​they​ ​choose.”

Sponsorship

Sponsorship​ ​is​ ​encouraged​ ​in​ ​AA,​ ​as​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​concept​ ​of​ ​”service​ ​work,”​ ​which​ ​is the​ ​backbone​ ​of​ ​the​ ​community​ ​and​ ​contained​ ​within​ ​most​ ​of​ ​the​ ​literature.​ ​Sponsorship means​ ​one​ ​person​ ​working​ ​closely​ ​with​ ​another​ ​person​ ​to​ ​read,​ ​understand,​ ​discuss​ ​and​ ​put intellectual​ ​and​ ​emotional​ ​effort​ ​into​ ​completing​ ​the​ ​twelve​ ​steps​ ​in​ ​a​ ​standardized​ ​fashion, as​ ​outlined​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Big​ ​Book​ ​of​ ​Alcoholics​ ​Anonymous.

Members​ ​are​ ​free​ ​to​ ​ask​ ​someone​ ​to​ ​sponsor​ ​them;​ ​sponsors​ ​are​ ​free​ ​to​ ​decide whether​ ​or​ ​not​ ​they​ ​will.​ ​A​ ​good​ ​sponsor​ ​may​ ​be​ ​totally​ ​different​ ​than​ ​a​ ​sponsee,​ ​whether​ ​in values,​ ​religion,​ ​culture​ ​or​ ​race.​ ​The​ ​most​ ​effective​ ​sponsors​ ​have​ ​a​ ​positive​ ​solution-based message.​ ​Sponsors​ ​who​ ​are​ ​able​ ​to​ ​model​ ​the​ ​message​ ​of​ ​AA​ ​and​ ​articulately​ ​pass​ ​it​ ​on​ ​to another-achieving​ ​success​ ​staying​ ​sober​ ​whilst​ ​they​ ​help​ ​others​ ​stay​ ​sober.​ ​A​ ​sponsee​ ​is free​ ​to​ ​fire​ ​the​ ​sponsor​ ​at​ ​any​ ​time,​ ​or​ ​vice​ ​versa.​ ​There​ ​exists​ ​no​ ​right​ ​way​ ​or​ ​wrong​ ​way​ ​to do​ ​so.​ ​Free​ ​association,​ ​unity​ ​of​ ​purpose,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​prime​ ​emphasis​ ​on​ ​mutual​ ​aid​ ​are​ ​all​ ​part of​ ​the​ ​total​ ​package​ ​of​ ​AA.

Demographics

AA​ ​had​ ​over​ ​100,000​ ​groups​ ​worldwide​ ​in​ ​2001.​ ​Globally​ ​there​ ​are​ ​more​ ​than​ ​two million​ ​members.​ ​Ethnic​ ​minorities​ ​are​ ​underrepresented​ ​in​ ​AA.​ ​According​ ​to​ ​AA’s​ ​own literature,​ ​85.1%​ ​of​ ​the​ ​members​ ​are​ ​Caucasian.​ ​Outreach​ ​has​ ​focused​ ​on​ ​diverse populations,​ ​with​ ​AA​ ​literature​ ​developed​ ​for​ ​African-Americans,​ ​women,​ ​gays,​ ​Latinos, youths​ ​and​ ​Native​ ​Americans.

As​ ​of​ ​2007,​ ​estimated​ ​AA​ ​membership​ ​and​ ​active​ ​groups​ ​includes: Groups​ ​in​ ​U.S.:​ ​55,244 Members​ ​in​ ​U.S:​ ​1,248,394

Groups​ ​in​ ​Canada:​ ​4,849 Members​ ​in​ ​Canada:​ ​93,986

Groups​ ​Overseas:​ ​55,092 Members​ ​Overseas:​ ​702,510

Groups​ ​in​ ​Correctional​ ​Facilities​ ​(U.S./Canada): Members​ ​in​ ​Correctional​ ​Facilities: 1,585 39,964

Lone​ ​Members:​ ​235

Total​ ​Groups:​ ​116,773 Total​ ​Members:​ ​2,085,125

Efficacy​ ​Studies

Project​ ​MATCH,​ ​an​ ​8-year,​ ​multi-site,​ ​$27-million​ ​investigation​ ​correlated​ ​positive results​ ​experienced​ ​by​ ​participants​ ​involved​ ​in​ ​AA​ ​compared​ ​to​ ​other​ ​treatment​ ​modalities. Said​ ​NIAAA​ ​Director​ ​Enoch​ ​Gordis,​ ​M.D,​ ​”These​ ​findings​ ​are​ ​good​ ​news​ ​for​ ​treatment providers​ ​and​ ​for​ ​patients​ ​who​ ​can​ ​have​ ​confidence​ ​that​ ​any​ ​one​ ​of​ ​these​ ​treatments,​ ​if well-delivered,​ ​represents​ ​the​ ​state​ ​of​ ​the​ ​art​ ​in​ ​behavioral​ ​treatments.”

