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

Aim: the creation of a World wide Libertarian Communist Society.

WHY THE MARKET SYSTEM IS INCOMPATIBLE

WITH A FREE SOCIETY.

Issue 19: July to September 2012

£1.20 2 The Libertarian Communist Issue 19 July to September 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 (please note the new email address) [email protected] or writing to Ray Carr, Flat 1, 99 Princess Road, Branksome, Poole, Dorset BH12 1BQ.

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Contents

Page 2: Welcome to Issue nineteen

Page 3: Is the Market System failing or is it incompatible with a free society?

Page 6: Krisis: The Return of the State as Crisis Administrator

Page 8: Is there a link between Reformism and Revolution: Laurens Otter

Page 9: Reply to Laurens

Page 11: The Libertarian Communist on libcom.org

Page 11: SPGB in the May Local Elections

Page 12: Notes on the Pensions Struggle: David Dane

Page 13: An Open Letter on Unity: Joe Hopkins

Page 16: From World in Common: (1) Against the Politics of the Euro

Page 17: From World in Common: (2) The Anarchist Case against Terrorism: You can’t blow Up a Social Relationship

Page 19: Anti State, Non Market Directory of Groups

Hi and Welcome to Issue 19.

This issue starts off with a critique of the market system. It focuses on an article in the N Y eXaminer which is of interest in as much as that whilst itself critiquing a blog in the New York Times it goes further than merely opposing “free market capitalism” and provides ammunition against capitalism in general. To those of us in the ASNM sector these criticisms will be very familiar but of interest because of where they are coming from. The point is to keep such discussion alive and widen the agenda. Following on from this and very much related we have a contribution from Krisis 2009 which outlines how the present crisis stems not just from a particular sort or sector of capitalism but has its base in the system itself. A letter from Laurens Otter raises some interesting points and in particular the question of whether reformism based on direct action should be considered in a more positive light than that based on parliamentary methods. This is followed by two short pieces; one on a brief mention of this bulletin that featured on libcom.org and a piece on the same site about the performance of the SPGB in the local elections in May. Whilst some LC readers may consider that contesting elections is a waste of time we have come to the conclusion that the methods used for putting over the case for a 3 The Libertarian Communist Issue 19 July to September 2012 free communist society should be open to discussion. On the surface these election results were encouraging but the hard work will come now the elections are over. We have an article from David Dane on the current state of the struggle to oppose the changes to the pension system. David’s analysis seems to mirror what many others are saying namely that if such a struggle is to continue let alone progress the action has to be diverted from the official trade unions to action based on self organisation, the question is have the unions succeeded in fucking up the fight already. Joe Hopkins weighs in with an article to keep the discussion going on the need for an “umbrella” grouping for our sector in which he responds to some of the points made by Martin Bashforth. We finish with a couple of posts on the World in Common forum; one on the social consequences of the 2012 European football championship and one on Anarchism and Terrorism. Unfortunately we can only include a small piece of the latter due to its length but we feel it is well worth including and we hope that readers who have not already read the whole article will seek it out. This is a section that we hope to continue with showing the relationship between this journal and the World in Common project.

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Is the Market system failing or is it The Market Economy and Incompatible with a Free Society? Democracy.

Supporters of Capitalism claim that it is the most The term “Market Democracy”, McGeehee rational and natural way of running modern suggests, is an “Oxymoron” as “markets are society. This claim is based on the fact that the antithetical to democracy”. Market systems, he system of the “free market” is both democratic suggests, are closer to social Darwinism, every based on liberal democracy where the people person for themselves, the survival of the fittest, elect governments and the market is the best meaning in this case the richest. “It suffers “, he and most rational way of allocating goods to adds, “from a “fuck you, I gotta get mine meet people’s needs. This claim comes under mentality, or what was called the new spirit of the increased scrutiny when, as at present, the age in the 19th century: gain wealth forgetting all economic system of capitalism is in turmoil. At but self”. In contrast, McGeehee adds, present it is not merely the economic system that democracy should be about people having some is being scrutinised but the political system that control over their own lives and wealth should upholds it. have no more influence than skin colour. The fact that wealth does have a major say in the so- An example of this critical analysis of capitalism called democratic process shows how it is an article by Michael McGeehee which functions. Edsall in his blog in the New York appeared in the NYTimes eXaminer in February Times wrote about people being able to choose of this year. This was a critique of a blog which between two opposing ideologies but what if, he appeared in the New York Times a few days asked, the “Free market” system was facing previous by Thomas Edsall entitled “Is this the fundamental challenges that those competing for End of Market Democracy? The article by political power were failing to address. The point McGeehee went further than Edsall contribution is that the existence of “two contrasting in questioning the future of capitalism. It ideologies” contesting political power in the USA, questions capitalism in the following areas: is the Britain or any other so-called “Market market compatible with a democratic system? Is Democracy”, does not exist, or at least as a market economy the best method of meeting McGeehee suggests such contrasts are limited peoples needs? It calls for the opening up of the to such a narrow spectrum, so narrow, we would agenda to include anti capitalists economists, suggest, as to make them invisible. rather than just those who are seeking to rearrange the market system. Whilst this In “market democracies”, wealth distorts any discussion is based on the situation in the United meaningful democracy at all. McGeehee takes States of America it is obviously applicable to so- up this point by looking at the work of Thomas called “Free market” Capitalism as a whole. Ferguson and his book The Investment Theory Whilst we in the anti state non market of Party Competition and the Logic of Money communist/anarchist sector would go further it is Driven Political Systems, 1995. important that this type of discussion is continued and enlarged upon. 4 The Libertarian Communist Issue 19 July to September 2012

