Keith Preston is an American political theorist, writer, podcaster, and self-described anarchist who runs Attack the System (attackthesystem.com), one of the longest-running platforms advocating "pan-anarchism" or "anarcho-pluralism." He is the founder of the associated American Revolutionary Vanguard (ARV), a now largely dormant network aimed at uniting anti-state radicals across ideological lines. Preston's work emphasizes tactical alliances against centralized power, empire, and what he calls "totalitarian humanism" (political correctness and liberal managerialism).
Background and Evolution
Preston holds degrees in history and sociology, with past involvement in left-wing anarchism, including roles in the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and Workers Solidarity Alliance. Over decades, he shifted toward a "beyond left and right" stance, criticizing mainstream anarchism as devolved into lifestyle politics or progressive activism. He argues for reclaiming anarchism's revolutionary edge through broad coalitions.
Key influences include Mikhail Bakunin, Max Stirner, classical anarchists, libertarian thinkers, and critics of empire like Noam Chomsky (on foreign policy). He rejects both Marxism and conventional conservatism, favoring decentralized, pluralistic communities.
As of 2025, Preston remains highly active on Attack the System, posting daily aggregates of news, essays, and podcasts. Recent content (November-December 2025) covers geopolitics (e.g., Epstein files, Ukraine peace proposals, US-Russia relations), cultural critiques, and anti-imperialism. His 2025 book Philosophical Anarchism and the Death of Empire (published by Black Front Press) compiles essays on anti-statism, secession, and resisting modernity.
Core Ideology: Anarcho-Pluralism and Pan-Secessionism
Preston's signature ideas include:
Anarcho-Pluralism: A post-state world of autonomous communities with diverse ideologies—socialist, capitalist, religious, ethnic, or otherwise—coexisting via voluntary association and mutual non-aggression.
Pan-Secessionism: Tactical strategy for fracturing empires/states through alliances of separatists (e.g., regional independents, cultural nationalists, libertarians). He envisions "fourth-generation warfare" (insurgency) to dismantle centralized power.
Anti-Imperialism: Fierce opposition to US global hegemony, neoliberalism, and the domestic police state. He critiques both parties as tools of plutocracy.
In his view, modern anarchism should prioritize overthrowing the state over internal purity tests on issues like identity politics.
Key Publications and Platforms
Books: Attack the System (2016), The Failure of Anarchism, The Tyranny of the Politically Correct, and the recent Philosophical Anarchism and the Death of Empire.
Attack the System: Features essays, podcasts (e.g., interviews on tribalism, 4GW), and news links. It promotes "pan-anarchism against the state, pan-secessionism against the empire."
Controversies and Critiques
Preston is polarizing, especially for his "big tent" approach:
He describes himself as a "fellow traveler" of national-anarchism and has platformed figures like Troy Southgate.
Past appearances (e.g., 2015 National Policy Institute conference) and links to paleoconservative/alternative right sites (e.g., AlternativeRight.com, Taki's Magazine) led to accusations of enabling far-right entryism.
Critics (e.g., Matthew N. Lyons, Anti-Fascist News, Spencer Sunshine) argue his pluralism tolerates authoritarianism (e.g., "anarcho-feudalism") and provides cover for racial separatists or white nationalists under anti-state rhetoric. They view it as a bridge for right-wing radicals into anarchist spaces.
Left-anarchists denounce him for dismissing anti-racism/anti-fascism as distractions and allying with illiberal groups.
Defenders see him as pragmatic, focusing on the primary enemy (the state) while allowing ideological diversity post-revolution.
Preston responds by emphasizing voluntary separation, rejecting supremacy, and criticizing both left "totalitarian humanism" and right statism (e.g., classical fascism).
Final Assessment
Preston's eclectic synthesis challenges conventional political binaries, offering a radical anti-statist vision with intellectual depth. His emphasis on decentralization and anti-empire resonates across dissident spectra. However, his tolerance for separatist/nationalist tendencies in coalitions substantiates critiques of indirect far-right facilitation, rendering his ideas incoherent or risky to traditional anarchists. Influence remains niche but persistent in online radical circles. Primary sources (his site/books) provide his perspective; scholarly critiques (e.g., Lyons' analyses) offer counterpoints. Engage critically, given ties to controversial discourses.
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