this post was submitted on 05 Jul 2025
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Anarchism
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Ok, let's expand upon this.
The fighting has been going on for a while now. thousands of people have been killed, every day new causalities are ticking up on both sides due to small raids, but there is no end in sight. Nighter side has enough resources to push forward but, if you decline the deal the people of the state will start considering you unreasonable, push up support for the war and allow for more extreme actions to be taken against you.
No one from the outside is coming to help and due to the fighting the people who support you cannot get to you. This is presented as your only way out, it's either this or fighting to the last man.
The deal would stop the hostilities between you and allow for others sympathetic to your cause to join. There might even be a chance to negotiate for more territory down the line.
You've missed the most important part.
The deal claims to provide it, but what will stop the state from not doing their part? I wouldn't be fighting someone capable of honesty, no state has that luxury today. What kind of guaranties could they provide? They are clearly lying.
It's an offer trying to objectivize my anarchland. I'll objectivise them instead, with a counter-offer! For example, let free passage of sympathizers and give me your firstborn to foster and grow up as an anarch! Something silly, they'll reject it and lose initiative, at least some part of it. I'll win time and be unpredictable. They are bargaining, they must be almost done.
Without guaranties - no deal.
What if the fighting started accidentality? What if the state that is actually a pretty decent liberal democracy where there is a large amount of political freedom. Would you still be part of the revolt? and would you take the deal if, at least for the time being, the current government is sympathetic to your cause?
As for guarantees, what could they offer that would be enough? Lets say the deal gives you the city and surrounding area, opens up trade between you, and allows for free movement of people. There would be a guarded border on the state side but no troops or cops would be allowed inside. Or maybe a DMZ?
Also fooling them with a silly counter-offer is a really good idea, but a part of me thinks that it's kinda cruel to ridicule their genuine offer.
As I said, I don't see myself fighting against Finland. I can always reason with decent liberal democracy and probably even convert them. Finland is effectively anarchic state - socialist, but you can trade all you want if you want; regulations are minimal and made by actual people, taxes are high (brutally progressive) but you know they are used for the community.
As you can see from modern conflicts, DMZ and stuff matter shit if your opponent is deragned maniac like Putin or Tump, and any ceasefire would be just them regrouping for final attack. They matter little if your opponents are "regular leaders" under pressure of international relations. Border rules are enforced at please of each side, and you'll need to force your opponent.
They'll need guaranties as well by the way. They sure are proposing something in their offer - if you are overgrown revolt, most of your forces might be guerilla (technically all they are non-coms and criminals by international law until you are recognized as a state). Removing your troops from buffer zone pretty much banning entry altogether or it means nothing. If you are not allowed to control execution of treaty, the buffer zone will be militarizred in 20 minutes.
And this Finland reference shows one more thing - the only guaranties in modern world, apart from nukes, are international alliances. You could be winning, but as long as the rule of triangle is in force globally, things can change, and without an alliance (real one, where you interdepend) you'll be crushed soon. So - just look at the map and see - make your state useful for someone you are not fighting against, produce something everyone needs, and be located where force needs to be projected - and you'll be reasonably safe. Do less - and you'll be eternal proxy war playground. Do nothing - and you will not be.