Social Anarchism and Organisation by Federação Anarquista do Rio de Janeiro ‐ FARJ English translation of Anarquismo Social e Organização, by the Anarchist Federation of Rio de Janeiro (Federação Anarquista do Rio de Janeiro – FARJ), Brazil, approved at the 1st FARJ Congress, held on 30th and 31st of August 2008. Federação Anarquista do Rio de Janeiro j 1 The first Congress of the FARJ was held with the principal objective of deepening our reflections on the question of organisation and formalising them into a programme. This debate has been happening within our organisation since 2003. We have produced theoretical materials, established our thinking, learned from the successes and mistakes of our political practice it was becoming increasingly necessary to further the debate and to formalise it, spreading this knowledge both internally and externally. The document “Social Anarchism and Organisation” formalises our positions after all these reflections. More than a purely theoretical document, it reflects the conclusions realised after five years of practical application of anarchism in the social struggles of our people. The document is divided into 16 parts. It has already been published in Portuguese in a book co-published between Faísca and the FARJ. Document approved at the 1st Congress, held on 30th and 31st of August 2008 The first Congress of the Anarchist Federation of Rio de Janeiro pays tribute to its comrades: Juan Perez Bouzas (1899-1958) Featured anarchist cobbler of Galician origin that, with unusual talent and determination, highlighted the necessity of the deepening of the struggle. In 2008 we remember the fiftieth anniversary of his death (05/09/1958). Ideal Peres (1925-1995) That, with sensibility and ample vision of the political horizon, guaranteed the maintenance of the social axis of anarchism and the connection of generations of militants. Plínio Augusto Coêlho (1956- ) Tireless in giving substance to our dreams, connecting them to the long thread that binds us to those who preceded us in the quiet or turbulent act of revolution. “If you remained isolated, if each one of you were obliged to act on their own, you would be powerless without a doubt; but getting together and organising your forces – no matter how weak they are at first – only for joint action, guided by common ideas and attitudes, and by working together for a common goal, you will become invincible.” Mikhail Bakunin 2 j Federação Anarquista do Rio de Janeiro Summary: 0. Translator’s Introduction ............................................................................................. 4 1. The Context of the 2008 Congress and the Debate About Organisation ...................................................................................................... 6 2. Social Anarchism, Class Struggle and Centre-Periphery Relations .......................................................................................... 8 3. Anarchism in Brazil: Loss and Attempted Recovery of the Social Vector ..................................................................................................... 11 4. Society of Domination and Exploitation: Capitalism and State .................................................................................................... 16 5. Final Objectives: Social Revolution and Libertarian Socialism ............................................................................................ 22 6. Organisation and Social Force .................................................................................... 30 7. Social Movements and the Popular Organisation ....................................................... 33 8. The Specific Anarchist Organisation (SAO): The Anarchist Organisation ........................................................................................ 40 9. The SAO: Social Work and Insertion ........................................................................ 50 10. The SAO: Production and Reproduction of Theory ................................................ 55 11. The SAO: Anarchist Propaganda ............................................................................. 58 12. The SAO: Political Education, Relations and Resource Management .................... 60 13. The SAO: Relations of the Specific Anarchist Organisation with the Social Movements ....................................................................................... 61 14. The SAO: The Need for Strategy, Tactics and Programme .......................................................................................................... 65 15. Especifismo: Anarchist Organisation, Historical Perspectives and Influences ............................................................................................................ 69 16. Notes and Conclusion ............................................................................................... 80 Federação Anarquista do Rio de Janeiro j 3 j Social Anarchism and Organisation Translator’s Introduction This document, first published in Portuguese Malatesta in his conception of the anarchist under the title Anarquismo Social e Organização party. and adopted at the first Congress of the Feder- Drawing from the experience of the loss of ação Anarquista do Rio de Janeiro in August 2008, what it terms the “social vector of anarchism” seeks to map out the FARJ’s theoretical concep- (anarchism’s social influence) at the end of the tion of an organised, class struggle anarchism glorious period of anarchism, the FARJ advocates and, “More than a purely theoretical document, the need for a specific anarchist organisation – [...] reflects the conclusions realised after five tightly organised, comprising highly committed years of practical application of anarchism in the militants sharing high levels of theoretical and social struggles of our people”. strategic unity – that, through participating in In it the FARJ traces its historical and organ- and supporting popular movements and strug- isational roots through the militant histories of gles against exploitation and domination, seeks Carioca * anarchists such as Ideal Peres, who to influence these movements with anarchist struggled to keep the flame of anarchism alight principles and in a revolutionary and libertarian during the dark days of dictatorship, to militants direction. The final objective thereof being the such as his father, Juan Perez Bouzas, Galician recapturing of the social vector of anarchism as immigrant anarchist who participated decisively a necessary step towards the introduction of lib- in the Battle of Sé in 1934, “when the anarchists ertarian socialism by means of social revolution. rejected the Integralistas ** under bursts of ma- In seeking to increase the social influence of chine gun fire”. anarchism the FARJ re-asserts the need for an- In what is perhaps one of the most compre- archism to come increasingly into contact with hensive elaborations on the Latin American the exploited classes, thus identifying the class concept of especifista anarchism now available in struggle as the most important and fertile terrain English, Social Anarchism and Organisation in which to attempt to spread anarchist princi- traces and outlines the theoretical and practical ples and practices. For these to take root, how- influences on the FARJ’s conception of anar- ever, it is essential for organised anarchists to chist organisation and its strategy for social carry out permanent and consistent propaganda, transformation. It advocates a conception of an- organisational and educational work within the archism that divides anarchist activity into two movements and organisations of the exploited levels of activity – the social (social or ‘mass’ class and – critically for the FARJ – to always movement) and political (specific anarchist or- act in a manner consistent with what it terms a ganisation) – arguing that this dual-organisa- “militant ethic”. Social Anarchism and Organisa- tionalist approach to anarchist organisation is tion outlines the FARJ’s conception of the var- consistent with, and can by traced back to the ious tasks of the specific anarchist organisation, ideas and practices of Bakunin himself in the as well as its structure, processes for attracting Alliance of Socialist Democracy. The FARJ new members and its orientation towards social traces this common political lineage back to movements – all according to the logic of con- Bakunin through the experiences of the Fed- centric circles. eración Anarquista Uruguaya (FAU) and those In formulating strategic answers to the ques- of the 1918 Aliança Anarquista and 1919 Partido tions, “where are we?”, “where do we want to Comunista (libertarian in content); through the go?” and “how do we think we can leave where experience of the Magonistas during the Mexi- we are and arrive at where we want to be?”, So- can Revolution and the radical phases of the cial Anarchism and Organisation articulates the Partido Liberal Mexicano (PLM); through the FARJ’s understanding of social classes under experiences of the Federación Anarquista Iberica “the society of exploitation and domination” – * Someone who comes (FAI) and Friends of Durruti group during the capitalism and state – as well as its final objec- from Rio de Janeiro Spanish Revolution, and those of the authors of tives – social revolution and libertarian social- ** Brazilian fascist the Organisational Platform of the Libertarian ism – and how these may look. In so doing it movement Communists (Platform); to those