The Libertarian Communist ------A Discussion Bulletin for the Anti State, Non Market Socialist/Anarchist sector

Aim: the creation of a World wide Libertarian . £1

Capitalism: Private and/or State Ownership equals a world Divided

Libertarian : the basis of a world united

Issue 16: late October 2011 to mid January 2012 2 The Libertarian Communist Issue 16 Late October 2011 to Mid January 2012

The purpose of The Libertarian Communist is to promote discussion amongst the Anti State, Non Market sector irrespective of whether individuals or groups consider themselves as Anarchist, Communist or Socialist as all such titles are in need of further qualification. If you have disagreements with an article in this or any other issue, wish to offer comment or want to contribute something else to the discussion then please get in touch. If any article focuses on a particular group then that group has, as a matter of course, the right to reply. So please get in touch with your article, letters and comments. You can do this by contacting [email protected] or writing to Ray Carr, Flat 1, 99 Princess Road, Branksome, Poole, Dorset BH12 1BQ.

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Contents

Page 2: Introduction to Issue 16

Page 3: Letter: Workers’ Self Management and commodity society: Mike Young

Page 3: Workers’ Self Management: some thoughts

Page 5: Self Management in a market economy: What’s in it for socialists? Stefan

Page 8: Building the new society within the shell of the old: David Dane

Page 9: Letter: The World Socialist Movement and the concept of a transitional period: Laurens Otter

Page 9 Reconsidering organisation and the role of communists: R S responds to Mike Young

Page11 Again: Religion and the SPGB: Kathy Summerson

Page 12 The Riots in Britain: 3 Edited articles: Nothing to lose, nothing to win: Dave Broder, The Commune. Riot and Criminality is a product of consumerism and social breakdown: Donnacha De Long. Riots in Britain: The full fruits of forty years of capitalist crisis: statement by the International Communist Tendency (ICT)

Page 15 Contact details for groups in the anti state, non market sector

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Introduction to issue 16.

This issue covers just over two months the end of October 2011 to mid January 2012 and hopefully this will enable the bulletin to go quarterly from the beginning of next year.

The workers self management issue takes off in this edition with a letter from Mike Young, a further in house piece and an article by Stefan. Elsewhere we have contributions which focus on articles that have appeared in the previous two issues. David Dane; “Building the new society in the shell of the old” focuses on Laurens Otter’s contribution in issue 14 “Revolution: three strategies, three groups of 3 The Libertarian Communist Issue 16 Late October 2011 to Mid January 2012 theory”. R S responds to the part of Mike Young’s letter in the last issue which commented on his article “Reconsidering organisation and the role of communists” in issue 14 and Laurens Otter’s letter provides an interesting comment on the section of Stefan’s article in the last issue; “How strict should requirements be for membership in a socialist organisation?”, dealing with the attitude of the SPGB to a transition period between and . Elsewhere Kathy Summerson makes a further response to Robin Cox and to Stefan concerning organisational and other factors in the anti state, non market sector and in the World Socialist Movement in particular. To finish we have edited contributions from our sector on the riots in Britain in August.

