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The Accumulation of Freedom, Writings on Anarchist Economics & nocella, shannon, asimakopoulos political science/economics $21.00 | £19 he only crisis of capitalism is capitalism itself. Let’s toss T creditT default swaps, bailouts, environmental externalities he and, while we’re at it, private ownership of production in the dustbin of history. This is a book for all those skeptical as to accumulation whether we can tax or regulate our way to a just economic order. of T Rejecting the notion that central planning or capitalism’s free he freedom market are acceptable ways to organize economic life, Shannon, accumulation Nocella, and Asimakopoulos dramatically brighten the dismal WRITINGS ON science. The Accumulation of Freedom brings together economists, historians, theorists, and activists for a first-of-its-kind study of ANARCHIST ECONOMICS anarchist economics. Contributors include Ruth Kinna, Robin Hahnel, Iain McKay, Richard edited by deric shannon, anthony j. nocella ii, J. White, Marie Trigona, Chris Spannos, Ernesto Aguilar, Uri Gordon, Abbey Volcano, and more. & john asimakopoulos “Nothing lasts forever, and there seems every reason to believe in a generation or two—and maybe much quicker—capitalism will be gone. My worry is the next thing they come up with might be even worse. High time we have people seriously thinking about something that might actually be better. May others be inspired to do likewise.” —David Graeber, author of Debt: The First 5,000 Years “The Accumulation of Freedom comes along at precisely the right historical moment, illuminating the sad ruins of global capitalism with hope and possibility.” —Jeff Ferrell, author of Tearing Down the Streets: Adventures in Urban Anarchy “Asimakopoulos, Nocella, and Shannon show us a new egalitarian economy rather of than being utopian is within our reach. Now the question is do we wish to continue suffering under the current capitalist dystopia?” freedom —Elsa Karen Márquez-Aponte, Transformative Studies Institute “Given the vast overburden of tomes delineating every theoretical nuance of ‘free market,’ mixed, and Marxian economies, material addressing anarchist alternatives has always been rendered conspicuous by its absence. The Accumulation of Freedom fills the void rather neatly. The essays collected herein are must reading for anyone and everyone wanting to participate in the creation of a viable future for life on this planet.” —Ward Churchill, author of A Little Matter of Genocide www.akpress.org www.akuk.com printed in the usa accumulation_cover_smaller.indd 1 12/22/11 10:50 PM The ACCUMULATION of FREEDOM Accumulation_INT.indd 1 12/7/11 6:30 PM Accumulation_INT.indd 2 12/7/11 6:30 PM The ACCUMULATION of FREEDOM WRITINGS ON ANARCHIST ECONOMICS edited by deric shannon, anthony j. nocella, II, & john asimakopoulos Accumulation_INT.indd 3 12/7/11 6:30 PM The Accumulation of Freedom: Writings on Anarchist Economics © 2012, edited by Deric Shannon, Anthony J. Nocella, II, and John Asimakopoulos This edition © 2012 AK Press (Oakland, Edinburgh, Baltimore) ISBN: 978-1-84935-094-5 | eBook ISBN: 978-1-84935-095-2 Library of Congress Control Number: 2011936250 AK Press AK Press 674-A 23rd Street PO Box 12766 Oakland, CA 94612 Edinburgh, EH8 9YE USA Scotland www.akpress.org www.akuk.com [email protected] [email protected] The above addresses would be delighted to provide you with the lat- est AK Press distribution catalog, which features the several thousand books, pamphlets, zines, audio and video products, and stylish apparel published and/or distributed by AK Press. Alternatively, visit our web- sites for the complete catalog, latest news, and secure ordering. Visit us at: www.akpress.org www.akuk.com www.revolutionbythebook.akpress.org Printed in the USA on acid-free paper. Accumulation_INT.indd 4 12/7/11 6:30 PM Contents Preface...................................................................................................5 by Ruth Kinna Introduction Anarchist.Economics:.A.Holistic.View......................................11 by Deric Shannon, Anthony J. Nocella, II, and John Asimakopoulos PART 1. History Examining.the.History.of.Anarchist.Economics.. to.See.the.Future............................................................................42 by Chris Spannos Laying.the.Foundations:.Proudhon’s.Contribution.to. Anarchist.Economics.....................................................................64 by Iain McKay PART 2. Analysis Capitalism.in.the.2000s...............................................................80 by Abbey Volcano and Deric Shannon Fight.to.Win!.Tools.for.Confronting.Capital.........................95 by Jeff Monaghan and D.T. Cochrane Escaping.Capitalist.Hegemony:.. Rereading.Western.Economies.................................................117 by Richard J. White and Colin C. Williams PART 3. Critique Globalized.Contradictions.of.Capitalism.and. the.Imperative.for.Epochal.Change.......................................140 by John Asimakopoulos The.Economic.Crisis.and.Libertarian.Socialists................ 