0,GOTOVO ,JE60 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,CRIME?,9C4 

,TEXT 3 

,COLD W9T] NI<T4 ,! SMELLS ( SMOKE & PEPP] SPRAY >E MIX+ 9 ! AIR4 ,FROM BEH9D \R BACKS1 WE HE> ! RO>+ ( ?\S&S & ?\S&S ( ?ROATS3 0,!Y .<! POLITICIANS.> >E ALL F9I%$6 ,WE WILL C>RY !M ALL \T60 ,9 FRONT ( US1 A BURN+ F5CE1 L9ES ( RIOT POLICE1 &--9 ! FOGGY DI/ANCE--! ULTIMATE SYMBOL ( DEMOCRACY1 A P>LIAM5T>Y BUILD+4 ,ON \R FACES ! COLD BREEZE1 BESIDE US ! %\LD]S ( \R COMRADES1 & 9 \R VE9S--ELECTRICITY4 ,SEV]AL MON?S 9TO ! UPRIS+1 /REETS >E /ILL \RS4 ,:AT />T$ AS A PROTE/ AGA9/ A FEW 0BAD SE$S0 ( DEMOCRACY HAS OP5$ UP A MASSIVE OPPORTUNITY TO ?9K BEYOND ! EXI/5T4 ,= A BRIEF MOM5T1 WE HAVE GA9$ CONTROL OV] \R LIVES1 WE ALL[ \RSELVES TO DREAM ! IMPOSSIBLE1 WE EXP]IM5T ) CREAT+ SPACES ( TOGE!RNESS BEYOND HI]>*IES4 ,9 EV]Y SECOND 9 :I* WE DISCOV] \R WEAKNESS1 WE ALSO D>E TO REGA9 \R /R5G?4 

,IF ONLY WE KNEW !N ?AT IT W\LD NOT BE 7JU/7 /ATE VIOL5CE1 ! NATURAL CYCLE ( ! MOVEM5T1 OR ! C\RT DATES1 BUT 7MO/LY7 DEMOCRACY1 ?AT W\LD DRAG US BACK 9TO REALITY4 

,9 W9T] #b#a#b-#a#c1 A MASSIVE WAVE ( PROTE/S SWEPT ,SLOV5IA1 A SMALL C\NTRY 9 ! NOR!RN ,BALKANS4 ,IT />T$ 9 ! SECOND L>GE/ CITY1 ,M>IBOR1 A DE-9DU/RIALIZ$ HUSK ?AT WAS ONCE ! C5T] ( ,SLOV5IA'S VANI%$ AUTOMOBILE 9DU/RY4 ,! CORRUPT MAYOR HAD 9/ALL$ SPE$-*ECK+ RAD> AT EV]Y MAJOR CROSSROADS1 RESULT+ 9 HUNDR$S ( ALREADY IMPOV]I%$ PEOPLE BE+ *>G$ ) P5ALTIES !Y C\LD NOT AF=D TO PAY1 = ! PR(IT ( A PRIVATE COMPANY4 ,9 A S]IES ( CL&E/9E ATTACKS & PUBLIC DEMON/RATIONS1 PEOPLE BURN$ ! SPE$-*ECK+ DEVICES ONE BY ONE1 !N GA!R$ ON ! SQU>ES & /REETS TO 9=M ! MAYOR BY MEANS ( ,MOLOTOV COCKTAILS1 ROCKS1 & EV]Y?+ ELSE !Y C\LD GET HOLD ( ?AT HE WAS NO LONG] WELCOME 9 !IR T[N4 ,9 RESPONSE TO ! 9ITIAL POLICE REPRESSION1 SOLID>ITY PROTE/S SPREAD >\ND ! C\NTRY 9 A MATT] ( A FEW DAYS4 ,!Y LA/$ = SIX MON?S4 

,ON ONE H&1 !SE PROTE/S W]E A REACTION TO ! DISA/R\S EFFECTS ( ! TRANSITION FROM SOCIALISM TO FREE M>KET CAPITALISM1 :I* LEFT MANY PEOPLE POOR & HUMILIAT$4 ,ON ! O!R H&1 FROM ! BEG9N+1 !Y W]E CLE>LY AIM$ AGA9/ ?OSE :O HELD 9/ITUTIONAL POLITICAL P[]4 ,?IS WAS ! BIGGE/ SELF-ORGANIZ$ /RUGGLE 9 ,SLOV5IA S9CE ! BREAKUP ( ,YUGOSLAVIA 9 #a#i#i#a4 ,IT BR\<T D[N ! MAYOR ( ,M>IBOR & ! NATIONAL GOV]NM5T--BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY1 IT OP5$ UP A SPACE 9 :I* IT BECAME POSSIBLE TO 9V5T NEW =MS ( AUTONOM\S ACTION & TO QUE/ION REPRES5TATIVE DEMOCRACY4  
  

