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v . anarchist fortnightly
\ ,i NOT- N H M c oMushroom,l MANCHESTER SOLIDARITY GrouP Heathcote St (Tel: 582506) or 15 Scoth- e/e 109 Oxford Rd, Manchester 13, ’ ____ I i O1H19 A V ' H son Green (Tel' 708302). -— OED. Da Si Boom is "" MOVEMENT FOR ANAROHY Experim- qm-1 St, e,eo'}'§‘_: mp°°“' ental Group 2. Contact M.F.A.E.G:2 I ‘pf PORTSMOUTH. Caroline Cahm, 25 "at 22 George Heni.y St, SALFORD 5. NOR TH WEST ANAR CHIST “ E PHON E 01-247 9249 Albany Road, Southsea, Hants. READING Universityanarchists, c7o FEDERATION -I
~ ___.--ix - Students Union, Univ. of Reading, White- A c/o Grass Roots, I09 ‘Oxford Rd 'T\JE_$111_\—\¢§\~.-"r-L I“""_i.i. IN ANGEL ALLEY knights, Reading, Berks. Manchester Ml. ' 84b WH HIGH ST. SHEFFIELD. Contact Sheffield Libert- Groups aw - eke ¢"
LONDON E.1 D arian Society, P0 Box 168, Sheffield Sll Burnley Anarchist Group, 5 Hollin Hill, ,7-_§Au.eRI6tHTM»4TE$ W s ___ ::" 8SE . Groups at above address are2 Burnley, Lancs - _ 2,”,-,;_.-5.44:1; /we/rs. W/E)’ Sheffield Autonomous Anarchists, Black L lflncaster Anarchist Group. 41 Mam Rd. Groups Cross Group, IWW, Syndicate of Initiat- Galgatei L?"1°a$t91‘- PaS"rR\\
' i' * Hackney Anarchists, Dave, 249-7042 ‘The Slow Burning Fuse; the Lost HUDDERSFIELD. Meetings every two Kingston Anarchists, I3 Denmark Rd, History of the British Anarchists‘ weeks. For details phone 0484-38156 .(.1.’<>_1¥*<*flr1i¢ §t".<3?PtS_'.UPi9")- Ki“gS"°“London Workers’“P” Thames’Group,Tel‘Box5494564‘W. , NARCHO-SYNDICAusr CONFERENCE HULL Libertarian Collective. Pete The "next anarcho-syndicalist conference L I82 Upper St. N1, Tel: 249- 7042 is being held in Manchester at the end Jordan, 70 Perth St, Hull, East Yorks. Love V. Power, Box 779, Peace News FR»(sPmTH_I_c;€-ri=\r4.-rooom-
less than the more obvious class enem- ies of the Conservative Party and the Right in general Confinued . from page ' In our last issue, which was delayed in appearing for a variety of reasons, only one of which was the weather, we employers and their Government— then, of our property-owning democratic 5_a;ii_- poured some scorn on the jourmlistic -,‘ somehow, they are no longer part of the ion, closes its Christian ranks agains comments of those who saw 'amrchy' nation. the bad anarchic breath of those who in the failure of the TU leaders to cont- And the nation, the proper, pukka, actually do the Work. J14/W1 Lo"//ifaeWe rol their members and who actually highly mid, responsible, elected, eth- And, brothers and sisters of the Left, went so far as to diagnose an emergence ical, far -seeing and righteous, second- may we point out yet again that this in- of ‘syndicalism’ as one of the problems. home-in-the-country, chicken-in-every- eludes your proper trade union leaders One of the dangers, indeed. pot and two-car-in-the -garage citlzelw and your actual labour Government no We might have appeared to be wrong, A70
inasmuch as there was clearly a rebell- . ion against reluctant leaderships by the AS you probably know there are now a have to be guarded virtually for all eter- group about transport arrangements. rank-and-file, but we claim a certain great many anarchists and libertarians nity), c) very expensive, d) an aspect of We will be organising workshops about amount of experience in observing and involved in the struggle against nuclear the tendency towards concentration of anarchism and nuclear power at Torness. analysing these events - and we know power In fact, it may well be true to power (there is already an armed nuclear Please try to cooperate with the spirit ‘Ill: c/00$ as0F damn well that most of the militants who say that there are more anarchists in police force with unlimited powers of of the event and treat those you disagree spat at Jim Callaghann and ignored the the Torness Alliance than can be found harassment) and e) something which the with with due respect rather than haran- directives of their leaders will neverthe- in anarchist groups In other words, the state is fanatically bent on promoting guing them, and bear in mind that large less vote faithfully for the party he leads nuclear issue has become, de facto, a whatever the wishy-washy environment- groups are always expected to split up and happily go on paying large salaries vital issue for the anarchist movement alists at Friends of the Earth central into smaller groups. It would also be Tic: to those same union leaders. The argument, however, is not merely have to say about it, and whatever the helpful if people could get themselves in- When workers take action in the heat about numbers. There are to my mind cost-1 in terms of life and money. formed about the issues beforehand. of the moment, and act in their own int- two major areas for discussion. The ' In this part of the world we are lucky There will, however, be talks, slide- erests at last, they invariably take the first is the importance of nuclear power in that the authoritarian left have left the shows, exhibitions, street theatre, films as . anti-nukes campaign alone so far. It is - st me I right action. Unfortunately, when the itself and the other is how the struggle is and all kinds of other things to inform the I we-i situation cools down, they go back to to be organised. effectively a coalition of the more soc- ill-informed. 7": Ky’; E3 6’) I Q thinking along the same old lines and Many feminists say that the nuclear ially aware environmentalists and non- Another point to consider is that many ... gfi 4 c\- ~.~..-.-r--_ . ~ _ 51.! z» _.%,g,’,i.,.~: E)--». take the easy way out - especially, iron- industry is a prime example of patriarch violent anarchists, along with various people in the Alliance are perhaps justif- . ~ <-_— -2- ' ""~ _.. ‘ i’ :- ically, if they have won the struggle and al structures and thinking gone mad. others in smaller numbers. In terms of iably worried about over ly-enthusiastic use -how to organise on a decentralised basis e. things don't seem so bad after all. Many anarchists would claim that it is an anarchists or others alienating Hie locals In country A Colonel C organises a Triumph of the 7 And there is no doubt that this is a example of authoritarian centralisation it could be said that the anti -nuclear by too heavy an approach. At the risk of Generalissimo B governs. military rebellion, and Revolution! struggle that is being won. The Labour movement has taken anarchist ideas He is a dictator. the people support him. gone mad. We are probably both right. stating the painfully obvious, banners Government's 5 per cent policy is in Nuclear power is a) bloody dangerous, much further than the anarchist move- A are OK on the site but don't wave them tatters - and triumphant workers are b) irreversible (it can only be slowed ment as such ever did. around in local pubs. ._ Y‘ V‘ V‘ IIIQUIQE‘ _ settling for magnificent -'l6 per cents and down, not stopped completely, as we - _ lee/5 . "\\.f~.-Ea Everybody should try to make it to the Hope to see you all there. 1 , 0.04, U» Y I =~\wisem . 8. 8 per cents. Big deal! In a year's already have thousands of tons of ext- Torness festival,/occupation on 4-7 May. JOHN ROBERTS - for "' .""-'.'1-A, Te . - , ' - time they will be looking at eachother " Ii I A I - _ remelydangerous material which will Contact your local anti-nuclear or F-OE Cardiff Anarchist Group ....\\ and saying ‘Why ainjt we better off? ' A 'j" ® e »-21*” my / iii1i‘Tiiiii'. while their leaders ‘and the politicians go on calling for sacrifice and concern Th t i ruined and Colonel C promises for the good of the nation . . . u2i§tZ;:rG§,:§§:Z:: iteigozgeeisaiy to start elections & progress. When workers realise that they don't funds, again from scratch. need leaders at_ all; when they think in
< terms of occupying the factories and taking them over, rather than shivering outside the gates; when they demand the THIS year is going to be the year of socialist groups and individuals active -‘ant — Tn E‘?\- 431 Age abolition of the whole stiipid wages sys- 5 THE Leeds Anarchist Group, which has elections! Not only will we be treated to in the Greater Manchester area.* ' e I -" - ~ - ‘ tem and refuse to vote or work for ren- just entered its fourth year of existence, the five-yearly general election, but in Also we would like to draw attention ' "'-"U 1'-4:4‘?\.~»-oTi'o>lQ‘?g.17‘.( egade leaders of any kind - then we can recently decided to commit itself to at addition we shall have the first direct to the fact that the IWA - AIT (the anar- ' """"~I -P-1""-Jr. -T_ _ _ talk realistically of anarchyand see least one public event each month. The elections to the European assembly chosyndicalist international) is organis- syndicalism as a means to that end. ‘first, in November, was a benefit in aid While we do not know the time of the. gen- ing and coordinating a campaign against The United States The Army e°1°“°1 e f°rg°tS _ But whenever any workers go to the of ‘Persons Unknown’. About 60 people eral election, the elction for the Europ- the European elections throughout west- recognises the regime of promotes him to General. his promises and Pfvmetefi Colonel C. himself to Ceneralissimo. polls in the next election, or bother to came and with money taken at the door, ean assembly will take place on '7 June ern Europe. We will keep readers of vote for a general secretary of their money from a raffle.and, most surpris- Also there will be the customary FREEDOM‘ informed of further develop- union - knowing that their experience 9 ing of all, the landlord's donation of a round of municipal and local elections, ments. Because it "will be claimed that rx‘nvh\‘c this last month has taught them that it'is third of his takings (presumably to en- not to mention the opportunity for those all opposition to the elections is national- ,_,_$ -u their own strength that matters- then courage our custom) we made a straight luckyvoters in Scotland and Wales to ist"~ the Northern Secretariat of the AIT place their 'x' for or against devolution. m‘ J ».';\ Q \\fi w we shall know the lesson has still not profit of £54. The second was a public suggests that "an international demonst- st=s""i-.I *.o'.'0' I been learnt. EDITQRS meeting on 13 December Albert Meltzer While the psephologists are in for a ration should be arranged bythe IWA- »~— 50- \'L' ‘gt;-»fie‘-;\v- :14?1:’A - fruitful year, the parties at Westminster AIT after May Day". ~I\,_\.- f 59:5‘. ¢¢¥=JP*g1;§e§' . eel came to speak on the CNT and 29 people came to hear him. We were unable to fear that the apathy of the electorate will R.M. Twenty years have passed! Colonel D orgenieee 3 T;i“m§ht?fn?h° organise anything in January because of be fuelled by the over -exposure to the Generalissimo C military Tebel11°n":e °v° u 1° ' democratic process. With so many elect * The above-mentioned leaflet, ‘Vote I is a dictator. the P9°P1e 9“PP°rt 1"‘ the dislocation caused by the winter hol- SUBSCRIBE idays. On 21 February we will be holding ions (five in some areas) the interest is Nobody‘ is available from M/CR SWF 81 sure to flag. M/CR Solidarity, c/o 109 Oxford Rd, 4' """'\--.-, \ a workishop on ‘Libertarian Education‘ :0 \ 3* Perhaps with the voters being asked to Manchester l. If readers wish to use this ';e5¥.* .,P, at the Trades Club, Savile Mount, off 5‘,,-‘-'.!;,,». Chapeltown Road at 8 pm. On 28 Feb- vote so many times this year for Tweedle for their own leaflets they are welcome Q3 1-J .e 3‘'k$us'\“ -4?’ L=g dum or Tweedledee, the question of what to do so. The North East Anarchist'Fed- I Q’)./_.- ruary the Leeds University Black and ‘_.Ill’ F~' ~¢ "e./ 5“ vi"<-- One Year £6. 00($1?-) Red Society will be holding a meeting elections achieve will not be lost under eration also report in their latest bullet- -- 14";-kl ab I. S.*>:,@ the piles of lies and appeals to prejudice. in on their initiative on the EEC elections .W €_"-.._,,_.1 \.’»*5 ‘______,_...i-._... pit about 8 pm. at the University (Room _ T?‘ 6 Months i-‘.3. 00($6) 5 Issues ‘Bl. 25($2. 50) LG I5) addressed by John Quail, the Whatever the temptations, these elect- and circulated a discussion paper Dictator C escapes The country is ruined and The United States author of The Slow Burni Fuse: The ions should not be ignored by anarchists, (by Martin Spence of Black Jake on the- with the Government it is necessary to start recognises the re8im° °f Lost History of Ea Brifisfi Knarchiefi. and therefore we wish to draw readers’ Common Market and what it represents. funds, again from scratch. 3010391 D- attention to the text of the ‘alternative’ e . IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'77b0MSI4fifiE15lqr¢3UUflMIfVuwIli‘(77‘ Y ANTHONY KEARNEY election leaflet produced by libertarian