“ Political organizations are (sometimes very can afford to purchase it. In terms of the complex) investments; that while they need ownership and control of economic resources, as small amounts of aid and commitment from the market system has developed it has done so many people, most of their major in a direction opposite to bringing about a more endorsements, money, and media attention equitable distribution of wealth. In terms of the typically come as direct or indirect results of USA, McGeehee notes that the bottom 50% their ability to attract heavyweight investors account for just 2% of the wealth, the bottom [pp.35-7]. 40% for 0.3%, the top 20% account for 84% of total wealth and the top 1% for one third. A Ferguson continues: similar massive disparity in the ownership of wealth applies to the world-wide system of “If all major investors oppose discussing a capitalism in general. With the failure of the particular issue, than neither party is likely market system both in meeting the basic needs to pick the issue up-no matter how many of the majority of people and in providing for a little investors or noninvestors might more equitable division in terms of wealth benefit-not because any active collusion ownership (and in reality it does not just fail in between parties but because no effective these regards but does not even function to carry constituency exists to force the issue on the out such ends) it is not surprising that the market public agenda” [ibid]. system fails in producing a caring society. McGeehee outlines how left to market forces The incompatibility between markets and people will not do the right thing as the market is democracy is further highlighted when not about people caring or facing up to the McGeehee points out that capital, “has undue consequences of their actions. He continues: influence over the political process” As he outlines it is not surprising that politicians cater to “You care about selling high and buying low. the interests of those who fund their campaigns That’s it. The environment? The widow down when private campaign contributions allow for the street? Future Generations? Let them candidates to finance expensive PR campaigns. eat cake!” In addition is the point that the vast majority of senators are millionaires and part of the top 1%. The Relationship between the People do recognise the link between wealth and Economic and Political System political power. In a poll conducted by Time in 2011, 86% agreed that Wall Street and its In terms of the current crisis we hear much about lobbyists had too much influence in Washington, the 1% and whilst it is encouraging that a 79% agreed that the gap between rich and poor substantial minority, at least, now recognise that had grown too large. In addition 71% felt that the it is this elite that needs to be challenged, executives of the financial institutions whether it is the top 1% or 5% or whatever, it is responsible for financial meltdown of 2008 often approached from the point of view that should be prosecuted and 68% felt that the rich something must have gone wrong to allow a should pay more taxes. However because the small minority to usurp such control. What we financial elite have political power based on their need, many suggest, is more regulation or the economic power such policies will never be election of a government to bring an end to or enacted the solution lays elsewhere. control this elite and return things to how they should be. But it has to be pointed out that The Market as an efficient Resource nothing has gone wrong, this is the way Allocator capitalism operates and governments do not exist, and never have, to protect the less well off If the word efficiency as applied to the market is from the economic elite. The domination of a meant in terms of it being the best method of small group of capitalists is not, McGeehee notes allocating resources to meet human needs then anything new. In the case of the USA, (and again it clearly fails the test. McGeehee notes that in a similar analysis is transferable), it can be the global economy there are seven billion traced back to the earliest foundations of the U.S people and enough food is produced to meet the government. “The ‘Founding Fathers’ enshrined caloric need of ten billion and yet a billion people private enterprise into the constitution”. He starve. Whether he means that this amount of outlines how the elite designed the political food is produced at present or could be produced system to support “their” economy and therefore the point is that the function of the market system “their” economic interests. [See Charles Beard: is not to satisfy human need, the only people An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of who constitute a market for food are those who the United States] The domination of an 5 The Libertarian Communist Issue 19 July to September 2012 economic elite with their own interests is, Indeed it is pretty clear that despite all the talk in McGeehee argues, an inevitable result when you the last thirty years or so about deregulation and have an economy whose only aim is for the the actual selling off of state enterprises the state owners to make as much money as they can and has a heavy role in capital accumulation. There a government whose function it is to defend and may be subtle differences in how various promote the interests of the propertied class. countries organise capitalism but such differences are within a narrow corridor. Basically One of the main people responsible for framing call it what you want but capitalism is capitalism. the U.S constitution was James Madison. The point of this, as McGeehee points out in Madison understood how the political system criticising Edsall is: had to operate and that the job of government was to protect the powerful from the working “It’s not ‘free market capitalism’ that is poor. McGeehee quotes Madison as once ‘facing fundamental challenges’, as Edsall saying: thinks, but the inherent inequality in any capitalist system”. “If elections were open to all classes of people the property of the landed McGeehee points out that the inherent features proprietors would be insecure.” of capitalism such as private enterprise; market allocation and the profit motive are alien to This fear of the rich being insecure led Madison democracy and even human decency. We could to pronounce that: not put his following argument any better.

“It’s not just a ‘crony capitalist’ or ‘free “Landholders ought to have a share in market capitalist’ system that are government, to support these invaluable incompatible with democracy, but capitalism interests, and to balance and check the period. Even ‘social democracies’ are other. They ought to be so constituted as to constantly in danger of losing the protect the minority of the opulent against protections needed to provide basic social the majority. The senate, therefore, ought to goods and services. And that’s because be this body…” capitalism provides the incentive to put greed above need, and will always look to McGeehee suggests that: cut corners, save costs, and maximise returns.” “There is no place for the ‘majority’ to ‘have a share in government’ or ‘to balance and Widening the Agenda check the other’. For Madison the only one who ‘ought to have a share’ in making Of course it is all well and good offering a critique decisions were ‘the minority of the opulent.’ of capitalism but it is not being suggested that Madison prevailed and the ‘senate’ was writers as McGeehee can be lined up as created to be the political ‘body’ to see this supporters of the anti state, non market through.” socialist/anarchist sector. There is however a positive side to such critiques as they are going beyond criticising supposed variants of Free Market or Capitalist Crisis? capitalism such as the ‘Free Market’ and at least belong to a grouping that considers that As indicated previously much of the debate capitalism is fundamentally flawed. Indeed around the present economic crisis is based on McGeehee’s article is in part a criticism of a blog the criticism of the ‘Free Market’ and the neo by Thomas Edsall, New York Times, February liberal agenda. It’s as if there is a model that 2012 which limits itself to a critique of the ‘Free could work such as more state intervention and market’. McGeehee criticises Edsall for failing to so on. The first question that needs to be asked propose an opening up of the debate and include is: do we live in a free market economy? Indeed: people who are thinking outside of the box. By is there such a thing as an economy where the not proposing to provide space to economists market operates without any state intervention? and anti capitalists who are proposing a radical The short answer is no. McGeehee quotes a alternative: “Edsall is”; McGeehee argues; South Korean economist, Ha-joon Chang, as “providing a buffer for capitalism by limiting the saying that free market capitalism is a ‘myth’. As critique to advocating ‘social democracy’. The McGeehee suggests the modern capitalist debate, McGeehee suggests needs to be economy is largely built on state protectionism. widened and space should be given to anti 6 The Libertarian Communist Issue 19 July to September 2012 capitalist like Robin Hahnel, Richard Wolff, Doug question of the balance of social power and Henwood and David Harvey. We could of course of political mobilisation. add more and if the debate does begin to widen our sector needs to get involved and it needs to However, this analysis overlooks the get involved as one voice advocating anti state, fundamental character of the global crisis. non market socialism/anarchism as an Even if it was precipitated by a financial alternative. Our basic critique could be along the market crash, its causes are to be found lines that it is not the case that the market somewhere else entirely. The prodigious system, “free” or otherwise, is failing in the way inflation in the financial markets over the that some like Edsall argue but it is operating in last 30 years was not caused by wilful or the only way it can operate and this is why it is incorrect political decisions, but is the not a case of reforming it so it could work better, expression of a structural crisis of the it needs to be abolished and the debate needs to valorisation of capital, a crisis that began move on to what might take its place. But, as with the end of the post-war Fordist boom. suggested earlier, the positive thing is that such Through the fundamental reorganisation of a debate is beginning to get on to the public conditions of labour and production in the agenda. course of the third industrial revolution (automisation, flexibilisation and Since this article has largely been based on Michael McGeehee’s article in the NY Times precarisation of labour, transnational chains eXaminer “New York Times Critiques ‘Free of value-creation, etc.), there was a massive Market’ Capitalism? It is right we let him have to rationalisation of labour in the central final say. Near the end of his article McGeehee capitalist sectors. This substantially refers to Robert Jensen a professor of journalism undermined the foundation of the at University of Texas (Austin) who said: valorisation of capital, which consists in the “unsustainable systems can’t be sustained”, to continually increasing exploitation of labour- this McGeehee adds: power. This in turn led to the diversion of more and more capital into the financial Though here I would add that capitalism markets: capital could no longer find isn’t just unsustainable (including in sufficient opportunities for valorisation in the ecological terms), it is also anti social and ‘real economy’ and a gigantic bubble of undemocratic”. unsecured ‘fictitious capital’ (Marx) was inflated. Without this diversion, which *********************************** allowed the crisis of capital-accumulation to be postponed, the global economy would The following article is from Krisis and have collapsed long ago. The cost of this is dated October 2009 diversion, however, was the building-up of ever more potential for crisis. It is thus no wonder that the crash came: what rather The “return of the state” as needs explanation is that it could be so crisis administrator protracted.