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Letter from Mike Young on valuable in the part it plays in Workers Self Management and engendering a "culture of resistance" (to commodity society. borrow the AF phrase for this concept). The trouble is if we stare hard at the Many thanks for Libertarian Communist "culture of resistance", all that is solid 15. I enjoyed the article on Workers Self melts into air. Can we discover a Management and thought it was an "culture of resistance" or contingent engaging, balanced and reasoned instances of resistance arising from the presentation of the argument. Sadly, suffering and needs of contingent though, I can’t share its concluding note subjects. As things stand, it is also of optimism. I would love to be more possible to argue that the "culture of positive about Workers Self resistance" exists only as a conceptual Management, but I am far from synthesis (who decides what belongs to convinced that as it stands this social this "culture"? who decides what movement is in any way equal to the constitutes "resistance"?) and a project force of (or even truly concerned with) which has proved itself ineffectual. This ownership and the means of project (whatever its aspirations) is production. The question is, in a without effective power and so remains situation of profound economic trapped within the orbit of capitalism, disintegration, would Workers Self unable to achieve escape velocity and Management be the seed bed of lacking evocative and constructive socialised production, or does Workers force. Lacking a situation of profound Self Management carry within itself (and economic disintegration that seems to would reproduce) the capitalist character be the only substance our "cultures" and of the forces of production? At the risk of "movements" can have within being “foolish in the extreme” (my basic capitalism". default position), whatever enjoyment Workers Self Management gives me as a Regards Mike manifestation of workers’ solidarity isn’t ------enough to make me believe that in its essential character it is anything beyond Workers self management; some a movement for palliative reforms which thoughts. cannot seriously damage (and can easily be retained within) the commodity Mike’s letter raises two interesting points; the system. first of these is whether or not workers self management could break out of the limitations As things stand Workers Self of a reformist mindset that would leave Management can only really signify commodity society well entrenched. We workers helping capitalism to manage recognised the point that self managed enterprises alone were not an end in their own exploitation, possibly a fairer themselves by reference to a quote from Buick form of exploitation but exploitation and Crump when they stated that what was nonetheless. Some might argue important about an enterprise was not its that Workers Self Management is 4 The Libertarian Communist Issue 16 Late October 2011 to Mid January 2012 internal structure but whether or not it followed workplace and community councils and so on, the law, one might say, of capitalist [see the section of Argentina in our last issue, accumulation [issue 15;p 3]. Mike’s point p.5] . accepted then. The point of raising the self management issue was to point to a problem Whilst the class struggle is not something we face when presenting our case to workers workers have a choice of getting involved in or for a genuine communist society, namely that not, they are involved, conscious of it or not, in there is too little to point to that is a concrete an organised or unorganised way and this will example of what we are aiming for. Whilst remain the case until they organise to take there is no doubt that socialistic experiments possession of the means of life from the tiny within capitalism have their pitfalls it could well minority who own and control them at the be that they are a necessary part of the class moment. However at present the headline struggle which they cannot be isolated from. conduct of the class struggle is often narrowly defined in terms of industrial struggles over Stefan’s article in this issue elaborates on wages, working conditions, job losses and so what could be positive about a movement for on. This is where the idea of a “culture of workers self management within capitalism as resistance” comes in. Now to get a clear idea well as their difficulties and limitations. The of what that means we will have to ask the point about this is that self managed Anarchist Federation to enlighten us. enterprises could help promote the idea that a Presumably it goes along the lines of starting different type of society is possible through to build an offensive movement from a practical examples rather than ideas that seem defensive one as workers have to experience to many to be divorced from real experience. how to resist before they can build a So really they are a means to an end rather movement towards a revolution. Does a than an end in themselves. The problem when culture of resistance exist at the moment? discussing concepts such as workers self Probably not; to give it that term we would management is that we can be guilty of expect to see a situation where struggles are accepting or rejecting the actual term without linked up as workers come to realise that their considering the actual substance and the point own struggles are not isolated but part of a is that workers self management can take a broader problem. We might also expect to see variety of forms [see Stefan’s article in this workers whether unionised or not developing issue and the article in issue 15, pages 4 and their own organisational structures outside of 6]. The point is that should we see such a the bureaucratic leadership channels that exist development it would surely be better to try at present. That is not to say that a culture of and engage with it and encourage it in a resistance would not be a positive communist direction than to ignore or development and cannot be achieved, indeed discourage it. So could a movement for it is probably a necessary development from workers self management develop ideas that where we are now. go beyond the basis of commodity society and seeking merely to reform capitalism? Yes it No one can deny that defensive battles within could. capitalism are part and parcel of the class struggle or that they will continue as long as A movement for workers self management can capitalism does. The point is that they are not be viewed in isolation much is dependent defensive struggles and at any one point are on what is going on around it and the limited to a minority of the working class and at influences on it. When we state that a self some point they will need to develop into management movement could go beyond the offensive struggles and broaden out to take confines of commodity society what we mean alternative forms onboard. So the question that is that it has a much chance of doing so as the we are addressing here is; are moves towards normal organisational forms workers use in workers self management, perhaps arising out defending themselves against the of the struggle to defend jobs and so on, just encroachments of capital the; culture of as much a part of the class struggle as the resistance argument. We certainly would not more traditional types of industrial action to see workers self management as a movement prevent wage cuts, job losses and so on? The for change on its own it would need to be answer surely has to be yes. Further more linked to other forms of struggle, more could such a movement provide a stimulus to traditional forms of industrial struggle, the idea of a libertarian communist society 5 The Libertarian Communist Issue 16 Late October 2011 to Mid January 2012 by providing evidence that a more democratic by the community of producers. To the society run for people by people is a feasible extent that a self-managed firm is proposition? owned by outside shareholders, banks or government agencies, its options are As previously stated workers self management constrained accordingly. is a means to an end rather than an end in itself and we are not arguing that by itself it (b) A self-managed firm may be one of could bring about a change from commodity society. In the end, just as with other parts and only a few such firms in an economy phases of the class struggle of which it must where ordinary capitalist firms are the form a component part, it cannot play a norm OR it may operate in an economy positive role in isolation, its development and consisting mainly of self-managed firms. role will be dependent on the direction the Historical examples of such economies struggle against capitalism takes in the coming were the anarchist-influenced areas of years. If these thoughts have raised more Spain (especially Catalonia) during the questions than answers there are no apologies civil war in the late 1930s and (with to be made we do not have many let alone all some reservations) Tito’s Yugoslavia. the answers they will only come partially from discussion but in the main from experience. To (c) Self-management may be a living put it another way the answers will only come reality OR merely a set of formal from a combination of theory and practice. institutions and procedures. A firm established on the basis of self------management can gradually degenerate, eventually coming to resemble an Self-Management in a Market ordinary capitalist firm. This seems to have happened at Mondragon, for Economy: instance. In the process of What’s In It For Socialists? degeneration:

Stephen Shenfield (Stefan) -- Fewer and fewer producers actively participate in self-management. A self-managed firm is a production organization – industrial, agricultural, or -- Managers break free of effective both – that is managed as a democratic democratic control and seek to run the community of producers, typically firm without “interference” on “normal” through an elected council (or a network capitalist lines. Likely reasons include of such councils). Professional managers pressures from the capitalist may still play a vital role, especially in a environment, an education that has large firm, but they are hired and fired imbued them with a capitalist conception by the councils and cannot make major of efficiency, and envy for the higher decisions without approval from the pay, undisputed authority and other council (and/or a referendum). Managers privileges enjoyed by their counterparts placed in this position are likely to treat in ordinary companies. those they manage with greater respect and consideration than managers -- Newcomers increasingly join the firm answerable to the board of directors of as hired workers rather than members an ordinary company. or co-owners. As a result, the workforce splits into two classes – “self-managers” Self-managed firms can exist in diverse and proletarians. (A similar split forms and circumstances. It is important occurred in many Yugoslav self-managed to draw a number of distinctions: firms.)