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4 FREEDOM FREEDOM 5
MORE NEWS FROM THE ‘CONSTITUT- IONAL STATE‘ \. - 200 people have been charged with ‘defamation of the State’. The charge -1. concerns a text written by studéits in protest against antfllei‘ relatlngto the famous 'Buback - an'Obituary'. The text contains the apparently dangerous swords: "You are nothing. The State is THE appeal by Astrid Proll against ex- Justice Minister for$7’Hesse says in'Frank tradition to West Germany was adjourned everything. We are number one in the ' furt, or for that matter, the Frankfurt world. " (Meant sarcastically, of course). on 15 February by Widgery, the Lord assize court where she would be tried Chief Justice, pending a decision on And on the back is a drawing of an ‘arse and where, according to Guenther, any with ears‘ mounted on the head of a Fed- Well, to some extent I fell into the p Bazargan, "for instance, is an old friend I officially dating themselves from a raid Astrid ‘s nationality in the Family Divis- decision about exemption from imprison ion of the High Court. eral eagle. A mass trial is expected . . . trap that I pointed out myself.Events in of Bakhtiar and protected him -last week. on aipolice station at Siahkal in February ment would have to be made. 'I'here‘s not much to choose between 1971. Activities since then have been The defence are still hoping they can While Astrid wrote to Hesse for clar- - The ‘Agit‘ printers (see FREEDOM Iran moved even fster than I expected. I argue that a British national cannot be thought that the last government would them. Bakhtiar‘s present whereabouts bombings, bank raids, attacks on the ification her brother, Thorwald and vol. 39 no. l0, 27. 5. 78) have been given are uncertain; if he's still in the country police and assassinations. There are two extradited to the Federal Republic - des- others recalled the case of Katherina up to I year's imprisonment for printing hold things together for rather longer 8: pitethe infamous new ‘Lex Proll‘. I thought that the army would cause more we must assume he is still being protect- important groups. One (Mojahedin-i Kha- Hammarschmidt, the alleged RAF mem- urban guerrilla texts in Info-Bug, a tap- ed. Khomeini is still the real centre (why lq) describes itself as ‘Islamic Marxist‘. And the German authorities are doing ber who went back to Germany from trouble. It just goes to emphasise that you er of the Berlin Undogmatic left. The are people so stupid?) He now rules by Mojahedin means ‘fighters of the Jehad' their best to look soft and cosy, less in France under a similar offer of leniency paper is edited by different groups, can't keep a people down.And that the the face of criticism in this country people have as usual, shown more politi- diktat (after all, firman is a Persian or ‘holy war. The other is more orthodox several years ago and who, in return for none of whom appear to be known to the word). Censorship is applied. He "will Marxist, the Cherikhaye Fedayin-i Khalq. (with its staunchly pro-German regime her good faith, died of a cancer that the prosecution who thus picked on the prin- cal awareness than the media, they knew press) than in Germany itself. In an _all along what Bakhtiar ("brave“ accord- not permit anarchy!‘ He is developing (The ‘People's Dedicated Guerrillas'). prison authorities left untreated during e ters instead. definite signs of megalomania. Any opp- interview with the magazine Stern the a long and crucial period despite num- ing to the western press) represented. The names reveal a lot. The ‘dedication’ Federal Minister of the Interior, Ger- - Klaus Croissant, the RAF lawyer, Anyway I'll summarise events, then re- ositlon is guilty of ‘blasphe my‘ andis lia- is very real. Their theory is a somewhat erous appeals on the part of her defence has been sentenced to 2% years‘ gaol and ble to have their hands chopped off. He hard Baum, suggested that Astrid would to get proper medical care. vi-ew the present position and, if I'm feel- messy amalgamation of the usual stuff on a 4-year ban from legal practice after has been referred to as 'Imam‘(roughly the Armed Struggle and the Purity and be treated leniently if she returned to The extreme right Christian Demo- ing a bit brave, venture some prophesy, Frankfurt of her own accord. He added being found guilty of running an ‘infor- or at least hopes. equivalent to Moses). Sacrifice of the Revolutionary. Both crats have also entered the arena. mation system‘ for his RAF clients. Until the takeover by the Shah's father that the trial would probably star-t quick- Stanitzek, CDU deputy and lawyer, has Briefly, the Irani people had got piss- groups remain small and isolated, re- ly because the evidence was ready, and Having already spent 19 months in- prison ed off. They were oppressed by one of the the mosque had great power in Iran. This cruiting mainly from students. Their tan- demanded ‘no special rights for Astrid he could be released in the spring. He was diminished and the slate became more that if this were not the case "I could Proll‘ on the grounds that this would be most brutal systems in the world, all hin- theon of martyrs is something frighten- l could also be rearrested and charged secularised. ‘The priest on the ground is ing. Both groups have gained a lot of imagine that she would be allowed to ‘in violation of the Constitution‘. ts of change (the "Shah-People White Rev- return to England, with appropriate con- with more serious offences which the olutidn") were a blatant farce, a small known as a ‘mullah‘, hi lobby as the ‘ul- ground lately. Now, of course, they-are So it can be seen how, already a vict- French appeal court excluded from the emma'. The leaders, equivalent, say, to ditions and guarantees, until the beginn- im of State ‘justice’, Astrid has now' group of people were flaunting ostentac- well armed and the Provisional Govern- A ing of her trial in Frankfurt". conditions of their extradition order. ious wealth, slum conditions in the cities bishops, are the now notorious ‘ayatoll- ment is doing its best to remedy this. -A also become a pawn in the party political But under this order he must be given ahs’. Half a dozen of these are theoretic- Although this was mere speculation o'fi power game: were appalling, agriculture was in ruins In the mesent context Mojahedin is ob- . Baum's part, confused stories at once 30 days to leave Ger many should he wish (it has got to the stage where food has ally in charge but of-course in practice viously more ‘respectable’. However, appeared that Astrid had offered to give Mirror, mirror on the wall to do so. to be imported).And to add insult to in- Khomeini dominates. Shariat-made1’i, .the they are a dangerous pressure group herself up. These have been dismissed Who is the fairest (ie. most const- jury they were continuously told how much ayatollah of Tehran, has lost out a lot by while they retain their autonomy and the - Werner Hoppe (see last issue) has compromising too much with the Shah's by her lawyers. Germany is a ‘federal’ itutional) of us all? _ at last been released from custody after they loved the bastard who symbolised it government is trying to placate them, state. What Gerhard Baum says in Bonn all. They went onto the streets and went regime. Khomeini gained from his geo- by offering them a role as ‘national i Gaia doctors found him ‘unfit for imprison- graphical separation. According to Shiaf is not necessarily what Herbert Guenther ment‘. on strike for a variety of reasons, some guard‘. Presumably there will be an att- political, some religious, some ot-hers. ‘ doctrine there have been eleven imams. empt to integrate them as a normal tara- But it wa united round one thing. Moha- One of these is buried in Mashad in east military police force. The other group, mmad Reza Pahlavi and all he represent- Iran and all good Iranis make a pilgrim- the Fedayin are a more immediate prob- ed had to go. There ‘d been demonstrations age there. They are all waiting for the lem. I am not sure of their strength - before and they had all met thesame re- twelfth and last to appear. Some think he probably about 3, 000 in Tehran. The action. But this time it was unstoppable. has, as Khomeini. ' government's tactic is to try to isolate - POLITICAL status is an uncomfortable ally support these struggles or to avoid Within a few months the economy was So these are the people who are consol- them by labelling them asicounter -revol- term for anarchists. Because prison is the dilemma altogether by working in paralysed and the cities in turmoil. The idating their regime. They intend to purge utiomries and irreligious. There has a political weapon of the ruling class areas which offerimore scope for libert- Shah wasn't sure what to do. Brutality the army and then reestablishit under been a preliminary confrontation this 'E'==Et-"E?-1?-*!=91EfifE'E1FrEr;r:-;!; .- - -it "=%=‘1=‘z5;*"*¢"‘*i:‘§5;i:l;. =5;in- then all prisoners are political, we say. -.------5.--:;:;:;:¢:;‘ --;-'---;;:;._ ;.; __ -_ ;:_-1;:;:;:; ---:_-:-*+:;._ .;.;.;;;;;:;:-:;;;>:;q:-r;";:;'_.;:;,_q.__;._<fl;:;:;:;:;.; '-I;I;21.;I;l;.-;-q:E;I_.<._.-:5-?‘Q_ had always worked in the past. He dither- their control. There is to be a referendum week and the Fedayin backed down a bit ~. .-‘-.- -.3}.1' . '5=i;'.gE55=5gi;E; -;.-.;;- "5i=i1'“5EI‘*_.;£§:;._.;:;.; -.;.;I_;;1;I;I;_;I;:-.;I;.;11:1i;:;555555535 5555131’ _-‘-‘.'._-_.:;'_'_'1:::;:':::::;:;::::::;::::::::::::::i:':-:1:::::;:::::::::lL.:::\:$:$::-:_:_:::c;::::.z::?:-i.l:iE5E5£5£5£3;5555:‘5EE55?§I:f?E525552553125E5E?E5€§§§‘3$§€§:;:;'-§§""' .'<;-{¢{::.:.{:;::::-is-;:§.;q.:.;--.;.‘IE;arian perspective. 3 5:‘ §§:;:;:E'_ _ .;;:;:;:;.__,._..;;-:;:;:;:_._ - --:;:;:;;;:-:-:-.-:---:-:;:;;;:§_.;: ;:;:;';'_:-:;' '-:-:;'§:.:33;;;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;;-:-:;;;:-:-:;:;:.:;'-;;:-:+:-: :-:-:"-;-:l:-".'-:-':-1?:7:¢:l:1:-1-:-5:51:-:i:1:i:=:' :- “"“'§i"' .--:-:i""""'1§i‘¢‘1‘I‘1:l:1:¥§l'1:-.4;1;1i1§YiF1EIEI§1;I:l:1il‘Iii§1i1;1§IEI§I:1I:?§1755; . T:E7§¥'.>1?Y:?:1=°=1§1§III§I.7$51"531""?'51!53'>1E5§E§§§i§I.-55553-_I'i---si- '5i1f'3t5§$7'$§?§>J§i§°:"'.I on whether to have an ‘Islamic Republic‘. When pushed a bit more we qualify this 11....-.43: 5‘ 3%".-:i:i:-. If ‘=1:34:13‘-.'§i7:!:5:i:¥:i@l:!:i:1;§J;:;:;:-:;:;.;;;;;:;:;:;:;.;.;;_-;;;:;:;:;:;-;1;:;;;;;:;1;--:;:§;;;§:-:§;;.j:-';:;:;.;.;._"L-' ~'?: _._:§"‘-1'=:i:=§f:5:5:1'>.5:?:=:=:§:i:' .-‘: ed.Eventually he fell back on precedent. by postponing a proposed march until :52;-1 :-. . A-:-:-. a.-:-: ._,-.;:-.-,- '~:-:A - .1:-:-:=:-:-:-.-:-:-:-:-:-:-.-.-:-:-:-1-1t:-:-1.:-"-'-'->:-;-:-:-:-:-:- Egg:..-:-:--3:-:»:_-:-:~~:=-:~:~:€-:-:‘-:-:-:5;-gag:-:-:-:-:-.-:-:1'-:1‘-:-:-1-:-:-:'=:-:-:-..-.