By Norbert Trenkle This was only possible because at the state level and beyond, policy has been primarily Parts of the left are attributing the current directed towards sustaining the dynamics of global economic crisis to political causes. the financial markets, and has thus reacted Neoliberalism, so the argument goes, with to the onset of every crisis (those in Mexico, its total deregulation of markets and Asia, Russia, that of the New Economy) in particularly the radical increases in freedom the same way: with the creation of accorded to the financial markets, has failed. additional credit, to induce the inflation of a Now, they claim, we are approaching an era new bubble. The pattern of these reactions is of regulation and control by the state, and evidence that the structural cause of the our task is to influence the forms it will take. crisis-process lies beyond the reach of The central demand is for the rolling-back of politics, for it is a result of a fundamental the influence of finance capital and a contradiction in the historical internal strengthening of the real economy, which in dynamics of capitalism, itself a prerequisite turn should itself be reformed both of all conscious action. Capitalism creates ecologically and socially. Whether or not this immense forces of production and potential will succeed is treated primarily as a for riches which in and of themselves would 7 The Libertarian Communist Issue 19 July to September 2012 enable a good life for everyone (really, for the mass of waged, precarised and everyone). These riches are however not unemployed workers will have to pay them compatible with the narrow- minded aim of back. It is these workers, however, who will exploiting living labour, because they render feel the effects of the ‘bailouts’ most acutely, more and more labour superfluous. They because the debt will serve as a brutal thus lapse into becoming the propellant of a restriction on every future politics, no matter fundamental process of crisis, which for which party or tendency. For while there undermines not only the foundations of the will be limits to future public borrowing, the valorisation of capital, but also the network burden of interest-payments will grow of social reproduction that depends on it, massively. The consequences are obvious: along with the natural foundations of life. politics will in the first instance concentrate The inflation of the financial markets is not on the maintenance of ‘functions relevant to the cause of the crisis, but one of its the system’, and these are, in addition to the symptoms. It shows that capitalist financial markets, the remaining cores and accumulation can only function precariously ‘clusters’ of productive valorisation of capital, as an appendage to fictional capital. along with the infrastructure and personnel that they require. General infrastructure, In this context the actual content of the social welfare, public healthcare will be much-evoked ‘return of the state’ becomes dismantled further, wages and pensions clear. Despite all the lip-service paid to decreased (through cuts and as a result of ‘regulation’ and the return to the real inflation), and the number of precarised and economy, supporting the financial markets ‘superfluous’ people will continue to grow. and inflating a new bubble of speculation Administration of the crisis, for them, means and credit will continue to remain at the soup kitchens, authoritarian discipline and centre of every policy of crisis- exclusion. Even political parties that come to administration. Even left-wing social power with promises of ‘social and democrats, trade unionists and ATTAC- environmental reforms’ will follow this logic representatives are bound to demand that of the political crisis-administration. the banks be saved. The only differences lie in the detail – that is to say, whether or not The current debate about reforms is a farce, they should be nationalised, and who should because it suggests a perspective for which bear the cost. This last question is however the material foundations are no longer already resolved: the costs are so huge that present. During the boom-periods of they can only be covered by massive public capitalism, and particularly in the times of borrowing. Everything else (‘tax the rich’, the Fordist post-war boom, a relative salary-cuts for managers, bankers’ private improvement in living- and living-conditions liability etc.) is merely symbolic. There is – was possible within the framework of fundamentally nothing to be said against capitalism, because the growth-dynamics of taking money away from the rich, bankers the movement of valorisation brought about and employers in order to distribute it to pressure to integrate increasing numbers of claimants (as if it would ever happen), but people into the system of commodity- the function that these demands fulfil in production and labour- exploitation. Since political debate is regressive, because they more and more have been rendered serve only to brand scapegoats and to ‘superfluous’ from the point-of-view of diffuse moral outrage, thus masking the true capital, the function of ‘politics of reform’ is dimensions of the crisis. being reduced to the organisation and facilitation of the increasing social and Alone the massive public borrowing to save regional fragmentation of society. This the financial system suggests – even if it tendency will become more prominent in the succeeds in precariously delaying the further development of the crisis. A new process of crisis with a violent surge of perspective towards social emancipation can money – that in the next years many only be formulated in the consistent aspects of social reproduction will be cut opposition to the dismantling politics of back because they are no longer deemed crisis-administration: through the consistent ‘financially viable’. But the sums needed to attempt to make the standpoints of material repay the amassed debts will never be saved riches and of the satisfaction of sensual through restrictive policies of austerity. It is needs apply to everybody. This is as true for therefore not in any real sense the case that struggles over wages and labour as it is for 8 The Libertarian Communist Issue 19 July to September 2012 those which aim at the direct, collective there is a need to re-examine what we are appropriation of social resources (means of saying when we dismiss reformism when we production, housing, cultural and social are referring to activity, not to parliamentary spaces etc.). As long as riches can only be politics. Obviously singe-issue campaigns thought in the value- and commodity-form may be reformist, (though in some cases and access to material riches appears transitional), it would be plainly impossible possible only via the detour of money, the to get any class-state to abandon its major restrictions and insanities of this form will in weapon of coercion without abolishing the the end continue to be presupposed and state and the class interests that gave rise to accepted. It is in this way that large-scale it – so unilateral nuclear disarmament was shut-downs of production-facilities in which never just reformism. useful and sensible things (such as good food) are made appears ‘unavoidable’, while But there’s also the question of challenging at the same time there are bitter struggles the dominant culture – philosophy. Putting to continue and expand the production of an oversimplified case, if the dominant cars, although their climate- destroying philosophy as carried by all the most popular effects have been widely-known for a long information media, says that militant trade time. This blocks the only way out of the unions are “the enemy within”, “treasonable destructive course of commodity-society, a conspiracies” and so forth, though there will process that starts in our heads, and be a bloody minded minority that joins and proceeds, as if as a matter of course, in our belongs to them; there will be a lot of actions. Our task is to break through this potential members who will only join if they blockade. can either be convinced on the basis of a partial class analysis or on something of a Translated by Josh Robinson (Principia civil liberties – cum – internationalist one. Dialectica) Therefore the dissemination and of Trot and/or left liberal or reformist anarchism and ************************************************ fighting for the reforms they want, can be an essential way of preparing for more revolutionary organization. It is not just the Is there a link between reformist and media of course, but the education system, revolutionary activity? psychology, …, which is why “permanent protests” anarchists used to concentrate so Dear Lib Com much on those issues appearing – even to themselves – to take issues out of the Thanks for the Lib Com (Issue 18). context of the class state.

From the cover you seem to be stressing the If you think about it similar points apply in Communist over the Libertarian. From my the growth of pacifism or indeed point of view, fair enough in that “Libertarian impossibilism. Also even where the worker Communist”, ought to mean Communist in joins the union in the heat of struggle, for the real sense of the word, not the his/her membership to continue as a Bolshevik, prior to 1917 the word would revolutionary commitment, rather than just have implied what we mean. But as a customary ticket holding, s/he needs to unfortunately in a post Stalinist world it be involved in just such ideological could be alleged by our enemies that putting challenges to the prevailing orthodoxies. So the Libertarian in smaller case print, means each advance has to be won at least twice, a that it means less. change in the mind, and a commitment to actual activity, (under different I suspect you’ve misunderstood Martin circumstances they come in a different Bashforth in as many places as you think he order.) Both parts in isolation look reformist. misunderstood you. I’ve no doubt he’d be as keen as you to see greater dialogue between Laurens Otter anarchists and ‘impossibilist Marxists’, in the years I known him he has been both.