0,GOTOVO JE60 

0,IT IS F9I%$60 ,A SLOGAN FROM ! UPRIS+ ( #b#a#b-#b#a#c1 DIRECT$ AT ! REPRES5TATIVES ( DEMOCRATIC ORD]4  
  

,AL?\< ! EFFECTS ( ?IS P]IOD CANNOT BE R$UC$ TO ! FACT ( DEFEAT1 IT IS 9T]E/+ TO NOTE H[ RAPIDLY MU* ( ! RADICAL 5]GY WAS *ANNEL$ BACK 9TO ! EXI/+ ORD]1 & ! C5TRAL ROLE ?AT ! LANGUAGE ( DEMOCRACY PLAY$ 9 ?IS4 ,! FALL ( ! GOV]NM5T & ! PROMISE ( A NEW ELECTION WAS ! FIR/ NAIL 9 ! C(F9 ( ! /RUGGLE1 AS IT SATISFI$ A LOT ( PEOPLE :O !N BEGAN TO )DRAW FROM ! /REETS4 ,MEAN:ILE1 A NEW POLITICAL P>TY ON ! LEFT DID ITS BE/ TO MONOPOLIZE ! >TICULATION ( ! UPRIS+2 EV5TUALLY1 IT EM]G$ AS A %9+ /> 9 ! NEW POLITICAL ORD] BY PROMIS+ MORE DIRECT DEMOCRACY 9 ! P>LIAM5T--! SAME P>LIAM5T ?AT HAD BE5 ! OBJECT ( SO MU* RAGE & DISILLUSIONM5T ONLY WEEKS E>LI]4 ,F9ALLY1 9 ,M>IBOR1 :]E ! REBELLION />T$1 ! NEXT MAYOR :O WAS ELECT$ CAME FROM ! RANKS ( ! UPRIS+1 FROM A CIVIL SOCIETY GR\P4 ,HE PROMIS$ TO REVITALIZE DEMOCRACY 9 ,M>IBOR & C>RY \T ECONOMIC DEVELOPM5T1 BUT ! PEOPLE :O ELECT$ HIM W]E SWIFTLY DISAPPO9T$4 ,BY #b#a#e1 HE WAS BE+ 9VE/$ = CORRUPTION1 ) ! ,CITY ,C\NCIL CALL+ = HIS RESIGNATION4 

,SO HAS DIRECT DEMOCRACY CONTRIBUT$ TO ! CONT9U$ RADICALIZATION ( ,SLOV5IAN SOCIETY8 

,AS 9T5SE AS ! EXP]I5CE ( ! UPRIS+ WAS1 IT WAS JU/ ONE /AGE 9 A LONG L9E ( /RUGGLES 9 ,SLOV5IA ?AT CONT9UE TO ?IS DAY--FROM ! SQUATT+ MOVEM5T 9 ! E>LY #a#i#iS & #bS1 ?R\< ! ANTI-W> & ANTI-,N,A,T,O CAMPAIGNS1 TO /UD5T OCCUPATIONS1 SELF-ORGANIZ$ WILDCAT /RIKES1 ANTI-FASCI/ /RUGGLES1 & MO/ REC5TLY1 ! OP5+ ( ,=TRESS ,EUROPE TO MIGRATION ALONG ! ,BALKAN R\TE4 ,?R\<\T ALL ( !SE /RUGGLES1 MANY AN>*I/S & O!R RADICALS BELIEV$ ?AT SPREAD+ DIRECTLY DEMOCRATIC ME?ODS WAS ONE ( ! KEY ELEM5TS ?AT WE C\LD CONTRIBUTE TO RADICALIZE MOVEM5TS & KEEP !M AT ODDS ) REPRES5TATIVE DEMOCRACY1 HI]>*ICAL /RUCTURES1 & RE=MI/ POLITICS4 ,IT TOOK YE>S TO REALIZE ?AT 9VE/+ \R 5]GY 9 MAK+ ASSEMBLIES ! ORGANIZATIONAL CRUX ( ?OSE MOVEM5TS MI<T HAVE BE5 A /EP AWAY FROM :AT WE WANT$ TO A*IEVE4 ,TODAY1 SOME ( US >E BEG9N+ TO ?9K AB\T H[ WE MI<T R$EF9E ?IS TOOL1 %IFT+ FROM ! CONCEPT ( DIRECT DEMOCRACY T[>DS ANO!R FRAMEWORK4 

,?IS IS NOT 9T5D$ AS A REJECTION ( ! ASSEMBLY AS AN ORGANIZATIONAL MODEL4 ,! ASSEMBLIES (T5 HELP$ TO BR+ PEOPLE ONTO ! /REETS & 9TO ! /RUGGLE2 !Y W]E AN IMPORTANT TOOL = ORGANIZ+4 ,H[EV]1 ! ULTIMATE RESULTS W]E (T5 DISAPPO9T+4 ,IT WAS EASY TO BLAME ! WAY ASSEMBLIES W]E ORGANIZ$ & \R LACK ( 5]GY = P>TICIPAT+ 9 !M ON ! HO/ILE =CES PREV5T+ ! MOVEM5T FROM SPREAD+ ?R\<\T ! SOCIETY4 ,BUT AFT] MA/]+ ! GAME ( CONS5SUS1 FACILITATION1 & ALL ! ACCOMPANY+ H& SIGNALS1 MAYBE IT'S F9ALLY TIME TO QUE/ION ! CONCEPT ( DIRECT DEMOCRACY ITSELF4 ,MAYBE WE C\LD UND]/& ?OSE ASSEMBLIES AS OPPORTUNITIES = SOME O!R K9D ( TOGE!RNESS--NOT AS A SPACE ( RULE & GOV]NM5T1 BUT SITES 9 :I* TO DISP]SE P[] 9TO \R COMMUNITIES4 

