There are some big issues with AFN which are stopping it from doing what it set out too.
1) It's got no basis in the working class (even predomantily middle class organisations like UAF at least had support from blue collar unions like the RMT) and it is dominated by students. From a few experiences on demos and the 'antifa' types I know, AFN activists tend to be middle class anarcho-fantasist crusties who have no connection to working class concerns or aims. And sadly this association puts people who don't fit that label off joining - only putting on punk gigs as fundraisers doesn't help! I'm into a bit of punk myself but the sound and attitude of today is house / garage / DnB and the scene around this is massively diverse. Bar maybe 'rave against racism' which seems to attract old skool ravers (i.e. those around in the nineties...) this new current of British subculture with the same inherently anti-authoritarian nature of punk is being ignored when it has the opportunity to draw so many youngsters into our ranks.
2) Another issue is the constant black block tactics. AFN has taken what should be an employable tactic - masking up and wearing black - and turned it into a fashion statement! The arrests after the fight outside that bar at March for England show that black bloc doesn't even make you that anonymous, and it clearly doesn't make you inconspicuous to the plod or the filth... How can you expect to get close enough to do some serious damage or even snatch a banner or wreck a PA when you can be spotted a mile off? It's ineffective and dogmatic and again its part of that whole anarcho-crusty culture which is just the opposite of working class sensibility and style. Sounds bitchy but it honestly puts regular lads who dress like casuals or whatever off.
3) AFN isn't just isn't that good on the pavement. This reflects the calibre of activists that are drawn into its orbit. They are either incapable or unwilling of actually taking on the fash physically when it comes down to it. There's a video (titled something like 'march for england antifascists streetfight brighton') of an antifa with this giant backpack on and their hands up during the fight outside that pub in Brighton at MFE as if they're begging 'don't hurt me!' why on earth was this gimp on the frontline? sure enough they are thrown to the floor in the video and scuttle off. It's embarrassing. And that antifa was very lucky not to be seriously hurt.
4) AFN has fallen into the trap of banner waving counter-demos all dressed nicely in black bloc which do nothing, whilst the fash are unopposed physically.
5) Ideologically AFN seems committed to intersectionality to a point which marginalises a class narrative (i.e. fascism, nationalism, etc. is inherently anti-working class) which is exactly what is needed to start drawing the white working class - who the far right target and mostly consist off - back into the orbit of the left more generally. I stopped going on AFN callouts after one 'antifa' called me out for calling an NWI'er a cunt because it was sexist! I'd be happy to debate words and sexism over a pint or something, but not when you are about to go toe to toe with someone who wants to cave your head in. The dogmatic commitment to intersectionality and horizontal organising etc. translates into being ineffective on the street. Group dynamics are a funny thing and without an organiser calling the shots and directing a group on the streets the group just runs around and more often then not runs away. And If you need to use a gendered swearword to prepare yourself to get involved then so be it.
Like thunderfist said some of this is on point, but some of it misses the mark widely, and I think the AFN suffer a bit from anything that isn't a UAF action gets labelled an AFN action.
Look on the AFN website for a list of affiliated groups.
In regards to your first point of having no basis in the class, the group I would be most aware of are predominantly although not exclusively working class , do have one or two students and Crusties, but equally a few republicans, casuals, most are anarchists but there are some members of communist/ socialist groups, various trade unions etc. The group have run ragga, Dnb and hip hop nights etc, but as punk bands are always willing to do benefits and money is easily made, their worth doing. In regards to working with trade unions , this is something that LAF have done on a few occasions, but in general UAF are essentially the franchised outsourced antifascist arm of the trade unions. LAF have consistently agrued against the "front so broad, that Tories can join" MO of UAF, that anti fascism should be an arm of a movement against capitalism not a end in itself or worse a defender of the status quo.( the "this is a multicultural area and we like it the way it is" mentality, no it's an underfunded area where government cuts often implemented by the Labour Party are having a detrimental effect on people's lives and fueling massive social problems, this is not how we fuckin like it! )
Your second point re black block, it's become a trope really, although at times useful. But I agree with you on this, however your "why is this gimp on the frontline" argument , he was there, where were you? Don't mean this as a personal attack but people form autonomous groups and attend callouts, can't knock em for it.
Point 3 ) completely disagree, to my knowledge an AFN group has never being turned over, that's not to say these other "antifa" groups thunderfist alluded to haven't, but I think there is a genuine problem of not being able to consistently mobilise to decisive victories, due to a lack of numbers. I could list any amount of recent events the fash have been turned over at, away from big demos etc. but that wouldn't be too clever, just so ya know in not givin it the billy big bollix will juxtapose this by saying there's more times numbers have meant intel wasn't acted on.
On point 4 ) and again I'm only speaking for my experience but one of the things the AFN wanted to attempt was being able to mobilise both large counter demos and direct actions to stop marches happening, that would involve blocking roads (where banners come in handy) and allowing participation of people who aren't going to go into a pub and give it "whowanssssum" but are prepared to take part in mass direct action. This has worked in some places (Brighton) , fell flat on its face in others (tower hamlets) , the police are really the biggest factor on a given day.
5) intersectionality, I really haven't see.this to be the case, although it does seem to be a fascination of the unorganised anarcho student hordes I have not heard it being put forward by any AFN people, have you seen that on blogs or facebook pages of AFN affiliated groups? I'm not on Facebook so maybe it goes on on there but never heard it discussed by any
AFN people.
All in all, there is a lot left wanting from the AFN, but for all it's faults there are local groups that you can join and influence, it's is not a front, it can be engaged with. There isn't admittedly a cohesive national strategy, this is badly lacking.
CCTV and on the point policing have made havin it toe to toe even more precarious, and strings of nicking a have at times really put the skids on groups. New tactics have to be brought to the fore, some of them will fall flat , some of them have worked and will work again.