Stefan’s article was excellent: I hope it breeds further discourse. I think however 9 The Libertarian Communist Issue 19 July to September 2012

A Reply to Laurens leaders to do something for you. However we would suggest that the problem lay with Thanks for your letter Laurens you raise the nature of reformism itself. Direct action some interesting points. reformism may be based on activity but reformism is a belief that capitalism can be On the point of changing the font on the ended by a continuing series of reforms and cover and emphasising the word whether one seeks to achieve this via Communist over Libertarian, the reasoning parliament or direct action this seems to be behind this was the point you make mainly a non starter. People have been seeking to that what we mean by that word has nothing reform capitalism by various methods more to do with the regime in Russia following or less since its inception and look where we 1917 or other similar states. We would are now. Secondly capitalism by its very regard them as state capitalist although it is nature creates a need for reforms far faster quite true that not all LC supporters would than any reform can be achieved so we see this as an accurate description but the would always be taking one step forward and point we all agree on is that they were not three back. There is also the point that such communist/socialist. On the point that our reform movements would be engaged in an enemies may accuse us of diminishing the endless struggle for reforms that would libertarian aspects of the type of society we leave them exhausted and finally the reform are aiming at well firstly we made a movement would consume so much of our concession not so much to our enemies but energies that we would have no time to more to friends and the mass of people we organise for building movements that sought wish to convince because there was a case to deal with the cause rather than mere for changing the title to “The Communist” effects. but we felt this might be misunderstood. But You are right when you say “it would be the main point is that the word “Libertarian” plainly impossible to get any class-state to has almost as many problems as abandon its major weapon of coercion Communist. To many it has right wing without abolishing the state and the class connotations and so at the end of the day it interests that gave rise to it”. But how many is not so much what we call ourselves but of those involved in the Nuclear how we explain what we stand for. It was disarmament campaign understood this and therefore felt that it would be best to was it really a movement with the object of maintain the present title but emphasise the abolishing the conditions that gave rise to Communist aspect because we stand for nuclear and other weapons ? The same communal or social ownership but keeping applies to reformist movements challenging libertarian in should, we hope, indicate to the status quo. For reformist movements to those still wading through this minefield that reach a position where they desired to we represent something different to challenge the status quo and get rid of the Leninism or Stalinism. state they would have to change themselves from a purely reformist movement, one On the issue of misunderstandings with dealing with the effects of capitalism into Martin Bashforth you could be correct but if one dealing with the cause of those effects, so we hope that those misunderstanding a revolutionary movement. have been cleared up. The current issue has another article on the subject of an ASNM However the argument here is not that Umbrella Grouping so hopefully it is not a reformist movements do no any good at all, dead issue just yet. it is of course far better that there are groups, individuals and movements that are The point of having a different attitude to objecting to the problems created by groups who seek a reformist agenda by capitalism than everyone just accepting that methods of direct action to those who seek it such effects are inevitable and that nothing via parliamentary methods; well we can see can be done. The question that needs to be where you are coming from. There is the addressed is how we can turn movements argument that the direct action method for reform into educated movements that involves a degree of resistance to capitalism seek not just to end capitalism but also who which is not inherent within the begin to discuss what could replace it. This is parliamentary method as it is based on self the very old dilemma how do we involve organisation and activity rather than asking ourselves in the class struggle in a way that 10 The Libertarian Communist Issue 19 July to September 2012 seeks not just to win some reform that will reformist agenda it is open enough for a probably be taken back in the next decade more radical perspective to be put forward. but that seeks to end the class struggle by (1) removing a society based on classes. Perhaps relevant in this discussion are As we have already indicated direct action suggestions made by David Harvey In his reformism has the advantage over book [The Enigma of Capital]. Harvey rightly parliamentary reform movements in as much suggests that capitalism will not collapse of as it advocates self organisation rather than its own accord nor will the capitalist class leadership based organisation. However it relinquish its power, it will have to be taken does not seem likely that any type of from them [page.269]. Harvey suggests that reformist movement holds the key to a way the starting point for a movement necessary forward. Let’s take, for example, the current to challenge capitalism is one that could Anti Cuts Movement. Parts of that movement provide a mental revolution to pave the way might have some innovative aspects to it to getting a more radical perspective on to such as different forms of action and ways of the agenda to combat the problems inherent organising but if it is just tied to opposing in a system that can only survive and the cuts and the austerity agenda advocated prosper by endless economic growth. Such a by the present government it is severely movement, Harvey suggests could be limited. It cannot seek to get an alternative provided by a youthful student movement government elected as that would merely, [page.239]. Arising from this perspective is once in power, carry on with the same the point that a way forward is more likely to agenda even if modified so slightly to make be provided by radical social movements no difference. To prevent the cuts or get the that are forced to challenge the logic of rich to pay for them is clearly not going to capitalism rather than more traditional happen. What could be a way forward is the reformist movements that merely seek the coming together of social movements whose solution to a specific problem within the agenda can only be achieved by opposing confines of the current social system. I think capitalism whether they realise it or not and it is here where your point about challenging maybe this is what you are suggesting the dominant culture – philosophy is rather than traditional reformist movements. relevant. The problem with the latter is they generally have one specific goal to remove a particular Traditional reformist movements are problem. By social movements we would be different to the social movements that have thinking of the ecology movement, student developed in recent years and the latter are movements which go further than opposing more likely to be forced to oppose capitalism cuts but which begin to critique the whole and offer increased hope for the education system, an anti war movement development of a meaningful alternative. that was opposed to all wars rather than But something will have to bring these social specific ones and which sought to get to movements together not in one organisation grips with the route causes of war and of but in some grouping where commonalities course segments of the anti cuts movement can be discussed. This might provide a role which understand that it is the system as a for the Occupy movement and it may also whole that must be taken on. On NHS provide a platform for ASNM ideas. This reforms what we need is not just opposition needs an ongoing discussion and it is to the reforms but a discussion of how a positive that the issue has once again been health system could operate in a society not raised and we look forward to further governed by the profit motive. But such contributions. social movements would need to come together and realise that whilst they may be (1) See the last issue and the couple of articles on concentrating on separate issues, they are the occupy movement; “Occupy: Some Personal all confronting the same root cause. For this Comments, Dave Flynn and Leaflet for the Occupy (Boston USA) Movement reason there may be some mileage in the Occupy movement it obviously has it *********************************** limitations at present but there is still a possibility that it could bring various social movements together and whilst there is no doubt that it is dominated, at present, by a 11 The Libertarian Communist Issue 19 July to September 2012

