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'''Anarchopedia''' is a open project of realization of a ''portal of knowledge on [[anarchism]]'', multilingual, written cooperatively on Internet. This project organizes co-operative way and according to the means of the [[unanimity]], the [[consensus]], [[voluntarism]] and the several liability between speakers.
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'''Anarchopedia''' is a knowledge portal and online anarchist community.  The project aims to build a multilingual encyclopedia, written cooperatively on the Internet, with a special focus on [[:eng:Anarchism|Anarchism]] and anarchist topics. This project is organized according to the means of [[:eng:unanimity|unanimity]], [[:eng:consensus|consensus]], [[:eng:voluntarism|voluntarism]], individual responsibility, and is founded upon the anarchist principles of [[:eng:direct democracy|direct democracy]] and [[:eng:autonomy|autonomy]].
  
 
==Nature of the Anarchopedia project==
 
==Nature of the Anarchopedia project==
 
===Significance of the name===
 
===Significance of the name===
  
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The word '''Anarchopedia''' is composed of the term “Anarcho” (diminutive of anarchism/Anarchist), and of the term “pedia”, which comes from the old Greek ''paideia'' and meaning ''[[education]]'' (the project wants to be a kind of place to know, a base of knowledge of anarchism, even a place of exchange and studies on anarchism).
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The word '''Anarchopedia''' is composed of the term “Anarcho” (diminutive of anarchism/Anarchist), and of the term “pedia”, which comes from the ancient Greek ''paideia'' and meaning ''[[education]]'' (the project wants to be a kind of place to know, a base of knowledge of anarchism, even a place of exchange and studies on anarchism).
  
 
Anarchopedia means thus the idea that this encyclopaedia holds, by a whole of means (by the wiki), to allow the development of knowledge on anarchism.  
 
Anarchopedia means thus the idea that this encyclopaedia holds, by a whole of means (by the wiki), to allow the development of knowledge on anarchism.  
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===Tally of work of Anarchopedia===
 
===Tally of work of Anarchopedia===
  
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The articles come, for a part, encyclopaedia [[Wikipedia]]. They are thus, perhaps, to work again (this because of use of the [[NPOV]] within wikipedia)…
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Some of the articles were imported from [[Wikipedia]], and had to be reworked.  This because it is not uncommon for articles on Wikipedia adopt pro-capitalist stances or to contain pro-authority bias, which are incompatible with the anarchist points of view.
  
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[[m:|Anarchopedia]] (meta for the discussions on Anarchopedia) exists in various languages, including [[eng:|english]], [[ger:|german]], [[pol:|polish]], [[ita:|italian]], [[rus:|russian]], [[spa:|spanish]] and others (but some little develloped). A project exists or can exist for each language.
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[[Anarchopedia]] exists in various languages, including [[fra:|french]], [[eng:|english]], [[ger:|german]], [[pol:|polish]], [[ita:|italian]], [[rus:|russian]], [[spa:|spanish]] and others (but some little developed). A project exists or can exist for each language.  A special multilingual wiki ([[m:|meta Anarchopedia]]) also exists, and can be used for inter-language coordination.
  
 
===Objectives of the Anarchopedia project===
 
===Objectives of the Anarchopedia project===
  
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The purpose of it is to clarify the subjects, the topics, to which the anarchistic movement usually refers. It is, inter alia, question in this encyclopaedia, of the organisational means specifically libertarian, the Actions or political theories suggested by the libertarians, of the history of the anarchists and anarchism, the social and economic questions, the anarchistic personalities and theorists, etc...
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An [[anarchistic encyclopaedia|anarchist encyclopedia]], the purpose of it is to clarify the subjects, the topics, to which the anarchistic movement usually refers. Among others: the organisational means specifically libertarian, the Actions or political theories suggested by the libertarians, of the history of the anarchists and anarchism, the social and economic questions, the anarchistic personalities and theorists, etc...
  
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Contrary to others wikis, general (ex: [[wikipedia]]), Anarchopedia will be limited about anarchism, to diversify, later, on different subjects, having report / ratio with anarchism…
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As an experiment in anarchistic management, Anarchopedia seeks to show how to create a successful website and a thriving community without resorting to social hierarchy as seen in other websites, while ensuring as much as possible the autonomy of the individuals and the groups involved in the project.  This is what makes Anarchopedia different from other websites, and probably unique.  The success or failure of this project will teach anarchists and political activists how to create Internet-based social networks according to anti-authoritarian principles.
  
 
===Characteristics of Anarchopedia===
 
===Characteristics of Anarchopedia===
  
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The Anarchopedia project has specific characteristics which make it single:
 
  
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* Firstly and above all, the Anarchopedia project is the realization of an encyclopaedia on anarchism, and not a “forum of discussion” (if not outward journey on [http://yaff.net yaff.net]) nor a “Web directory”. Nevertheless, it is possible also to put comments on page of discussion for each article, at the time of dissensions or remarks about the treatment of an article. Anarchopedia is anti-capitalist and anti-authoritative.
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The Anarchopedia project has specific characteristics which make it unique:
  
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* A simple means making it possible to carry out this project in a libertarian way will be to concretize it on a wiki (allowing a direct co-operative relation). A wiki allows creation and the modification by any person of any article. Wiki is a collective tool which makes it possible the anarchistic encyclopaedia to grow rich by work by each one and all, while specifying, while modifying or while adding to it of the articles. Anarchopedia does not have [[sysops]] (i.e. a power structure). All users have sysop permissions.
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* The project aims to be an experiment in [[:eng:Anarchy|Anarchy]] and anarchistic management. The project is thus based on a Wiki (allowing a direct co-operative relation between editors and readers). A wiki allows creation and the modification by any person of any article. Wiki is a collective tool which makes it possible the anarchistic encyclopaedia to grow rich by work by each one and all, while specifying, while modifying or while adding to it of the articles. Anarchopedia does not have [[sysops]] (i.e. a power structure). All users have sysop permissions.
  