-:-:-:-.4" -i-:-\:-' -:-:-:-:--:-:.:-_.;-I~.'-.»- “:':-:-:-:\-:-:-:-..A-.4.-.-. ' "--:-'-:-:-.-: In the north here we are in a similar ._.,._.-:-.-;%:-,\:-1-..-._-_._\;._._ _.;.;.j. .;.. _ _ _.j_;.;.; _.-(:.,.:._._.:.:.j.__.,_-_-,-.-_ _-. -_-,2,_ ;$.;.;._.‘.;5.;.¢.-.-.;$_-,:_-_- ;.;.;~.- _- _._.;- ._-A:_.;.-_ .;.- :; .1 .;.- {.'._,.-:-Q:=:“7:=:~:-:i:l:-:?:i:=:i:-:i:-:1:i:§:7:7:=:=,_,;:='' ";.'.'.j.''.:.:.:.j.;.;.;._.[.--3.1. ..“.'-'-1:1-i"'i-i-I:i;=:I:i:I;i§;.,-,-_-.'_'.-1-:-‘.‘.-.'-' '.'.-.'='- ..'."'.-.'.'.'-.-.-.-. ‘-:-:-:-:-:-1-;-*--:-:-;-;:-:-:-;-;~; ' 5-. ' --4; :>~,- :-:-, _ __-$_-_- _ - ~;~..-.-._ -2- . _ .;.;.-.}.;:;.;.q:;.;:;. ";f;:-:;:;:;:;:-:;:;:-:.- This is to be a simple Yes/No vote. Act- by saying that we don't of course support '-;>- “ -:=.§.§§===:‘=5=5;"'======:1;=:-;r:;ggeg;:; ' =" :_=-'-"-_>* k.=¢Ei=."-;=ir;r=.;J'¢5Ii5'.<;=E-";=;1==;:Era=;=§- He could repeat the ploy of 1953, leave Friday (the weekly holiday). It will be .E1:Iif21:11?51:525?:-:I?E?!1-‘ET:-F121:T:-t1I§1:I§=?1‘$:i:' ==i=i::<2=s=?:a=;=a-.=z'=-1- t :-:-El-‘ a== .-5‘E1???i=:'5§=E12=53-=-=5$E5‘=3=E=E=E=£i=FEE?IE=E=5===ErE=E=?rE=E=E=ErE=E$Er1='==€fi§E3E=E§Ei=E=;=t:?"-"" cimumstance. The prison system, tied: A ;l:§:§.j.'_:j:§:§:§:;:§:§:[:;:l.j;;:f:§rj.;.§:;._:§:§;§:[;;:§:§:§;§:§:--;;.";:ie:-LE.-_§§i:§:1;3:7:-.-S: ~1:?"3'§:1:>s'31:?""?:T:i:?':i:i:1:i§1:!:1:1:-:f:!:1:1:i;l1!:1:f§f:1:!:l:!:?:!:!:1:I:1:i:1:155?:i:I:I:I:?:1;I:i:i:i:I:?EI:1:Is .-t ‘ ,=;§;i§§ea;,=§e§=%;":zi;=.“’ ‘=- -I?1{:E:1r?:Tr5r3'l:E:§:E:1:1:§:i:?:}:E:E;E:?:i:?:i5:?;"5:1:i:i:7:1§i:i:7§i:I§11i:§.3§!:1:-:-: :':"'-'7"'5"'::"~:$355:1§1§-.-:!§!§1~I'55$l- -I5I5$‘:I5'515I:55I7i5F1315I53I5I3‘5I51751315175131?i?5'5I5$l7I7F1'i=i=I111i313_'_-:51: ‘- for a while and then engineer a comeback ual details, constitutions and so on will be something of a test case. There are a the John Stonehouses or Robert Relfs, "1:ir§:§:§:Z"{:5:§:§'§"j:§:j.§:;.j:j:§:§:§5.51:}:§:{;§;}:{:1-§;§;{:§:}:§:§:§:§;§§§:§:§:§:5:}:§:§:§:§:§:§:§:§:§§§:?:§:§:§:§:;:{ 35:;1=:=;1;r;r;§5§1:1:3?-§=;=-==ttIE§€=E1E=E§E§'i=E=?$=¥¥E§=£=t'§I§E=E=E=5I5rE=E:5=2:5=i¢&:5:£rErEr5>E1E13=E=E:5:5:5=€;' -' in with the ‘reformed ‘ RUC'"(Royal Ulster . '"':“‘5¥§;§5E§i§E§£§i§E§E§E§E§L_.§£jE§E§1§1§i§E§!§Zg1§;§E§5§?§;§E§E§E§E§;§5§£§E§E55Q25?E§§§:§E§£§E§3§5§£§i§5§3€§§E§i§§§£§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§5i§i§55ii§§§5§55§i§iiiif§S§§i?§5fi§??§fE§§i§§§i§§§i§§§§§f§§5§§§§§§§§§i§§§§§§5§§§§§§i§§§§§§‘=15 ;._ -Y"I:§;§:§:§:§-1:Izfz'-§:§:j"]'§;§:§'?'i:?'5:§:}:j:j:1:5:I:{"'1:1:§:§:j:§:i;§‘1:Y;i:1riri-I";?:§l_:§" f:i'§:{;§.§:_.f:{;l;§;§:;.; ,¢;;:§-§ ; §;§:§:;i;:§:I- V ;;:;-E:f:;.‘:§:§:§:I:§:I;f:If;§;§;‘~];5;;-:_‘f:;I;‘_;1 f";:;';";: 1: f:§:;_:{t;.__;:§: In the meantime an interim government revealed when thought appropriate. Cens- number of other small _left groups, Trot- but that prison is principally a method of " “ .--5.:-I-1*"§§i§l:E§5§5§E:;§:§5§:§:5i§5§:§:_i-§E§:;:-.;:5:§E§E§iiE§£5E§§§i§§5£5§5?1E5E5E§‘5§5?§E5E5§?§:§:::§:E53:55§5‘5‘5?1-IE? -5‘§i§‘1"'fi?f§‘1'i}i%i§‘i7?§§?‘i5§ Constabulary), the ‘open’ courts (jury.- state/class control and must be destroy- __ _ P "‘=’=E===5;e§=555555355351, _;f.;;,<.;;;.;.g§}§1'§;§§§ig;g§{E}§§L§;;§§i;.—.{E§§§§IE§§§5§§§I§"1E§§fEfggifiiifij"{ifif1"‘5'§?iI§I§§1iiZf1:;,ITI§i§§§? less), and the new increased conviction could work to hold thigs, keep the oppos- orship is operated. Control is very neat, skylsts, Maoists and what have you. -' "- ~- - ""‘T:!§$§I:'1:=;-...<;I;.-;-;.;:;:-21$?‘"-:;:;:1;1:*=‘$:E?‘E:f:I§:€"‘~.-~.-.¢-glitz.'1‘ ':==I-A. "1-1-1:-i operating in a similar manner to that in ed. Whatever way a community decides . - ' u r ition tendencies separate and the like. It There is minimal influence from Moscow ‘i1"'='*‘. --n-es-:=iE=E5§£:£5¥-Zr-:='-- - - ":-=t‘».=,.----‘=11-=~<’1-'='----=-'"':1' rates (based mainly on the torture tech- -______...-:--1--'-1'-1:1-kI'>?-'-'"..~. _. . , .. " -51-qt. .. I§'.1:1:-.- .?.».*;1.'?;?" _.-...~...... 1:. ._-,;._.. . .- -.--I-I-I-L.+ _ H ---'-.14.-.;.;._.__- iv.-.\- - 'j.f\.{\.1.:.f7:§_'.§? .‘.-.-“psi;.. . .-:T" didn't work. Bakhtiar and his regime were Communist countries; any disagreement whatever the western press may claim. to deal with its own who commit anti- v\- .. ---1- .. ~. " niques to secure 'confessions'), is one ' ,_ P331 -' 'l'3'Tt§:1:§:f:¥:3:§:§:§:§§§:§:§;§:;.,: ?"'5' _ ~.-.-.5:5i5:°i$35'1§--‘1‘§!§‘1'j:_ . -;:§§;:;:j§§§§;--_;,-,;.;._. ' .. transparently tools (exept, of course, to is counter -revolutionary. The other important opposition is in sqcial crimes, it should not be by incar- -i5;’7';'§i§i§I5?ii:I5§3:I5:5"5'“..¢.g.;:_:3;.;:_:_._;§:Fqt-:-:-7-:-:-1-:3-;-:5:-2... ' ' -'5:-.-'-:-:11- -- '5"'5?:7i7:-'-'-E3177":777:7:3'-t5t~.-,-§i§3:?:?:37";;ii'- ;I'- ‘I. :- '- »- ..-.;;-:-.-.-:!:!:1:111:».-;-.."15,-H 3:": ' - - " "ii;' of the British state's weapons to restore . _._._.. ...- an;.;.;,;.;__.;.;.;.;.;.;.f.-.:._.__ _ -_ ._ - - - ,5: .,.,- --_._._.,.__ __ ..;._._., '1-:§:3:1.-=+.. . -?i¢t5!5.'7:':'L':“:':';::':"'1'Z7Z:23!-.-.-. -' ' »- 'C7"""" - . :-:- -.;._:<-:----:-:;;-;-:_:_:_"_r_:_;: ;.;._-_._-.';:_:;;;.;;;:-;_;.;.-;;;;:;:$;:;:;:;:;:.;';:-._ . ______.-;l;§;:;:~.;;;:-:-;-:;.,, " _,_.";;;; The overall effect is therefore to set up ceration. :I:;:;;§::1"17- '-;-;-'"l;'-.5:111.].j;§;1:§fi:§3:1:§E:§:§§1§§:§$:'?:?§:§ -..§:§:?t;.';:;q. -1.-.-:-;i:i:'¢!"- - ' '-'-'-I:I:§;;_.;; _ . "'5. I""i->5-?F1"':? western journalists)So they were destr - the various ethnic groups. Over the years _.t.,.; ;,;._ .-._:_ _:;;;_;;.";;;§;"_:_-._.;t3’f:;_‘:{:§5-_3;_;;,E,;.;.;.;,;.;.;.;,;.;.;.;._.;.;.;:;:;;;:;:§:{:;.;;;:;:§:;‘:§:§:1rE:E:l:;:1:E:i:§:§:}:§.:-1;11311:?:1:-.-:?:1:i:¢:;:§:1:-:;:1:I:1:-:-111?:3:1:-:1:?:?r':?:?:35:1:-:5""T'i:i:1;7(' stability to our ‘troubled’ province; For -.-1-1-2+:-I-' -:-;-;-I-7-'.-1-:-;- -t-112-I-f~!--2-.-.-. .-1-1-2-.-"I-I“.-I-I-1-"-1-Z-I-I-I-I-L-I-I-I-1-I-1-I-J-I-" ' " "'=1‘-'-:-:-:3:"-":"4;i;3"<;3:Y:3 "_-T111 -,'I;i:l‘f--‘i'1'-‘l:l:i-‘ ' ' a substitute. for the old regime with, how-. This sounds fine as does most anarch- 'YEEi§§§§§§§§§§i§§§§f§§Z§§§§§§§§[E§§§§§f§.jEZEEFQ. ,_-==E55525255555£=£55§?‘-'33gigifigE§E553Egiiigi555%55535525E§i§;l1§i§E§§§E§E§i§3igi-;:;i_ ' "5=??=?5E551&=;:;:;-5.,'.-;555=l' ' - this reason and because of the anarchist 6 oyed as well. In the final showdown the there has been a policy of ‘Persianisat- .-"1-1-1-1-r~r-1-'"-.-.-:-:-:-'-:-r-:-t-:~r-:-:-: . -- 1-. r-:-:-:;;-:=:-'-: .-‘I-I-I-I-I-L-I-1-Z-1+1-27!-It?-2-:5I-L-I-2:}I-1-C-2'1-I-2-2-I5Z317?-:3:-1-1-.-. . .. '-'-'*'-1-1-I--‘-_Q;i=-I-L--... ' ' - ' '-I-'-:1>1-375Z“:-.-I-1-I-Z-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-Ij-Q-I-I-I-I-I-I-ii-L-Ieizl-I-IQEEZ-I-I-I-Iii-I-7'?-‘-I-15;,,, " '-‘5‘~..11:2g‘<fi;‘5~l-I-'.-.-;~. - ever, at least some popular consent. ist theory. However in practice we often '11-I-*1?"'*?:?t-"T:?* 'i:i:-'.-"i'-l:i:i:11i:.%$:i:t1§:-."1:1:I:5-15;}:1:I:1:l:;§I:I;I:1:1;I:1:?:I:I:3;T:?:1:1§3:1:1:1:3:1:7:I:I:I:i:?:I:I:T:¢:1:1:1:i:?:1:?:1:1:1:-:-.. .-.-.-;1:iEI:=:i:-.._-. movement's traditional and total opposit- people were armed for the first time. ion‘ and the tribes have been played down find ourselves in a dilemma. Most of the _ __ ition to prisons, we should challenge at Fortunately, the core of the army had en- There are opposition groupings. Liberals, This policy is typical of its kind. Farsi struggles going on against exploitation V-1-::;‘;:-_;§;.:;_i _ ._:;...:::-r;'_§;;__-_:;55,:;;;;;;:;' -»;;:»:§-§'- -1;5-';.-:;;;,;,;.;,5$5,_;;._.;._.,._. _._.. -:;5E':E:;,;;;;-.-;;;-;-.-.-;-:-.-:-:i:I:1;-:;:;:E;5:§:=:;:1:-:€:';l:J:- ough sense to face facts and bloodshed for instance. But I doubt if they will have is the only accepted language, regions "" every opportunity the government's att- and domination, which are the hallmarks ":4$'l:E:I.'=:I-I-1-s-:-1-:-.;. - . “--T-1'1‘?-I-?-I-I<-I-:-:-ie<-:-;-r-- “"" -;;-_.,;;;:§; was minimised. p _ . much practical effect. There is a ‘left’. are starved of funds, nomadic groups '§I§'7':‘7'5‘7‘*‘7‘~‘ "'7'5?‘?7‘-‘7'7"'713?§?::EE1§I§I5IE21E1¥§i§?EI?5f1I§':IEI§:I:;15T§T':5’Y§ .;._ _.=:-.-51,;_.;:§:§'I-»-1 1+"'7?I:1-1-1-1-»-:;:? -;.; f§f:{¢3§§."?EI5I5I~1-I1?"3I3I5?‘*I"‘ ":91EI:1-5:‘:§EYi="-'E!?*3'€?§*§;:- -1E'E'§"‘§ empts to make its prison system more -.;:;:-;;:-: .;. _ ._:: ':';:' :-'-‘.;f-?-:-f-?-:-:-:-;-I-;;.;:.-I;;;I;i;_ _,;;:-._ .'_,:_1f;j;j:§;I;___:§71\tf:f\:I\§j ; . .- ;.;.;.;.;.;.» -.-.;.;.;.;.;._. of bourgeois/state rule, tend themselves -. -we .. .-.».-.-.'-;-:-:-;-:"-:-.=--=1.:~:-'-'~:-:-:-:-:-'-:<;-:-:-:.:-:-'-::-.xi~."<-:—'-;-;-:':-;~ .. ?“:1.I:i - '--‘-'-I-'-1;I:I-1-I; acceptable, and support those inside who 3 So, what are the present positions of The Communists (Tudeh) can be neglected are forcibly settled. Insurrections have - '.l; '_ "-"';'3'7':'7'7‘5 in ».-.-;-c-:-:4-heEl:-.1§~§»:. '5 1:-:~:-:-. I-"@35355i5i3E51>-4"7:133§35131735 in their structure and methods to reflect 9; _;¢. . 1"‘..-:§:__ ' _ _ W _,;;5;;;:;,_ e,;:;;-. ---";-.‘-.-.;.;:_-_:;:;.-:-:- challenge and whose position is more pre- the various parties? The most powerful They had some influence up to the 1950s. ocurred at intervals, for example the -' ";;;.;._.;:;2f;;._ .-'?:;._.-I-'.;:3:- _|_.;;;o_-:_-,. 5 %;.;.:.- . - .j.j. H _.' -.'.;:;.< . --,;.;.; the same hallmarks, to varying degrees, ,,;.,._._,,sfit- : ' - :2-. '. is still the people themselves, armed but were always rigid Moscow-line, and @.shqai in the south rebelled in 1962-3. ;,;,_,___:-t-.\‘f$:<:-r~-- _-.-;-:.-v-Hf .. carious. of the society which spawned them. The So where is the dilemma ‘Political and determined. Let's hope they stay largely discredited themselves by constant They were put down militarily, a few trade unions are an obvious example. Status‘. Those 386 men in Long Kesh like that. The incumbent power is an all- shifts of policy and sectarianism. They hundred people were killed. The useful Even most of the rank and file goups who are on the ‘blanket and dirt‘ protest, iance between the mosque and secular collaborated with the National Front take- tactic here was machine -gunning flocks which grew within them and in opposition and the 44 women in Armagh who re- politicians. The latterycan be assumed over in I953 and were systematically = from the air - what can a nomadic tribe to their leadership, failed to transcend fuse to wear prison uniform, are memb- to ‘besjust politicians. Some of them do smashed when the Shah regained power. do without its animals? About 40% of the hierarchical and economistic condit- ers of either the Provos or IRSP (Irish have records of ‘opposition’. What this He continually ranted about 'Communists' the population are non-Persian. Easily c ioning of their role in society. The anar- Revolutionary Socialist Party). Both of basically means is that they were involv- but there was little evidence of them. the largest group are the Turkish speak- chist response has been to either critic- these groups are nationalist and statist. ed in the National Front _in the fifties. There is a newer generation_of Marxists, ers of Azerbaijan and Gilan in the north- l Continued on page '7 ‘P:
5 FREEDOM
