Troutsky and I are currently searching for a revival of politics and a means for restoring faith in the democratic tradition that so many of us still revere. We hope to find a way that moves beyond revolutionary partisanship, individualistic liberalism, and all variety of political thinking that haunts any prospect of altering the human species path to self-immolation. Murray Bookchin describes this tension as appropriate:
"As we enter the twenty-first century, social radicals need a socialism--libertarian and revolutionary--that is neither an extension of the peasant-craft "associationism" that lies at the core of anarchism and Marxism. However fashionable the traditional ideologies (particularly anarchism) may be among young people today, a truly progressive socialism that is informed by libertarian as well as Marxian ideas but transcends these older ideologies must provide intellectual leadership. For political radicals today to simply resuscitate Marxism, anarchism, or revolutionary syndicalism and endow them with ideological immortality would be obstructive to the development of a relevant radical movement. A new and comprehensive revolutionary outlook is needed, one that is capable of systematically addressing the generalized issues that may potentially bring most of society into opposition to an ever-evolving and changing capitalist system."
While we may disagree as to the exact means for a return to the political and radical democracy, we agree traditional anarchism, Marxism, many socialist groups, unions, et. al. fall short of addressing the myriad issues and concerns a modern society confronts. The diverse variety of subjectivities struggling for social power makes individualistic liberalism untenable. So Trout and I look to challenge the traditions of simplistic sloganeering by organizations such as our very own Industrial Workers of the World. For one, we can't see how an anachronistic slogan such as "the employing class and working class have nothing in common" can possibly serve a revolutionary cause with such a misguided appreciation for modern identity politics. However the question remains of how to move forward against the tide of the incessantly encroaching capitalist system?
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9 comments:
I think if we had a mass party, that was based on labor, and defections from the Democratic Party; that would be our October 1917.
See this.
Ren,
Have you read Social Ecology and Communalism, by Murray Bookchin? If not, it's a quick read worthy of one's time. If you like, skip straight to the essay on Communalism.
Happy Hanukkah!
I forgot how right on Bookchin was. He was the avant- garde at necessary deconstruction-reconstruction as the times dictate.I don't see any contradictions with parties and syndicalism although Id personally rather work on organizing and let others deal with electoral politics.It is a joy knowing there are others willing to walk new paths and learn as we walk.The trick is knowing what old paths have been trod and where they led.(theres a word you don't see alot!) We have here in the USA a society of workers with some kind of wierd Stockholm Syndrome, maybe when they start losing their houses they will see we are not crazy.
I'm personally in favor of mass organizations rooted in the community.
I'm personally in favor of mass organizations rooted in the community.
I'm concerned about gun-toting libertarian militia types.
I've recently heard stories about some ranting Oregonians talking about getting everyone armed and ready for the protection of their personal property and families against a government that has become to big.
They are very serious and--for me--very scary.
Why is that scary?
It's scary because it's based in some theistic libertarian rant. It mixes in a good deal of blatant racism, sexism, homophobia...you know...your standard social Darwinism...but with an arsenal!
One of the dangers now that all violence has been legitimized, glorified even.The left-left would not stand a chance in such an all out fracas.
We were looking at maps of the world circa 1920 yesterday, noticing how all the once colonized regions are currently exploding again.Oregon, of course, is a different case.
Cmon John, jump in! Mass party? Parlimentary pig sty? Syndicate?
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