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* The articles of Anarchopedia are reusable according to terms' of the free Licence of documentation GNU (whose name is also known in shortened form [[GFDL]]). Thus, an individual or an organization can use the contents of Anarchopedia, while conforming under the free Licence of documentation GNU. See [[Anarchopedia:Copyright]].  
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* Anarchopedia is not primarily intended as a “forum of discussion” (if not outward journey on [http://yaff.net yaff.net]) nor a “Web directory”. Nevertheless, it is possible also to put comments on page of discussion for each article, at the time of dissent or for remarks about the treatment of an article. Anarchopedia is anti-capitalist and anti-authoritarian.
  
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* [[Anarchistic points of view]] / [[APOV]]: as far as possible, any encyclopaedic writing in Anarchopedia must take part for one of the anarchistic point of view. The “neutrality of point of view”, such on wikipedia, is not considered useful on Anarchopedia (neutrality being a nonneutral concept :). Of course, it perhaps difficult to arrive to an anarchistic point of view in all the cases. On Anarchopedia, the writing rules aim at being appropriate to the rational people, even if those are not always of the same opinion. The anarchistic points of view indicate that all the facets of a discussed point must be evoked according to these points of view, and that the article must in no way of declaring, of implying or of even insinuating, that one from the points of view is that which is correct a priori. The anarchistic points of view do not imply however the representation with equality from these various points of view. Anarchopedia naturally grants place to from the traditional or recent anarchistic points of view, but nones from the being asserted point of view of certain worse anarchistic groupings (“anarchist”-capitalist, national-“anarchists”, - and in the kind in reconversion, or reappropriation, to be made a new image -). Right-wing, pro-state, and pro-capitalist [[:en:point of view|POVs]] are not welcome here. Moreover, if a point of view is for example only constant by certain groups of certain specific ideological tendencies, it will be described like that.  
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* The articles of Anarchopedia are reusable according to terms' of the GNU Free Documentation License (whose name is also known in shortened form [[GFDL]]). Thus, an individual or an organization can use the contents of Anarchopedia, while conforming under the free Licence of documentation GNU. See [[Anarchopedia:Copyright]].
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* [[Anarchistic points of view]] / [[APOV]]: as far as possible, any encyclopaedic writing in Anarchopedia must take part for one of the anarchistic point of view. The “neutrality of point of view” policy, such on wikipedia, is not considered too useful on Anarchopedia, because it relies on a central authority that should make decisions about the neutrality of an article and eventually carry out censorship when the article doesn't conform. Of course, it perhaps difficult to arrive to an anarchistic point of view in all the cases. On Anarchopedia, the writing rules aim at being appropriate to the rational people, even if those are not always of the same opinion. The anarchistic points of view indicate that all the facets of a discussed point must be evoked according to these points of view, and that the article must in no way of declaring, of implying or of even insinuating, that one from the points of view is that which is correct a priori. The anarchistic points of view do not imply however the representation with equality from these various points of view. Anarchopedia naturally grants place to from the traditional or recent anarchistic points of view, but nones from the being asserted point of view of certain worse anarchistic groupings (“anarchist”-capitalist, national-“anarchists”, - and in the kind in reconversion, or reappropriation, to be made a new image -). Right-wing, pro-state, and pro-capitalist [[:en:point of view|POVs]] are not welcome on Anarchopedia. Moreover, if a point of view is for example only constant by certain groups of certain specific ideological tendencies, it will be described like that.
  
 
==Operation of Anarchopedia==
 
==Operation of Anarchopedia==
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===Modification of the articles===
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=== Modification of the articles ===
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Concretely, each page of Anarchopedia has a button which any visitor, even not recorded, can click to modify, to add or remove what it contains. Each one can also create new pages, leading the site to grow.
  
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Concretely, each page of Anarchopedia comprises a mitre “to publish” on which any visitor, even not recorded, can click to modify, to add or remove what it contains. Each one can also create new pages, leading the site to grow.
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For the edition of the pages, the wiki syntax, a kind of very simplified HTML language, makes it possible to format pages and to create links between them.
  
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For the edition of the pages, a syntax wiki, kind of very simplified language HTML, make it possible to treat page-setting and the activation of bonds.
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==== Principle of Wikis ====
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Anarchopedia and its parallel projects are of the free “WikiWikiWebs”. Created in 1995 by “Ward Cunningham”, Wiki draws its name from the word hawaïen “WikiWiki”, which means “quickly”. Developed originally by communities of free software developers, Wikis are dynamic Web sites, of which any visitor can modify the page which it is reading. Thanks to this characteristic, on Wiki, the limit between the reader and the author tends to disappear. The syntax of the wiki is much simpler than the “HTML”, and it is enough to a few moments to learn it (two apostrophes to put in italic, three to boldface, two brakets for a links), nevertheless a toolbar is included in the interface to simplify the use of syntax (by buttons).
  
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====  Principle of Wikis ====
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Anarchopedia functions with the free software “[[:eng:MediaWiki|MediaWiki]]”. The data of Anarchopedia (present in a database), all languages can be downloaded starting from the direction [[Anarchopedia:Technic|SERVER + /dev/db/ of each anarchopedia]].
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Anarchopedia and its parallel projects are of the “WikiWikiWebs” free. Created in 1995 by “Ward Cunningham”, Wiki draws its name from the word hawaïen “WikiWiki”, which means “quickly”. Developed originally by communities of free developers of software, Wikis are dynamic Web sites, of which any visitor can modify the page which it is reading. Thanks to this characteristic, on Wiki, the limit between the reader and the author tend to disappear. The syntax of the wiki is much simpler than the “HTML”, and it is enough to a few moments to learn it (two apostrophes to put in italic, three to boldface, two hooks for a bond), nevertheless a bar, with various buttons (will gra, underlined, wikif, etc), with the top of the framework of edition is available to simplify the use of syntax (by buttons).
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Anarchopedia functions with the free software “MediaWiki”. The data of Anarchopedia (present in a “data base”), all languages can be downloaded starting from the direction SERVER + /dev/db/ of each anarchopedia.  
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===Monitoring of the quality of the articles===
 