‘ . SAM DREEN, one of the last survivors night or pair offiim embrace in the corn- Continued from facing page and to cease production during strikes. ers. " The great event of the year was Dreen spent the last quarter of his life of the old Jewish anarchist movement initiative in forming a joint committee P2/so/vs/we in the East End, died in the United the excursion to Epping Forest, when a in the United States, where most of his horse and cart brought the refreshments of all the Jewish trade unions with some family had settled, though he made occ- Slates earlier this month in his nineties. of the socialist organisations, but it Dreen was born in Vitebsk (in White for the picnic and the comrades travell- asional visits to London until quite re- Pa»/we/+41727715 _ i ed by bus and train to the meeting-point. soon lapsed because of the opposition cently. Although he had moved away from Russia) in 1885. He came from-a family bf the Social Democrats. In 1909 he was of tailors, but his father was a teacher “Comrades would then gather in groups, the anarchist movement nearly half a or young men and women would pair off also involved in the formation of the century before, he always kept fresh his Continued from page 4 called Druan who died young. Sam had to Arbeter Ring (Workers‘ Circle), a Jew- , T Not only do they put aside social strugg- start work at the age of nine, and~"was and meander into the forest. Suddenly iofhistime in it. He was the a loud call would announce that Comrade ish trade union mutual aid society trans- moving spirit behind the English edition les till after the ‘unification’ of Ireland, » eventually apprenticed as a tailor. k cending party differences which still sur- but it is doubtful what their commitment He joined the Bund (the Jewish socialist Rocker was about to address the crowd. of the extract from Rudolf Rocker‘s mem- w -,4 L/Men/17;;/R0c.§EQ;'>’ All would swiftly converge to a glade at vives. oirs published as The London Years would be even then. The prisoners are organisation in Russia) and became so By this time his main concern was in- protesting against the withdrawal of pol- active that he got into trouble with the the edge of the wood. Some would lie (1956), to which he contributed an epil- "I went to all their meetings and enter- casually on the grass, others reclined deed to keep party interests out of trade ogue. He was also the moving spirit be- itical/ POW status which was granted police. In order to avoid further trouble unionlhctivlty. When the anarchist move- under Whitelaw‘s rule. It was already in and to evade military service, he foll- tainments, the concerts and dances " against trees, as our teacher began his hind the centenary meeting in memory of which were held on Saturdays and Sun- lecture". ment declined after the First World War, Rudolf Rocker held at the Toynbee Hall existence more or less, given the cond- owed his brother to Britain, being he transferred his activity not to the itions created by Faulkner to intern smuggled over the frontier into Ger many days, and their summer excursions to But there was a harder side to life, in the East End on 9 September 1973. Epping Forest. It brought us together, and Dreen was deeply involved in the pol- Communist Party, as so many others And he provided much information for people. These were the long corrugated and then getting a passage to London. did, but to Poale Zion, the Zionist social- huts, the wearing of their own clothes, and we became firm friends. This was itical activity of the Arbeter Fraint ' -. W.J. Fishman‘s history of the move- He later recalled how he and his com- ist organisation. The anarchists had al- relatively autonomous educational facil- rades on their arrival "walked trhough ' n° °1'di"a1‘Y P01111931 group. These were group. In 1904 he was involved in the ment, East End Jewish Radicals (1975). People who spent all their time together, Yom Kippur riot in Spitalfields; when ways opposed Jewish as much as any He died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on ities, etc. This was mainly because of a rough area where the inhabitants hated other nationalism, but Dreen felt that the lack of cell space. But when intern- immigrants and threw stones at us all like a closely knit family, brothers and religious and socialist groups began 3 February 1978. sisters. These were what Rocker after- fighting in Princelet Street, he led the the necessity to develop national as well Sam Dreen had a good long life, and ment was replaced by detention the pris- the way". He got work as a tailor, beg- as class identity among the Jewish people oners held on to their privileges only inning by making soldiers‘ trousers for wards called the golden days of our anarchist group to help the latter. In * did a good many things. But his golden youth. The memories of those days kept 1905 he was P1‘esent at the court of hon- A overrode such considerations. years were spentin the anarchist move- after a hunger strike. the Boer War, for which he earned Between the world wars he was the y After the general election of "74 Rees ‘good wages‘ of 30s. a week for a 14-hour us friends all our lives, though we did our when German anarchists brought and ment here in London. As with so many not all continue to hold the same opinions Jewish anarchists rejected the accusat- London representative of Poale Zion at _ who have left us, we can say -that we had replaced Whitelaw, and so began the day. He moved from job to job, and international conferences, and after the Labour government's efforts to portray joined one of the Jewish tailors‘ unions. We were inspired by our belief in a bett- ion that Rocker was an agent of the Ger- the best of him. * “Second World War his comrades celebrat- ‘I NIW. the violent contradictions in our society He later recalled: “The union work did er world that we were helping to build, A man government. and happy in our friendship, the warm Above all Dreen was involved in the ed his 70th birthday with a -special dinner. as simply one of ‘law and order‘. AS not attract me. There was always a struggle to develop an anarchist presence Meanwhile he had risen in his~trade to (Material from Siam ‘Dreen's unpublished part of this there began a carripaign of good attendance at the meetings, which friendship of each and every member of memoirs and interviews kindly provided our group“. in the Jewish trade union movement. He become a master tailor, but he always criminalisation of those who had ‘polit- were held on a Saturday night or on took care to pay wages above union rates by Bill Fishman). ical status‘. After l March "75 anyone Sunday, but the members came there Dreen described the social activity of took a leading part in the 1906 tailors“ strike against the sweating system, Cont. from=p..5., _ who was convicted oi‘ ‘serious criminal mostly to meet their friends, to talk the Arbeter Fraint group with particular west. ‘Autonomous republics have been pleasure. "We held social evenings reg- which was the first peak of the Arbeter Press Fund Feb. 8 -.21 offences‘ was placed in a cell instead of and quarrel and fight. Many of them " set up here a number of times, the last the compound. Kieran Nugent became came half-drunk, spoiling for a fight. ularly, and two or three masked balls a Fraint‘@'oup‘s influence in the East End, being made treasurer of the strike com- couple with Soviet backing (as long as it LONDON, J. B. 23.71; BRISTOL, H.J.C. the first ‘blanket‘ protestor and when he Usually the meetings ended in uproar. year. We often hired the Crown Hall in was expedient, they were then abandoned Redmans Road for concerts. Always mittee at the age of only 21, and report- £4. 00; LONDON, p.s. es. 00;, SAN is to be released on l3 May this year he So I didn't like the meetings, and finally to the inevitable reprisals). The capital, FRANCISCO, USA, D. £0.25; N. P. will have spent 3 year in this condition. I stayed away. " there would be an interval for refresh, ing its pI‘Og'.l‘€'SS'I!l the Arbeter Fraint. After the colh TabrizI has long been a centre for revolt. 21. 00; -N. I. B. £2.00; SHEFFIELD, - As anarchists we do not want political He also went to meetings of the various ments, when Rocker would stand up and There has been recent fighting there, there would be immediate silence. He" and a comrade went to New York to R.A.D. £4. 00; W. YORKS, M.T. 20.50; status for a selected few. The majority political organisations, and in 1902 he make a new start, joining the group some of which appears to be rearguard RIANTEC FRANCE, A.B. 23.00; LON- of crimes for which people are inside was taken by a friend to an anarchist would lecture us on some literary or action from pro-Shah groups. Also in topical event. We younger ones never around the Freie Arbeter Stimme. But oonsi-15.’, J M 24 00;WOLVERHAMP- are political in that they are against prop meeting at the Sugar Loaf pub in Han- in 1909 he r re- the north-west are the Kurds. They are TON,‘ J. L. 2'1. §0;J.'i<.w. 20. so; cor.- erty or authority, state or private. But bury Street. This was where the Jewish went home. Up to two dozen young men spreed across several countries. For a and women would troop off to one of our joined the Arbeter Fraint group. FQl1Qw- cnssrse,» T. o. e1. 34; WOLVERHAMP- instead of avoiding» the issue as too com- anarchists held their public meetings on ing the American example, he took the while the Shah, and the CIA, backed them TON, J. L. £1.50; J.K.W.- £0.5o.(aga1n!); plicated, as we have done in the past, we Friday evenings - a characteristic gest- homes and recline there on cushions in a guerrilla war against Iraq and then placed on the floor to talk throughout the A Continued on facing page SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA,-i R. P. ea. 50; now feel that Mason's attempt to present ure against the Jewish religion - and ditched them. There has already been a the problem as one-of ‘law and order‘ L1 :7 *"— — —— A _. _ __ __ WAKEFIELD, B.W. £1.00; SHEFFIELD, ' n" *"'@";.— “"_I' III-II—--q:~:;______-_|1_ _ _ _ .7_7- _ _ , where the Jewish religion - and where rising here. In the south there are the P. L. £2. 00; LONDON W2, B.R. £20. 00; must be challenged. Rather than support the main speaker was Rudolf Rocker, ®.shqai and an Arab population. There" LONDONWT, M. M. £2.00; LONDON political/ POW status in isolation from a the German gentile who dominated the is even ironically enough the Bakhtiari. swv, ‘£4.00;STONE, STAFFS., S.G. general critique of the prison system, or movement until the First World War. In the east are the Baluchi, spread E1. O0. ‘ ignore it in favoin' of the latter, we should In 1902 he had just returned to London across the borders into Afganistan and TOTAL E 6'7. 30. attempt to transcend ‘political status‘. from a spell in Leeds, and on 20 March already fighting a guerrilla war there. P Previously acknowledged £179. '75. The solidarity of the Irish prisoners, an- 1903 he revived the group's paper Arb- All these gm ups will want some indepen- - archists and ‘ordinary’ prisoners in the eter Fraint (Workers‘ Friend). dence. Khomeini has said that he will £247.05, Hull jail riot is a concrete example of= Ween was immediately captivated by hold Iran together. TOTAL TO DATE how this can be achieved on the inside. Rocker and attracted into the anarchist If the system holds together what will This problem of status is only one as- movement. "I was terribly impressed the future be? This is the dangerous bit, pect of our work on prisons. It may be by Rocker‘s delivery,-e so I attended all speculation. Well, it would be repress- central to republican and left groups, but his lectures in future. He spoke to us ive, with the government having indust- ful people in the country was Ashraf, the that reflects their own hierarchical struc- like a father to his child, like an elder rious agents in everything, i.e. the mull- Shah's sister (and she was as bad as him) ture and statist aims (whether that be brother. He had time and patience for ahs. They could be far worse than any but this did nothing for most women. The federated capitalism or state socialism). each one of us. We were not a crowd to Ii SAVAK agent. Any ‘deviant’ would be re- freedom was largely illusory, veilless To this date none of them have called for him, but everyone was a separate pers- pressed. Things would be probably more women in western clothes were liable to (or are likely to) the abolition of irisons. on, an individual soul. Even at a public be molested. Even the most ‘liberated’ meeting attended by thousands, you felt egalitarian. There wouldn't be as much We already keep contact with a small oPP°1‘tuniW to accumulate personal fort- areas were only superficially so, sexism number of both ‘political’ and ‘ordtfiary‘ that Rocker was speaking to you alone. unes. Some, at least, of the oil revenues is deeply ingrained. But there was a prisoners. We plan in the next couple of He united us, filled us with revolutionary start. ardour, inspired us with his clear think- would go to help the people. Some sense months to raise more publicly the class would be made of distribution of land and Well, the thing is poised. There are a nature of prisons, and the necessity in = ing and wide knowledge, his love and industry. The small degree of freedom lot of people who will try to get the sys- any future society for their abolition. understanding of art and literature and gained by women would go. This hasn't tem established and a lot of people happ- Of course the determination of those the values of culture. Rocker was our ily accept it. But a lot will not. The W’ ' ,-,1."3:3;f:7';:é:1 .' been that much and it has only applied to inside who choose the status to oppose rabbi! " Irani people have smashed one of -the 3.