,WE HAVE NO UNIV]SAL TRU?S TO (F]4 ,!SE >E SIMPLY ! REFLECTIONS ( A FEW PEOPLE ON A FEW YE>S ( /RUGGLE4 ,H]E IS :AT WE ?9K WE HAVE LE>N$ SO F>4 

,OCCUPATIONS & ! ,DEMOCRACY ( ,DIRECT ,ACTION 

  

0,I AM A P>T ( ?IS BECAUSE ,I ?9K DIRECT DEMOCRACY IS BETT] ?AN ! ORD] WE KN[ N[4 ,) DIRECT DEMOCRACY1 IF Y\ WANT SOME?+1 Y\ SAY IT1 F9D FRI5DS TO HELP Y\1 & Y\ DO IT40 

,9 #b#a#a1 NEW1 LOCALIZ$ MOVEM5TS ( OCCUPATION W]E SEIZ+ ! SQU>ES ALL ACROSS ! WORLD4 ,9 ,SPA91 PEOPLE CAME \T TO ! /REETS 9 ! MOVEM5T LAT] KN[N AS #a#e,M2 9 ! ,U,S1 IT WAS KN[N AS ,OCCUPY4 ,9 ,SLOV5IA1 AS 9 MANY O!R P>TS ( ,EUROPE1 ! FIR/ OCCUPATION />T$ \T AS A PROTE/ AGA9/ F9ANCIAL CAPITALISM ON ,OCTOB] #a#e1 #b#a#a4 ,CONSEQU5TLY1 9 ,LJUBLJANA1 ! MOVEM5T CAME TO BE KN[N AS #a#e,O4 ,! OCCUPATION ( ! SQU>E 9 FRONT ( ! /OCK EX*ANGE LA/$ = SIX MON?S4 

,?IS OCCUPATION BR\<T \T 9TO ! OP5 ALL ! DIVISIONS 9 SOCIETY ?AT >E O!RWISE HIDD54 ,POV]TY1 DRUG ADDICTION1 HOMELESSNESS1 M5TAL HEAL? PROBLEMS1 ! MIS]Y ( EV]YDAY LIFE UND] CAPITALISM--ALL ( !SE BECAME VISIBLE TO EV]YONE1 SO !Y C\LD NOT BE IGNOR$ AS A MATT] ( P]SONAL FAILURE ANY LONG]4 ,UNLIKE 9 SOME O!R PLACES1 :]E ! C5TRAL QUE/ION ( ! ,OCCUPY MOVEM5T WAS A DEM& = REAL DEMOCRACY1 #a#e,O WAS NOT C5T]$ 7M]ELY7 ON ?AT2 RA!R1 IT ATTACK$ F9ANCIALIZATION1 CAPITALISM1 PREC>ITY1 AU/]ITY1 TOTAL 9/ITUTIONS1 & REPRES5TATIONAL POLITICS4 ,NO TOPIC WAS TOO SMALL TO DISCUSS2 = MANY1 ! CAMP & ! ASSEMBLIES BECAME A PLAT=M TO DISCUSS IF NOT ORGANIZE = EV]Y POLITICAL ACTIVITY 9 ! CITY4 ,P>TICUL>LY 9 ! FIR/ WEEKS ( ! OCCUPATION1 ! CAMP+ WAS JU/ ONE ( MANY PLAYFUL DIRECT ACTIONS TAK+ PLACE ALL >\ND ! CITY4 

,! ASSEMBLY WAS ! C5T] ( ! OCCUPI$ CAMP4 ,9 RESPONSE TO ! BURD5 ( BE+ TALK$ AT AB\T :AT \<T TO BE DONE1 A PROBLEM ?AT CORRELAT$ ) A LACK ( RESPONSIBILITY1 P>TICIPANTS 9 ! MOVEM5T DEVELOP$ ! CONCEPT ( 0DEMOCRACY ( DIRECT ACTION0 7,D,D,A74 ,D,D,A BASICALLY MEANT ?AT :OEV] PROPOS$ SOME?+ %\LD ALSO P>TICIPATE 9 IT4 ,9 ?AT S5SE1 ,D,D,A ALSO CONTRIBUT$ TO AN 9CREASE 9 AUTONOM\S ACTION RA!R ?AN FOCUS+ ON DEMOCRATIC DECISION-MAK+ PROCESSES )9 ! ASSEMBLY4 ,AS A RESULT1 ! CULTURE ?AT DEVELOP$ 9 ! MOVEM5T WAS ORI5T$ T[>DS ACTION1 MO/LY 9 ! =M ( EF=TS TO COMMUNICATE ) ! G5]AL PUBLIC ?R\< V>I\S K9DS ( P]=MANCE4 