===Monitoring of the quality of the articles===
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The MediaWiki software, like all wiki-software, includes features that make it possible to facilitate the consultation and the management of the site. It is thus possible to constantly consult the last modifications made to the whole of the site (new pages, new contributions, recent Modifications…).
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The MediaWiki software, like all wiki, is matched multiple functionalities making it possible to facilitate the consultation and the management of the site. It is thus possible to constantly consult the last modifications made to the whole of the site (news pages, new contributions, recent Modifications…).
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In Anarchopedia, the participants add their contributions to those of the others. Thus, they correct the errors of other writers and work together on the topics possibly discussed by respecting APOV.
 
In Anarchopedia, the participants add their contributions to those of the others. Thus, they correct the errors of other writers and work together on the topics possibly discussed by respecting APOV.
  
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All the history of the contributions is preserved: successive versions of the text, authors, reasons for the modifications, dates. It can be consulted while clicking on the “historical” mitre. This permanent device of safeguard makes it possible to return to the need to a preceding version. Thus, even in the presence of “vandal” (the nickname given to the people which erases or deteriorates an article), the encyclopaedia is not endangered.
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All the history of the contributions is preserved: successive versions of the text, authors, reasons for the modifications, dates. It can be consulted while clicking on the “history" button. This permanent device of safeguard makes it possible to return to the need to a preceding version. Thus, even in the presence of vandal, the encyclopaedia is not endangered.
  
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The recorded anarchopediens can follow lists of articles (bond “followed by the articles”), often those on which they intervened. It is thus possible for them to show vigilance on the evolution of the contents of the articles which interest them. MediaWiki makes it possible to post the text modified between two versions, even if they are not followed.
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The anarchopedians can specify which article they wish monitor for modification, often those on which they intervened. It is thus possible for them to periodicaly check the evolution of the contents of the articles which interest them. MediaWiki makes it possible to post the text modified between two versions, even if they are not followed.
  
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The followed articles can thus be rectified if erroneous information entered, or if the quality of the article drops: style, orthography, poor presentation, lack of clearness, need for a synthesis of the data. This system of follow-up of the articles also makes it possible to locate the acts of vandalism, and to restore the preceding version of the text.
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The followed articles can thus be corrected if erroneous information entered, or if the quality of the article drops: style, orthography, poor presentation, lack of clearness, need for a synthesis of the data. This system of follow-up of the articles also makes it possible to locate the acts of vandalism, and to restore the preceding version of the text.
  
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In the event of dissension on the contents of an article, a argued debate proceeds in the page of discussion annexed to the article. This discussion forms integral part of the encyclopaedia, and its reading can be instructive on the delicate points to treat in the contents of the article. This page is consultable thanks to the mitre “discussion”.
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In the event of dissent on the contents of an article, a argued debate proceeds in the page of discussion annexed to the article. This discussion forms integral part of the encyclopaedia, and its reading can be instructive on the delicate points to treat in the contents of the article. This page is accessible via the button “discussion”.
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there's never of vote to determine the contents of an article. This practice would be deeply antagonistic of a step encyclopedist. The contents of the articles relating to subjects polemical on anarchism are established following reasoned and argued debates, and not according to the opinion of the greatest number. For this reason, Anarchopedia should not be confused with a “democracy of opinion”.  
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===Participants===
 
===Participants===
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The contributors can optionally create an account with a name and a password, so their modifications can be tracked and their contributions attributed. Registered contributors can profit from a personal page and additional functionalities. In fact, the majority of the contributors are registered. There are currently some contributors in differents languages.
  
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Anarchopedia is published by Net surfers called Anarchopedians coming from various places of the sphere.
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There is no “chief” in the project Anarchopedia, the project is entirely self-managed by its voluntary participants, and aims to be as decentralized as possible in self-management. To contribute to Anarchopedia, it is sufficient to read some of the internal documentation and possibly create an account.
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The contributors can create an account with a name and a password, but it is not obligatory. The recorded contributors profit from a personal page and additional functionalities. In fact, the majority of the contributors are recorded. There are currently some contributors in differents languages.
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There is not “chief” in the project Anarchopedia, the project is entirely managed by its voluntary participants. To contribute to it, it is enough to read the assistance (!?) and to possibly create an account .
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===An anarchistic encyclopaedia===
 
===An anarchistic encyclopaedia===
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Anarchopedia is an [[anarchistic encyclopaedia]] in the political sense of the term : its operation is founded on the [[:en:autonomy|autonomy]] and the [[:en:self-management|self-management]] of Anarchopedians, and not on the [[:en:authority|authority]] (of some).
  
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Anarchopedia is an [[anarchistic encyclopaedia]] with the political sense of the term: its operation is founded on the [[autonomy]] and the [[self-management]] of the anarchopedians, and not on the authority of some.
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In this sense, it illustrates the famous saying of [[Pierre Joseph Proudhon]] : “''Anarchy, it is the order, without the authority''” (Confessions of a revolutionist).
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In this sense, it illustrates the celebrates formula of [[Pierre Joseph Proudhon]] : “Anarchy, it is the order, without the authority” (Confessions of a revolutionist).
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On the other hand, Anarchopedia is the opposite of a “anarchy” within the meaning of a community struck by a state of disorder. The order east defines by the individuals associated on anarchopedia.
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On the other hand, Anarchopedia is the opposite of an “anarchy” within the meaning of a community struck by a state of disorder. Order is ensured by the individuals associated on anarchopedia.
  