T he Libertarian Communist on to break free of the SPGB mindset we libcom.org would just like to say that the point is not to break free of any particular mindset The following brief mention of this within our sector or indeed to be restricted publication appeared on libcom.org a to any one mindset. The aim of this while ago. Thanks to spikeymike for the publication is to bring about an mention. understanding between groups and strands within the sector on the basis that all have something to contribute and we should strive to concentrate on issues we Some people might find this spgbish have in common and to discuss differences inspired anarchist-socialist hybrid in a constructive manner. The aim of this publication, still apparently going under dialogue should be to update and clarify the title of 'Libertarian Communist', of our own positions and be willing to change interest, in so far as it attempts to them if the evidence is that a position we encompass the views of both 'pro and anti' hold is clearly in error. camps on the issue of standing in state *********************************** elections. It lists as recommended this libcom site as well as a number of the well SPGB election results in local known UK anarchist organisations but not elections May 2012. any left communist type groups/publications: We are including the following because what ever you opinion about contesting http://www.scribd.com/doc/88139055/Th elections we feel if there is good news to e Libertarian-Communist-No-18-April- report about getting the anti state, non June-2012. Seems to have links with the market message across then it should be USA based Libertarian Socialist Network as highlighted. These election results were well. Has some occasionally interesting back in May and although they do not articles but still fails to break free of the indicate a revolution in the coming period SPGB mindset as far as I can see. they are encouraging. The problem for the SPGB will be in following up these results. How do you find out who voted for you? Spikymike And how do you get them actively involved beyond just putting a cross on a bit of paper? More activity in the areas Comments contested one would presume. So well done and lets hope for something positive One again thanks for the mention. On the in the longer term. question of not listing any left communist type groups/publications if they fall within the remit of the anti state non market The SPGB got 2938 or 1.9% in the sector we would be pleased to include Lambeth & Southwark ward, more than we them in the directory, so if interested got last time around (1588) and more please get in touch. than the Left List did too on that occasion (1956). In this election the TUSC We do not have any direct links to the (supported by both Militant and the SWP) Libertarian Socialist Network which has on the list vote in Lambeth & Southwark now changed its name to the got only 1891 or 1.2% International Libertarian Socialist Alliance but we do support them as being At Merton & Wandsworth the SPGB close to the ASNM sector. received 1343 votes, 0.9%, this compares with 1714 or 1.0% for the Left List (as the We are pleased that the author of the SWP called themselves for the election) at piece has found the occasional interesting the last GLA election there 4 years ago. article. On the fact that the LC has failed 12 The Libertarian Communist Issue 19 July to September 2012

And this time around TUSC list vote was different method of struggle rather than the just 904 or 0.6%. usual state socialist/ liberal responses.