,D,D,A HAD DISADVANTAGES AS WELL4 ,AS (T5 HAPP5S 9 A V>IETY ( /RUCTURES1 IT 7UNREFLECTIVELY7 FAVOR$ ?OSE :O W]E >TICULATE 5\< TO ATTRACT MORE PEOPLE TO !IR 9ITIATIVES4 ,! MULTIPLICITY ( ACTIONS C>RI$ \T BY A RELATIVELY SMALL NUMB] ( P>TICIPANTS 9 ! MOVEM5T ALSO MEANT ?AT 5]GY WAS WIDELY DISP]S$1 EF=TS W]E (T5 NOT 9T]L9K$1 & OV]EXT5D$ COMRADES (T5 /RUGGL$ ) BURN\T4 ,ALONG ) ! DI/RIBUTION ( POLITICAL PROJECTS AMONG A V>IETY ( WORK+ GR\PS1 ,D,D,A HELP$ TO CREATE SEV]AL DIFF]5T SITES ( DECISION-MAK+2 YET IT DID NOT G5]ATE A SPACE ( 5C\NT] 9 :I* PEOPLE CAME TOGE!R = MUTUAL LE>N+ TO CREATE A MEAN+FUL =CE BEYOND DIRECT DEMOCRACY4 

,! DAILY ASSEMBLIES BECAME FOCUS$ ON CAMP ISSUES1 & !RE W]E FEW] & FEW] P>TICIPANTS1 :ILE ! MON?LY ASSEMBLIES FOCUS$ MORE ON ! POLITICAL CONT5T ( ! MOVEM5T4 ,?OSE :O W]E 9VOLV$ 9 ! WORK+ GR\PS BUT NOT SLEEP+ 9 ! CAMP EV5TUALLY FELT ALI5AT$ BY IT4 ,9 ! 5D1 #a#e,O 5D$ 9 EXHAU/ION & FRU/RATION4 ,MANY W]E DRIV5 9TO ISOLATION & DEPRESSION4 

,H[EV]1 #a#e,O TAU<T US SEV]AL IMPORTANT LESSONS4 ,FIR/1 DESPITE ALL ! TALK AB\T DIRECT DEMOCRACY AS A POSITIVE ASPECT ( ! ,OCCUPY MOVEM5TS1 SOME P>TICIPANTS 9 #a#e,O REALIZ$ V]Y SOON--FROM PRACTICAL EXP]I5CE--?AT ! CONC5TRATION ( LEGITIMACY 9 A S+LE SITE ( DECISION-MAK+ WAS NOT PRODUCTIVE4 ,DOES IT MAKE S5SE TO UND]/& :AT WAS HAPP5+ 9 ! OCCUPATION 9 FRONT ( ! /OCK EX*ANGE AS A DIRECTLY DEMOCRATIC MOVEM5T1 :5 ALL ! GR\NDBREAK+ & EXCIT+ ?+S DEVELOP$ \TSIDE ( CONS5SUS-BAS$ DIRECTLY DEMOCRATIC PROC$URES8 ,P]HAPS IF WE HAD SET \T TO MAKE ! QUE/ION ( DEC5TRALIZ$ ACTION C5TRAL TO \R ?9K+1 WE C\LD HAVE CIRCUMV5T$ ALL ! PROBLEMS ?AT RESULT$ FROM FOCUS+ ON ! ASSEMBLY AS ! C5TRAL SPACE = COM+ TOGE!R4 ,IF WE HADN'T 9=MALLY 9/ITUTIONALIZ$ ! PRACTICE ( ASSEMBLIES1 P]HAPS PEOPLE W\LD HAVE BE5 MORE CAPABLE ( ID5TIFY+ ! MOM5T :5 ! MOVEM5T HAD ! POT5TIAL TO MAKE A BIG IMPACT1 &1 LAT]1 ID5TIFY+ ?AT IT HAD BE5 SUCCESSFULLY M>G9ALIZ$4 ,P]HAPS WE W\LD HAVE BE5 MORE CAPABLE ( ASK+ \RSELVES :I* TACTICS W]E ADVANC+ \R RADICAL AG5DAS1 & :I* W]E CONTRIBUT+ TO SELF-NEUTRALIZATION BECAUSE WE W]E MA9TA9+ !M :5 WE %\LD HAVE ALREADY %IFT$ TO ANO!R APPROA*4 

,! ,LIMITATIONS ( ,ASSEMBLIES 9 ! ,/UD5T ,MOVEM5T 

  

0,IF !Y DON'T MEET \R DEM&S1 WE CAN ALWAYS BE MORE RADICAL & OCCUPY MORE SPACE 9 ! UNIV]SITY LAT]4 ,= N[1 LET'S JU/ %[ \R /R5G?40 

