A glimpse into the history of anarchism in Indonesia
The contemporary anarchist movement in Indonesia began to resurge in the 1990s after being oppressed and dismantled for thirty years by the New Order regime led by military general Soeharto. During his dictatorship, all leftist movements were crushed, and negative propaganda about communism and other leftist ideologies was massively disseminated. The resurgence of anarchism was made possible by the student movement across Indonesia and particularly by the punk culture. Punk communities learned about anarchism through the lyrics of punk bands involved in anarchist movements, as well as from anarchist punk zines from the United States and Europe, which were then copied, translated, and redistributed. In the following years, anarchist discourse became increasingly diverse; influencing activists, students, workers, and eventually reaching a broader audience.
Within and beyond the development of these groups and networks, anarchists have been involved in various actions, such as running infoshops; publishing books, pamphlets, and zines; as well as solidarity actions with local communities; boycotts and sabotage actions; demonstrations and black blocs; and interventions in the form of artistic works. Several important factions of this movement have also been involved in providing support for urban workers, rural farmers, or communities suffering from land dispossession and environmental destruction.
The proliferation of street libraries Perpustakaan Jalanan, which developed from 2009 in Bandung and then spread to other regions, shows the movement’s focus on education. These libraries also provide free food through public kitchens organized under Food Not Bombs. The website Anarkis.org, established in 2014, has also become an important resource for self-education and critical discussions related to this movement. The feminist anarchist collective Needle and Bitch, which has been active since 2010, also actively provides safe spaces for women and queers, organizes workshops, and publishes zines specifically within the feminist realm of the anarchist movement in Indonesia.
Why translation and publication of Indonesian anarchist literature into English?
Translation and publication of Indonesian anarchist literature into English holds significant importance for several reasons, particularly in the context of the global exchange of ideas and perspectives. This effort sheds light on the unique development of anarchism in Indonesia, the so-called “developing” country, and contrasts it with the predominantly European and American narratives.
European colonialism profoundly influenced Indonesian language and literature. During the colonial period, they imposed their languages and literary forms on Indonesian societies at many layers, and this still continues to this day. European and American literatures have historically dominated the global stage due to their privileged positions as wealthy and developed countries. This dominance has led to an imbalance in the global literary readers, with non-Western perspectives often marginalized or overlooked. Translating Indonesian anarchist and critical literature helps to rectify this imbalance, offering a platform for voices from less privileged regions and contributing to a more equitable language cultural exchange.
Anarchism has traditionally been framed through European and American lenses, with notable figures and movements shaping the discourse. These perspectives often carry their own cultural biases and assumptions. By incorporating Indonesian anarchist literature, we want to introduce different viewpoints that challenge the dominance of European and American narratives. This will provide a more nuanced understanding of anarchist theory and practice, acknowledging the diversity of its global expressions.
The development of anarchism in Europe and America has been significantly shaped by their historical, political, socio-economic contexts, often reflecting the issues and ideologies of wealthy, industrialized societies. In contrast, Indonesian anarchism emerges from a context marked by post-colonial struggles, economic disparities, and indigenous practices. Understanding these differences highlights how anarchism adapts and evolves in diverse environments and reveals the distinct ways in which it addresses local issues.
Indonesian anarchist literature reflects the distinct characteristics of local anarchist and other radical movements and practices, shaped by Indonesia’s specific historical, social and cultural context. These texts provide insights into how anarchist principles are interpreted and practiced in Indonesia, which is also influenced by indigenous peoples and local struggles. By translating these works, readers can understand the distinctiveness of Indonesian anarchism and understand how Indonesian anarchism interacts and differs from Western interpretations.
By translating Indonesian anarchist and critical texts, we can uncover how these colonial legacies affected the local expressions of anarchism and how Indonesian writers responded to and transformed these influences into local narratives. This is not just about making texts accessible; it’s about enriching the global discourse on anarchism, challenging dominant narratives, and acknowledging the complex interplay of colonial legacies. By doing so, we gain a more comprehensive understanding of anarchist movements worldwide and different contributions of Indonesian thinkers and activists.
Who we are…
We are Page Against The Machine, formerly known as Gulma Press, a small independent publisher which promotes self-publishing, has been operating since 2019 and has published around 30 books on art and socio-political themes. We also archive over 1,000 books and zines on anarchism and socio-political themes that have been collected since the 1990s. We have rebranded and reorganized, now operated by a streamlined team of three individuals. In the future, we aim to translate anarchist texts and other critical social issues into English for the reasons elaborated above. We aspire to publish books aimed at beginner readers, including teenagers and children, in the future. Additionally we will collaborate with some individuals or communities in need by offering support through a fair benefit-sharing mechanism connected to the book.
One of key objectives we aim is to elevate the narratives from non-academic writers who are first hand witnesses to events or their own experiences. These narratives are presented without the constraints and demands of complex academic writing styles. This focus is important because many writers and activists here do not have the privilege of higher formal education or possess writing skills that are deemed ‘sufficient.’ Consequently, many critical individuals struggle to communicate and express their experiences, knowledge, and emotions due to technical writing challenges. Our publication seeks to address this issue by providing a platform for these direct voices from the grassroots.