(a) A self-managed firm may OR may (d) Self-management may be valued for not also be “self-owned” – i.e., owned its own sake OR serve other purposes, 6 The Libertarian Communist Issue 16 Late October 2011 to Mid January 2012 possibly purposes that as socialists we people who work in self-managed firms? find abhorrent. An example of this is the I lack the knowledge to say for sure, but Israeli kibbutz and moshav. [Note 1] I suspect that these and other kinds of Although interesting as social mistreatment are much less common experiments, their purpose was to settle there – because the victims would be in and defend the borders of the Zionist a much stronger position to get their state; even now they do not admit non- abusers fired. In this context, self- Jews. management has advantages similar to those of a strong union presence. Setting the issue of ownership aside for now, let us consider what value self- True, self-management within capitalism management might have for socialists. has severe limitations. It is part of our task as socialists to make those The most important point was made by limitations clear. The members of a self- of the SPGB in his managed firm are forced to struggle for December 2005 article on Argentina’s their firm’s financial survival in the face worker-run factories: “Workers [in some of local, regional and global capitalist bankrupt enterprises] occupied the competition. Nevertheless, they may workplace and resumed production on have broader options at their disposal their own account... It did at least show, than people working for ordinary to any who might not have realised it, capitalist firms – provided that their firm that workers can organise production is self-owned as well as self-managed. without bosses.” Thus, during an economic depression My only objection here is to the doubtful capitalist firms prefer to cut costs by implication that such demonstrations of laying off workers rather than “share out workers’ abilities are not really needed the work” by reducing working hours. A because almost everyone already knows self-managed firm also has to cut costs that we can all get by quite well without under adverse market conditions. bosses. If only! [Note 2] However, its council is free to decide that it will adapt to the situation by Even limited departures from the reducing working hours – and there is standard forms of capitalism can be used good reason to expect that this will be to convey the vital message that we do its choice. Economists with an orthodox not have to live this way, that there are training view this as a suboptimal alternatives! Not only can we organise inefficient solution, but “self-managers” production without bosses; we can also are likely to give greater weight to relate to others in a democratic, considerations such as solidarity and the egalitarian and manner. interests of the local community (to Socialists should bring this home by which they, unlike capitalist owners, will finding out and telling others what it is usually belong). In technical terms, they like to work in a self-managed firm. In internalise factors that the ordinary firm what ways is it like and in what ways is treats as externalities. In this sense, it unlike our typical experience of indeed, the self-managed firm is MORE capitalist employment? It is not efficient, not less. socialism, but does it perhaps in a Similarly, self-managers are likely to certain sense point toward socialism? choose to work at a less hectic pace than that imposed on workers in A specific example. Many managers and ordinary firms. They know that this will supervisors in capitalist firms use their somewhat reduce their money income, power to insult, humiliate and even but consider the sacrifice of some physically or sexually assault their income justified by the benefits of a less subordinates. Does this happen to stressful work environment to physical 7 The Libertarian Communist Issue 16 Late October 2011 to Mid January 2012 and mental health. This is a choice that Admittedly, it is much more difficult to workers in ordinary firms are not free to establish a self-owned firm than one that make. A self-managed firm CAN make is merely self-managed. Workers who such choices – within certain limits, to hope to launch such a venture have to be sure – because it unites labor and raise enough money to buy out the capital in the same group of individuals. current owners of the firm where they work – and without becoming indebted To prevent misunderstanding, let me to other capitalist outsiders. It is no repeat that these “non-standard” (in accident that self-owned firms are found capitalist terms) options are available in sectors of the economy where capital ONLY to the self-managed firm that is requirements are fairly modest – also self-owned and financially bakeries and sawmills, for instance, independent. If a self-managed firm is rather than high-tech factories. Workers financially dependent on outside who aspire to self-management after capitalist actors, be they shareholders, a occupying a plant abandoned by government agency or a bank to which it bankrupt owners (as in Argentina) owes money, then it must constantly usually count on the firm concerned worry about keeping up the price of its being taken into state ownership. As the shares or reassuring the bank or new owner, the state would assert the government agency that the firm is power of oversight even if it did not being managed “properly”. Under such insist on appointing its own managers. strong pressure, it can be expected to The first priority of the self-managed run its affairs almost as though it were firm would then have to be satisfying the an ordinary capitalist firm. demands of the state agency responsible for exercising oversight. This is an appropriate place to discuss the idea that self-managers “help Finally, a few words about the character capitalism to manage their own of an economy consisting solely of self- exploitation” (see the letter from Mike managed self-owned firms. This type of Young in this issue). This is, indeed, the economy is not socialism, which by position in which the financially definition presupposes ownership and dependent self-managed firm finds itself. control by the whole of society rather But I do not think that a financially than by separate and often competing independent producers’ community that groups producing for sale on the market. owns its own firm is in the same But neither, in my view, is this type of position. Here there is no division into economy a form of capitalism. It is not capitalist owners and workers exploited divided into a capitalist owning class and by them. Strictly speaking, producers a class of exploited workers. [Note 3] It who have formed such a community are is not based on wage labor. The no longer members of the working class. functional logic of such an economy is They receive not wages (i.e., the price of quite distinct from that of capitalism. their labor power) but a variable sum [Note 4] equal to a predetermined share of the firm’s net income. True, they remain It should be recalled that Marx did not dependent on the market and may find identify capitalism with market economy life very hard under adverse market as such. He also discussed a non- conditions. But self-employed capitalist form of market economy based craftspeople, farmers and professionals on simple commodity production by who likewise own their means of independent producers. Self-owned production are in the same plight. This firms might coexist with self-employed does not mean that they are exploited in farmers, craftspeople and professionals the Marxian sense. as another type of commodity producer 8 The Libertarian Communist Issue 16 Late October 2011 to Mid January 2012 within this non-capitalist market [4] There is a substantial literature on this in economy. the field of comparative economic systems, based mostly on Yugoslav experience. It am not arguing that a non-capitalist ------market economy is an adequate solution to the global problems facing humanity. Building the new society within the Such a solution must entail self- shell of the old. By D Dane. management not just within separate production communities but on a A response to Laurens Otter’s article planetary scale. Nevertheless, it is Revolution: three strategies, three conceivable, especially in light of the groups of theory. The Libertarian Spanish experience, that self- Communist Issue 14. management at lower levels, in the context of a market economy in the In the article Laurens names and process of losing its capitalist character, describes three strategies which are, might serve as a stepping stone toward (the numbering being mine) 1) All power socialist revolution in the full sense. As lies at the point of production; 2) socialists, we need to progress beyond Undermining the state: 3) The the simplistic approach that views all withdrawal of consent argument. At the modern social phenomena solely in end of the article Laurens talks about terms of two directly counterposed the United Front as the fourth strategy. categories – capitalism and socialism. “Obviously when one examines such NOTES proposals in the cold light of later days, such a united front could only come [1] Both kibbutz and moshav were self- about if, at least in some measure, the managed: the difference was that the kibbutz proponents of each strategy and/or of also had collective living arrangements. Many each theory were prepared to abandon kibbutzim have degenerated to some extent: in the pure expression of their case. Yet it particular, they now hire unskilled workers as is to an extent that there is an non-members. unexpressed, unofficial, underlying united front that there is/was such a [2] thing as a revolutionary movement at http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/dec05/t all.” ext/page10.html. This is one of the techniques used by members of the SPGB and its My view of this is that these points made companion parties to minimise the possible are examples of ‘building the new benefits of “reforms”. Their motive underlying society within the shell of the old.’ This this bias is the fear that acknowledging the expression was used by the Industrial positive potential of certain changes within Workers of the World (IWW) in the capitalism will weaken the appeal of socialism twentieth century but even now has as a global alternative. much relevance. I would suggest that [3] This does not mean that it lacks economic stateless socialist parties must be based inequality, only that inequality does not take on pre-figurative organisations, such as the form of a class division. The research of workplace and community groups. Saul Estrin on Yugoslav self-management Creating these forms of organisation revealed sharp inequality between members of now is essential rather than expecting economically successful and unsuccessful some mythical revolution to sweep all firms, with managers at unsuccessful firms evil away. Indeed such an idea has considerably worse off than rank-and-file totalitarian implications which producers at successful firms. anarchists/libertarian socialists need to be wary of. 9 The Libertarian Communist Issue 16 Late October 2011 to Mid January 2012