159 by Robin Hahnel Education’s.Diminishing.Returns.and.Revolutionary. Potential.in.the.United.States.and.Beyond..........................178 by William T. Armaline and William D. Armaline Accumulation_INT.indd 5 12/7/11 6:30 PM PART 4. PRACTICE Anarchist.Economics.in.Practice...........................................204 by Uri Gordon Currency.and.Café.Anarchy:.Do-it-Yourself.Economics. and.Participatory.Resistance.to.Global.Capitalism..........219 by Caroline Kaltefleiter PART 5. RESISTANCE Occupy,.Resist,.Produce!.Lessons.from. Latin.America’s.Occupied.Factories.....................................238 by Marie Trigona Call.It.an.Uprising:.People.of.Color.and.the.. Third.World.Organize.against.Capitalism.......................... 254 by Ernesto Aguilar PART 6. VISION Chopping.Off.the.Invisible.Hand:.Internal.Problems.with. Markets.and.Anarchist.Theory,.Strategy,.and.Vision.........276 by Deric Shannon Ditching.Class:.The.Praxis.of.Anarchist. Communist.Economics................................................................291 by Scott Nappalos The.Anarchist.Method:.An.Experimental. Approach.to.Post-Capitalist.Economies...............................313 by Wayne Price Afterword Porous.Borders.of.Anarchist.Vision. and.Strategy...................................................................................327 by Michael Albert Postscript........................................................................................345 Contributor.Biographies........................................................... 349 Index..................................................................................................355 Accumulation_INT.indd 6 12/7/11 6:30 PM Acknowledgments We would of course like to thank everyone at AK Press—especially Zach, Charles, Lorna, Jessica, and Kate—the contributors, and the many people who have written in support of the book. Without all of you this book would not be possible. Deric Shannon Since this book is about anarchist criticisms and alternatives to capital- ism, I would like to take the time to thank people who have helped me along in the spirit of mutual aid. Without many of these people I would have gone without food and shelter, without others I would have gone without needed kindness and friendship, and without them all my life would certainly be emptier. First and foremost, thank you to Amney Harper for repeatedly saving my life. I will never forget my debt to you. Secondly, and in no particular order, I would like to thank: Amanda Rose Zody, Jacquelyn Arsenuk, Abbey Volcano, Joe Sutton, Jilly Weiss, Tyler Watkins, David Burns, Liz Burns, Kevin Blue, An- drew Salyer, Kevin McElmurry, E Marino, John Wyatt, Gloria Felts, Courtney Cook, Naitha Bellesis, Ryan Ramsey, Nic Lee, Judi Lee (my bestest), Jesse Lee, Ryan Lash, Andrew Jackson, Josh Young, Maria Yates, Matt Sharp, Brooke, Virgil Carstens (you handsome bastard), Delicia Garcia, Bill Armaline, Abe DeLeon, Li’l Jerry (I miss you), Chloe and Sofie, Chris Wendt, Joe Hill, Jessica Forgille, Randy Hull, my brothers—Rich and Dustin, my mother, father, and grandmother, and a host of others who shall remain unnamed. My apologies to any- one I have forgotten on this long list of people who have helped me out throughout the years. John Asimakopoulos I wish to acknowledge the brutal and incompetent nature of my em- ployer who, in the words of the American Arbitration Association, fired me “arbitrarily and capriciously.” That was the final push to make me the involved, anti-authoritarian activist I am today and foster the birth of the Transformative Studies Institute (www.transformativestudies. org) to retake academia from the corporate university. Resistance is NOT futile. I got my job back and you can get YOUR lives back too with organized direct action. Accumulation_INT.indd 1 12/7/11 6:30 PM 2 . The.Accumulation.of.Freedom Anthony J. Nocella, II First and foremost I would like to thank my friends Deric and John for this incredibly fun and creative collaboration. You both have been an inspiration to work harder for social justice and peace. Much ap- preciation to the criminology and sociology students, staff, and faculty at SUNY Cortland and Le Moyne College for their friendship and the projects we have worked on. A special thanks to my advisors Peter Castro, Richard Loder, Mecke Nagel, Piers Beirne, and Micere Gi- thae Mugo for their ongoing support and wisdom. And I am forever grateful to Robert Rubinstein for his amazing friendship, support, and advice since day one at Syracuse University. I would
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