-:-:' .- . 77"" a privileged few. Middle class women the British state's prison system should Dreen's name appeared in the second have had some opportunity to get reason- world's most repressive systems. They also be supported. But thequestion of all issue of the revived Arbeter Fraint, on- able iobs- TheY have left off their veils- are capable of starting from here and prisoners being political, in .fact class 27 March 1903; acknowledging his con- .ew2w(u»m.y W/rt rm» ’GrnJZ’(/Ina»;/phdgjr '-J4...pm... Khomeini says that women will be able to building something. They must do it, or prisoners, must be raised, and answer- tribution of 5s. and he soon became a hold high offices but I doubt if this means‘ they will be back where they started. ed. i ' S I A leading member of the inner group. much. After all, one of the most power- - SHAHIN BELFAST ANARCHIST COLLECTIVE
| Anarchrst Revrew 14r=--= we ,6 Review Vb \- H-D N03 ect title, as anarchist reviewers have pointed out, should be (14) Paul Berman, ed. , Q__1_1gtations from the Anarchists (New something like Leftism: A Cure for the Senile Disorder of- York: Praeger, 1972), p.28. Communism , w_Hch, besides being less confusing, pré's'€'rves (15) See Post-Scarcit Anarchism (Berkeley: Ramparts Press, the parddy of Lenin's work Left-Wing Communism: An Infant- 1971), especially the title essay?“ ile Disorder. p (16) Kropotkin, Revolutionary Pamphlets, p.284. (47) De George holds that communist anarchists present a (17) Proudhon, p'.'9‘-8'.‘ ' '5'“ ' ‘Marxian analysis‘. Richard De George, “Anarchism and (l8)Woodcock, p.11. Authority, “ Anarchism-‘, Nomos X-IX (New York: New York (19) Paul Goodman, Peo le or Personnel-and Like a Conquered University pres‘S,‘ '1'§'73T_ This is partially true; however, such Province (New York: Vintage, 1963), p.5. - an analysis is more typical of anarcho-syndicalism, as will (29) Bakunin, p.298. be discussed further. ~ (21)Runkle, p.3. (48) Cited in Leonard Krimerman and Lewis Perry, eds. (22) Bookchin, Post-Scarcity Anarchism, p. 41. Patterns of Anarch (Garden City: Doubleday Anchor, 1966), (23) It might be men 'oned that a de inition of anarchism which p. 34. ' differs from both types mentioned is put forth recently by Rob- (49) The case is perhaps different with the ‘anarcho-capital- ert Wolff. According to Wolff, the distinctive characteristic ists‘ of the present, who live in an era of entrenched econom- of what he calls an anarchist is that he or she "will never view ic power. Since they have not explained how all can be placed the commands of the state as legtimate, as having binding in an equal bargaining position without abolishing present moral force". In Defense of Anarchism (New York: Harper and property relationships, it seems likely that what they prop- Row, 1970), p. 18. The uniqueness 6f_th'is definition lies in the ose is a system in which the affluent voluntarily associate to fact that it commits the anarchist neither to support for, nor use force and coercion against the poor and weak in order to to opposition to any social and political institution, at least in maintain class privilege. The abuses of the state are thus per- g M f _ /I / ’ Y." \ / 1» any obvious way. -This point will be discussed further below. petuated after the -state is allegedly abolished. _g_ __ - __;; _.;;:__.:;__ g ///’ (24)Woodcock, p. 7. (50) De George, p.37. i T ”"?:E""___:_-— __.:_: //4' 0 “‘ __-2 -I" -. —-. q_-i... 7-— __ -ar _-% (25) Benjamin Barber, §1_p_erman and Common Men: Freed_Qm,_ (51) Paul Goodman, “The Black Flag- of Anarchy“ (Corinth, " ‘_: ---._ -5 K \r Anarchy, and the Revolution (New York: fiaeger, 1972), p. 18. Vermont: Black Mountain Press, n.d.) The article originally _ - L ,, } /l (25) The text reads revelation‘, but presumably this is a mis- appeared in the New York Times Magazine July 14, 1968). .-. ___ l g /
print. However, those who are interested in the relationship (52) Barber, p.25. " — : ~ __ _ between anarchism and revelation are directed to the Catholic (53)Kramnick, p. 114. _ ’ / 1.. -—-In if -Q Worker. - (54) Paul and Percival Goodman, Communitas (New York: __ -~__~'q_ _ ~ , WM ,r; . (2'7) Isaac Kramnick, “On Anarchism and the Real World: Random House, 1960). 51-5“: -1;,”-**"_-_ \\ Q; __. _ William Godwin and Radical England, “ American Political (55) Richard Sennett The Uses of Disorder. Personal Identity _ T5-""1-£‘;:¥__“E=£1. -- , 7 -15‘ -. _- -_ _" t*"'_-T“ -.-~ "~1- Science Review 66 (March 1972), 114. inete dealt w'illT§'.?am- ___ “'"-___-____ ._ and Cityg Life (New York':“l7i'Ftage, 1970). _—-H.‘ ‘Q-_-,_,_. '—*— -.______11 ‘-‘-"-—'*""-._ qt .__k __- ‘-_"‘“-~\.__.-cl _
*— -_ "‘ _€___ 1.-—'-. — W-_ in .=""' nick's contentions elsewhere in detail. See "On Anarchism in ' -__ o-_._- ._____ ) . . Neill, Summerhill (Harmondsworth, Middx: Penguin ‘ ***Pi - "-_._ -_. -'- _-:— ____,~—-— ,_I:'—""- 1"‘ is .-__¢ _’ an Unreal World: Kramnick‘s View of Godwin and the Anarch- 1968 . _.._. - "'-<.-__.- / ‘-1 t-~ ____ “ 4.151!J: .__._ ___ -P”___ 1‘-I -__ --_ __-—»-* Zr -nu-— "fun ___' §i ists, " American Political Science Review 69 (March 1975), (57) See especially Bookchin‘s introductory essay, which is a ‘€1_____~ ‘_'_—1‘_*'_" ‘_ Z,‘—‘ 9 "- TI."-:._*=" —-—""*-—- ....._. //Ipfr, Z-a_-it -_-.- --. _._-_ /' __Z-_—- 3?: / I,//' _-M --_ 1‘Jfr, 1., 162-67, and also Kramnick‘s conlment and my rejoinder, in brief but masterly treatment of the relationship between theory _.—— —_|~ /'7'-'/ the same issue. For a more detailed discussion of Godwin's and practice, in historical context. —-_—— ,-
QP7 contribution to anarchist thought, see my book, The Philosop- (58) The statements here quoted from De George's original f 7 ti, --_--—-_-_. —-u- _-'—-—--—*..______. -—__._,__ /U//Cf iii-1 hical Anarchism of William Godwin (Princeton: P_r'—inceton__ paper were omitted from his revised version. (Editors, _‘ <-..__i.
result is that we find political theorists attacking an anarchism anarchist Albert Jay Nock. In Nock‘s book Our_E_ge_my_tl_i§__ that has existed primarily as a fiction in the minds of its opp- State-‘ he distinguishes sharply between thestate and govern- onents, and we find philosophers defending an anarchism that ment. Government, he says, consists of “strictly negative isanarchism? intervention“ to secure the natural rights of the individual (33). would be unrecognisable to the vast majority of anarchists
0 throughout history (including the present). For example, Ben- By this he means protection of life, liberty and property in MUCH of the recent philosophical discussion of anarchism endeavours to apply anarchist theory and practice to contemp- jamin Barber, in his essay “Poetry and Revolution: The Anar- the strictest Lockean sense. When society acts to prevent one exhibits a disturbing lack of clarity because of widespread orary realities. In this essay an attempt will be made to form- chist as Reactlonary“, repeats the cliche of the irrationally individual from aggressing against a second individual who failure on the part of political theorists to define terms such ulate a definition which takes into account all significant as- utopian nature of anarchism. “The anarchists“ he says, “man- has acted peacefully, such government is perfectly justifiable. as ‘anarchy‘, ‘anarchist’, and ‘anarchism‘ with sufficient pects of anarchism: both theory and practice, both past hist- age to stand the naturalistic fallacy on its head: not that natur- It is important to realise that Nock is not supporting govern- care. This failure results, I believe, from neglect of a number orical forms and contemporary manifestations. At the same al man, as he is, is what he ought to be; but that utopian man, mental protection of huge concentrations of wealth, property, of topics relevant to the subject, including (to mention the time, those concepts of anarchism which disregard any of as the anarchist conceives he ought to be, is in fact what man or economic power. In fact he argues quite vehemently that most important of these) the nature of classical anarchist these important elements, or which misrepresent the anarch- is“ (25). Barber contends further that anarchism has no idea unless special interests are given favourable treatment and theory, the history of the anarchist movement, and numerous ist position, will be criticised. of political realities, and is concerned instead with a roman- protection through political means, there can be no amassing ticist exhortation to revolution. "It must reject political theory of vast wealth. Much of his book, which shows individualist 1. ovEasIMg_L1cA_'1~_i9_1\l§p_i:_.