Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (and the next)

People are facing crisis around the world, and mutual aid is a grassroots theory of organizing that provides tools for creating new systems of care and generosity to survive. This book describes why mutual aid is important, what it looks like, and how to do it.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 25 September 2020
Publisher: Verso Books

The world is grappling with a series of crises, ranging from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to the devastating consequences of climate change, including fires, floods, and storms. These crises are compounded by the ongoing issues of mass incarceration, brutal immigration enforcement, endemic gender violence, and severe wealth inequality. Governments, often failing to respond adequately or even exacerbating these crises through their policies, leave ordinary people to fend for themselves. However, in the face of adversity, ordinary people are emerging as heroes, finding bold and innovative ways to share resources and support vulnerable members of their communities. This remarkable phenomenon is known as mutual aid.

Mutual aid is a powerful response to the challenges we face. It is not just a form of charity but a grassroots movement that empowers individuals to come together and create new systems of care and generosity. It is a form of organizing that recognizes the interconnectedness of our communities and the importance of collective action.

In this book, we explore the significance of mutual aid and its role in shaping social movements. We provide a grassroots theory of mutual aid, highlighting its historical roots and its potential to transform our society. We also offer practical tools for organizing, including how to work in groups, make decisions, prevent and address conflict, and deal with burnout.

Mutual aid is not just about providing immediate relief; it is about building long-term resilience and creating a more just and equitable world. It is about recognizing the dignity and worth of every individual and working together to build a community that is caring, supportive, and inclusive.

So, join us on this journey of mutual aid. Together, we can build a world that is stronger, more resilient, and more compassionate. Let us create new systems of care and generosity so that we can survive and thrive, not just in the face of crisis but in every aspect of our lives.

Weight: 128g
Dimension: 111 x 177 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781839762123