,LJUBLJANA1 ,NOVEMB] #b#a#a4 ,ON ONE SIDE ( T[N1 T5TS HAVE OCCUPI$ ! SQU>E 9 FRONT ( ! /OCK EX*ANGE = A MON? & A HALF4 ,ON ! O!R SIDE ( T[N1 /UD5TS >E PACK$ 9TO ONE ( ! BIGGE/ LECTURE ROOMS 9 ! ,FACULTY ( ,>TS4 ,! ASSEMBLY HAS ONLY ONE ITEM ON ! AG5DA3 :E!R TO OCCUPY ! FACULTY TO PREV5T ! PRIVATIZATION ( HI<] $UCATION4 

,SOME ( US >RIV$ READY TO BLOCK ! PRODUCTION ( KN[L$GE 9 ! 5TIRE BUILD+1 9 HOPES ?AT SU* A RADICAL ACT W\LD OP5 UP ! SPACE & %AKE UP ! P[] RELATIONS 9 ! UNIV]SITY4 ,WE ?\<T IT W\LD BE BETT] = ! MOVEM5T TO BE EVICT$ AFT] ?REE DAYS1 /ILL READY TO KEEP FI<T+1 ?AN TO EXHAU/ ITSELF 9 A LIMIT$ OCCUPATION ?AT DID NOT DISRUPT ! /ATUS QUO ( ! UNIV]SITY1 LET ALONE SOCIETY AT L>GE4 ,O!RS ASSUM$ ?AT IT W\LD BE 5\< TO OCCUPY A FEW CLASSROOMS & OP5 NEGOTIATIONS ) ! AU?ORITIES4 ,AFT] H\RS ( DISCUSSION1 A FEW PR(ESSORS & /UD5T LEAD]S P]SUAD$ ! MAJORITY ( PEOPLE TO VOTE AGA9/ A FULL BLOCKADE4 

,= ?OSE ( US :O W]E LEFT 9 ! M9ORITY--:E!R OR NOT WE WANT$ TO VOTE 9 FIR/ PLACE--! *OICE WAS T\<4 ,WE ?\<T AB\T :E!R TO GO AGA9/ ! DECISION ( ! ASSEMBLY & OCCUPY ! 5TIRE BUILD+ ON \R [N1 AT ! RISK ( ALI5AT+ \RSELVES FROM ! O!RS4 ,9 ! 5D1 WE W5T ALONG ) ! DECISION ( ! ASSEMBLY4 ,LOOK+ BACK1 WE %\LD PROBABLY HAVE ACT$ DIFF]5TLY4 

,! P>TIAL OCCUPATION LA/$ = A FEW MON?S4 ,AT FIR/1 ! UNIV]SITY ADM9I/RATION WAS /ILL TRY+ TO NEGOTIATE1 NOT KN[+ H[ F> ! PROTE/S MI<T GO4 ,BUT !Y SOON REALIZ$ !Y DID NOT NE$ TO COMPLY ) ANY ( ! DEM&S4 ,! OCCUPI]S EV5 GAVE UP SOME ( ! CLASSROOMS !MSELVES1 FEEL+ ?AT !Y W]E NOT CAPABLE ( FILL+ !M ) !IR [N SELF-ORGANIZ$ /UDY PROJECTS4 ,9/EAD ( ! 5D ( ! OCCUPATION OP5+ A WID] CONFLICT 9 SOCIETY OR DRAW+ MORE PEOPLE 9TO ! /RUGGLE1 IT LEFT ! /UD5T MOVEM5T EXHAU/$ & SCATT]$1 LIMIT$ TO NEGOTIAT+ ) ! S*OOL AU?ORITIES ?R\< ! EXI/+ SY/EM ( REPRES5TATION4 ,!RE HAS NOT BE5 ANY OCCUPATION 9 ANY UNIV]SITY 9 ,SLOV5IA S9CE4 

,& AN>*I/S8 ,WE TRI$ TO P>TICIPATE 9 A SELF-ORGANIZ$ /UDY PROCESS1 BUT MO/LY IT FELT LIKE WE W]E TALK+ TO \RSELVES4 ,IT TOOK MON?S ( FRU/RATION TO REALIZE ?AT 9 ACCEPT+ ! NORMS ( DEMOCRATIC DECISION-MAK+1 WE HAD FAIL$ TO PU% ! MOM5T FUR!R1 MISS+ ! *ANCE TO OP5 UP PRODUCTIVE CONFLICTS--)9 ! MOVEM5T1 9SIDE ! UNIV]SITY1 & 9 SOCIETY AS A :OLE4 ,AT ! LEA/1 WE C\LD HAVE />T$ A MU*-NE$$ DISCUSSION AB\T :I* TACTICS ! MOVEM5T %\LD BE US+1 & H[ TO DECIDE :I* TACTICS W]E LEGITIMATE4 ,BUT 9/EAD ( SETT+ \R [N AG5DA1 WE HAD ACCEPT$ O!RS' PRIORITIES & LO/ \RSELVES 9 ! PROCESS4 ,! PROBLEM WAS NOT ! ASSEMBLY ITSELF1 BUT RA!R ?AT ?IS BODY WAS UND]/OOD AS ! ONLY PLACE ( DECISION-MAK+1 SO NO ACTION \TSIDE ( IT SEEM$ LEGITIMATE--EV5 TO US4 