¢11\u_15>_cHis11_/1_ maintains that it “opposes authority in all its for ms“. (12). itself in favour of poetry and revolution“ (26). Isaac Kramnick anarchism at its best, is dedicated to an analysis of state power in American history, and to a demonstration of the According to George Woodcock, one of the most judicious While Daniel Guerin is in most cases a perceptive commentat- develops Barber's viewpoint further in his article “On Anarch- ism and the Real World: William Godwin and Radical England“. ways in which the state has supported certain mercantile int- historians of anarchism, “the first thing to guard against“ in or on anarchism, at one point he characterises it in a way which is reminiscent of the most superficial and uncritical erests, especially through land grants and protective tariffs. discussing the topic is simplicity (1). Unfortunately, most Kramnick holds that “what replaces politics for the 3I'lH.I‘U.illi:'i: The state, according to Nock, arises when political means _ commentators on the subject, far from guarding against over- views. He goes so far as to suggest that the anarchist is one is either education or theater“ (2 7), and that, again, anarchists who “rejects society as a whole“. (13). A negative characteris- are used for the protection of exclusive interests. Following simplification, eagerly grasp at the most simplistic and non- are totally out of touch with reality (28). Runkle, in his book Franz Oppenheimer, he contends that the state originated technical senses of the term, and seem to have little interest ation which is probably the most adequate of all, if any is to Anarchism: Old and New, asserts that “the student left, the be taken in isolation, is made by Malatesta, who holds that historically as the tool of a dominant class (34). According in analysing the phenomenon to which it refers. Thus, it is not radical righT::"5.'1T€lTe_>Fi'sTé'ntialism seem, at least superficially, to this view, state power began with the conquest of a weaker unusual for scholars to gather no more evidence about the anarchists desire “the complete destruction of the domination to be contemporary forms of anarchism". (29). Runkle devotes nature of anarchism than the derivation of the term, after 0 and exploitation of man by man". (14). Recently, Murray half his book to the development of this view, which he correctly (probably agrarian) tribe by a stronger (probably herding) which they can ascend to the heights of abstraction, paying Bookchin has described anarchism in terms of its opposition sees as superficial. ' tribe, the latter of which established a system of class rule in attention neither to social history nor to the history of ideas. to all forms-of domination and all types of hierarchical organ- The writings of Barber, Kramnick and Runkle exhibit very order to use the former for its labor power. The state, Nock Since anarchy means ‘without rule‘, it is said, an anarchist is isation. (15). well the consequences of an ignorance of many elements of the says, has always maintained this class character, and state one who advocates a society in which ruling is abolished, and While fewer theorists (and esmcially nonanarchists) have anarchist tradition, aid of the selective use of evidence about power has always been seen by special interests as an alluring anarchism is the theory that such a society is necessary. In attempted to define anarchism in terms of its positive side, that tradition to construct misleading generalisations. Barber's means of gaining advantage over other groups in society. almost every case the conclusion drawn from this superficial there are examples of generalisations about its proposals. charge of utopianism overlooks the many concrete and practical analysis is that such a goal is obviously beyond our reach, and It might be seen, for example, as a theory of voluntary assoc- proposals that anarchists have presented, while his belief that that anarchism should therefore be dismissed as naive-utopian- iation. Kropotkin describes anarchism as seeking social order the anarchist view of human nature is naively optimistic is a ism. This will not do. As I hope to show, such an approach “by free agreements between the various groups, territorial perennial half-truth that deserves to be critically examined. it fails abysmally to do justice to anarchism as, in fact, does and professional, freely constituted for the sake of production Kramnick‘s view that anarchist strategy has been limited prim- any definition which attempts to define the term by one simple and consumption“. (16). Proudhon says that in anarchism “the arily to education and theatrics shows an almost inconceivable idea. I would like to discuss such simple definitions further notion of Government is succeeded by that of Contract“ (17). disregard for the history of the anarchist movement. Finally, before pointing out additional difficulties in analysing anarchism This idea of voluntary association is also included in Woodcock‘s Runkle‘s careless attribution of relations between anarchism The assumption which underlies the sort of definition I am reference,- cited above, to “cooperation between free individ- and recent political and philosophical tendencies is coupled with criticising is that anarchism can be identified through one ess- uals“. (18). Anarchism might also be defined as a theory of an apparent unawareness of the existence of a true “new anar- ential characteristic that distinguishes it from all other social decentralisation. Paul Goodman notes that if anarchy means chsim“, which has sought to synthesise the insights of classical and political positions. Most definitions of this type character- “lack of order and planning“, then “most Anarchists, like the anarchism with developments" such as advanced technology and ise anarchism in terms of some principle or some institution anarcho-syndicalists or the community-anarchists, have not ecological theory. that it opposes. One such definition would see anarchism as a been ‘anarchists’ either, but decentralists“. (19). A closely While these various attacks on anarchism do a great deal to movement that is defined by its complete rejection of govern- related concept descriptive of anarchism is federalism. confuse the issue, some of its philosophical defenders succeed ment. A great deal of evidence from the anarchist tradition Bakunin holds that anarchism proposes "an organisation from only in increasing the chaos. The work that has done most to could be pointed out in support of this view. Thus, in his Eney- below upward, by means of a federation". (20). Another way retard meaningful analysis and cirticism of the anarchist pos- C1OE3_9_§E2_l__§£l_ll__3_1_1_1_1_l_C_§l_ article on anarchism, Kropotkin defines of defining anarchism is by its advocacy of freedom. Runkle ~ ition is Wolff's In Defense of Anarchis_m_ (30) . As his critics it as "a principle of theory of life and conduct in which society holds that “the essence of anarchism is individual liberty“ (21). have rightly poii'1'l§a'd—5§i—‘T>Tf—fT§'i'*'g"7.Tment that autonomy and is conceived without government". (2). Emma Goldman, in her A more specific but related conception is suggested by Bookchin, moral authority are incompatible constitutes neither a defence essay “'Anarchism“, defines it as “the theory that all forms of who describes the goal _as “a situation in which men liberate of anarchism as a political theory nor a proof of the unjustifiab- government rest on violence, and are therefore wrong and harm not only ‘history‘, but all the immediate circumstai ces of their le nature of the state and government (31). Whatever support ful, as well as unnecessary" (3). A well-known contemporary everyday lives" (22). Wolff‘s ethical position might give to anarchism is effectively anarchist Colin Ward (editor of the first series of the journal Thus, anarchism can be described not only as a theory that undermined by his statement that he sees no practical propos- Anarchy), defines anarchy as “the absence of government“ (4), opposes such things as government, the state, authority, or als that follow from his theoretical acceptance of anarchism and anarchism as “the idea that it is possible and desirable for domination, but also as a theory that proposes voluntarism, (32). Anarchists have differed greatly on the issue of the deg- society to organise itself without government“. (5). In some decentralisation, or freedom. Yet to define anarchism in terms ree of activism demanded by their position, but never before definitions, that which is rejected is identified, not as govern- of its opposition or support for any or all of these would be in- to my knowledge hasany theorist claiming to be an anarchist ment, but rather as the power that controls government. In adequate. In fact, the anarchists who have been cited, while presented no proposals for action at all. MK NIN support of this position, one could cite Proudhon, who defines they sometimes present ill-considered, simplistic definitions, anarchy as “the absence of a ruler or a sovereign“. (6). A are aware of the complexity of the theory that they espouse, and their works, when taken as a whole, point to the necessity 111- é_1§I§_1?_9_1‘l.I§l4.ALP.G__°_"E..1?.1i\iE_l‘.‘T.- number of writers would take the essence of anarchism to be its = ABTDPHTET P135? umsiomnn )’HH>KA£T..‘> attack on the state, which is often distinguished from govern- of a more comprehensive definition (23). 1" O The widespread misunderstanding of the" natureof anarchism ment, as will be discussed in detail later. This can be support- Of all those who have attempted to define anarchism, to my 7 ints to the need for a clear definition of the term, and this ed by Bakunin‘s statement that “the system of Anarchism . . . knowledge only one, Woodcock, clearly and concisely indicates (£11 be attempted shortly. First, however, two subjects about “ALL EXER E OF AUTHO R|TY aims at the abolition of the State, “ (7) to mention just one of the elements that will be taken here to constitute a minimum which there is particularly widespread confusion must be con- many such statements by major anarchist theorists. Woodcock definition of anarchism. According to Woodcock, "historically, sidered. The first of these concerns the anarchist view of R\/ERTS asserts that “the common element uniting all its forms“ is its anarchism is a dectrine which poses a criticism of existing government. As has been indicated, many writers about anar- aim of “the replacement of the authoritarian state by some society; a view of a desirable future society; and a means of chsim have taken opposition to government to be the most dis- ALL SUBM S ON TO AUTHORITY form of non-governmental cooperation between free individuals. “ passing from one to the other“ (24). In this discussion, the tinctive characteristic of the theory. This is, in fact, probably HU IILIATES” (8). Other writers hold that it is not merely the state or polit- nature of these three criteria for anarchist theory will be elab- the most popular means of defining the term. Much of the pres- ical authority, but in fact authority itself which anarchism opp- orated upon, and a fourth, which is not only implied by Wood- ent discussion brings into question the adequcy of a definition oses. Sebastien Faure proclaims that “whoever denies author- cock, will be added. At this point, it will merely be pointed out of anarchism that conceives of it exclusively in terms of its ity and fights against it is an anarchist". (9). Malatesta accepts that any definition which reduces anarchism to a single dimens- relation. to one social institution, even if that institution is Nock‘s use of the term ‘government‘ is quite atypical of that the view that anarchy means “without government“ but he expands ion, such as its critical element, must be judged seriously in- held to be the most important one. However, there is further U of anarchists in general, since most have not hesitated to use the definition to mean “without any constituted authority". (10). adequate. reason for questioning such a characterisation: the distinction the term to refer to the abuses they attribute to the state. Recently, Ward has said that anarchists oppose the “principle that some anarchists have themselves made between govern- However, his ideas are seen to fit well into the mainstream of of authority", (ll) while Runkle, in his attack on anarchism, 11- 1‘_’1.l§.I_1§‘.".‘P.EB3i1Fi‘*_'£l9l‘_S__°F._*°5.N_A__FC______1*lIS1‘/I ment and the state. While there runs through all anarchist anarchist thought when examined in terms of the scale of the Not all misunderstanding of the nature of anarchism results writings an unmitigated contempt for the state, the anarchist two systems he compares. He contends thatif the state were John P. Clark's essay appeared in Anarchism, 19th volume in from oversimplification. As was mentioned earlier, -one of the position on government is far from unequivocal hostility. replaced by ‘government‘ (in his unusual, limited sense of the the political and legal philosophy series""Nomos“, edited by - most serious faults of most discussions of anarchism is neglect A case in point is the thought of the American individualist term), this would result in something very close to Jefferson's J. Roland Pennock and John W. Chapman (1978). It is reprod- of historical anarchist thought and practice. The paradoxical uced by permission of New York University Press.
