Survivalism is a movement, lifestyle, or philosophy that focuses on preparing for and surviving potential disruptions in daily life, such as natural disasters, economic collapse, social unrest, or other catastrophic events. It is a social movement comprised of individuals or groups (referred to as survivalists, doomsday preppers, or preppers) who proactively prepare for emergencies such as natural disasters as well as other disasters causing disruption to social order (that is, civil disorder) as a result of political or economic crises.
Individuals who follow survivalist principles are often referred to as preppers. Preparations may anticipate short-term or long-term scenarios on scales ranging from personal adversity to local service disruption to international or global catastrophe.
There is no clear distinction between general emergency preparedness and survivalism (these concepts exist on a spectrum), but a qualitative distinction is frequently recognized in which preppers/survivalists prepare especially extensively because they have higher estimates of the likelihood of disasters occurring. Nonetheless, prepping can be as simple as preparing for a personal emergency (such as job loss, storm damage to one’s home, or getting lost in wooded terrain) or as complex as a personal or collective identity with a devoted lifestyle.
Key aspects of survivalism include:
- Emergency Preparedness: Survivalists stress the importance of being prepared in case of an emergency. This includes stockpiling necessities such as food, water, medical supplies, and tools.
- Self-Sufficiency: Many survivalists advocate for food, water, and energy self-sufficiency. Growing one’s own food, raising livestock, and using alternative energy sources are all examples of this.
- Skills and Training: Survivalists frequently learn a variety of practical skills, including first aid, hunting, fishing, and basic survival skills in a variety of environments. Learning to be self-sufficient is a key tenet of survivalism.
- Security: Concerns about personal and family security are common among survivalists. This may involve learning self-defense skills, securing one’s home, and even acquiring firearms for protection.
Some survivalists believe that strong, self-sufficient communities can improve collective survival chances. This entails connecting with like-minded people and sharing resources and skills. Survivalism emphasizes self-sufficiency, stockpiling supplies, and learning survival skills and knowledge. Stockpiling supplies can range from survival kits (ready bags, bug-out bags) to entire bunkers in extreme cases.
Survivalists frequently acquire first aid and emergency medical/paramedic/field medicine training, self-defense training (martial arts, improvised weaponry, firearm safety), and improvisation/self-sufficiency training, and they frequently construct structures (survival retreats, underground shelters, etc.) or modify/fortify existing structures, etc., that may help them survive a catastrophic failure of society.