From this, in Britain at this moment, (summer 2011) I would conclude that It’s possible that if that formula had ever there are plenty of issues both in the been officially adopted; the party might workplace and the community in which have avoided subsequent travails. libertarian socialists could invest their activities in. Yours; Laurens

The World Socialist Movement Below is the part of Mike Young’s letter in and a transition Period between issue 15 in response to the article in issue 14, capitalism and Socialism “Reconsidering organization and the role of communists”. This abstract from Mike’s letter is followed by the response of R S, the author In the article “How strict should of the original article. requirements be membership in a socialist organisation”, Stefan wrote, I found R.S.'s article to be very much in “. In the first issue of Frank Girard’s line with my thinking now. That said, I Discussion Bulletin, Laurens Otter have doubts that his statements pointed out that Clause 6 also clearly following, "Well it depends who "we" implies that government will continue to are" actually illuminate that thorny issue exist during the period when socialism is of identifying class membership all that being established. Nevertheless, the much (and I thought briefly that the idea of a “transitional” government has libretto of Pulp's "Common People" could become highly controversial within the be inserted seamlessly into the text at WSM, so that an applicant may even be this point). His statements seem to denied admission for advocating this imply something about mental attitudes idea.” defining class that goes needlessly (http://libertariansocialism.4t.com/db/d beyond his already crystal clear b010703.htm). definition of "relation to the means of production". Anyway, "If you are outside In commenting on this Laurens Otter the class ... don't try to lead or direct writes the following: the working class", can only sound a wee bit odd if you then plan to quote Dear Lib Com Marx and Fred Engels. M and E clearly did not feel the need to follow the "or, if In the late 40s when I first met the you're really serious, join the working SPGB, before the objection to blue- class" advice in any meaningful social or printing became dominant – quite a lot economic way (i.e. getting into the of members used to reconcile this appropriate "relation to the means of conflict by saying. production"). Their chosen "relation to the means of production" was as distant “ There will be no transition period in the sense as they could make it (easy in Engels' of our being in power and transforming case, requiring a tad more ingenuity and society, but there may well be a period of rather more sponging in Marx's case). transition when we will not be in power, while Nevertheless, to my mind he is we are building wider support, when the effect absolutely right for the most part. There of previous activity (including our own) will has been too much attempted have forced changes on to capitalist society, organization of workers by 'revolutionary (just as before the Bolsheviks came to power experts'. in Russia, many changes had already been made;) and it is likely that then the reformists will have taken control of the state and Editor, introduced some form of ; it would be hard to say whether this will facilitate I appreciate Mike Young's letter on my or complicate the change to socialism.” article “Reconsidering organization and 10 The Libertarian Communist Issue 16 Late October 2011 to Mid January 2012 the role of communists” (The Libertarian I could fill several pages with similar Communist #14) in the last issue. information. For example:

Of course I think it's a positive thing that “Considering that the I.W.M.A., Mike finds himself in agreement with the according to the General Rules, is to arguments I have put forward, but his consist exclusively of 'workingmen's doubt over the need for any genuinely societies' (see Article 1, Article 7, and revolutionary movement that can Article 11 of the General Rules); actually bring a human community into being to come out of the self-activity of “That, consequently, Article 9 of the the working class itself, and Marx's General Rules to this effect: 'Everybody insistence on this, necessitates this who acknowledges and defends the correspondence. principles of the I.W.A. is eligible to become a member', although it confers Contained within the original version of upon the active adherents of the my article were passages showing that International who are not workingmen both Marx and Engels were adamant the right either of individual membership that “The emancipation of the working or of admission to workingmen's class must be the act of the workers sections, does in no way legitimate the themselves.” I showed that Marx refused foundation of sections exclusively or official leadership positions, and that principally composed to members not both he and Engels warned against belonging to the working class; allowing members of the petty- bourgeoisie to become leaders of a “That, for this very reason, the General proletarian organization. Council was some months ago precluded from recognizing a Slavonian section “Citizen Marx has just been mentioned; exclusively composed of students; he has perfectly understood the importance of this first congress, where “That according to the General there should be only working-class Regulations V, I, the General Rules and delegates; therefore he refused the Regulations are to be adapted 'to local delegateship he was offered in the circumstances of each country;' General Council.” – James Carter, Geneva Congress of the First “That the social conditions of the United International. States, though in many other aspects most favorable to the success of the “'…Victor Le Lubez … asked if working-class movement, peculiarly would suggest the name of someone to facilitate the intrusion into the speak on behalf of the German Workers.’ International of bogus reformers, Marx himself was far too bourgeois to be middle-class quacks, and trading eligible so he recommended the emigre politicians. tailor Johann Georg Eccarius…” – Wheen, Francis. Karl Marx: A Life. “For these reasons, the General Council recommends that in future there be “Lawrence moved that Marx be President admitted no new American section of for the ensuing twelve months; Carter which two-thirds at least do not consist seconded that nomination. Marx of wage laborers.” - Marx, Resolution of proposed Odger: he, Marx, thought the IWMA on the Split in the U.S. himself incapacitated because he was a Federation (Section III, Article 2, head worker and not a hand worker.” – February 1872). The General Council of the First International: Minutes. (Institut Or: marksizma-leninizma) 11 The Libertarian Communist Issue 16 Late October 2011 to Mid January 2012