Q I It
,2 Review R31/igw
- enough to take account of the wealth_of diversity contained with- existing social institutions, the core of which deals with coer- proposal .for ‘ward’ government. Under such a system, the IV. GOALS AND STRATEGIES IN ANARCHISM fundamental political unit would be the local township (for in the anarchist tradition. It is hoped that this definition will cion and authoritarianism. The anarchist finds many institut- which I think_we might also substitute the urban neighborhood), There is a further problem which, perhaps more than any lay the groundwork for further clarification of the concept by ions to be unacceptable from a moral standpoint because they which would be “the repository and source of political authority other, underlies the widespread confusion about the nature of others. are based on force and externally imposed authority. It is, of and initiative". (35). Action on a larger scale should be carr- anarchism. It deals with the distinction between anarchism‘s There are four elements to this proposed definition, and I course, the state and centralized political authority that receive ied out, Nock says, though a voluntary federation of commun- vision of the ideal society and its view of immediate action. believe that for one to be described as an anarchist in a full the most destructive analysis on these grounds. It is therefore ities for their common purposes. He believes that the essential Slated differently, it is the question of the relation between sense, all four criteria should be met. The founders of anar- reasonable to accept as fulfilling this criterion any theory that protective functions of government can be achieved through utopian goals and practical possibilities. Several difficulties chist theory (Godwin, Proudhon, Bakunin and Kropotkin) all on an antiauthoritarian ba-sis questions the moral foundations of such a system, while avoiding the dangers of exploitation that arise in regard to this question. Some would define an anarch- fit this paradigm, and the principles embodied therein are im- the state and government. However, it must be noted that the exist in a centralized, large-scale state. g ist entirely in terms of the acceptance-of a noncoercive, non- plicit in the programs of the anarcho-syndicalist and anarcho- anarchist almost always proceeds to a further analysis of While Nock is not one of the most widely known anarchist authorit.arian utopia as the moral idea. Thus, one who can communist movements, which constitute the mainstream of social institutions. Anarchism has not stopped with a criticism theorists (although he is one of the most eloquent of the indiv- describe what the ideal society might be like, express a belief historical anarchist activism. Individualist anarchism in most of political organization, but has investigated the authoritarian idualists), ideas similar to his can be found in the writings of that it might in some way be possible, and judge this ideal to forms also falls under the definition (although there are a few nature of economic inequality and private property, hierarchical the foremost exponent of anarchist communism, Kropotkin. be the only system which can be fully justified morally is borderline cases). economic structures, traditional education, the patriarchal While it is true that Kropotkin holds that anarchism aims at the called an anarchist. _ In order for a political theory to be called ‘anarchism‘ in a family, class and racial discrimination, and rigid sex-and-age production of a society ‘without government‘ (36), nevertheless I believe that this is a rather bad misuse of terminology, if complete sense, it must contain: (l) a view of an ideal, non- roles, to mention just a few of the more important topics. In he sometimes praises a condition of society in which some traditional distinctions are to be maintained and contradiction cndétcive, nonauthoritarian society; (2) a criticism of existing some varieties of anarchism, institutions such as private prop- elements of government remain, while the state is not present. avoided. Under such a definition it is clear that n'any (perhaps society and its institutions, based on this antiauthoritarian erty and patriarchy are condemned at least as severely as is In his essay The State: Its Histc_>_1_*_i§_l_?_£_)_le, Kropotkin distinguish- most) Marxists would qualify as anarchists, since they accept ideal; (3) a view of human nature that justifies the hope for the state. ' es sharply between the state and government. "Since there can the idea of the withering away of the state (41),. As many anar- significant progress toward the ideal; and (4) a strategy for It is hardly necessary to dwell on this criterion, since it is be no State without government, it has sometimes been said chists (for example, Bakunin) have pointed out, it is on the change, involving immediate institution of noncoercive, non- the one that has received the most attention, as was mentioned that one must aim at the absence of government and not the question of practical strategies that anarchists and Marxists - authoritarian and decentralist alternatives. This definition at the beginning of this essay. Most commentators on anarch- abolition of the state" (3 7), part company, rather than on their visions of the ideal society. would allow for use of the term ‘anarchist’ in both a strong and ism are well aware of the anarchist opposition to the forms of In many ways, Kropotkin‘s description of communism is sim- in several weaker senses. Obviously, an anarchist in the political organization existing in the modern nation-state. To ilar to that of Marx and Engels. The anarchist‘s point is not strongest sense would exhibit all four characteristics. Yet, a lesser degree, they grasp the anarchist critique of other ‘J’ -/1:/-er-'/. ’ Zrnwr far (lvru/w/'.'{1u necessarily that the Marxists‘ goal is wrong, but that given one, for example, who advocated anarchistic tactics without authoritarian social institutions. What they often do not comp- the methods they advocate, they can be certain never to reach an explicit commitment to the anarchist ideal, or one who rehend is the way in which this opposition to present social it. Methods of achieving change must therefore be considered, accepted the ideal but proposed different strategies, could only conditions fits into the anarchist position as a whole. S if anarchism is not to be confused with Marxism (not to mention be called an ‘anarchist’ in a more limited sense. '7‘Ft-'.2 other socialist, and perhaps even liberal, positions that could, VIII. Al\]_A_R_Q_HIST VIEW OF HUMAN NATURE *:5/"'- .-.__ {Fin;I.If."I -1 without contradiction, set up the same long-range goal). A central element of anarchism is its view of human nature. M“ V1 @a_.H>....E._AI-__<>1~"_»_\_1~.I.a£*.¢_I.a§1.~/1.. It is true that we often come across articles on Marx's anar- ‘Anarchy’ is the term usually applied to the ideal society for The anarchist believes that there are qualities of human beings chism but we find that they do not reveal new information show- which the anarchist strives, and believes to be fully moral. which enable them to live together in a condition of peace and p"I./"";'—'$g/. ing that Marx advocated decentralization, self-management, It is true that many anarchists are rather vague about the nature freedom. Most anarchists go further and describe the human and voluntary association, nor that he was a secret admirer of of this ideal. This is the case for several reasons. One, which capacity for mutual aid, cooperation, respect, and communal Bakunin. Rather, they discuss one limited aspect of his posit- De George mentions, is that free, autonomous individuals will relationships, which are seen as the basis for expectation of 1"V- __.._.-_...... __.-_ ion: his view of the final utopia. Robert Tucker's discussion of work out solutions that we can hardly, in the context of present social progress. While most anarchists hold a belief in such Marxism and anarchism in The Marxian Revolutionary Idea society, foresee. Furthermore, the anarchist does not want human" solidarity, it is significant that some individualists re- may be taken as an example._II"i‘i?:'iE'<3:-"17'l'"E>"lds that Marxism is to bind anyone to one vision of the ideal, since the acceptance ject it. Instead, they base their proposals for social organizat- anarchist in the sense mentioned, but "if we consider Anarch- of pluralism implies that various groups will create numerous ion on cont:-act; on rational self-interest; and, in the extreme T-"5J1’ ism not as an abstract political philosophy but as a revolution- variations on the general goal. However, this argument con- A case of Stirner, on ruthless egoism (44). In both social and in- ary movement associated with a political philosophy, then we cerning the authoritarianism inherent in such prescriptions dividualist anarchism, however, there exists the view that .4 - -fl é 5 I- are confronted with the fact that Marxism was deeply at odds can be overstated. There is certainly no contradiction in the people have a great potential for voluntaristic action, and abil- k Q with it“ (42). This view of the matter is much superior to those idea of an anarchist setting forth a fairly specific description I ? *1‘? ity to overcome the use of violence and coercion. ' 9-J‘ - which exhibit no awareness of the relevance of anarchism to of a society would live up to the anarchist criteria for moral This view is the basis for the frequent criticism of anarchisn 3' 1.: Q - : r ~ Q "'- .'\ . ‘.4- social realities. Yet it is still inadequate, for there is no need justification, so long as it is clear that the model is subject to that it is excessively optimistic about human nature. For anar- ' ‘ . -r '-'5-‘v\§..- __ ~' ~==-~.-.... -"--. * ~.--- =~ L,.‘“_. I "-“ to look for two anarchisms - one a political theory, and the criticism and modification, and that other models mightbe chism to be a coherent theory, it must have a conception of Ii": - ".1.»' -a — -- * "-5- -.'::--r.-=5-.-- 4:. -v"-e other a social practice. Tucker does this when he asks how it found to conform at least as adequately to those criteria. As human nature which forms the basis for speculation about the I ‘K "“‘=.?=..-A-;...__.&:':".t"1_'=_'_"-InL _____ ,__,'/.,::._i_| _.___‘.__ 1. .- ‘E.. Ir‘ “H Q r -.. __ ‘ _ y is "that classical Marxism, while embracing anarchism as a has been mentioned, the criteria are that such a society be non- ideal for society and which gives a foundation for those practi- 5:‘ ‘ ., _‘ _' 9 ‘ -_\ _- I. .- '_ __.-rat‘.1 my political philosophy, disagreed with Anarchism as a socialist coercive and nonauthoritarian, and that all forms of domination cal proposals that are necessary if the ideal is to have political “kg..\.\ \ . II-‘*w'f.-*‘_. - " . -- 1-,-- I -' ' -_ --_--_..__,A ""~"”f==~-"-— 5 ii"“" 1“ ‘ " ideology " (43). This shows a misunderstanding of the relation be eliminated. To describe such a society, one would have to and social relevance. However, it is false that all the views of - I '-J" ' -_ -‘W~,~---45.. . h _ I 4 a _§\_:I --_.u- i- 1 - ' ,. UL‘u“.l‘__.|- .r“"l"'.|: .. Aon ||- ‘ft . ml .- Um In ... .1’ M‘; between theory and practice in anarchism. It is essential to -ii T f-i show how institutions might be designed that would, at a min- human nature that have been put forth by anarchists have been ‘Q U _..‘ .-_'. I , *5 L'_j-_ . I , . ..--- '~.-, ""'._ ' I1 anarchism that ends not be separated from means, and there imum, eliminate the need for the use of physical force, govern- in any meaningful way ‘optimistic’, and that this quality is a THE MODERN STATE, on LEVTATHAN. can be no ‘anarchism‘ in a full sense which does not as an int- ment,and the state. In view of the third criterion, this ideal necessary characteristic of the theory. It might be argued, in I‘. MU egral part of its theoretical framework make distinctive prop- must be at least plausible in relation to the anarchist concept- fact, that in some ways anarchists hold a quite realistic if not p " - Kropotkin correctly sees this osals concerning practice, and take account of real historical ion of human nature, which includes speculation about what pessimistic view of human nature. It is the belief that power strategy as unrealistic in relation to practical political possib- conditions. Anarchist political philosophy implies anarchist people are capable of becoming, in addition to a description of corrupts and that people easily become irresponsible in their ilities. The state in particular should be the object of immed- activity in society. what they are. The most convincing anarchist theories, while exercise of it that forms the basis for much of their .criticism iate attention, for it entails not only political power but addit- It should be apparent from the discussion thus far that the accepting the noncoercive, nongovernmental, and, of course, of political authority and centralized power. Power must be ional elements, such as large territorial areas, centralization interpretation of anarchism as the belief that utopia can be nonstatist nature of anarchy, deduce further characteristics of dispersed, they saym not so much because everyone is always and the concentration of power in the hands of a few, hierarch- achieved immediately is erroneous. Because anarchists have a society that has abolished domination. Examples often ment- so good, butbecause when it is concentrated some people tend ical relationships, and class domination (38). To such an instit- accepted the ideal of a noncoer.cive nonauthoritarian society, ioned by anarchists include economic, social, racial, sexual, to b_é-c'o'me extremely evil. .The point is made, not only in re- ution, Kropotkin contrasts the medieval city, which he takes some have assumed that they automatically must reject any- and generational equality, mutual aid, cooperation, and comm- gard to political power, but also to a variety of other sorts, to be the best polity developed historically (39), While these thing short of the ideal as unjustifiable, and therefore deserv- unalism. ranging from concentrated economic power on the level of soc- cities were not part of the nation-state, they certainly had gov- ing of immediate destruction. The result is that anarchism is The working out of a consistent viewof anarchy is an impor- iety to concentrated patriarchal power on the level of the fam- ernments; but far from lamenting their existence, Kropotkin sometimes seen as aimplying a desire to destroy all established tant problem for the anarchist theorist. However, it is necess- ily. has great praise for these governmental institutions. He en- social institutions, preferably through violence. Yet none of the ary to realize that work on this problem makes a theorist an There is, of course, abundant evidence of optimism in the thusiastically approves of their assemblies, elected judges major anarchist theories from Godwin to the present has held ‘anarchist’ only in a very limited sense, as has already been anarchist tradition. Some of the greatest anarchist phi10S0pher~ and local militias, which are in accord with his own ideas such an extreme view, and no anarchist popular movement has noted. Thus, the Marxist political philosopher might take on (e. g. Kropotkin) have at times expressed a rather naive belief about decentralized, participatory institutions. He also praises presented such a proposal as part of its program. In spite of this task as an integral part of the development of a theory of in the capacity of people to act benevolently and to cooperate. their belief in arbitration as opposed to authority without con- such lack of evidence, we often find (even students of political transition from capitalism and socialism to full communism. Yet such optimism should certainly not be taken as part of the sent, and the subordination of military power to civil authority theory confusing anarchism and nihilism, and scholars attend- It might also be undertaken by a utopian novelist who enjoys definition of anarchism, as it is by those who dismiss it as (40). Thus, while he always kept in mid the ultimate goal of ing conferences on political philosophy questioning whether dreaming about ideal societies, or by a political philosopher ‘utopian socialism‘, in the derogatory sense of that term. dispensing with government entirely, he was realistic enough anarchist theory has any necessary link with bomb-throwing. who has a merely -academic interest in the nature of the morally There is much in the anarchist tradition which would point to to see that from an anarchist perspective decentralized comm- V. A DEFINITION OF ANARCHISM justifiable society. a rejection of all dogmatic views of human nature (whether unity government was a considerable advance beyond the em- v11. 'I_‘H_'_E ANARCHIST carrrous or THE PRESENT ‘optimistic’, ‘pessimistic’, or ‘realistic‘), and to the accept- pires of ancient times, and would constitute progress beyond In hopes of clarifying the meaning of anarchism, I would like ance of. environmentalism. Godwin's thought is explicitly based the modern nation-state. In view of this more complex view to propose a definition that is specific enough‘; to be recognizable An anarchist has a distinctive view of the present state of on this outlook, and it is implicit in Bakunin‘s deterministic of government, it can be seen that a simple conception of an- as a reasonable characterization of historical anarchism and things, This view is, in a sense, the link between the vision materialism. In such a view, people are inherently neither archism as "opposition to government“ does not accurately to distinguish it from political positions that have not tradition- of the ideal and those political and social proposals that are good nor evil, but rather they behave and think in radically represent its position. ally been denominated ‘anarchist’, and that is also general typical of anarchism. It consists of a distinctive critique of different ways under different circumstances. The problem for ti