In​ ​a​ ​1983​ ​study​ ​which​ ​compiled​ ​forty​ ​years​ ​of​ ​clinical​ ​studies​ ​and​ ​an​ ​eight-year longitudinal​ ​study,​ ​Dr.​ ​George​ ​Vaillant-an​ ​AA​ ​Board​ ​member,​ ​concluded​ ​that​ ​”Alcoholics Anonymous​ ​appears​ ​equal​ ​to​ ​or​ ​superior​ ​to​ ​conventional​ ​treatments​ ​for​ ​alcoholism,​ ​and​ ​the skepticism​ ​of​ ​some​ ​professionals​ ​regarding​ ​AA​ ​as​ ​a​ ​first​ ​rank​ ​treatment​ ​for​ ​alcoholism​ ​would appear​ ​to​ ​be​ ​unwarranted.”

A​ ​sixteen​ ​year​ ​study​ ​by​ ​Moos​ ​and​ ​Moos​ ​comparing​ ​standard​ ​clinical​ ​treatment​ ​to continuous​ ​involvement​ ​in​ ​AA​ ​found​ ​that​ ​”after​ ​the​ ​first​ ​year,​ ​continued​ ​clinical​ ​treatment​ ​had little​ ​effect​ ​on​ ​the​ ​16-year​ ​outcomes,​ ​whereas​ ​continued​ ​involvement​ ​in​ ​AA​ ​did​ ​help.” In​ ​a​ ​study​ ​of​ ​1,774​ ​low-income​ ​veterans,​ ​researchers​ ​concluded​ ​that​ ​12-step​ ​programs​ ​were found​ ​to​ ​be​ ​effective​ ​in​ ​terms​ ​of​ ​cost​ ​and​ ​recovery.

1.​ ​A​ ​study​ ​by​ ​J.​ ​Tonigan​ ​found​ ​that​ ​”the​ ​largest​ ​benefit​ ​associated​ ​with​ ​AA​ ​attendance​ ​was increased​ ​abstinence,​ ​followed​ ​by​ ​reductions​ ​in​ ​alcohol-related​ ​consequences.” 2.​ ​A​ ​survey​ ​of​ ​approximately​ ​7,000​ ​members​ ​of​ ​Alcoholics​ ​Anonymous​ ​carried​ ​out​ ​in​ ​1998 “indicates​ ​that​ ​no​ ​less​ ​than​ ​47%​ ​had​ ​been​ ​sober​ ​for​ ​a​ ​minimum​ ​of​ ​5​ ​years.”

Summary

When​ ​viewed​ ​through​ ​an​ ​anarchist​ ​lens,​ ​the​ ​concept​ ​of​ ​any​ ​one​ ​individual​ ​having more​ ​of​ ​something,​ ​while​ ​another​ ​has​ ​less​ ​is​ ​unnecessary​ ​and​ ​creates​ ​suffering.​ ​This suffering​ ​is​ ​alleviated​ ​and​ ​avoided​ ​by​ ​assuring​ ​equally​ ​shared​ ​access​ ​to​ ​resources​ ​by​ ​all-at all​ ​levels​ ​through​ ​voluntarily​ ​cooperation.

Bill​ ​Wilson​ ​thought​ ​that​ ​Alcoholics​ ​Anonymous​ ​would​ ​”always​ ​be​ ​threatened​ ​from within​ ​and​ ​without”​ ​if​ ​the​ ​community​ ​did​ ​not​ ​have​ ​a​ ​common​ ​purpose-open​ ​to​ ​anyone​ ​and everyone​ ​who​ ​walked​ ​in​ ​the​ ​door.​ ​Earning​ ​a​ ​chair​ ​in​ ​AA,​ ​or​ ​a​ ​place​ ​in​ ​the​ ​community,​ ​does not​ ​have​ ​any​ ​correlation​ ​with​ ​one’s​ ​race,​ ​status,​ ​class,​ ​gender​ ​or​ ​other​ ​dividing​ ​factor.​ ​The only​ ​requirement​ ​for​ ​membership,​ ​for​ ​community​ ​and​ ​for​ ​a​ ​chair​ ​in​ ​AA​ ​is​ ​a​ ​desire​ ​to​ ​stop drinking​ ​(Tradition​ ​Three).​ ​You​ ​are​ ​an​ ​AA​ ​member​ ​if​ ​you​ ​say​ ​you​ ​are.