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If the anarchopedians do not give orders to the anarchopedians. Certain co-operators can be elected at the time of general assemblies, thus giving them a precise mandate in supplement (...).  
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Anarchopedians do not give orders to other anarchopedians. Mandates and tasks can be assigned to individuals during [[:Category:General Meetings|General Assemblies]].
  
 
==Anarchopedia and collective regulation==
 
==Anarchopedia and collective regulation==
  
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===Why Anarchopedia doesn't it break down ?===
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===Why Anarchopedia doesn't break down ?===
  
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By its open organization and because of the absence of holders of authority, Anarchopedia can appear like a project very fragile, ready to break down under the attacks of the vandals, or with being submerged by not-respectful contributions of its rules.
 
  
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Anarchopedia undergoes, from time to time, the effect of vandals who seek to degrade his contents, to even erase its pages.
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By its open organization and because of the absence of holders of authority, Anarchopedia can appear like a project very fragile, ready to be broken down under the attacks of vandals, or with being submerged by contributions in disaccord with a general consensus. Anarchopedia undergoes, from time to time, the effect of individuals who seek degrade his contents, to even erase its pages. As for the them, they always showed less perseverance or persistence than Anarchopedians, so it is unlikely that they would be able to damage the project permanently.
  
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As for the vandals, they always showed less perseverance than Anarchopedians.
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On final, a report is essential: there are more Net surfers wishing to work for the interest of the realization of Anarchopedia, than people who seek to harm it.
  
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On final, a report is essential: there are more Net surfers wishing to work for the interest of the realization of anarchopedia, than people who seek to harm to him.
 
  
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===Why take part in Anarchopedia ?===
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===Why take part in Anarchopedia?===
  
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With the first access, to devote time to Anarchopedia does not appear a particularly attractive activity. It is necessary:
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With the first access, to devote time to Anarchopedia may not appear a particularly attractive activity. It is necessary:
  
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* to assimilate a great number of rules of operation of the tool wiki and anarchopedia,
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* to experiment and learn the operating mode of wiki and anarchopedia,
 
* to show humility by accepting that its texts are modified by other participants,
 
* to show humility by accepting that its texts are modified by other participants,
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* to accept that others can have another approach of a question that oneself,
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* to accept that others can have another approach on a question that oneself,
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* to respect opinions sometimes frankly contrary with his on subjects polemize, under the Anarchist Points of view.
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* to respect radically different or opposite opinions which are often debated, under the Anarchist Points of view.
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* to devote time to ungrateful tasks like the correction of the spelling mistakes or the errors of working.  
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* to devote time to ungrateful tasks like the correction of the spelling mistakes or the errors of working.
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===Débats de fond récurrents===
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Anarchopédia n’est pas un "forum de discussion", mais plusieurs thèmes peuvent faire l’objet de débats de fond récurrents sur la nature des informations contenues dans Anarchopédia. Faute de réponse définitive à ces questions, les décisions sont prises au cas par cas.
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==Criticisms==
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* '''Quantité contre qualité'''. Lors de sa création, il était indispensable pour Anarchopédia francophone de grossir et d’augmenter le nombre de ses articles pour atteindre une masse critique. Cette course à la quantité est critiquée, et une partie des anarchopédiens estime que l’effort de la communauté devrait plutôt porter sur l’amélioration de la qualité des articles existants. Ils soulignent notamment le faible nombre d’articles de qualité, le grand nombre d’ébauches, et la quantité de textes nécessitant des améliorations. Leurs contradicteurs répondent qu’il serait vain d’essayer d’arrêter les anarchopédiens souhaitant créer de nouveaux articles, et que l’effort continu de la communauté porte aussi bien sur la qualité que sur la quantité.
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* '''Des faits ou des opinions ?''' Anarchopédia doit faire une différence claire entre d’une part les faits, et d’autre part les opinions exprimées sur un sujet donné, surtout s’il est polémique. Par exemple, l'[[Entr'aide]] est considérée comme un fait sur Anarchopédia, ce qui n’empêche pas de consacrer un article sur la [[concurrence]]. Il peut être difficile de faire la distinction entre faits et opinions lorsque la présentation des connaissances est entachée par des arguments d’"autorité" erronés, des idées reçues, des clichés, ou une insuffisance de références. Présenter une opinion comme un fait est un cas classique de non-conformité aux règles d'Anarchopédia.
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* '''Inclusionnistes contre suppressionistes''' Les "inclusionnistes" sont des anarchopédiens qui défendent une conception très large de la nature des articles recevables dans Anarchopédia. Ils défendent également le maintien d’articles très courts ou faibles, en comptant sur l'effort de la communauté dans la durée pour que ces textes s’améliorent progressivement. Les "suppressionnistes" souhaitent au contraire que les articles créés soient d’emblée d’une bonne tenue, et assez complets. Pour cette raison, ils demandent la suppression des articles qui ne répondent pas à ces critères.
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* '''Pour ou contre le relativisme.''' La base des [[Points De Vue Anarchiste]] conduit une partie des anarchopédiens à considérer que le sens et la valeur des [[croyance]]s et des [[comportement]]s humains, n’ont pas de références absolues. Cette conception n’est pas partagée par les contributeurs qui estiment par exemple que le relativisme moral n’est pas acceptable (plus de valeur pour les droits de l’Homme que pour la dictature), ou bien qu’une [[vérité]] pré-existe à toute [[théorie]] scientifique. Ce débat concerne en particulier le statut des connaissances issues de la [[science]], et l’évaluation des [[pseudoscience]]s. Il oppose d’une part les personnes considérant l’activité scientifique comme un système de croyances, de traditions orales et de pratiques culturelles spécifiques, et d’autre part celles tenant la science comme une vision du monde plus objective, ne pouvant être réduite à un [[mythe]].
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* '''Des données ou des connaissances ?''' Il est admis qu'Anarchopédia n’est pas une base de données. Toutefois, un article de qualité doit être étayé par des données précises. La frontière entre une liste de données utiles à une présentation encyclopédique ébauchée, et une simple compilation de données n’est pas toujours simple à établir. Ce débat, qui concerne par exemple les listes de personnalitées anarchistes ou d’organisations anarchistes, recoupe parfois celui entre les inclusionnistes et les suppressionnistes.
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==Critical with regard to Anarchopedia and answers==
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===Principal criticisms===
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The growing success of Anarchopedia led a great number of people to formulate a critical opinion on the reliability of the information presented in this encyclopaedia. The statute of Anarchopedia as a source of reference remains a subject of controversy. The principal objections are as follows:
 
