1 What is a survivalist?

The term “survivalist” originated in texts and films related to nuclear survival in the late 1960s and entered the common lexicon in the late 1970s. According to Merriam-Webster, the definition is “A person who advocates or practices survivalism.” This subsequently led to Merriam-Webster’s definition of “survivalism” as “An attitude, policy or practice based on the primacy of survival as a value.” So a “survivalist” is essentially a person who practices “survivalism,” while “survivalism” is the concept that espouses that “survival” is a high-value goal in life. From that it seems that being a survivalist is a fairly positive, responsible, and universal principle.

The majority of the world’s population were survivalists until the mid-nineteenth or early twentieth centuries. If your ancestors had not been practicing survivalists, you would not exist. Only in the last few hundred years has a large portion of the human population been able to depend on machines for their survival. The non-survivalist lifestyle is a fairly recent, and perhaps temporary, development in civilization. We now have large numbers of persons who lack the capability to take care of themselves or help their neighbors without relying on the so-called grid system. They depend on electricity, piped-in or power-supplied water, effective sanitation systems, police protection, prompt and available medical care, plentiful and safe food supplies, nearby fire-suppression services, and temperature-controlled homes. The fact that all of these supporting systems are vulnerable, fragile, and in some cases, dependent on unreliable resources is vigorously denied by the masses of non-survivalists.

While the media and the government can no longer completely deny the need for limited preparedness, both tend to disparage survivalism and survivalists. Both are quick to label antisocial and extreme behavior as survivalist tendencies. Meanwhile it is the nature of bureaucrats and the mass-media to present themselves as omnipotent. The whole concept of self-reliance and the possibility that things may happen that are beyond their control is difficult for those in power to accept. Personal preparedness, self-reliance, and independence may be given lip service, but are nevertheless disturbing concepts for many.

While the dictionary definitions are technically correct, they hardly reflect the true identities of survivalists or the foundations of survivalism today. Below, I offer my definitions based on my forty years of involvement with the movement.

A true survivalist is a responsible citizen who has become aware of the fragility and vulnerability of our life-support systems and civilization and is actively working to achieve greater capabilities to provide for him- or herself, and others, in emergencies and general disasters.

True survivalism is a movement of citizens toward greater individual emergency preparedness and expanded self-reliance independent of outside support and supply systems for extended or indefinite periods of time.

True survival for a true survivalist is the ability to stay alive biologically while remaining free in body and spirit, while also retaining one’s moral and spiritual values, regardless of external threats and hazards.