,BUILD+ ,9/ITUTIONS OR ,OP5+ UP ,SPACE8 

  

0,BY ORGANIZ+ ASSEMBLIES1 WE WI% TO OP5 NEW SPACES ( >TICULATION ( COMMON P[]1 ?AT WILL BE GR[+ AS WE EX*ANGE EXP]I5CES1 KN[L$GE1 & OP9IONS 9 ORD] TO BUILD A COMMON SPACE ( EQUALITY1 FRE$OM1 & SOLID>ITY40 -9VITATION TO ! FIR/ 0,OP5 ,UPRIS+ ,ASSEMBLY0 9 ,LJUBLJANA1 LATE ,DECEMB] #b#a#b4 

,A FEW MON?S AFT] ! 5D ( #a#e,O1 ! UPRIS+ />T$4 ,BUT NO ONE HURRI$ TO CONV5E ASSEMBLIES4 ,! FIR/ FEW WEEKS ( ACTIVITY 9 ,LJUBLJANA SAW A V>IETY ( DEC5TRALIZ$ ACTIONS1 PROTE/S1 DISCUSSIONS1 & MEET+S4 ,:5 IT BECAME CLE> ?AT C]TA9 ORGANIZ$ GR\PS )9 ! UPRIS+ W]E TRY+ TO DET]M9E & REPRES5T ! MOVEM5T'S DEM&S 9 ORD] TO /E] ! MOVEM5T 9 A C5TRALIZ$ & PR$ICTABLE DIRECTION1 O!R P>TICIPANTS 9TRODUC$ ASSEMBLIES AS A TOOL TO PREV5T C5TRALIZATION & UNIFICATION1 RA!R ?AN AS A ME?OD = BE+ 0DIRECTLY DEMOCRATIC40 ,BY GA!R+ MANY DIFF]5T P>TICIPANTS 9TO ONE PLACE1 ! ASSEMBLY CREAT$ AN 9FRA/RUCTURE 9 :I* EV]Y ATTEMPT TO E/ABLI% HI]>*IES W\LD BE VISIBLE TO EV]YONE & !RE=E QUE/ION$ & REJECT$4 

,FROM ! BEG9N+1 ! 0,UPRIS+ ,OP5 ,ASSEMBLY0 WAS POSITION$ AS ONLY ONE ( SEV]AL DIFF]5T WAYS ( COORD9AT+1 COMMUNICAT+1 & BUILD+ COMMON P[] BY EX*ANG+ EXP]I5CE & KN[L$GE4 ,! AIM WAS TO CREATE A SPACE ( CONV]G5CE & 5C\NT]1 BUT NEV] TO LET IT BECOME ! SOLE PLACE = MAK+ DECISIONS = ! UPRIS+ AS A :OLE4 ,?IS WAS A SPACE = PEOPLE :O WANT$ TO DO SIMIL> ?+S TO F9D EA* O!R1 & TO DISCUSS PROBLEMATIC OCCURR5CES--= 9/ANCE1 IT WAS ! PLAT=M 9 :I* PEOPLE ATTACK$ NATIONALISM4 

,ONE ( ! BIGGE/ A*IEVEM5TS ( ?OSE ASSEMBLIES WAS ?AT !Y S]V$ TO COMMUNICATE RADICAL APPROA*ES TO PEOPLE :O W]E NOT YET US+ !M4 ,! VALUE ( A DIV]SITY ( TACTICS GA9$ RECOGNITION 9 ! ASSEMBLIES2 AS A RESULT ( ! DISCUSSIONS1 MANY P>TICIPANTS COMMITT$ !MSELVES TO SOLID>ITY ) ALL =MS ( PROTE/4 ,DUR+ ! FIR/ FEW PROTE/S1 SOME PEOPLE HAD ACTIVELY TURN$ OV] DEMON/RATORS DRESS$ 9 BLACK TO ! POLICE2 T[>DS ! 5D ( ! UPRIS+1 :5 A FEW PROTE/]S W]E >RE/$1 HUNDR$S ( PEOPLE RAN TO ! POLICE /ATION & BLOCK$ IT UNTIL !Y W]E RELEAS$4 

,AL?\< ! UPRIS+ MA9TA9$ ITS 9T5SITY = HALF A YE>1 ONLY A FEW ASSEMBLIES TOOK PLACE 9 ,LJUBLJANA DUR+ ?AT P]IOD4 ,BAS$ ON \R NEGATIVE EXP]I5CES FROM ! TWO PREC$+ MOVEM5TS1 WE FELT ?AT IF ! IDEA WAS = ! ASSEMBLY TO BE A TOOL = ! MOVEM5T RA!R ?AN AN 5D 9 ITSELF1 IT WAS IMPORTANT TO KN[ :5 TO DROP IT4 ,:5 FEW] PEOPLE W]E %[+ UP ON ! /REETS1 IT BECAME OBVI\S ?AT WE NE$$ TO MOVE ON1 NOT TO TRY TO RECREATE A SITUATION ?AT HAD ALREADY PASS$4 ,AT ! PO9T :5 ! ASSEMBLIES C\LD HAVE BECOME JU/ A SPACE ( NO/ALGIC BEHAVIOR1 WE REFUS$ TO CALL = ANO!R2 9/EAD1 WE />T$ ?9K+ AB\T :]E A NEW PO9T ( CONFLICT MI<T EM]GE1 & H[ TO ORGANIZE >\ND IT4 

,M>IBOR HAD A DIFF]5T EXP]I5CE4 ,NEI<BORHOOD ASSEMBLIES COV]+ R\<LY HALF ( ! CITY >E /ILL HAPP5+ !RE TODAY1 9 #b#a#f1 MORE ?AN ?REE YE>S AFT] ! 5D ( UPRIS+4 ,!Y MO/LY FOCUS ON SELF-ORGANIZ+ DAILY LIFE 9 DIFF]5T CITY NEI<BORHOODS4 ,SOME SPECULATE ?AT ! ASSEMBLIES CONT9U$ 9 ,M>IBOR BUT NOT 9 ,LJUBLJANA BECAUSE !RE WAS A GREAT] NE$ = PRACTICAL SELF-ORGANIZATION 9 A CITY LAID WA/E BY DE-9DU/RIALIZATION4 ,O!RS HAVE >GU$ ?AT ! ASSEMBLIES HAVE CONT9U$ 9 ,M>IBOR BECAUSE ONE ( ! GR\PS !RE MADE IT A PRIORITY TO MA9TA9 !M AS !IR PRIM>Y PROJECT4 ,! OP5 QUE/ION H]E IS :E!R SU* ASSEMBLIES CAN PRODUCE RADICAL CONT5T--OR IS IT 5\< ?AT !Y >E US+ A SUPPOS$LY RADICAL =M8 ,:AT IF ! PEOPLE P>TICIPAT+ 9 ! NEI<BORHOOD ASSEMBLIES USE !M TO PURSUE REACTION>Y GOALS8 ,DOES IT MAKE S5SE TO PROMOTE RADICAL VALUES ALONG ) ! TACTIC ( ASSEMBLY8 ,IS IT 5\< TO OP5 UP SPACE8 

,9 ! UPRIS+1 DESPITE GO+ AGA9/ & BEYOND ! CONCEPTS ( DIRECT DEMOCRACY 9 \R PRACTICES1 WE W]E /ILL US+ ?AT T]M TO DESCRIBE MANY ( \R ACTIONS4 ,?IS BECAME A PROBLEM--NOT SO MU* 9 ! ASSEMBLIES !MSELVES1 BUT 9 CONNECTION ) O!R \TCOMES ( ! UPRIS+4 ,:ILE IT SEEM$ ?AT AN>*I/S & ANTI-AU?ORIT>IAN IDEAS W]E AT ! =EFRONT ( ! DIV]SE ACTIONS ON ! GR\ND1 ! REPRES5TATION ( ! UPRIS+ TO ! PUBLIC FELL TO PEOPLE :O LAT] =M$ A POLITICAL P>TY ALONG ! L9ES ( ,SYRIZA1 PROMIS+ MORE DIRECT DEMOCRACY 9 ! P>LIAM5T & A PRODUCTIVE RELATION%IP ) SOCIAL MOVEM5TS4 ,W\LD !Y HAVE BE5 ABLE TO PULL ?IS (F IF WE HAD NOT HELP$ PROMOTE ! LANGUAGE ( DIRECT DEMOCRACY8 

,AGA9/ & ,BEYOND 7,DIRECT7 ,DEMOCRACY 

  

,:5 ! UPRIS+ WAS DY+1 PEOPLE WOND]$ H[ TO TRANSMIT ! CONNECTIONS WE'D BUILT 9 ! /REETS 9TO \R EV]YDAY LIVES4 ,9 ONE ( ! ASSEMBLIES 9 ,LJUBLJANA1 PEOPLE =M$ A WORK+ GR\P TO ORGANIZE 9 ! NEI<BORHOODS1 HOP+ TO RADICALIZE PEOPLE !RE BY SETT+ UP A /RUCTURE 9 :I* PEOPLE C\LD SELF-ORGANIZE4 

,WE NEV] WANT$ TO BE ! PR(ESSIONAL ORGANIZ]S ( ! RESI/ANCE1 SO WE ONLY ORGANIZ$ 9 ! NEI<BORHOODS :]E WE LIV$2 LIKEWISE1 WE 9T5D$ TO ROTATE ROLES AS MU* AS POSSIBLE4 ,DUR+ ! PEAK ( ! UPRIS+1 :5 ! FREQU5CY ( ACTIONS WAS SO OV]:ELM+ ?AT IT WAS H>D TO KEEP TRACK ( !M ALL1 IT HAD BE5 EASY 5\< TO UTILIZE ! ASSEMBLY AS A TOOL )\T IT BECOM+ AN 5D 9 ITSELF4 ,?IS BECAME MU* H>D] :5 !RE WAS NO ONE ON ! /REETS & ! ASSEMBLIES W]E ! ONLY =M ( ACTION 9 ! NEI<BORHOODS4 ,DESPITE GOOD TURN\TS AT ! NEI<BORHOOD ASSEMBLIES1 WE SOON REALIZ$ ?AT PEOPLE W]E RELY+ ON US TO ORGANIZE & FACILITATE ! MEET+S4 ,ALL ( ! WORK+ GR\PS WANT$ US TO BE 9VOLV$1 TO SU* AN EXT5T ?AT WE FELT ?AT IT WAS NO LONG] A SELF-ORGANIZ$ PROCESS4 ,WE REALIZ$ ?AT IT WAS BETT] NOT TO HAVE ASSEMBLIES AT ALL ?AN TO HAVE !M ORGANIZ$ BY A FEW4 ,WE DIDN'T WANT TO ACCEPT A POSITION ( AU?ORITY 9 ?IS WAY4 