The growing success of Anarchopedia led a great number of people to formulate a critical opinion on the reliability of the information presented in this encyclopaedia. The statute of Anarchopedia as a source of reference remains a subject of controversy. The principal objections are as follows:
  
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* the absence of filtering of the editors according to their competences, which involves the risk of inaccuracies, and more generally the absence of reading panel guaranteeing the quality of the articles,
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* the absence of filtering of the editors according to their competences, which involves the risk of inaccuracies, and more generally the absence of a reading panel guaranteeing the quality of the articles,
 
* the heterogeneity of the quality of the articles,
 
* the heterogeneity of the quality of the articles,
 
* the preference for the [[consensus]] of the editors after a reasoned debate, rather than for the argument of authority,
 
* the preference for the [[consensus]] of the editors after a reasoned debate, rather than for the argument of authority,
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* [[anarchistic Points of view]], considered as an illusion or a political or cultural prejudice,
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* [[anarchistic points of view]], considered as an illusion or a political or cultural prejudice,
 
* the risk to seek the anarchistic [[consensus]] rather than the anarchistic [[truth]], and to support the relativism in the name of the anarchistic Point of view, even if it means to tolerate unfounded speeches on subjects concerned with personal philosophy, or propaganda for groups for example,
 
* the risk to seek the anarchistic [[consensus]] rather than the anarchistic [[truth]], and to support the relativism in the name of the anarchistic Point of view, even if it means to tolerate unfounded speeches on subjects concerned with personal philosophy, or propaganda for groups for example,
 
* the anonymity of the majority of the contributors,
 
* the anonymity of the majority of the contributors,
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* the contents of Anarchopedia are closely related to the centers of interest of its contributors, from where lacks in the panorama of knowledge.  
 
* the contents of Anarchopedia are closely related to the centers of interest of its contributors, from where lacks in the panorama of knowledge.  
  
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===Answers to criticisms===
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===Answers to the criticisms===
  
 
TODO
 
TODO
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==Extent of the Anarchopedia project==
 
==Extent of the Anarchopedia project==
  
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There is ten editions of Anarchopédia located by language, and among them less than five are really active…
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<span style="white-space:nowrap">[[alb:|Albanian]] <small>(sq) •</small></span>
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<span style="white-space:nowrap">[[ara:|Arabic]] <small>(ar) •</small></span>
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<span style="white-space:nowrap">[[hye:|Armenian]] <small>(hy) •</small></span>
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<span style="white-space:nowrap">[[bos:|Bosnian]] <small>(bs) •</small></span>
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<span style="white-space:nowrap">[[chi:|Chinese]] <small>(zh) •</small></span>
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<span style="white-space:nowrap">[[hrv:|Croatian]] <small>(hr) •</small></span>
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<span style="white-space:nowrap">[[dan:|Danish]] <small>(da) •</small></span>
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<span style="white-space:nowrap">[[eng:|English]] <small>(en) •</small></span>
 +
<span style="white-space:nowrap">[[epo:|Esperanto]] <small>(eo) •</small></span>
 +
<span style="white-space:nowrap">[[fra:|French]] <small>(fr) •</small></span>
 +
<span style="white-space:nowrap">[[ger:|German]] <small>(de) •</small></span>
 +
<span style="white-space:nowrap">[[gre:|Greek]] <small>(el) •</small></span>
 +
<span style="white-space:nowrap">[[heb:|Hebrew]] <small>(he) •</small></span>
 +
<span style="white-space:nowrap">[[dut:|Dutch]] <small>(nl) •</small></span>
 +
<span style="white-space:nowrap">[[ind:|Indonesian]] <small>(in) •</small></span>
 +
<span style="white-space:nowrap">[[ita:|Italian]] <small>(it) •</small></span>
 +
<span style="white-space:nowrap">[[jpn:|Japanese]] <small>(ja) •</small></span>
 +
<span style="white-space:nowrap">[[lav:|Latvian]] <small>(lv) •</small></span>
 +
<span style="white-space:nowrap">[[lit:|Lithuanian]] <small>(lt) •</small></span>
 +
<span style="white-space:nowrap">[[nor:|Norwegian]] <small>(no) •</small></span>
 +
<span style="white-space:nowrap">[[fas:|Persian]] <small>(fa) •</small></span>
 +
<span style="white-space:nowrap">[[pol:|Polish]] <small>(pl) •</small></span>
 +
<span style="white-space:nowrap">[[por:|Portugese]] <small>(pt) •</small></span>
 +
<span style="white-space:nowrap">[[rum:|Romanian]] <small>(ro) •</small></span>
 +
<span style="white-space:nowrap">[[rus:|Russian]] <small>(rus) •</small></span>
 +
<span style="white-space:nowrap">[[srp:|Serbian]] <small>(sr) •</small></span>
 +
<span style="white-space:nowrap">[[spa:|Spanish]] <small>(es) •</small></span>
 +
<span style="white-space:nowrap">[[swe:|Swedish]] <small>(sv) •</small></span>
 +
<span style="white-space:nowrap">[[tur:|Turkish]] <small>(tr) •</small></span>
  