Offering an attractive menu of reforms There have been a series of strikes. Last year there were strikes on the 30th June and ("jobs with a living wage for all", "no th cuts", "cheap, efficient and safe public November 30 . After this there seemed to be a “cooling off “, of the unions’ interest (or transport", "affordable homes for all", at least the union leadership). After the large "free education") doesn't necessarily get November 30th strike which saw millions stop you more votes than standing just for work and was probably the largest strike in a socialism. Being the only party listed as generation, it was followed by a further socialist on the ballot paper obviously strike this year on the 28th March. It was helps but the question remains why was it only in London and involved the National still higher than what the TUSC got on the Union of Teachers (NUT) and UCU. The list vote. Some who voted for the SPGB general secretary of UCU has been lukewarm deliberately didn't vote for TUSC. Was it in supporting the pension issues and it has because they didn't believe in their been regions and branches that put most of reformist approach or the feasibility of the effort into the strike. their reforms within capitalism? Or technical...too many names on the list On May 10th there was a national day of sheet? action involving more unions including PCS, UCU, UNITE, NIPSA and RMT members. Also the SPGB got more votes in the 4 There was also an unofficial strike by police London boroughs than the BNP 4281 as prison officers and probation officers. There against their 4086. This was posted on was a march from Westminster Bridge to a rally at Westminster Hall, which I went on. libcom.org by A J Johnstone The event was not that large and was overshadowed by the much bigger and Notes on the Pensions Struggle separate off duty police demo – which seemed to claim most of the media By David Dane attention. Inside Westminster Hall we listened to various union leaders, such as I teach science at a Further Education Bob Crow, expressing support. It was College in London – The College of Haringey noticeable that Sally Hunt, the general and Enfield and North East London, (I am a secretary of UCU was not there. The general member of the University and College Union idea endorsed by these union bureaucrats (UCU) and the Industrial Workers of the was that there should be further one day World (IWW). In the following article on the strikes, one every month. Pensions issue the opinions expressed are my own. I think for the pension struggle to succeed one day strikes are not enough and fall into From April 2012 increased contributions the trap of passively expecting the union were taken from the pay packets of FE leadership to do it all. All too obviously they lecturers, teachers and public service are quite capable of dropping it. It is worth workers, along with a rise in the pension age remembering that UNISON, the largest to 67 for many workers. In effect this public service union, is not involved in the amounts to an increase in taxation and a cut pension struggle at the moment, and has in pay. It can be seen as part of a general signed up to the government’s Heads of attack on working conditions and a move to Agreement. I think the struggle has to be redistribute wealth in the direction of the taken up at a more local level and inside ruling class. I think it is important for local workplaces. No doubt in this situation libertarian socialists/anarchists to be some people would be trade union members involved in the pension struggle partly but they do not have to be. because it is a defence of rights and Prefigurative organisations such as conditions governments were forced to grant workplace and community groups could be after hard struggle and also because our anti created. These organisations could be based market, anti state sector can help spread a on direct democracy and federate with other groups. There are already groupings of this 13 The Libertarian Communist Issue 19 July to September 2012 nature in some of the Anti Cuts campaigning Like Kid Rock sings, “It’s all good and it’s all groups. The pension campaign at the in fun – just get into the pit and try to love moment (late May 2012) is at a crossroads. someone”. Sometimes action calls for action; Which way it turns will depend very much on the concerted efforts of dedicated people the decisions and activities of its ordinary toward the universal. Collectively we’ve got members. to get into the pit. I left school for the real world. David Dane (May 18 th 2012) Reading Lib Com #18, P. 3 – An ASNM [sic] Umbrella Grouping . . . I found a letter from An Open Letter on Unity Martin Bashforth of York; Martin writes, in part: Joe Hopkins “It is suggested that [ ] [the umbrella When I was a boy of 15 I had one of many group] ‘could play a role in developing the conversations with a friend of mine two [ASNM] sector as a whole’, ‘promoting years my senior about China and Mao Tse ideas’, ‘playing an educational role’ and Tung, the USSR and Trotsky, Lenin, Stalin possibly’ co-ordinating’, though what it and Kropotkin. The subject though was not would co-ordinate is not specified.” these particular men but the form of government that had developed around It is pretty clear to someone stupider than them and the social conditions the average Randy that it’s the Anti State, Non Market person, the worker class, lived in. We, my Sector that needs co-ordinating. At college I older friend Randy Belchek and I touched also studied what we here in the USA call upon state formation and rulers and how English (with no insult to you in England on they had so much power and wealth and did my part intended) and by definition co- so little. I am sure discussions such as these ordination means: “Harmonious adjustment were common among reasonably bright or functioning”; Co-ordinate means: “Equal young people of modest but comfortable in rank and order; of the same rank and material means. Randy said that “If order – not subordinate: to bring into everyone worked for free everything common action.” THAT is what the collective would be free” . . . There would be no “We” needs. place for rulers and no reason for states to exist. With the first sentence of his next paragraph Martin writes: I wanted to genuflect to this young sage for his penetrating insight and wondered if this “Perhaps it is assumed that existing groups bright shiny new idea he’d just thought up would wish to collaborate together under was because of the hashish we were this umbrella in a more formal way than is smoking – it was the late 1960s! That’s already done.” about the moment Randy mentioned Karl Marx. Maybe Randy was more than My dictionary [All definitions from reasonably bright. He had a lot of Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, background and historical knowledge on 1953] defines Formal as: “Established form Communism and thinking back on him and or custom; conventional. Due form; regular. all that we talked about I realise he Having the form or appearance without the intellectualised about a lot of things kind of substance; external“. (I wish Martin would like thought experiments – ghosts with no have writ: “Perhaps it is supposed . .” supra) substance. Randy chalked it all off as a pipe This, it seems to me, is what we’ve got, and dream – as we lit another pipe full. need to rid ourselves of - Formality. Martin writes; I am obviously much stupider than Randy. I’ve been a Communist, (or Socialist, if you “The discussion would go round in circles prefer), since that day. I educated myself at because of different strategic concepts” a community college in Kentucky and then That’s what we need to get over. How do we did a brief stint at Indiana University (USA); allow ourselves to get bogged down by such Psychology, Economics, Public Speaking and things as strategic concepts? Concepts my Sociology comprised the bulk of my studies. dictionary defines as: “A thought; an 14 The Libertarian Communist Issue 19 July to September 2012 opinion.” Even philosophically the definition prior commitment to consent to a larger is: “A mental image of a thing formed by unity; though different the various voices generalization from particulars”. This within bourgeois pluralism have a way of definition of Concepts brings to mind Walter sounding alike. Differences are Lippmann’s book {Public Opinion:1922} acknowledged but the differences are where the twice Pulitzer Prize winner quotes dominated by and absorbed into the master from the letters of William James, Vol 1, logic that rules the day, i.e., the logic of the p.65: masters, our masters, who through their private property rights own and control “No one sees further into a generalization access to their microphones and their unfree than his own knowledge of detail extends”. presses. As free thinking and radical Lippmann himself writes that, “Sometimes revolutionaries we still have a margin of consciously, more often without knowing it, manoeuvre on the internet for world-wide we are impressed by those facts which fit reach – and our small “alternative” presses our philosophy”. {Public Opinion, p.65} operating on the fringe. It would be wise and in the interests of the planet and all its Surely those who conceptualise inhabitants for us to attempt to cross the generalizations without a complete index of boundaries of our own inherited or particulars or details create stereotypes as personally developed tradition (Strand) to shorthand – labels and catchwords do not understand one another. This could lead to clarification but to forced contribute to the erosion of existing simplification of matters that are really boundaries (partly imposed by “Different complex. These concepts become used in Strategic Concepts”) and perhaps not so rote fashion and resist being contaminated much a displacement of these concepts (and by understanding. their aims) as a cross–pollination of existing strands. An umbrella group could turn out to be no more capable of organized action than a In his most famous work, Die Philosophie gang of feral cats. An umbrella group could Des “Als Ob” [The Philosophy of the “As If”] turn out to be a lynchpin holding the wheels Hans Vaihinger wrote: of our wain true to course in actions that will convince ever greater numbers of people “It is owing to the state of tension that there is an alternative, a better occasioned by an unverified hypothesis and alternative, than everyday life under the the concomitant feelings of mental distress, domination of state and capitalism. I trust that our natural tendency is always to turn we are all familiar with the phase “The an hypothesis into a dogma.” [p. 220] tyranny of the market”? Vaihinger also wrote that the proper result of In “A reply to Martin”, p. 4, the editor tries thought is purposive action. with what I consider great success to clarify the aims of the proposed umbrella group. To Labels, catchwords, stereotypes, ideologies, my mind the UG would be an addition to the et alii are tantamount to dogma – and the fora already in existence for communication, ASNM sector members and fellow travellers but at the same time a NEW forum – where would be wise to investigate whether their a different social etiquette may develop thinking has undergone such an infection. resulting in freer exchanges and deeper We as groups deal in unverified hypothesis consideration of ideas discussed between about a currently unknowable future – talk what the LC editor refers to as “strands”. about a “state of tension” and “mental distress”! Under bourgeois pluralism the most powerful version of control is through inclusion. Another term that can be a proxy for dogma Rather than expand its control by pushing is paradigm. In “The structure of Scientific what is unacceptable to the periphery, it Revolutions” Thomas S Kuhn quotes a operates by including more and more passage by Darwin at the end of his “Origin peripheral voices. This bourgeois pluralism of Species” domesticates subversive voices by appropriating them. Various voices are “Although I am fully convinced of the truth allowed to speak but only if they’ve made a of the views given in this volume…, I by no 15 The Libertarian Communist Issue 19 July to September 2012 means expect to convince experienced reprints an article from Le Monde (“A decade naturalists whose minds are stacked with a after his death, French sociologist Pierre multitude of facts all viewed, during a long Bourdieu stands tall”, p. 31) according to course of years, from a point of view directly which: “Bourdieu is the second most opposite to mine.” [ p. 151] frequently quoted author in the world after Michel Foucault, but ahead of Jacques Kuhn reports that Max Planck sadly Derrida” remarked that: (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/ 21/pierre-bourdieu-philosophy-most- “A new scientific truth does not triumph by quoted). convincing its opponents and making them see the light but rather because its Due to the fact that the greatest number of opponents eventually die and a new revolutionaries of today depend on the most generation grows up that is familiar with it.” accurate truths attainable to get their point [p. 151] across it would be a positive move for us all to extend the olive branch of peace and trust The inability, or at least the disinclination to to each other that we are all anti state and change the practical application of effort into anti market proponents and not listen to new lanes of operation, still heading toward those who, like John Molyneux, advocate an unchanged goal, may be attributed to putting a gun to people’s heads to make what Pierre Bourdieu termed Habitus, (an them work, in the name of anarchism. This idea borrowed from Aristotle and modified, man is surely an outlier . . . or the ‘he say, through empirical research, to describe she say’ of pro-market anarchists (a behaviour in today’s society). In “The Logic creature described by a contradiction of of Practice” Bourdieu defines Habitus as: terms) claiming that Marxists are by definition statists (another contradiction of “The conditionings associated with a terms if you ignore one part of the Manifesto particular class of conditions of existence written by the 29-year-old Marx and produce Habitus, systems of durable, concentrate on his later and more mature transposable dispositions, structured writings in Das Capital). structures predisposed to function as structuring structures, that is, as principles Because global economic stagnation is a which generate and organise practices and more powerful taskmaster than ideological representations that can be objectively commitment our greatest opportunities for adapted to their outcomes without successful peaceful revolution exist when the presupposing a conscious aiming at ends or social inertia of the 99% has been disturbed an express mastery of the operations by crisis. Let’s get with the programme and necessary in order to attain them. stir the pot! Objectively ‘regulated’ and ‘regular’ without being in any way the product of obedience The old axiom holds forever true for to rules, they can be collectively revolutionaries (as well as for reactionaries) orchestrated without being the product of – a crisis is a terrible thing to waste. the organizing action of a conductor. [p. 53; emphasis added] In Solidarity Joe Hopkins

