How to survive outside the State?

Agorism, a philosophy developed by Samuel Edward Konkin III, offers an alternative to both traditional politics and violent revolution by advocating for a peaceful withdrawal from state systems through the use of voluntary exchange in gray and black markets. Instead of attempting to reform government through voting, lobbying, or political campaigns, agorists believe that individuals can undermine state power by simply bypassing it. Thanks to modern tools such as cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Monero, the Lightning Network for instant and private payments, decentralized platforms, and privacy-focused technologies like VPNs, encrypted messaging apps, and Tor, it has become easier than ever to engage in free and uncensored economic activity. Practicing agorism can take many forms, from exchanging services informally without state interference, to freelancing and accepting payment in crypto, participating in peer-to-peer barter systems, producing food or goods for local exchange, or creating small-scale businesses that operate outside of burdensome regulations. The key is to act discreetly, avoiding unnecessary attention, steering clear of fraud or violence that would harm others and discredit the philosophy, and, where necessary, using minimal legal structures to protect oneself. Each voluntary and untaxed transaction is, in itself, a small act of defiance—an incremental weakening of the state’s monopoly over economic life. When multiplied by thousands or millions of people worldwide, these simple actions can gradually render the state less relevant and less powerful. Agorism is not about waiting for permission to be free—it is about building freedom every single day, transaction by transaction, until the state becomes obsolete.