“In the course of the debate on the the HQ, real or virtual, of the AF or any credentials of Section 12, the following other similar group, she/he/it is living in resolution was adopted by 47 votes an alternate reality from the rest of us. against 0; abstentions, 9: And, theory-wise, since any mention of class brings up that liberal swear-word “'The International Working Men's ‘dogma’, it is obvious we are speaking in Association, based upon the principle of mutually incomprehensible languages – the abolition of classes, cannot admit class communism versus utopian any middle class Sections.'” - Engels, socialism. For myself I would prefer ten Resolutions of the Hague Congress of dogmatists, who know what they are the International Working Men's supposed to say even if they don’t know Association (Part IV, Section 2, why, to a hundred political perverts of September 1872) the Cox-ite variety, who know damn well why but would never let this get in the So, no, I don't think it's odd to quote way of a good ‘I’m right you’re wrong’ Marx and Engels. ego-trip debate of the pompous old SPGB type. And ultimately, what matters in the end is not that Marx and Engels made the Instead, I would like to take the statements, but that the content of the opportunity to add an observation. That statements holds true. is that both Cox and Stefan, in promoting the broad church approach The history of the class struggle since (that is a relaxation of entry the death of Karl and Fred provides the requirements – and why limit this to information we need. religion, why not take all hang-ups into account, nationalistic, misogynistic, or As always, the appearance of another whatever), in effect accept the SPGB- issue of The Libertarian Communist was ism that only a single unified party can great to see. I await the next. achieve communism. That by drop by drop accumulation of members, a critical With thanks, mass of revolutionaries will be reached. R.S. If it were thus necessary to incorporate all communists in one group then all- ======inclusiveness would be not just logical but essential. However, the social Again: Religion and the SPGB revolution will not be achieved by the party but by the class. It might well be Because, bar the blathering, that’s the that this revolution will have a variety of only meat in the Coxey stew. Now, I different aspects (parliamentary, have no wish to continue this pointless councilist, etc). Since the AF, the SPGB excuse for a discussion, which is nothing and a variety of other communist groups but a loop cycle commenced by the Cox operate in different ways towards the some years previously, and, if past same goal, it may well be that the dingle berries are any model, will groups contribute equally towards the continue many years hence. I have said revolution. Be that as it may, at the all I wish to say with precious little but a current moment, all communist groups few lawyerish quibblings and a glaze of can only act as propaganda vehicles with macho-aggressive thuggishness in a limited amount of inter-group response. But on a practical level, if cooperation (see the NEFAC interview she/he/it thinks, despite observation and with the AF for what the abolition of the the experience of the WiC, that there is SPGB’s clause 7 could achieve in a queue of ‘all but the god thing’ would- practice). To propagandise effectively, be members waiting outside no. 52, or the group must be focussed. The broad 12 The Libertarian Communist Issue 16 Late October 2011 to Mid January 2012 church approach is a disaster so far as these are also the actions of people effective functioning is concerned and without a stake in society. However, if has been the ruin of many a promising they have ‘nothing to lose’, the rioters group (such as the ORA in the ‘70s). also have ‘nothing to win’: they have such little hope of any alternative that individual looting seems like a better way Ironically, the SPGB has, in effect, been of getting ahead than does making operating a semi-broad church policy common cause with other working-class over the past twenty years. What has people. been deemed important is ‘the vision’, whereas the D of P and the Days of rage questionnaire have become learn-by- rote accessories. And over this same The left response to the current rioting in twenty years, the SPGB has seen a London has been rather confused. The riots drastic decrease in its numbers and have wrong-footed left opinion because it is effectiveness. Not further wettish untenable to condone attacks on ordinary watering down but only a Marxist revival people’s homes and cars. Many complain of its core class-based values can about establishment hypocrisy: but if the ‘real’ revivify the SPGB. violence is war or the ‘real’ looting is the City of London, it is also hypocritical to ignore the Kathy Summerson damaging effects that these riots also have on Britain’s communities. In a sense, this confusion on the left is nothing new. Reflecting ======its own inability to pose a positive alternative, for decades socialist groups have increasingly The riots in Britain in August in many cities tailed just any form of resistance to the took place after our last issue went out and powers-that-be. For instance, supporting now, writing in early October, they seem a bit Islamist groups fighting against of a distant memory and if not forgotten they shows a bankruptcy of purpose where, seem to have faded somewhat into the recognising our own weakness, we can background. They were an indication, not that contract out our ‘resistance’ to forces with we needed any notification of the fact, that totally different objectives. Left-wing support something is deeply wrong with the social for rioters – even if they are attacking working- system we are imprisoned in. They showed class people’s homes, even if they have no that there is much discontent, but also a lack positive idea what they want – is essentially understanding, by many, of just what is wrong another version of the same phenomenon with present society and clarity of thought as to what could replace it. Maybe part of the blame Con-Dem nation has to fall on genuine revolutionaries (us) who are failing to get our message across to those The point, however, is not to ‘condemn’ or we need to reach. Some analysis of the riots ‘condone’ the rioters. There is nothing to was/is needed and below we include some ‘condone’ or support; ‘condemning’ them is not interesting articles which appeared around the a means of engaging with them, and yes, we time from groups within our sector. should try and engage the rioters in a positive alternative to a capitalist system which keeps 1) Nothing to lose, nothing to win by David them downtrodden. Yes, they should struggle Broder against being shat upon. But that does not mean their current actions are part of the We hear a lot about how these kids have answer. That is a discussion to be had openly ‘nothing to lose’: one of the reasons they and honestly: if there is no point shaming are so willing to resort to open defiance these young people by wagging our fingers in of the law, whether smashing windows in moral disapproval, it is no better to broad daylight or torching cars. The patronisingly imagine they are not capable of sheer extent of the disturbances has better than this. doubtless emboldened a spirit of recklessness, giving the impression it is possible to get away with looting: but 13 The Libertarian Communist Issue 16 Late October 2011 to Mid January 2012

As communists we believe in a means of kind. The situation was like a tinder-box struggle which reflects a radically different set doused in petrol. And then the police shot a of social relations. To that end our fight against man dead in Tottenham and left the the government includes as many people as community without answers. The shooting of possible, organises in a democratic way, and Mark Duggan lit a show burning fuse that seeks to promote an alternative social order in exploded in Tottenham on Saturday night. The the here and now. This is a quite different events in communities elsewhere saw what attitude from blindly cheerleading any happened there and took advantage. ‘resistance’ against the powers-that-be: it is a Stretching the police by popping up all over the programme for collectively changing our city meant they could loot with impunity. mutual relations, a mass of people able to engage with each other in an egalitarian, non- What is looting but the collapse of the hierarchical way. We don’t just want to make it agreement in society that a building full of known that we’re fed up, we want to desirable items can sit on the high street and revolutionise society. We must also be honest you need to pay to take things from it? that the current riots are not even the embryo Suddenly people found that this wasn’t true of the kind of movement we want. This is any more, you could just break the window and counter-productive behavior whose only take what you wanted and, as was discovered results will be division amongst working-class in Tottenham Hale Retail Park early Sunday communities and an excuse for the state to morning, no-one could stop you. CCTV step up its use of force. cameras, ubiquitous in our surveillance society, were either forgotten or ignored. A Full article at: dangerous sense of power and fearlessness http://thecommune.co.uk/2011/08/10nothing- overtook a considerable part of the youth of to-lose-nothing-to-win/ this country. Worse, all respect for other people was gone and firebugs started burning 2) Riot criminality is a product of consumerism things, with no apparent concern for the people and social breakdown by Donnacha De who lived above the buildings they burned. Long Muggings, stabbings and shootings ensued.

