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Against the State: Anarchists and Comrades at War in Spain, Myanmar, and Rojava
A book about those that cannot wait any longer for the world to change.
Stumbling across a Reddit forum in 2021, James Stout established contact with teenage Burmese rebels who were in military conflict with the junta. This unprofessional "army" was intuitively antiauthoritarian and resourceful beyond imagination—they 3D print working firearms in the jungle. The dreams, motivations, and hardships of these young adults are immediately recognizable, despite differing context across space and time. These young revolutionaries, colloquially referred to by journalist James Stout as “anarchists” for their nonhierarchical forms of organization based on mutual aid and solidarity, face incredible danger to pursue their expression of freedom. Against the State seeks to understand these anarchists, to honor their struggles, and ask tough questions about confronting the state. In doing so, Stout invites us to reimagine war in the twenty-first century.
Against the State draws on Stout’s research and experiences of conflict as an academic and journalist. What interests him in these regional conflicts, are places where people are taking care of one another while building new cooperative social relations.
Stout provides testimony from those building democratic confederalism while fending off Turkish drones and ISIS fighters in Kurdistan, the young insurgents beating back the military junta in Burma, and, for historical context, those storied workers in 1936 that fought capitalism and fascism in the Spanish Civil War and Revolution. While these movements look and operate unlike guerrilla movements of the past, they still have their martyrs. Crucially, the book presents current movements as evolving, growing and shrinking after setbacks, and mourning the loss of combatants. Against the State centers the voices of those too often overlooked in conflict studies and misunderstood by Western radical movements.
Stumbling across a Reddit forum in 2021, James Stout established contact with teenage Burmese rebels who were in military conflict with the junta. This unprofessional "army" was intuitively antiauthoritarian and resourceful beyond imagination—they 3D print working firearms in the jungle. The dreams, motivations, and hardships of these young adults are immediately recognizable, despite differing context across space and time. These young revolutionaries, colloquially referred to by journalist James Stout as “anarchists” for their nonhierarchical forms of organization based on mutual aid and solidarity, face incredible danger to pursue their expression of freedom. Against the State seeks to understand these anarchists, to honor their struggles, and ask tough questions about confronting the state. In doing so, Stout invites us to reimagine war in the twenty-first century.
Against the State draws on Stout’s research and experiences of conflict as an academic and journalist. What interests him in these regional conflicts, are places where people are taking care of one another while building new cooperative social relations.
Stout provides testimony from those building democratic confederalism while fending off Turkish drones and ISIS fighters in Kurdistan, the young insurgents beating back the military junta in Burma, and, for historical context, those storied workers in 1936 that fought capitalism and fascism in the Spanish Civil War and Revolution. While these movements look and operate unlike guerrilla movements of the past, they still have their martyrs. Crucially, the book presents current movements as evolving, growing and shrinking after setbacks, and mourning the loss of combatants. Against the State centers the voices of those too often overlooked in conflict studies and misunderstood by Western radical movements.
296 pages, Paperback
Published January 20, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 7, 2026
A phenomenal profile of the three struggles for freedom the author focuses on and the various components that constituted their respective revolutions. Got to revisit some excellent Orwell quotes and learned some new facts about all three conflicts I wasn't aware of, while getting a better understanding of elements I was familiar with. Despite typos, the author's prose shines as much as his contributions on It Could Happen Here do, with plenty of wit and sincerity.
March 27, 2026
i loved loved loved this book, and i have a career crush on James Stout. it’s so obvious that Stout cares so deeply about his sources - all of whom are deserving of the care.
Stout’s brand of “doing politics” is so attractive to me, as is the anarchist model. i really need to get out of my house and do something. inspiring book, i really hope to write something like this someday.
hopes up for the Rojava, and to all of the anti regime fighters in Burma.
Stout’s brand of “doing politics” is so attractive to me, as is the anarchist model. i really need to get out of my house and do something. inspiring book, i really hope to write something like this someday.
hopes up for the Rojava, and to all of the anti regime fighters in Burma.
January 17, 2026
It may be early but there’s no way this isn’t one of the best books of the year. Utterly engrossing, a look at the anarchist realities of war in Spain, Rojava and Myanmar, brilliantly told by incredible journalist. It doesn’t get better than this.
February 12, 2026
3.75⭐️
Important history, I just don’t think I’m a descriptive history kind of person
Important history, I just don’t think I’m a descriptive history kind of person
February 23, 2026
A hopeful look at what building a society without the state can look like, and in-depth examinations into the heroes of revolutions across Spain, Myanmar, and Rojava. Incredibly enlightening
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews