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- ** Welcome to issue two of Red & Black Revolution. ***
The idea of revolution is central to anarchism. In this
issue we look at just what a successful revolution requires
and in what conditions it is likely to occur. We bring
news of work being done now to build a new anarchist
movement in Russia and of the links being forged between
anarchist organisations in Europe.
Anarchism however does not sit and wait for the revolution.
It fights today against all aspects of capitalist
oppression. This means working alongside people who do not
share our world view but who do wish to tackle some of the
worst aspects of capitalism. We look at the way broad
based projects, aimed at combating the worst elements of
capitalism can become part of the mechanism ensuring social
stability.
Unions, community groups and unemployment centres all
represent at least in part peoples' desire to fight back.
Capitalism in recognising this has adopted two strategies.
The earlier one was of direct attack, attempts to smash
these organisations. As capitalist control mechanisms have
developed and the need for stability increased new methods
have been devised, ones that aim to incorporate activists
into the control mechanisms of capitalism itself.
So we have unions that argue for competitiveness,
unemployed groups that argue for funding cuts and community
groups in partnerships with the same companies that are
devastating their communities. Anarchists involved in
fighting alongside fellow workers today have to be aware of
where these problems arise and how we can start to tackle
them.
********** Contents ***********
Incorporation
Why is it that many single issue campaigns and community
groups which start out with a radical program soon end up
as little more than service groups? Conor Mc Loughlin, an
activist of the now defunct Portobello Unemployed Action
Group investigates.
The road to revolution
A complete transformation of society, revolution, is the goal of anarchism.
Ray Cunningham looks at what is meant when anarchists talk about
revolution, and what can be done to bring it closer.
Rebels at Ruesta
In August 1995 an international gathering of libertarian
communists took place in Ruesta, Spain. A week of
discussions took place and at the end a declaration was
drawn up. We present here extracts from the WSM
delegates' report on the week and the agreed declaration.
Russian Anarchism: After the fal
Although many classical anarchist theorists and figures
came from Russia, the advent of the Soviet State
effectively crushed the movement. Now anarchism is reborn
in Russia. Laure Akai and Mikhail Tsovma write from Moscow
to tell us a little about the trials and tribulations of
the new Russian anarchist movement.
Travellers fighting back
Patricia McCarthy examines the history of Irish Travellers'
struggle for civil rights and ethnic recognition. Their
struggles have much in common with those of Indigenous
people worldwide and with the struggles of Native Americans
and Australian Aboriginals and also with the struggles of
Gypsies, Travellers and nomads against racism and
oppression.
Chomsky on Anarchism
Noam Chomsky is widely known for his critique of U.S.
foreign policy, and for his work as a linguist. In a
special interview with Red and Black Revolution, Chomsky
gives his views on anarchism and marxism, and the prospects
for socialism now.
The two souls of the trade unions
Union activists are facing new management attacks but the
trade union leadership speaks only of partnership with the
bosses. Des Derwin, member of the Executive of the Dublin
Council of Trade Unions and of the Dublin Private Sector
Regional Executive Committee of SIPTU gives his personal
view on the two souls of the unions.
The IRA cease-fire and republican politics.
The 'Irish peace process' is now well into its second year.
It has brought respectability for Sinn F?in but little of
consequence for the Irish working class - North or South.
Gregor Kerr, a member of the National Committee of the
Irish Anti Extradition Committee in the late 1980s, looks
at events leading up to the cease-fire and Sinn F?in's pan-
nationalist strategy.
*********** About the WSM ***********
The Workers Solidarity Movement was founded in Dublin,
Ireland in 1984 following discussions by a number of local
anarchist groups on the need for a national anarchist
organisation. At that time with unemployment and
inequality on the rise, there seemed every reason to argue
for anarchism and for a revolutionary change in Irish
society. This has not changed.
Like most socialists we share a fundamental belief that
capitalism is the problem. We believe that as a system it
must be ended, that the wealth of society should be
commonly owned and that its resources should be used to
serve the needs of humanity as a whole and not those of a
small greedy minority. But, just as importantly, we see
this struggle against capitalism as also being a struggle
for freedom. We believe that socialism and freedom must go
together, that we cannot have one without the other. As
Mikhail Bakunin, the Russian anarchist said, "Socialism
without freedom is tyranny and brutality".
Anarchism has always stood for individual freedom. But it
also stands for democracy. We believe in democratising the
workplace and in workers taking control of all industry.
We believe that this is the only real alternative to
capitalism with its on going reliance on hierarchy and
oppression and its depletion of the world's resources.
In the years since our formation, we've been involved in a
wide range of struggles - our members are involved in their
trade unions; we've fought for abortion rights and against
the presence of the British state in Northern Ireland;
we've also been involved in campaigns in support of workers
from countries as far apart as Nepal, Peru and South
Africa. Alongside this, we have produced nearly fifty
issues of our paper Workers Solidarity, and a wide range of
pamphlets. In 1986, we organised a speaking tour of
Ireland by an anarchist veteran of the Spanish Civil War,
Ernesto Nadal, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the
revolution there.
As anarchists we see ourselves as part of a long tradition
that has fought against all forms of authoritarianism and
exploitation, a tradition that strongly influenced one of
the most successful and far reaching revolutions in this
century - in Spain in 1936 - 37. The value of this
tradition cannot be underestimated today. With the fall of
the Soviet Union there is renewed interest in our ideas and
in the tradition of libertarian socialism generally. We
hope to encourage this interest with Red & Black
Revolution. We believe that anarchists and libertarian
socialists should debate and discuss their ideas, that they
should popularise their history and struggle, and help
point to a new way forward. If you are interested in
finding out more about anarchism or the WSM, contact us at
PO Box 1528, Dublin 8, Ireland.
*********** Re-printing **********
Permission is given for revolutionary publications to
reprint any of the articles contained in this issue. But
please do two things
-> Tell us you are re-printing and send us a copy of the
publication it appears in.
-> If you are also translating an article please send us a
copy of the translation on computer disk so we can add it
to our electronic archive.A complete transformation of
society, revolution, is the goal of anarchism. Ray
Cunningham looks at what is meant when anarchists talk
about revolution, and what can be done to bring it closer.
*********** Submissions ***********
Red & Black Revolution is published by the Workers
Solidarity Movement. The deadline for the next issue is
June, 1996. Submissions are welcome and should be sent
either as 'text only' files on Mac or PC format computer
disks or typed on plain white paper. Disks are preferred.
Letters are also welcome. All correspondence should be
sent to Red & Black Revolution, PO Box 1528, Dublin 8,
Ireland.