,= ! CITY GOV]NM5T1 H[EV]1 ?IS WAS NOT AN OB/ACLE4 ,:5 WE HE>D ?AT A NEI<BORHOOD :]E WE W]E NOT ORGANIZ+ HAD ALSO />T$ TO HOLD ASSEMBLIES1 AT FIR/ WE ?\<T ?AT WE W]E F9ALLY SEE+ AU!NTIC SELF-ORGANIZATION4 ,UN=TUNATELY1 IT TURN$ \T TO BE AN 9T]V5TION OR*E/RAT$ BY ! CITY GOV]NM5T ?R\< AN ,N,G,O4 ,!Y W]E F9ANC+ PEOPLE TO WORK ON ! PROJECT ( 0SELF-ORGANIZATION40 ,! CITY GOV]NM5T HAD COOPT$ ! FRAMEWORK ( DIRECT DEMOCRACY1 US+ IT AS A TOOL TO NEUTRALIZE ANY POT5TIAL = DISS5T ?AT MI<T EM]GE FROM ?AT NEI<BORHOOD4 

,:5 ! /ATE IS SPONSOR+ DIRECT DEMOCRACY1 WE HAVE TO ASK \RSELVES H[ WE C\LD PREV5T ?IS K9D ( COOPTATION4 ,IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO MAKE MOVEM5TS DEP5D ON A TOOL ?AT IS SO EASILY TURN$ AGA9/ !M8 ,:AT IF ! PROBLEM IS NOT ?AT \R ASSEMBLIES NE$ TO BE IMPROV$1 BUT ?AT !RE IS NO?+ 9H]5T 9 DIRECT DEMOCRACY ?AT DIFF]5TIATES IT FROM ! /ATE8 ,:5 PEOPLE BEGAN TO SUCCE$ 9 OV]?R[+ MON>*IES1 ! /ATE P]SI/$ ?R\< ! 9TRODUCTION ( REPRES5TATIVE DEMOCRACY4 ,ALL ITS 9/ITUTIONS & FUNCTIONS REMA9 9TACT1 ) ! SOLE DIFF]5CE ?AT N[ !Y >E ADM9I/]$ BY ELECT$ REPRES5TATIVES RA!R ?AN H]$IT>Y SOV]EIGNS4 ,C\LD DIRECT DEMOCRACY BE A NEW V]SION ( ?IS COMPROMISE1 ONCE AGA9 PRES]V+ ! UNEV5 DI/RIBUTION ( P[] :ILE GIV+ US ! ILLUSION ( SELF-DET]M9ATION8 

,& 9 ?IS SITUATION1 :]E WE /ILL NE$ TO CREATE SPACES ( 5C\NT]1 OPPORTUNITIES TO 5GAGE 9 OP5 DISCUSSION & REALIZE \R FULL POT5TIAL ?R\< \R 9T]SECTIONS ) ONE ANO!R--WILL ! ASSEMBLY CONT9UE TO PLAY A P>T 9 ?IS PROCESS8 ,PROBABLY4 ,BUT WE MAY HAVE TO APPROA* IT DIFF]5TLY1 NOT UND]/&+ IT AS A TOOL ( DIRECT DEMOCRACY BUT RA!R AS A PLAT=M = CONNECT+ & COORD9AT+ AUTONOM\S ACTIONS & GR\PS4 ,! MO/ REC5T EXAMPLE ( ?IS AS ( MID-#b#a#f IS ! ,ANTI-,RACI/ ,FRONT1 A SPACE = 9DIVIDUALS & GR\PS ACTIVE 9 MIGRANT /RUGGLES4 

,?IS IS \R CONCLUSION COM+ \T ( SEV]AL YE>S ( EXP]IM5TATION ) DIRECT DEMOCRACY 9 ,SLOV5IA3 WE >E T5TATIVELY RETA9+ ! =MS1 BUT WE NE$ TO DIT* ! DISC\RSE4 

7,S\RCE3 HTTPS3_/_/CRIME?9C4COM_/#b#a#f_/#e_/#a#a_/FEATURE-GOTOVO-JE-REFLECTIONS-ON-DIRECT-DEMOCRACY-9-SLOV5IA47 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #a#d1 #bbb 3 0,GOTOVO ,JE60 -- ,ADD$4 

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