−
*[[m:|Anarchopedia]] (for the discussions on the Anarchopedia project).
+
* [[List_of_Anarchopedias]]
−
*[[eng:|english]],
+
−
*[[ger:|german]],
+
−
*[[pol:|polish]],
+
−
*[[ita:|italian]],
+
−
*[[rus:|russian]],
+
−
*[[spa:|spanish]]
+
−
* Bahasa Indonesia
+
−
* Hrvatski
+
−
* Русский
+
−
* Српски / Srpski
+
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
Line 169: Line 162:
 
===Anarchopedia project===
 
===Anarchopedia project===
  
−
[[u:millosh|Milos rancic]] will launch the [http://meta.anarchopedia.org project Anarchopedia] (and as Anarchapedia) in ''[http://mail.wikipedia.org/pipermail/wikipedia-l/2004-September/035299.html September 2004]'', with multiple languages, and with as difference with wikipedia as that the statute Sysop is given to each user; thus launching a direct experiment of anarchy.
+
[[User:Millosh|Milos Rancic]] launched the [http://meta.anarchopedia.org Anarchopedia project] (also as Anarchapedia) in ''[http://mail.wikipedia.org/pipermail/wikipedia-l/2004-September/035299.html September 2004]'', with multiple languages, differing from wikipedia in that every user is granted sysop status; thus launching a direct experiment of anarchy.
 +
 
 +
Anarchopedia started in "September 2004", the anglophone wiki in November 2004, and several other projects carried out thereafter.  
  
−
The [[:m|meta]] will start in "September 2004", the anglophone part will start in November 2004, and several other projects will be carried out thereafter.
+
====Similar projects====
  
−
====similar project====
+
*A [http://encyclopedie.zaup.org parallel project], just in french language, and without sysop for all, was launched in november 2004 on [http://zaup.org zaup.org]. that project merged with the anarchopedia project on 12 March 2005.
  
−
*A [http://encyclopedie.zaup.org parallel project], just in french language, and without sysop for all, was launch in november 2004 on [http://zaup.org zaup.org]. that project will be fused with the anarchopedia project on march / april 2005.
+
*A [Indonesian parallel project], just in Indonesian language, was launched ??? on [???]. that project merged with the anarchopedia project on 17 September 2005.
  
−
*A [polish parallel project], just in polish language, was launch in ???? on [http://???? ????]. that project will be fused with the anarchopedia project on ???? ????.
+
*A [polish parallel project], just in polish language, was launched in ???? on [http://???? ????]. that project merged with the anarchopedia project on 28 August 2005.
  
−
*A [http://wiki.anarcho.dk parallel project], just in danish language, was launch in ???? on [http://???? ????]. that project will be fused with the anarchopedia project on ???? ????.
+
*A [http://wiki.anarcho.dk parallel project], just in danish language, was launched at august 11 th in 2005 on [http://anarcko.dk anarko.dk]. that project merged with the anarchopedia project on 19 March 2006.
  
 
===Other forms of diffusion of Anarchopedia===
 
===Other forms of diffusion of Anarchopedia===
Line 191: Line 186:
 
*
 
*
 
*
 
*
−
===Discussion-Reflexion-analyses===
 
  
 
===Principal indicators of the advance of Anarchopedia===
 
===Principal indicators of the advance of Anarchopedia===
  
−
to make, with the statistics…
+
to be made, with the statistics…
  
 
===Draft reports===
 
===Draft reports===
  
−
==See too==
+
==See also==
  
−
You can read some of the articles which intend to particulary describe '''Anarchopedia''':
+
In addition to this article, you can read some of the articles which intend describe individual aspects of '''Anarchopedia''':
  
 
*[[Anarchopedia:en:itself|Anarchopedia, itself]]
 
*[[Anarchopedia:en:itself|Anarchopedia, itself]]

Latest revision as of 08:35, 18 October 2014

العربية | Bahasa Indonesia | Bosanski | 中文 | Dansk | Deutsch | עברית | Ελληνικά | English | Español | Esperanto | Français | Hrvatski | Italiano | 日本語 | Nederlands | Nynorsk | Polski | Português | Română | Русский | Српски / Srpski | Svenska

Anarchopedia is a knowledge portal and online anarchist community. The project aims to build a multilingual encyclopedia, written cooperatively on the Internet, with a special focus on Anarchism and anarchist topics. This project is organized according to the means of unanimity, consensus, voluntarism, individual responsibility, and is founded upon the anarchist principles of direct democracy and autonomy.

Nature of the Anarchopedia project[edit]

Significance of the name[edit]

The word Anarchopedia is composed of the term “Anarcho” (diminutive of anarchism/Anarchist), and of the term “pedia”, which comes from the ancient Greek paideia and meaning education (the project wants to be a kind of place to know, a base of knowledge of anarchism, even a place of exchange and studies on anarchism).

Anarchopedia means thus the idea that this encyclopaedia holds, by a whole of means (by the wiki), to allow the development of knowledge on anarchism.

Tally of work of Anarchopedia[edit]

Some of the articles were imported from Wikipedia, and had to be reworked. This because it is not uncommon for articles on Wikipedia adopt pro-capitalist stances or to contain pro-authority bias, which are incompatible with the anarchist points of view.

Anarchopedia exists in various languages, including french, english, german, polish, italian, russian, spanish and others (but some little developed). A project exists or can exist for each language. A special multilingual wiki (meta Anarchopedia) also exists, and can be used for inter-language coordination.

Objectives of the Anarchopedia project[edit]

An anarchist encyclopedia, the purpose of it is to clarify the subjects, the topics, to which the anarchistic movement usually refers. Among others: the organisational means specifically libertarian, the Actions or political theories suggested by the libertarians, of the history of the anarchists and anarchism, the social and economic questions, the anarchistic personalities and theorists, etc...

As an experiment in anarchistic management, Anarchopedia seeks to show how to create a successful website and a thriving community without resorting to social hierarchy as seen in other websites, while ensuring as much as possible the autonomy of the individuals and the groups involved in the project. This is what makes Anarchopedia different from other websites, and probably unique. The success or failure of this project will teach anarchists and political activists how to create Internet-based social networks according to anti-authoritarian principles.