Review Review anarchists is to create the social conditions under which the Gabriel Cohn-Bendit, in their well-known book on the 1968 element of anarchist thought which exhibits scepticism about to need_-. Kropotkin is the classical theorist of this variety of libertarian rather than the authoritarian (or, in some cases, French revclt, call their position Linksradicalismus or le__ human goodness. anarchism. the cooperative rather than the competitive) capacities of gauchisme, and describe it as being both Marxist and anarch- Finally, it should be noted that anarchists are not as vague I would like to elaborate somewhat on the distinction between people are realized. What all anarchist positions have in com- ist (46). When leftist Marxists call for workers‘ councils and about their proposals as De George thinks they are, and in anarcho-syndicalism and anarcho-communism for two reasons. mon is that they-accept the libertarian potential as a constituent attack elitism and bureaucracy, it becomes difficult to disting- fact, must be. Paul and Percival Goodman, for example, First, these are the two for fns of anarchism which have been of human nature. uish them from the anarcho-syndicalists, who present similar present numerous proposals (based on an anarchist outlook) of the greatest historical importance and have produced the proposals based on a similar class analysis (47). On the other for community planning in their book Communitas (54). most debate among anarchists themselves concerning practical IX. THE ANARCHIST PROGRAMME FOR CHANGE hand, the position of the individualists merges with that of Richard Sennett’s viewpoint in The UsF§'5f'Di§5Fder the sec- proposals. Secondly, many observers of anarchism do not The final defining characteristic of anarchism is its practical classical liberals. As Benjamin Tucker, the great American ond part of which he calls ‘a newTH5 'mghly suggest- realise the fundamental importance of this division to anarchist proposals for change. An anarchist has a distinctive program individualist, claimed, "genuine (i.e. individualist)Anarchism ive in terms of urban policy issues (55). A.S. Neill’s Summer- theory. De George, for examples, holds that "the strongest for action in the present, which constitutes a strategy for move» is consistent Manchesterism" (48). The individualist anarchists hill presents an educational philosophy which has been_Elosely present-day position" consists of an ‘amalgam’ of the two pos- ment in the direction of the ideal, which is a response to the hoped that the abolition of state interfere nce would lead to a fi§itified with anarchism, and which has been applied not only itions mentioned. He takes Guérin as the best exemplar of this failure of existing institutions, and which is consistent with free and relatively equal society based on the labour theory of at his school for over fifty years but atnumerous others which position (58). I believe that Guérin has rendered an enormous the anarchist view of human potentialities. Anarchism can have value. In this they have much in common with Locke, Adam it has influenced (56). Description of large-scale application service to Marxists, anarchists, and to those interested in no meaning as a social and political theory if it says nothing Smith, Jefferson, and, above all, Spencer (49). In view of such of the anarchist programme in the collectivised factories and either of these theories, in his attempts to effect a synthesis about praxis, and it can have no clear meaning if it is defined similarities, it must be concluded that while most of those who communal farms in which millions participated during the between the two traditions. His outstanding book on anarchism in ways which would confuse its proposals with those of theor- fall within the definition of ‘anarchist’ presented here hold a Sfliish Revolution can be found in Dolgoff‘s The Anarchist is a notable product of this endeavour. However, it is this ies known by other names. Thus, as has been mentioned, position which is distinctive, and which constitutes an alternat- Collectives (57). In view of such evidence (an_aTbiiHd'aTE€e_§_ synthesis of Marxism and anarchism that is the ‘amalgam’ theories that say nothing about strategies for change, or which ive to the standard political options, it is nevertheless the case which exists for those who care to investigate), the attribution presented by Guerin, not the one mentioned by De George. advocate centralist, authoritarian, or bureaucratic policies that some who fulfill the criteria have viewpoints which are of vagueness to anarchist proposals must be judged incomplete There is still a fundamental opposition between the position cannot meaningfully be labelled ‘anarchist’, if the theory that quite close to those of others who fit within other identifiable as a description of the actual performance of anarchism as a taken by Guerin and that of anarcho-communists like Murray has been known by that name since Proudhon (and which has political traditions. There is no reason why terms in political whole. Although some anarchists have been vague (whether out Bookchin, or of any of those who are in a meaningful sense roots, some claim, as far back in history as the thought of theory such as ‘anarchist’ and ‘Marxist’ should be mutually of principle or lack of imagination), others have not, especially communitarian’ or ‘community’ anarchists (59). Lao-tzu and Diogenes the Cynic, and in the practice of tribal exclusive in their denotation, even though their connotations in regard to immediate strategies for change. The desire not While it is true that communitarian anarchism has incorpor- societv) is to be considered relevant. _ differ considerably. I to impose one’s will on others does not, as De George contends, ated many elements of the anarcho-syndicalist position, the demand vagueness. What it demands is that suggestions, which The distinctive characteristic of anarchist programs is that converse does not seem to be true. We find in present-day X. IS ANARCHIsM_qrgPIAig_§ might be fully worked out, perhaps in terms of possible variat- they institute an immediate movement in the direction of vol- anarchism a perpetuation of a traditional division, in which the I believe that the definition of anarchism that has been pres- ions, should not be imposed through coercion, or accepted un- com munitarians continue in the tradition of the communist untarism and antiauthoritarianism. Examples of typical anar- critically by the community. chist programs include decentralization of political authority; ented and discussed can help avoid certain errors about the anarchists (who did ‘not deny the importance of the syndicalist worker self-management of workplaces, extension of freedom anarchist position. One of these is the charge that anarchists emphasis on liberating the workplace), while others, like of thought and expression; expansion of sexual freedom; volun- must be or always have been utopia_n§. Some have attempted to XI. VARIE_'I‘_I_.I_E§__(_)_F ANAi3gHIs1\_/_i r 6 Guerin and Chomsky, preserve an essentially syndicalist demonstraté"t'fi'at anarchists are utopians by including the approach (60). The communitarian anarchists do not take the tary education; decentralization of economic structures; co- I would like to discuss one final topic that might help clarify operatives; open access to media; free schools; open education quality of utopianism in the definition of anarchism. I would workplace or even the economy as the primary focus (as imp- and deschooling; neighbourhood government; noninstitutional suggest a different approach to the question. If we wish to find the nature of anarchism. This concerns the various schemes ortant as these may be), but rather toe total community, with psychotherapy; nondominating family and personal relation- out whether anarchism is utopian, insofar as that term implies of classifying anarchist positions. One such scheme divides all its interrelated elements, such as work, play, education, ships; and elimination of arbitrary distinctions based on sex, some sort of neglect for reality, we should examine the theor- anarchism into those varieties which put the greatest emphasis communication, transportation, ecology and so forth. They race, age, linguistic usage, and so forth. Such anarchist pro- ies and practical proposals of those who have been convention- on personal autonomy and individual freedom, and those which argue that to isolate problems of production from their social ally called, and who have called themselves, anarchists. If stress participation in communal and intentional groups. In context might lead to the perennial Marxist error of combating posals are practical in two senses. The most ambitious of those this way a distinction can be made between individualist and mentioned are within the power of a society to institute, were we do, I do not believe that we will coine to De George's con- economic exploitation while perpetuating and perhaps even ex- anarchist ideology to become widely accepted within the society clusion that the anarchist’s "threshold of acceptance is so high, social anarchism (although some figures, like Emma Goldman, panding other forms of domination. Further, communitarian (as happened-historically during the Spanish Revolution of his faith in the rationality and morality of the ordinary person seem to have an equally strong commitment to both individual anarchists argue that the analysis of economics and class on so little in accord with what many people experience in their freedom and social solidarity). which both classical Marxism and syndicalism are built is out- 1936-39( (45). Furthermore, it is within the reach of anarchists A more detailed classification based on theories of social dated, and that anarcho-syndicalism itself is therefore at least in many societies in which anarchist theory is not yet widely dealings with their fellow man, and his scheme for bringing about his desired anarchist society is as vague that he is not organisation divides anarchists into individualists, mutualists, partially obsolete. (61) If anarchism is to be fully understood, accepted to put some of the proposals into immediate practice syndicalists, and communists. Individualists (whose major among themselves, as an alternative to the dominant institut- a political realist but an idealistic utopian" (50). the nature of this very important dispute must be understood: I see no reason why anarchism should be defined as to ex- theorists include Max Stirner, Josiah Warren and Benjamin one alternative focuses on work, the other on life as a whole; ions. In fact, the greatest energy of anarchists themselves Tucker) are interested not so much in forming associations, (as opposed to writers about anarchism) has been put into this clude people who can practically accept, if not be entirely sat- one on economic relationships, the other on the totality of as in enabling individuals to pursue their own ends without human relationships. and on the relationships between human- task, rather -than into speculation about minute details of an isfied with limited progress toward the idea. Many great anar- chists have, in fact, been such ‘pragmatic libertarians’ (for interference from others. They desire a society of self-reliant ity and nature. ideal society. and largely self-sufficient individuals, achieving their ends Although the subject cannot be discussed in detail here, it It should now be clear how erroneous the view is which re- example, Proudhon among the classical anarchists, and Paul Goodman among the recent ones). Thus, Goodman defends through voluntary agreement--or contracts, with others. The is my view that the anarcho-communist position as developed duces the anarchist programme to an uncritical demand for the by Bookchin and others is the strongest contemporary anarch- immediate abolition of government. What has confused many ‘piecemeal change’ in his article The Black Flag_(£A_narchism. mutualists, following Proudhon, see a‘greater need for social This article drew a ranting, simplistic, and blatantly ad hom- organization. Since economic and political power are concen- ist position. In fact, it appears to be the sociopolitical posit- superficial observers is the demand by anarchists that the ion which is best capable of incorporating such developments state be abolished. In most cases they do not, however, prop- inem reply from Mark Rudd, who interprets anarchism as trated, people must organize to defend their interests, and conservative because it attempts to change a variety of instit- especially to eliminate such state-supported abuses as rent, in modern thought as the theory of the rise of neotechnic civil- ose that the nation-state be replaced by an ideal anarchic soc- ization (62), the ecological view of human society and nature iety, but rather by a decentralised system, in which federation utions instead of putting all its efforts into toppling the econo- profit, and interest. There is, for that, reason, a need for mic structure (assumed to be the sole basis for all the ills of mutual banks and producers’ and consumers’ cooperatives. (63), and, on the highest level of generality, the organic and from below increasingly displaces centralised authority. It is process view of reality, based in part on modern science (64). certainly held to be desirable that the primary groups which society) at once (51). Criticism like Rudd's makes De George's The anarcho-syndicalists go one step further and propose F first accusation sound strange and suggests that they might large-scale organisation of the working class into a single If anarchism is,to be evaluated, it is this, its strongest and federate be as voluntary as is practically possible, but there most highly developed form, which should be considered. is no dogmatic demand that all vestiges of government, even each be missing something important about the nature of an- labour union_as the essential means toward meaningful social archism. change. Their typical tactic is the general strike, which is to It is hoped that the definition presented and the distinctions in a decentralised form, be immediately destroyed. The guid- delineated here can make a contribution to reducing the prev- ing principle, to be applied according to historical conditions, Problems also arise in connection with De George's second be followed by the reorganisation of the means of production point. As has been noted, anarchists do not have an exclusive-- on principles of self-management. They are much in the trad- ailing confusion concerning the nature of anarchism. If so, it is the replacement of coercive and authoritarian institutions will perhaps become increasingly possible for anarchism to by voluntary and libertarian ones. ly optimistic view of human nature. It has, in fact, become ition of Bakunin‘s collectivism. Finally, anarchist communism popular recently for liberals and unsympathetic socialists to takes the commune, town, or neighbourhood as its basic unit. be seen for what it is - a complex and challenging social and A consideration of anarchist proposals as analysed here shows political theory - and to be judged according to its __merits. that they differ markedly from those typical of ether political condemn anarchism for the opposite quality: a lack of faith in Decisions are to be made on the basis of communal needs, ideologies. These proposals emhasize decentralization and the capacities of ordinary people. Barber, for example, with production according to ability and distributign aflcording JOHN CLARK voluntarism, while the Marxist, the non-Marxian socialist, accuses anarchists of having contempt for the masses and the welfare statist and the modern liberal have quite obviously being elitists. Not being totally oblivious to history, he is NOTE S his usual penchant for paradox, Proudhon describes this con- come to rely increasingly on the state, centralized political forced to recognize that anarchists have indeed defended dition as "a form of government". authority, and hierarchical bureaucracy as a means toward people's ability to deter mine their own destiny. Rather than (l) George Woodcock, Anarchism (Harmondsworth, Middx: (7) G. P. Maximoff, ed. The Political Philosophylaf Bakunin social change. The anarchist differs from the classical liberal questioning the accuracy of his previous contention, or consid- Penguin Books, 1963), (New York: Free Press, 'I§'6Z)', pp. 207-58. (who has been reincarnated in some elements of American con ering the possibility that he is describing two conflicting fact- (2) Peter Kropotkin, §e_volutlonary Pamphlets (New York: \IXtf);>(;>dcoc7k, p. 11. p servatism) in that the former rejects the use of government to ions within anarchism, he concludes that anarchists are ‘egal- Dover, 1970), p. 284. ___'_""-""""""""' , p. . protect any interests, including those based on private owner- itarian elitists’ (52). Kramnick, who relies heavily on Barber's (3) Emma Goldman, Anarchism and Other Essays (New York: (107) Errico Malatesta, Anarchy (London: Freedom Press, n.d. 1 ship of the means of production and class differences, while analysis, goes a step further and depicts anarchism as unmit- Dover, 1969), p.50. __——"_'—_'____-I“- p. . A theclassical liberal accepts the limited state as a means by igated elitism. Through the method of selective quotation (when (4) Colin Ward, Anarchy in Action (London: Allen and Unwin, (l1)Ward, p.12. which to preserve capitalism. In spite of these distinctions, he bothers to cite evidence at all), he attempts to show that 1973), p. ll. """'"" )Ger;ldRunkle, Agrchiism: Old and New (New York: Delta (5) Ibid, p.12. there are no clear boundaries between the political positions anarchists are extremely pessimistic about the abilities of the po 0 mentioned, and they tend to merge at some points. Thus, left- average person (53). While such criticism does little to increase (6) Steward Edwards, ed. Selected Writings of Pierre-Joseph (13) Daniel Guerin, §__na1_'_§Qsm: From Theor to Practice ist Marxism merges into anarcho-syndicalism. Daniel and under standing of anarchism, it at least serves to point out that Proudhon (Garden City: Doubleday Anchor, I065), p. 8§. With (New York: l‘."?onthiy,Review “Press, l§'70), p.I3. .-
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