Commentator after commentator, from Mass waves of criminality like this are not politicians to journalists, is blaming the recent simple; they are a sign of a complete collapse chaos in London and beyond on “criminality”. in social relations for a large portion of the What does that even mean? What people population. What makes it so tragic is that they aren’t recognising is that this kind of criminality were absolutely predictable, not just by those is a direct product of consumerism. These kids in the communities where the trouble is. In have been told, all their lives, that what they April last year, they were predicted by the own is more important than who they are or leader of Liberal Democrats – now Deputy what they do. Having the right trainers, having Prime Minister – Nick Clegg, if the Tories won the latest iPhone, eating the right chocolate with a narrow majority. Instead, the bar – these are the things that are supposed to government has less legitimacy than that and make you happy. the riots are far worse than anyone could have predicted. After the first student protest that attacked Milbank, every subsequent demonstration had Full article at: large numbers of kids from the very same http://donnachadelong.info/2011/08/10/riot- areas now in chaos. How were their legitimate crminality-is-a-product-of-consumerism- concerns addressed? With kettles, riot police and political indifference. Then came the News 3) Riots in Britain: The Fruit of Forty Years of of the World scandal and the revelations of Capitalist Crisis -statement by the ICT police corruption. What many suspected was shown to be true, the police, politicians and the As world stock markets tumbled and financial corporate media were working together and panic threatened the euro zone the British breaking the law. This is all cognitive ruling class were congratulating themselves dissonance on a major scale, a society that London is well prepared for next year’s supposedly based on respect for authority and Olympics. Then, with all the unpredictability of the rule of law is revealed to be nothing of the 14 The Libertarian Communist Issue 16 Late October 2011 to Mid January 2012 a natural disaster Tottenham, Enfield, Brixton, supposedly working for the overthrow of Walthamstow, Croydon, Clapham burned. capitalism. The police are an integral part of Since then riots have spread to other cities the capitalist state machine whose core including Bristol and Birmingham. Now Prime purpose is to defend capitalist legality, which in Minister Cameron has been obliged to turn exists to defend the right of capitalists to foresake his Italian villa and return to a city make profits by extorting surplus value from pitted by burnt-out and looted areas with all the workers. visitor attraction of a war zone. For now the It is not for communists to condemn the riots. details of what triggered the riots are not the They are a sign of capitalism’s crisis and main issue. The truth is they are an indication decay. Neither do we romanticise the riotous of the incipient social collapse that typifies act as an effective form of struggle against capitalism in its supposedly advanced capitalist exploitation. In the present case the democratic metropolis today. target of the crowd’s anger often appears to be in the main branches of national chain stores Big Society or Little Chance of a Civilised Life? where the participants simply break into the stores and take what they can carry. Far from While it is easy for Labour politicians and their being a liberating form of activity this sort of left-wing hangers-on to blame the current ‘expropriation’ is simply a reflection of capitalist round of austerity cuts for the situation ideology which sees the strongest taking and everyone (apart from maybe millionaires like keeping whatever possession it has acquired. Cameron and his crew) knows that anger and So long as capitalism continues on its frustration have been running high for years as downward spiral of crisis with the rich getting more and more youngsters are excluded from richer and the poorest more and more the world of wages and work. Undoubtedly the excluded there will be more and more Con-Dem austerity cuts have only served to explosions like these. The race is on for the intensify and deepen the social chasm which revival of a really liberating movement of the divides the ‘haves’ and ‘have not’s’. Labour’s working class to present an alternative to role in propagating the low-pay, flexible capitalist barbarism. That movement will be a economy which has no place for traditional collective one where workers understand why skill training shouldn’t be forgotten, much less they are battling against the forces of the cuts to services which were also carried repression: for no less than the overthrow of out under the 1997-2010 Labour government the old world order and a completely new and accepted by the unions. Even so, world where distribution is based, not on the situation goes back much further than the profits for the few, but on direct production to last Labour government. As the capitalist crisis fulfil the needs of everyone. Instead of deepens the only response it has left to the capitalist parliaments acting as a smokescreen growing level of social exclusion is to increase for the real power of money and profit a the level of repression by the capitalist state. revolutionary workers’ movement will form councils of recallable delegates who are accountable to those who elect them and A Communist Perspective whose sole purpose is to introduce a communist mode of production to ensure that While the right wing press have been busy all workers’ interests are addressed. In short, condemning the riots as simply ‘yobbery’ unless and until the working class begins to Labour and the left of capital are more careful see there is an alternative to capitalism and about pinning the blame on the youth. Labour begins to struggle politically there will be more MP David Lammy was one of the first to outbursts from those who have no stake in this comment. He condemned the violence as society, who have no serious job prospects, being an act that only targeted their own who are not enthralled by East Enders and community, followed with the usual appeal for who have no religion to chain them to this calm. The response of the British SWP has as world. usual revealed its role on the coat tails of Labour. For instance, while recognising the Full article at: http://www.revleft.com/vb/riots- social and economic causes of the riots their britain-fruit-p2200473/index... solution is to call for some form of police accountability. As if reforming the police was a matter for a revolutionary organisation 15 The Libertarian Communist Issue 16 Late October 2011 to Mid January 2012