Characteristics of Anarchopedia[edit]

The Anarchopedia project has specific characteristics which make it unique:

  • The project aims to be an experiment in Anarchy and anarchistic management. The project is thus based on a Wiki (allowing a direct co-operative relation between editors and readers). A wiki allows creation and the modification by any person of any article. Wiki is a collective tool which makes it possible the anarchistic encyclopaedia to grow rich by work by each one and all, while specifying, while modifying or while adding to it of the articles. Anarchopedia does not have sysops (i.e. a power structure). All users have sysop permissions.
  • Anarchopedia is not primarily intended as a “forum of discussion” (if not outward journey on yaff.net) nor a “Web directory”. Nevertheless, it is possible also to put comments on page of discussion for each article, at the time of dissent or for remarks about the treatment of an article. Anarchopedia is anti-capitalist and anti-authoritarian.
  • The articles of Anarchopedia are reusable according to terms' of the GNU Free Documentation License (whose name is also known in shortened form GFDL). Thus, an individual or an organization can use the contents of Anarchopedia, while conforming under the free Licence of documentation GNU. See Anarchopedia:Copyright.
  • Anarchistic points of view / APOV: as far as possible, any encyclopaedic writing in Anarchopedia must take part for one of the anarchistic point of view. The “neutrality of point of view” policy, such on wikipedia, is not considered too useful on Anarchopedia, because it relies on a central authority that should make decisions about the neutrality of an article and eventually carry out censorship when the article doesn't conform. Of course, it perhaps difficult to arrive to an anarchistic point of view in all the cases. On Anarchopedia, the writing rules aim at being appropriate to the rational people, even if those are not always of the same opinion. The anarchistic points of view indicate that all the facets of a discussed point must be evoked according to these points of view, and that the article must in no way of declaring, of implying or of even insinuating, that one from the points of view is that which is correct a priori. The anarchistic points of view do not imply however the representation with equality from these various points of view. Anarchopedia naturally grants place to from the traditional or recent anarchistic points of view, but nones from the being asserted point of view of certain worse anarchistic groupings (“anarchist”-capitalist, national-“anarchists”, - and in the kind in reconversion, or reappropriation, to be made a new image -). Right-wing, pro-state, and pro-capitalist POVs are not welcome on Anarchopedia. Moreover, if a point of view is for example only constant by certain groups of certain specific ideological tendencies, it will be described like that.

Operation of Anarchopedia[edit]

Modification of the articles[edit]

Concretely, each page of Anarchopedia has a button which any visitor, even not recorded, can click to modify, to add or remove what it contains. Each one can also create new pages, leading the site to grow.

For the edition of the pages, the wiki syntax, a kind of very simplified HTML language, makes it possible to format pages and to create links between them.

Principle of Wikis[edit]

Anarchopedia and its parallel projects are of the free “WikiWikiWebs”. Created in 1995 by “Ward Cunningham”, Wiki draws its name from the word hawaïen “WikiWiki”, which means “quickly”. Developed originally by communities of free software developers, Wikis are dynamic Web sites, of which any visitor can modify the page which it is reading. Thanks to this characteristic, on Wiki, the limit between the reader and the author tends to disappear. The syntax of the wiki is much simpler than the “HTML”, and it is enough to a few moments to learn it (two apostrophes to put in italic, three to boldface, two brakets for a links), nevertheless a toolbar is included in the interface to simplify the use of syntax (by buttons).

Anarchopedia functions with the free software “MediaWiki”. The data of Anarchopedia (present in a database), all languages can be downloaded starting from the direction SERVER + /dev/db/ of each anarchopedia.

Monitoring of the quality of the articles[edit]

The MediaWiki software, like all wiki-software, includes features that make it possible to facilitate the consultation and the management of the site. It is thus possible to constantly consult the last modifications made to the whole of the site (new pages, new contributions, recent Modifications…).

In Anarchopedia, the participants add their contributions to those of the others. Thus, they correct the errors of other writers and work together on the topics possibly discussed by respecting APOV.

All the history of the contributions is preserved: successive versions of the text, authors, reasons for the modifications, dates. It can be consulted while clicking on the “history" button. This permanent device of safeguard makes it possible to return to the need to a preceding version. Thus, even in the presence of vandal, the encyclopaedia is not endangered.

The anarchopedians can specify which article they wish monitor for modification, often those on which they intervened. It is thus possible for them to periodicaly check the evolution of the contents of the articles which interest them. MediaWiki makes it possible to post the text modified between two versions, even if they are not followed.

The followed articles can thus be corrected if erroneous information entered, or if the quality of the article drops: style, orthography, poor presentation, lack of clearness, need for a synthesis of the data. This system of follow-up of the articles also makes it possible to locate the acts of vandalism, and to restore the preceding version of the text.

In the event of dissent on the contents of an article, a argued debate proceeds in the page of discussion annexed to the article. This discussion forms integral part of the encyclopaedia, and its reading can be instructive on the delicate points to treat in the contents of the article. This page is accessible via the button “discussion”.

Participants[edit]

The contributors can optionally create an account with a name and a password, so their modifications can be tracked and their contributions attributed. Registered contributors can profit from a personal page and additional functionalities. In fact, the majority of the contributors are registered. There are currently some contributors in differents languages.

There is no “chief” in the project Anarchopedia, the project is entirely self-managed by its voluntary participants, and aims to be as decentralized as possible in self-management. To contribute to Anarchopedia, it is sufficient to read some of the internal documentation and possibly create an account.

An anarchistic encyclopaedia[edit]

Anarchopedia is an anarchistic encyclopaedia in the political sense of the term : its operation is founded on the autonomy and the self-management of Anarchopedians, and not on the authority (of some).

In this sense, it illustrates the famous saying of Pierre Joseph Proudhon : “Anarchy, it is the order, without the authority” (Confessions of a revolutionist).

