Organisational Issues Within Anarchism

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Author:  Felipe Corrêa

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The present text aims to discuss, from a theoretical-historical perspective, some organisational issues related to anarchism. It responds to the assertion, constantly repeated, that anarchist ideology or doctrine is essentially spontaneous and contrary to organisation.

This article was originally published in 2010 by the Brazilian journal Espaço Livre. It has subsequently been republished by the Institute for Anarchist Theory and History.It has been translated by Enrique Guerrero-López (a member of Black Rose/Rosa Negra). It is again republished here in its entirety.
Source: blackrosefed.org

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Lessons for Anarchists About the Ukraine War from Past Revolutions

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Author: Wayne Price

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Anarchists can learn important lessons in relation to the Ukraine-Russia war by looking at the Spanish revolution of the thirties and the movement against the Vietnam-US war of the sixties. The Ukraine-Russia war is shaking the world. Dealing with it, anarchists and other far-left radicals can learn much from contrasting it to previous conflicts.

Written for Black Flag: Anarchist Review (virtual journal)
Source: http://www.anarkismo.net

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Looking Under the Hood of the Identity Politics Debate

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Author: Daniel Rashid

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It should go without saying that socialists are deeply interested in race, gender, sexuality and all the other innumerate social categories that exist in the capitalist system, beyond the fundamental class structure of proletariat and bourgeoisie. Virtually all socialists agree that they are of concern; the disagreements come elsewhere, and predominantly centre around the nebulous concept of “identity politics”. 

Source: www.redblacknotes.com

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Anarcho-Syndicalism and Union Education in South Africa: A Critical Evaluation of the Tradition of the Congress of South African Trade Unions

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Authors: Mandy Moussouris and Lucien van der Walt

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This chapter focuses on the potential of trade union education as a revolutionary force in society. It aims to provide a deeper understanding of types of union education in history and practice – primarily anarchist / anarcho-syndicalist education – which have either led to revolution or built a strong revolutionary culture, and to use these to evaluate critically the evolution of union education in South Africa from the late 1980s.

IN:  Linda Cooper and Sheri Hamilton (eds.), Renewing Workers’ Education: Towards a Radical, Alternative Vision, HSRC Press: Cape Town, pp. 199-214.

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Popular Power: People’s Ability to Organise their Own Society

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Author: Federación Anarquista Uruguaya

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Faced with the obvious historical failure of certain currents designated as socialist, a broad theoretical and political debate was opened up. Much of the material that was incorporated into it turned out to be nothing more than the old failed discourse now updated and which did not critically touch on the fundamental issues.

English translation: Jonathan Payn
Source: alasbarricadas.org
FAU: federacionanarquistauruguaya.uy

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Red, Black and Gold: FOSATU, South African ‘Workerism’, ‘Syndicalism’ and the Nation

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Authors: Sian Byrne, Nicole Ulrich and Lucien van der Walt

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The Federation of South African Trade Unions (FOSATU) inaugurated in 1979, the strongest working class organisation opposing apartheid in the early 1980s. FOSATU was associated with the distinct radical politics of South African ‘workerism.’ ‘Workerism’ has been widely caricatured: this pamphlet provides a recovery of its politics and history. Its emphasis on strong, industrial, autonomous unions, free of party control, its project of building a working class movement and identity, its participation in a wide range of struggles, and its left-wing, anti-capitalist and class-based (and anti-nationalist) approach to the national question is outlined.

Sian Byrne, Nicole Ulrich, and Lucien van der Walt, 2017, “Red, Black and Gold:1 FOSATU, South African ‘Workerism’, ‘Syndicalism’ and the Nation,” in Edward Webster and Karin Pampillas (eds.), The Unresolved National Question in South Africa: Left Thinking Under Apartheid, Johannesburg: Wits University Press.

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What is Authoritarian Populism and why should it be Combatted? & Lessons from the Historic Fight Against Fascism [2 Essays]

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Authors: Shawn Hattingh / Wayne Price

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Shawn Hattingh is a researcher and educator for the International Labour Research Information Group, South Africa. This was also published in Pambazuka News, 10 April 2019.
Source: zabalaza.net
Lessons from the Historic Fight Against Fascism by Wayne Price was written for Black Flag (UK)
Source: anarkismo.net

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A Companion to the English Translation of Social Anarchism and Organisation

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Author: Carl Eugene Stroud

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This is a companion to Social Anarchism and Organisation by the Anarchist Federation of Rio de Janeiro. All of the references are to only that text which has become essential reading for social anarchists today. This article summarizes, paraphrases and interprets the original. It is meant to be an addition to the English language discourse on especifismo and social anarchism generally, as well as the FARJ text in particular. There is a link to an audio version with a slideshow presentation at the end.

Source: Anarkismo.net

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Anarcha-Feminism: To Destroy Domination in All Forms

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Author: Julia Tanenbaum

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From BR/RN: It is often said that history is a weapon but it also serves as a reflection of the past through which we make better sense of the present. With this in mind we present Julia Tenenbaum’s narrative on anarchist feminism which emerged as a distinct current from the larger radicalization of the 1960s and 70s period. You can purchase a copy of Perspectives issue 29, which this article appeared in, from AK Press here!

This text from the website of the Black Rose Anarchist Federation / Federación Anarquista Rosa Negra.

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National Liberation, Social Revolution and Organised Anarchism: The Case of French Anarchists and Algeria

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A Critical Review of Eyes to the South: French Anarchists and Algeria, by David Porter

Author: Mya Violet Walmsley

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Almost sixty years ago in 1962, Algeria broke free from French state control, after a seven year long militarised campaign of bombing, armed resistance, and workers struggle, largely organised by the Algerian Front de Libération Nationale (FLN). The campaign for political independence had escalated from bombings to assassinations to full scale insurgency, with the French state resorting to torture, civilian bombings, and military occupation to protect its colonial holding. The victory of the independence movement saw a massive re-organisation of the political system by a socialist leaning president Ben Bella who was tasked with constituting the new independent Algerian state, as well as managing an explosion of autogestion, a movement of workers’ self-management of industries and communities by workers collectives.

This text was found at the Red & Black Notes site.
The author sends special thanks to Dan and Luke for editing drafts of this work.

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