As a cooperative, we are collectively managed under egalitarian, mutual cooperation and solidarity principles, ensuring that every member has access to resources, means of production, and benefits. Moving forward, we plan to collaborate with local authors and publish a greater number of texts focusing on critical literature, social struggles, feminism, anarchism, and queer topics.
Page Against the Machine initiated by three individuals: Mila, Mita, and Muhee. We are not only friends and comrades who have known and collaborated with each other for a long time but also dedicated activists in our respective fields. Mila and Mita are part of an anarchist feminist collective based in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, which has been actively engaged for over a decade in activism related to feminism, anarchism, queer, ecology, and land struggle.
In addition to our activism, Mita and Mila have a strong interest in literacy and the world of publishing. We are both a zine maker and zine enthusiast, and regularly write and translate texts on the aforementioned themes. Mita has translated several anarchist works into Indonesian, including Anarchism and Other Essays by Emma Goldman, What is Anarchist Communism? by Alexander Berkman, Anarchism: A Beginner’s Guide by Ruth Kinna, and various anarchist pamphlets.
Meanwhile, Muhee is a member of Ruang Gulma Collective, also based in Yogyakarta. Ruang Gulma is a critical art collective that actively supports and advocates for social issues through various artistic mediums, including art, music, and performance. Muhee is an artist and graphic designer with experience in the field of publishing. Previously, Muhee managed Gulma Press, where Muhee mastered technical aspects such as design, artwork, layout, and book printing.
Your support
For Indonesian anarchist literatures to reach a broader audience, financial support is essential. Publishing and distributing books, journals, and other written materials require resources that many Indonesian anarchist publishers and authors simply do not have. Financial backing can cover costs such as production, translation, marketing, workspace rent, working equipment, and distribution. This support is crucial for making our works accessible to global readers. Currently, we have translated and are preparing to produce two books: Anarchism: A Beginner’s Guide by Ruth Kinna and Bertumbuh Bersama (Growing Together): A Practical Guide and Collection of Important Materials on Sexual Violence in Communities.
Therefore, we are kindly seeking financial support to initiate our work. The following budget outlines the necessary costs to establish an initial foundation for the project:
- Initial production cost for 2 books: 15.000.000 IDR / approx. 872 euro
- Translator, editor, lay-out wage for 2 books: 15.000.000 / approx. 872 euro
- Working equipment – scanner and printer: 4.000.000 IDR / approx. 233 euro
- Yearly workspace rent: 12.000.000 IDR / approx. 697 euro
Total Required Funding: 46.000.000 IDR / approx 2.674 Euro
Your support will enable us to overcome the initial financial hurdles and ensure that these significant literary projects can be produced, sustained, and shared globally. By contributing to this call, you will play an important role in enhancing the visibility of Indonesian anarchist ideas and fostering a more inclusive global dialogue on anarchism and other critical topics.
We invite you all to join us in this important initiative, helping to amplify voices and perspectives that are still very rarely heard and known in the literacy scene and anarchism movement globally.
We also invite anyone or any publishers who are interested with our ideas to join the conversation and get involved. If you know any people or independent publishers who might want to team up with us, we’d really appreciate any support from you!
In solidarity,
Page Against The Machine
Reach us on:
Email: pageagainstthemachine2024@gmail.com
Email: pageagainstthemachine2024@riseup.net
IG: @patmpenerbit
WISE account: @pramilladevae
List of anarchism books that have been translated from English to Indonesian
- ABC Anarchism by Alexander Berkman – Daun Malam
- Anarquismo Social e Organização by Federação Anarquista do Rio de Janeiro – Daun Malam
- Anarchism and Other Essays by Emma Goldman – Pustaka Catut
- What is Anarchist Communism by Alexander Berkman – Daun Malam
- Anarchism: A Beginner’s Guide by Ruth Kinna – Gulma Press
- The Secret World Of Terijian by Crimethinc – Gulma Press
- The Spanish Anarchist by Murray Bookchin – Pustaka Catut
- Anarchy: A Graphic Guide by Clifford Harper – Daun Malam
- Anarchism Insurrectionist by Alfredo Bonano – Pustaka Catut
- From Riot to Insurrection: Analysis for An Anarchist Perspective Against Post-Industrial Capitalism by Alfredo Bonano – Diogenes
- Fragments of An Anarchist Anthropology by David Graeber – Pustaka Catut
- On Anarchism by Noam Chomsky – Lingkaran
- Desert by Anonymous – Pustaka Catut
- Armed Joy by Alfredo Bonano – Aftonomi Press
- Liberating Life: Woman Revolution by Abdullah Ocalan – Daun Malam
- Boom Nihilism, Anarchy by Aragon Moser – Public Enemy
- I Want to Kill Cops Until I’m Dead by Anonymous – Rumah Kertas
- Mini Manual of the Urban Guerrilla by Carlos Marighella – Daun Malam
- The Origin and Ideas of Modern School by Francisco Ferrer – Penerbit Ramu
- Anarcho Transcreation by Mirna Wabi Sabi – Sabate Books
And roughly more than 50+ writing collections.
Forward link of our next projects:
Eng-Dayak Mahardeka.docx – Google Docs
Foreword_Red Black City.docx – Google Docs
To Farm is to Resist!.docx – Google Docs
*These texts consist of the foreword & one chapter of each book. Revision is still needed.