On the other hand, Anarchopedia is the opposite of an “anarchy” within the meaning of a community struck by a state of disorder. Order is ensured by the individuals associated on anarchopedia.

Anarchopedians do not give orders to other anarchopedians. Mandates and tasks can be assigned to individuals during General Assemblies.

Anarchopedia and collective regulation[edit]

Why Anarchopedia doesn't break down ?[edit]

By its open organization and because of the absence of holders of authority, Anarchopedia can appear like a project very fragile, ready to be broken down under the attacks of vandals, or with being submerged by contributions in disaccord with a general consensus. Anarchopedia undergoes, from time to time, the effect of individuals who seek degrade his contents, to even erase its pages. As for the them, they always showed less perseverance or persistence than Anarchopedians, so it is unlikely that they would be able to damage the project permanently.

On final, a report is essential: there are more Net surfers wishing to work for the interest of the realization of Anarchopedia, than people who seek to harm it.


Why take part in Anarchopedia?[edit]

With the first access, to devote time to Anarchopedia may not appear a particularly attractive activity. It is necessary:

  • to experiment and learn the operating mode of wiki and anarchopedia,
  • to show humility by accepting that its texts are modified by other participants,
  • to accept that others can have another approach on a question that oneself,
  • to respect radically different or opposite opinions which are often debated, under the Anarchist Points of view.
  • to devote time to ungrateful tasks like the correction of the spelling mistakes or the errors of working.

Criticisms[edit]

The growing success of Anarchopedia led a great number of people to formulate a critical opinion on the reliability of the information presented in this encyclopaedia. The statute of Anarchopedia as a source of reference remains a subject of controversy. The principal objections are as follows:

  • the absence of filtering of the editors according to their competences, which involves the risk of inaccuracies, and more generally the absence of a reading panel guaranteeing the quality of the articles,
  • the heterogeneity of the quality of the articles,
  • the preference for the consensus of the editors after a reasoned debate, rather than for the argument of authority,
  • anarchistic points of view, considered as an illusion or a political or cultural prejudice,
  • the risk to seek the anarchistic consensus rather than the anarchistic truth, and to support the relativism in the name of the anarchistic Point of view, even if it means to tolerate unfounded speeches on subjects concerned with personal philosophy, or propaganda for groups for example,
  • the anonymity of the majority of the contributors,
  • the vandalism, supported by the open nature of wiki.
  • the risk to see groupings using Anarchopedia to make propaganda, or many geniuses autoclaimed to disseminate eccentric information,
  • the systematic existence of skew in spite of the concern from the anarchistic point of view,
  • apparent lack of responsibility and references compared with other encyclopaedias,
  • skepticism on the capacity of Anarchopedia, considering its operation based on a collective regulation, to improve quality of the articles, even the prediction of an inescapable walk towards the mediocrity,
  • a great number of articles are appeared as a compilation of rough information, without the effort of synthesis which should characterize an encyclopaedic text,
  • the contents of Anarchopedia are closely related to the centers of interest of its contributors, from where lacks in the panorama of knowledge.

Answers to the criticisms[edit]

TODO

Extent of the Anarchopedia project[edit]

Albanian (sq) • Arabic (ar) • Armenian (hy) • Bosnian (bs) • Chinese (zh) • Croatian (hr) • Danish (da) • English (en) • Esperanto (eo) • French (fr) • German (de) • Greek (el) • Hebrew (he) • Dutch (nl) • Indonesian (in) • Italian (it) • Japanese (ja) • Latvian (lv) • Lithuanian (lt) • Norwegian (no) • Persian (fa) • Polish (pl) • Portugese (pt) • Romanian (ro) • Russian (rus) • Serbian (sr) • Spanish (es) • Swedish (sv) • Turkish (tr) •

History[edit]

Antecedents[edit]

The Anarchopedia project falls under a will to continue with “modern” means (Internet and wiki), the project of collection and organization of the knowledge on anarchism. The idea to gather the whole of knowledge on anarchism will be initiated by Sebastien Faure in the anarchistic encyclopaedia (1927), or by maitron in its works of history on the anarchists, and various anarchistic authors will gather documents or writings allowing a posteriori to carry out this base of knowledge on anarchism.

With the development of Internet, several people developed knowledge bases on anarchism by Internet (bibliotecs, writings, daily bleed, etc).

Origin of the project[edit]

Wikipedia will be another knowledge base under development, they will be one of the bases and inspirer of this project.

Anarchopedia project[edit]

Milos Rancic launched the Anarchopedia project (also as Anarchapedia) in September 2004, with multiple languages, differing from wikipedia in that every user is granted sysop status; thus launching a direct experiment of anarchy.

Anarchopedia started in "September 2004", the anglophone wiki in November 2004, and several other projects carried out thereafter.

Similar projects[edit]

  • A parallel project, just in french language, and without sysop for all, was launched in november 2004 on zaup.org. that project merged with the anarchopedia project on 12 March 2005.
  • A [Indonesian parallel project], just in Indonesian language, was launched ??? on [???]. that project merged with the anarchopedia project on 17 September 2005.
  • A [polish parallel project], just in polish language, was launched in ???? on ????. that project merged with the anarchopedia project on 28 August 2005.
  • A parallel project, just in danish language, was launched at august 11 th in 2005 on anarko.dk. that project merged with the anarchopedia project on 19 March 2006.

Other forms of diffusion of Anarchopedia[edit]

CD ? DVD ? P2P ? Papers ?

advance of Anarchopedia[edit]

Outstanding dates of Anarchopedia[edit]

Principal indicators of the advance of Anarchopedia[edit]

to be made, with the statistics…

Draft reports[edit]

See also[edit]

In addition to this article, you can read some of the articles which intend describe individual aspects of Anarchopedia:

Bibliography[edit]

Retrieved from "http://meta.anarchopedia.org/index.php?title=Anarchopedia&oldid=28031"