By way of explanation Bourdieu goes on: Dialogue will be accepted and responded to at: [email protected] “The tendency of groups to persist in their ways, due inter alia to the fact that they are **************************** composed of individuals with durable dispositions that can outlive the economic and social conditions in which they were produced, can be the source of misadaptation as well as adaptation, revolt as well as resignation.” [p. 62]

The “Weekly Review” section of The Guardian Weekly for 24 February 2012 16 The Libertarian Communist Issue 19 July to September 2012

From World in Common concerns. The city didn't even want to let the public in for the grand opening. Despite all For a trial period to see how things go we these problems, the politicians overseeing are going to include a page or so highlighting the project received huge bonuses. Around some of the recent and perhaps some not so the area of the stadium, a gentrification recent posts on the World in Common forum. process began and some people were The reason for this is to show that the LC evicted. The city condemned some houses supports the ideas of WiC, still promotes its without providing replacement housing for rejuvenation process and still sees it as the everybody. And thousands of people, mainly best means of creating an open anti state, immigrants, were forced out of the non market organisation off as well as on- marketplace that used to be around the line. stadium. Instead of the highly popular market, which was the largest in Europe, local residents now have a parking lot and As we are putting this issue together the rising rents. Euro 2012 Football championships are just about to draw to a close. This post appeared All of this is costing taxpayers a lot of on the World in Common forum at the end money, but most of the benefits are for the of April this year. It concerns Poland who are elites and the few business people who will jointly hosting the tournament with the make some money off the event. In the Ukraine. meantime, the city claims that there is no money in the budget for anything. As Against the Politics of the Euro parents who were protesting the privatization of school cafeterias pointed out, the price of the zone for football fans in front Over the past couple of years, more and of the Palace of Culture will be eight times more social and political organizations and the money the city wants to save by grassroots initiatives in Warsaw have been eliminating the jobs of school cooks. fighting against the city's social spending Tenants organizations, ZSP and others will policies. We have seen movements and protest on June 8 when the Euro opens with protests against public housing policy, the its first match in Warsaw. The Tenants' closure of schools, the privatization of school Defence Committee will also organize a cafeterias and huge fee increases in nursery EURO REALITY TOUR of the slums around schools. (The latter have been cancelled due the National Stadium during the Euro. The to a judgment in favour of parents who first dates are planned for June 9-12 and launched a legal challenge against that tours will be held in Polish, English, Russian decision.) All of these initiatives share a and Spanish. Visitors to Warsaw can see the common sentiment: that the city does not state of public housing and effects of care about the basic social needs of most of gentrification around the area, as well its residents, who are working but poor and as visit some interesting landmarks that who cannot afford private hospitals, haven't been destroyed by developers yet. education and rents.

Among the city's big showcase investments is the National Stadium in Warsaw and other New Website investments related to the Euro 2012. There were many scandals related to the stadium http://Stephenshenfield.net itself. While it was built, there was a wildcat Themes: Section that includes articles strike and a few workers died due to on War, Disarmament, the Environment, negligence. The ZSP was active in exposing Climate Change and Pre History this and getting workers to speak out, as Systems: Capitalism and Socialism well as helping Ukrainian workers to get Places: Articles on different regions better housing conditions. Despite the poor working conditions for many on the building around the world. site, the stadium is reportedly the most Archives: Section includes all issues of expensive one in the world. The Libertarian Communist

When the stadium finally opened, the roof didn't work and there were other safety ======17 The Libertarian Communist Issue 19 July to September 2012

Unfortunately we cannot include the entire immediately. Also in certain conditions, as in article that follows due to its length: this is peasant-based societies, it would be the final section and we hope it will necessary to set up armed bases in the encourage readers to read the whole countryside. But the aim here would not be pamphlet. to carry out "exemplary" clashes with the military but to protect the political Posted on World in Common on May 1st infrastructure to enable the spreading of 2012 ideas to continue. This may involve some guerrilla tactics but it cannot mean the strategy of guerrilla-ism. Nor can it mean You Can't Blow up a Social the creation of a separate, hierarchical, Relationship – military organization, which is not only anti- libertarian but is also vulnerable and The Anarchist case against Terrorism inefficient. The Tupamaros were, being This essay was was published as a pamphlet marxist-leninists, hierarchically organised. around late 1978 or 1979, in the aftermath One of the factors in their defeat was the of the Sydney Hilton Bombing. The black treason of Amodio Perez, a "liaison director" humour of the time around the anarchist in the organization, i.e. a second-level movement was that the police and security institutionalised leader who knew so much forces framed Ananda Marga because they that he was able to single-handedly put came before Anarchism in the alphabet. The police onto large sections. arguments in this pamphlet are still as valid today as when they were written 20 years In Baumann's book he makes it quite clear ago. Reprinting or linking to this text is that the capture of members of groups was encouraged. often the result of betrayal by sympathisers. Anarres Books Collective This was not ever a result of hierarchical structuring as this did not exist in the group he belonged to. Though the police did use virtual torture methods on some Minimise Violence by Emphasising sympathisers this was not the main factor Politics either. It rather follows from the life of illegality. The very essence of libertarian revolutionary strategy is the idea that there is an Three people who were illegal would sit in inextricable link between the means used one apartment and two or three legal ones and the ends proposed. While there may be would take care of them ... (p.56) You only a link between the rotten authoritarian ends have contact with other people as objects, of nationalists and marxist-leninists and when you meet somebody all you can say is, rotten terrorist means, it is unquestionably listen old man, you have to get me this or clear that libertarian ends must disallow that thing, rent me a place to live, here or terrorist means. In fact the majority of there and in three days we'll meet here at marxist-leninist groups oppose terrorism, this corner. If he has any criticism of you, though, as Lenin says in Left-wing you say, that doesn't interest me at all. Communism - an Infantile Disorder, "It was, Either you participate or you leave it easy of course, only on grounds of expediency and clear. At the end it's caught up with you that we rejected individual terrorism." - you become like the apparatus you fight Leninists are the proponents of vanguardism against." (p.99) par excellence. They also are proponents of terrorism by the state - as long as they As well: control it. Because you're illegal, you can't keep contact with the people at the base. You can Libertarians look at history and at the ruling no longer take part directly in any further classes of the world and conclude that a development of the whole scene. You're not libertarian movement will face state violence integrated with the living process that goes and armed struggle will be necessary in on. Suddenly you're a marginal figure response. It is quite obvious that political because you can't show up anywhere. (p. activity could not even commence in certain 98) conditions without taking up arms 18 The Libertarian Communist Issue 19 July to September 2012