Contact Details for Groups in Anti Now available issue 22 of the World State, Non Market Sector. Socialist Review: Publication of World US. “Socialists worldsocialistmovement/SPGB: take a look at Obama” “Is Obama a socialist? He does not regard himself as worldsocialism.org/spgb: Postal address: one. Neither do we. This issue of World 52 Clapham High Street London SW4 Socialist Review examines Obama’s 7UN. outlook and life story, his packaging as a Email [email protected] politician, and his policy in such areas as healthcare, the economy and the Promotional Material for the World environment. It also places Obama in Socialist Movement the context of world capitalism and the American political system.” Tee-shirts Blue with a polar bear and “If You Were a Polar Bear, You’d be a World Socialist Party US (WSPUS) Socialist, Yellow, with blue and green website wspus.org Postal address: globe and “The World is a Common World Socialist Party, Box 440247, Treasury for All”. Sizes S, M, L, XL, Boston, MA 02144. XXL State size when ordering. £7.00 Plus postage and packaging. (P&P). A couple of places to purchase Literature and help support the Mugs: Standard size, and white. On ASNM sector. the front, “Only Sheep Need Leaders” and on the reverse side, “Famine? War? “there is an Alternative!” Pollution? Capitalism is the Problem, World Socialism is the Solution” £5 Plus STIMULANTS: A collection of material P&P. highlighting an opposition to the Mantra that “There Is No Alternative” to how we Pens: blue and white with blue ink; live today. Journals, Pamphlets, Books, “Only Sheep Need Leaders” and a sheep. DVDs and Cds etc available Red and white with blue ink with www.radicalbooks.co.uk “Workers of the World Unite” Black with black ink, “Only Sheep Need Leaders” Libertarian Communist Literature has a and a sheep. 50p each Plus P&P. selection of pamphlets and journals related to the anti state, non Market Baseball Caps: Navy blue with sector. Journals Include: Black flag, embroidered “World Socialist Aufheben, , Movement”. £7 each plus P&P. Organise and others. We have a variety of pamphlets and a few books. Balloons: different colours with “World Socialist Movement. 15p each plus If you are interested please contact the P&P. postal or email address on Page 2 with your details so we can send a full list of All items carry the WSM website the literature we have in stock including address. Cheques and Postal Orders their prices. This list is also included in made payable to SPGB SW Regional our blog which can be found at Branch. Also available, a SPGB http://lib-com.blogspot.com/ This also enamelled badge, “The World for the includes issues 1 to 15 of The Libertarian Workers. £10. Communist. The Libertarian Communist For further details on all items contact can also be found at www.scribd.com Veronica at [email protected] or phone 01202 569826 16 The Libertarian Communist Issue 16 Late October 2011 to Mid January 2012

World Libertarian Socialist Network The Commune

An excellent resource with a similar aim For workers’ self management and to this bulletin to bring groups in the communism from below. ASNM sector together. Website: Website: thecommune.co.uk www.libertyandsocialism.org Postal address: The Commune, Freedom ------book shop, 84b Whitechapel High Street, London E1 7QX World In Common: ======www.worldincommon.org Email The following three groups are industrial [email protected] unions. They offer an anti bureaucratic ------alternative to trade unions. You can join either as an individual or if there is www.Libcom.org ; support for organising at your workplace. ------Red and Black Notes . www.solfed.org.uk or PO Box 29, You can obtain some RBN items from South West P D.O Manchester M15 5HW libcom.org as listed above. If you want Email: [email protected] to know more than read issue 6 Of The Libertarian Communist and the article by Neil Fettes pp.4-7 Industrial Workers of the World: www. iww.org Or P/O Box 7593, +++++++++++++++++++++++++ Glasgow, G42 2EX Email: [email protected]. Red Anarchist Action Network (RAAN) Workers International Industrial www.redanarchist.org Union. ------www.wiiu.org or Radical History Network of North www.deleonism.org/wiiu.html or see London. the article on Industrial Unionism in issue 9 For details contact Alan Woodward on ======020 8800 1046 or RaHN at [email protected] Wrekin Stop War Email: [email protected] This can be found at This group have published a series of articles www.wrekinstopwar.org or contact to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Duncan Ball, 23 Sunderland Drive, Spanish Revolution this can be found at Leegomery http://radicalhistorynetwork.blogspot.com/ Salop, TF1 6XX email: [email protected]. Northern Anarchist Network (NAN) Take a look at Andy Cox’s website which If you want further information about this looks at how socialism might be group contact: Brian Bamford, 46 developed: Kingsland Road, Rochdale, Lancs Oll http://socialistmatters.webs.com/. 3HQ or email [email protected] See also: Institute for Anarchist Studies, the similar but separate, Anarchist Studies Anarchist Federation: Journal and Anarchy Archives. See also the www.afed.org.uk : Postal Address BM Socialist Labour Party of America Arnafed, London WC1N 3XX. Email (www.slp.org), and the Marxist Internet [email protected] Archive Library. 17 The Libertarian Communist Issue 16 Late October 2011 to Mid January 2012