AA’s​ ​message​ ​is​ ​based​ ​on​ ​the​ ​connectedness​ ​of​ ​each​ ​member​ ​to​ ​themselves​ ​and each​ ​other-incorporated​ ​in​ ​a​ ​free​ ​and​ ​open​ ​exchange​ ​at​ ​all​ ​levels​ ​with​ ​what​ ​Bill​ ​saw​ ​as​ ​a “complete​ ​freedom​ ​from​ ​punishment​ ​or​ ​penalty.”​​ ​This​ ​is​ ​the​ ​overtly​ ​expressed​ ​unity​ ​of purpose​ ​that​ ​guides​ ​members​ ​and​ ​groups​ ​to​ ​help​ ​all​ ​who​ ​seek​ ​relief​ ​from​ ​the​ ​disease​ ​of alcoholism,​ ​and​ ​its​ ​impact​ ​upon​ ​lives.

The​ ​strong​ ​emphasis​ ​in​ ​the​ ​literature​ ​on​ ​the​ ​sharing​ ​of​ ​tangible​ ​and​ ​intangible resources​ ​can​ ​be​ ​seen​ ​at​ ​all​ ​levels.​ ​Resource​ ​sharing​ ​occurs​ ​through​ ​consensual decision-making​ ​processes​ ​by​ ​volunteers​ ​to​ ​address​ ​international,​ ​national,​ ​regional​ ​and home​ ​group​ ​activities​ ​and​ ​the​ ​more​ ​intangible​ ​resources​ ​available​ ​through​ ​fellowship, sponsorship​ ​and​ ​meetings.

Opinions​ ​in​ ​AA,​ ​via​ ​the​ ​sharing​ ​of​ ​experience,​ ​strength​ ​and​ ​hope​ ​are​ ​all​ ​equal​ ​in value,​ ​none​ ​better​ ​and​ ​none​ ​worse​ ​-​ ​simply​ ​different​.​ ​Permission​ ​to​ ​be​ ​different,​ ​to​ ​make mistakes,​ ​to​ ​not​ ​be​ ​someone​ ​else’s​ ​ideal​ ​of​ ​”perfection”​ ​based​ ​on​ ​external​ ​societal

influences​ ​and​ ​dominant​ ​power​ ​paradigms​ ​are​ ​clearly​ ​expressed​ ​in​ ​the​ ​literature​ ​read​ ​at every​ ​meeting.

Members​ ​carry​ ​into​ ​AA​ ​their​ ​history,​ ​culture​ ​and​ ​preconceived​ ​notions​ ​of​ ​their​ ​place in​ ​society.​ ​The​ ​transformative​ ​nature​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Alcoholics​ ​Anonymous​ ​community,​ ​moving members​ ​from​ ​suffering​ ​to​ ​joy,​ ​is​ ​created​ ​and​ ​held​ ​together​ ​in​ ​a​ ​cross-cultural​ ​tapestry woven​ ​by​ ​the​ ​commonalities​ ​among​ ​members,​ ​not​ ​their​ ​differences;​ ​proven​ ​strong​ ​enough for​ ​the​ ​long-haul.

Heavily​ ​influenced​ ​by​ ​Peter​ ​Kropotkin,​ ​the​ ​founder​ ​of​ ​classical​ ​anarchism,​ ​and possibly​ ​influenced​ ​by​ ​current​ ​events​ ​of​ ​the​ ​era​ ​such​ ​as​ ​the​ ​Spanish​ ​Civil​ ​War,​ ​(where anarchist​ ​philosophy​ ​was​ ​put​ ​into​ ​direct​ ​political​ ​action)​ ​the​ ​co-founders​ ​and​ ​early​ ​members of​ ​AA​ ​succeeded​ ​in​ ​creating​ ​an​ ​ongoing​ ​community​ ​and​ ​culture​ ​which​ ​has​ ​statistically significant​ ​efficacy​ ​rates​ ​on​ ​long-term​ ​sobriety​ ​among​ ​diverse​ ​populations​ ​of​ ​alcoholics.