It is obvious that these aspects of such a life God. It has killed a defenceless individual are counter-productive for libertarians. On whose guilt is not only not proved, but is the whole then it would seem that such mainly a fantasy of his executioners." organisations could only have a survival These comments of Ramparts magazine function for certain people under threat of apply to many a similar incident. murder or torture by the state. At one stage If in these cases guilt can at least be the Tupamaros were able to stop systematic attributed as a justification, what can be said torture by threatening torturers, but once of those actions against the public at large the state resumed the offensive, torture was (indiscriminate bombing, taking hostages, resumed. To prevent executions and torture, hijacking planes etc.)? Usually terrorists will armed activity might be justified, but its attempt justification in terms of the kinds of anti-political features would have to be strategies described above. The expected weighed carefully. end results from these strategies supposedly justify the means used. Enough has been Armed struggle means people would be said about these strategies. But it should be killed and there is no getting away from the emphasised again that foul means, far from fact that violence threatens humanism. But being justified by distant ends, merely libertarians would hope to preserve their provide a guarantee that the ends achieved humanism by ensuring that armed struggle will be horrible. would merely be an extension of a political movement whose main activity You can't blow up a social relationship. The would be to spread ideas and build total collapse of this society would provide alternative organization. The forces of no guarantee about what replaced it. Unless repression (police, army) and the rulers a majority of people had the ideas and themselves would not be excluded from such organization sufficient for the creation of an efforts. In fact much effort would be devoted alternative society, we would see the old to splitting them with politics to minimise the world reassert itself because it is what necessity for violence. In this situation people would be used to, what they believed everyone would have a choice. Libertarians in, what existed unchallenged in their own are extending to people the hope that they personalities. can change. We are extending to people our confidence that a self-managed society will Proponents of terrorism and guerrilla-ism are be more satisfying for all people. This to be opposed because their actions are includes our rulers, even though we vanguardist and authoritarian, because their recognise the limitations created by the ideas, to the extent that they are characters people have developed in their substantial, are wrong or unrelated to the lives, especially those adapted to the results of their actions (especially when they exercise of power. call themselves libertarians or anarchists), because their killing cannot be justified, and Small groups operating outside the control of finally because their actions produce either a mass movement and often in the absence repression with nothing in return or an of any mass resistance at all, who take upon authoritarian regime. themselves decisions of "class justice" in the name of groups who are unrepresented but To those contemplating political violence we whose interests are affected by action based say, first look to yourselves: is on these decisions, are nothing but destructiveness an expression of fear of dangerous. The SLA killed a school love? There are political traditions and superintendent after a community coalition political possibilities you have yet to failed to prevent the introduction of examine. To the society which produces the draconian disciplinary measures in schools. conditions of poverty, passivity, selfishness, This failure was a reflection of the political shallowness and destructiveness in which level of the community and exactly the the response of political violence can grow opposite of an invitation for the SLA to kill a we say, take warning. These conditions must mere pawn of the Board of Education. "The be overthrown. As a French Socialist said in SLA recognises no authority but its own will 1848 - "If you have no will for human which identifies with the will of the people in association I tell you that you are exposing much the same manner that many civilisation to the fate of dying in fearful psychopathic killers claim to be instructed by agony." 19 The Libertarian Communist Issue 19 July to September 2012

Anti State, Non Market Sector Groups Obama in the context of world capitalism and the American political system.” worldsocialistmovement/SPGB: Also available “Role Modeling Socialist worldsocialism.org/spgb: Postal address: 52 Behaviour: The Life and Letters of Isaac Clapham High Street London SW4 7UN. Rab. There is a review of this book in the Email [email protected] World Socialist Review 22 and further details can be obtained by contacting the Promotional Material for the World Socialist address below. Movement

Tee-shirts Blue with a polar bear and “If You World Socialist Party US (WSPUS) website Were a Polar Bear, You’d be a Socialist, wspus.org Postal address: World Socialist Yellow, with blue and green globe and “The Party, Box 440247, Boston, MA 02144. World is a Common Treasury for All”. Sizes S, M, L, XL, XXL State size when ordering. £7.00 ======Plus postage and packaging. (P&P). Vist http://Stephenshenfield.net For Mugs: Standard size, red and white. On the details see page 16 of this issue front, “Only Sheep Need Leaders” and on the reverse side, “Famine? War? Pollution? Take a look at Andy Cox’s website which looks Capitalism is the Problem, World Socialism is at how socialism might be developed: the Solution” £5 Plus P&P. http://socialistmatters.webs.com/.

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All items carry the WSM website address. You can obtain some RBN items from Cheques and Postal Orders made payable to libcom.org as listed above. If you want to know SPGB SW Regional Branch. Also available, a more than read issue 6 Of The Libertarian SPGB enamelled badge, “The World for the Communist and the article by Neil Fettes pp.4- Workers. £10. 7 For further details on all items contact +++++++++++++++++++++++++ Veronica at [email protected] or phone 01202 569826 Red Anarchist Action Network (RAAN) www.redanarchist.org Read issue 22 of the World Socialist Review: ======Publication of World Socialist Party US. “Socialists take a look at Obama” “Is Obama a Anarchist Federation: www.afed.org.uk : Postal socialist? He does not regard himself as one. Address BM Arnafed, London WC1N 3XX. Email Neither do we. This issue of World Socialist [email protected] Review examines Obama’s outlook and life story, his packaging as a politician, and his policy in such areas as healthcare, the economy and the environment. It also places 20 The Libertarian Communist Issue 19 July to September 2012

The Commune Worth taking a look at

For workers’ self management and communism Institute for Anarchist Studies, the similar but from below. separate, Anarchist Studies Journal and Website: thecommune.co.uk Anarchy Archives. Postal address: The Commune, Freedom book shop, 84b Whitechapel High Street, London See also the Socialist Labour Party of America E1 7QX (www.slp.org), and the Marxist Internet Archive Library Comrades may be interested in the following links: Direct Action Industrial Unions

For Libertarian Communists in Russia and Solidarity Federation. www.solfed.org.uk or Belarus: http://wiki.avtonom.org/index.php PO Box 29, South West P D.O Manchester M15 5HW Email: [email protected] “Eretik” (Heretic) is a left communist journal in Russian and English that appears both on the Industrial Workers of the World: www. iww.org net and in print. This is produced by a group in Or P/O Box 7593, Glasgow, G42 2EX Email: Moldova. [email protected]. See: http://eretic- samizdat.blogspot.com/2012/immunity-of-rich- Workers International Industrial Union. and-powerful.html www.wiiu.org or www.deleonism.org/wiiu.html or see the article on Industrial Unionism in ======issue 9

A couple of places to purchase Literature and The following groups although not strictly help support the ASNM sector. defined as anti state, non market are still worth taking a look at “there is an Alternative!” International Libertarian Socialist Alliance: STIMULANTS: A collection of material Formerly called the World Libertarian Socialist highlighting an opposition to the Mantra that Network “There Is No Alternative” to how we live today. Journals, Pamphlets, Books, DVDs and Cds An excellent resource for groups who come under etc available www.radicalbooks.co.uk the heading of Libertarian Socialism many of which come within the remit of the anti state, non market sector www.libertyandsocialism.org Libertarian Communist Literature has a selection of pamphlets and journals related to ------the anti state, non Market sector. Journals Include: Black flag, Aufheben, Socialist Radical History Network of North London. Standard, Organise and others. We have a variety of pamphlets and a few books. For details contact Alan Woodward on 020 8800 1046 or RaHN at [email protected] Email: [email protected] If you are interested please contact the postal or email address on Page 2 with your details, Northern Anarchist Network (NAN) (please note the changed email address If you want further information about this group [email protected]) This list is also contact: Brian Bamford, 46 Kingsland Road, included in our blog which can be found at Rochdale, Lancs Oll 3HQ or email http://lib-com.blogspot.com/ This also [email protected] includes issues 1 to 18 of The Libertarian Communist. The Libertarian Communist can Wrekin Stop War also be found at www.scribd.com and This can be found at www.wrekinstopwar.org or contact http://stephenshenfield.net Duncan Ball, 23 Sunderland Drive, Leegomery Salop, TF1 6XX email: [email protected]. 21 The Libertarian Communist Issue 19 July to September 2012