,T[>D A ,NEW ,K9D ( ,POLITICAL ,PRACTICE #aihf ,PEOPLE 3 ,AU?OR 3 ,MURRAY ,BOOK*9 ,TAGS 3 VILLAGES T[NS NEITICLE APPE>S 9 ,AN>*Y ,>*IVES ) ! P]MISSION ( ! AU?OR4 ,G,R,E,5 ,P,],S,P,E,C,T,I,V,E,S ,NEWSLETT] ( ! ,GRE5 ,PROGRAM ,PROJECT ,P4,O4 ,BOX #aaa ,BURL+TON1 ,V,T #$b ,NO4 #a ,JANU>Y #aihf ,PHOTO BY ,GREG ,WOLF1,C,C ,B,Y ,LIC5SE ,! ,G,R,E,5,+ ,( ,P,O,L,I,T,I,C,S3 ,T[>D A ,NEW ,K9D ( ,POLITICAL ,PRACTICE BY ,MURRAY ,BOOK*9 ,!RE >E TWO WAYS TO LOOK AT ! WORD 0 POLITICS40 ,! FIR/ -- & MO/ CONV5TIONAL -- IS TO DESCRIBE POLITICS AS A FAIRLY EXCLUSIVE1 G5]ALLY PR(ESSIONAL IZ$ SY/EM ( P[] 9T]ACTIONS 9 :I* SPECIALI/S :OM WE CALL 0POLITICIANS0 =MULATE DECISIONS ?AT AFFECT \R LIVES & ADM9I/] !SE DECISIONS ?R\< GOV]NM5TAL AG5CIES & BUREAUCRATS4 ,!SE 0POLITICIANS0 & !IR 0POLITICS0 >E G5]ALLY REG>D$ ) A C]TA9 MEASURE ( CONTEMPT BY MANY ,AM]ICANS4 ,!Y COME TO P[] P>TLY ?R\< 0P>TIES10 :I* >E HIE 0ELECT$0 & BELONG TO 0! ,ELECT0 7TO TRANSLATE AN OLD RELIGI\S T]M 9TO A 0POLITICAL0 ONE71 &1 9 ?IS S5SE1 =M A DI/9CT HI]>*ICAL ELITE H[EV] MU* !Y PR(ESS TO 0SPEAK0 9 0! ,PEOPLE'S0 NAME4 ,!Y >E NOT 0! ,PEOPLE40 ,!Y >E ITS 0REPRES5TATIVES0 AT BE/1 :I* SETS !M AP>T FROM ! PEOPLE1 & ITS MANIPULATORS AT WOR/1 :I* (T5 SETS !M AGA9/ ! PEOPLE4 ,QUITE (T51 !Y >E V]Y (F5SIVE CREATURES BECAUSE !Y 5GAGE 9 MANIPULATIVE1 IMMORAL1 & ELITI/ PRACTICES1 US+ MASS M$IA & NORMALLY BETRAY+ SOME ( !IR MO/ BASIC PROGRAMMATIC COMMITM5TS TO 0S]VE0 ! PEOPLE4 ,RA!R1 !Y T5D TO S]VE SPECIAL 9T]E/ GR\PS1 USUALLY WELL- HEEL$ MONEY$ ONES1 :O >E LIKELY TO ADVANCE !IR C>E]S & MAT]IAL WELL-BE+4 ,?IS PR(ESSIONALIZ$1 ELITI/1 (T5 IMMORAL1 & MANIPULATIVE SY/EM ( 0POLITICS10 :I* USUALLY MAKES A MOCK]Y ( ! DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES WE ASSOCIATE ) \R TRADITIONS1 IS A RELATIVELY NEW POLITICAL CONCEPTION4 ,IT >OSE ) ! ,NATION-,/ATE SEV]AL HUNDR$ YE>S AGO1 :5 ! ,ABSOLUTE MON>*S ( ,EUROPE LIKE ,H5RY ,V,I,I,I 9 ,5GL& OR ,L\IS ,X,I,V 9 ,FRANCE BEGAN TO C5TRALIZE 5ORM\S P[] 9 !IR H&S1 =M+ ! HI]>*ICAL /ATES WE ASSOCIATE ) 0,GOV]NM5T0 & C>V+ \T ?OSE DI/9CT L>GE-SCALE JURISDICTIONS WE CALL 0NATIONS0 FROM MORE DEC5TRALIZ$ JURISDICTIONS SU* AS FREE CITIES1 CONF$]ATIONS ( LOCALITIES1 & A V>IETY ( FEUDAL DOMA9S4 ,BE=E ! =MATION ( ! ,NATION-,/ATE 0POLITICS0 HAD A MEAN+ ?AT WAS V]Y DIFF]5T FROM ! ONE IT HAS TODAY -- & ! 0P[]S ?AT BE0 >E DO+ EV]Y?+ !Y CAN TO ]ASE ! MEMORY ( ?IS MEAN+ FROM \R M9DS4 ,AT ITS BE/1 IT MEANT ?AT PEOPLE AT ! COMMUNITY LEVEL -- 9 VILLAGES1 T[NS1 NEIEFUL TO CLOSELY SUP]VISE ! ADM9I/RATIVE ACTIVITIES ( ! C\NCILS1 RECALL+ 0DEPUTIES0 :OSE BEHAVIOR BECAME ! OBJECT ( PUBLIC DISAPPROVAL4 ,MOREOV]1 POLITICAL LIFE EXT5D$ BEYOND CITIZ5S' ASSEMBLIES TO 9CLUDE A RI* POLITICAL CULTURE3 DAILY PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS 9 SQU>ES1 P>KS1 /REET-CORN]S1 $UCATIONAL 9/ITUTIONS1 OP5 LECTURES1 CLUBS1 & ! LIKE4 ,PEOPLE DISCUSS$ POLITICS :]EV] !Y CAME TOGE!R1 AS ?\< !Y W]E PREP>+ !MSELVES = ! CITIZ5S' ASSEMBLIES4 ,POLITICS WAS A =M ( $UCATION1 NOT MOBILIZATION2 ITS GOAL WAS NOT ONLY =MULAT+ DECISIONS BUT BUILD+ *>ACT] & DEVELOP+ M9D4 ,IT WAS A SELF-=MATIVE PROCESS 9 :I* ! CITIZ5 BODY DEVELOP$ NOT ONLY A RI* S5SE ( COHESION BUT A RI* S5SE ( P]SONAL SELFHOOD -- ?AT 9DISP5SABLE SELF-DEVELOPM5T SO NECESS>Y TO FO/] SELF-ADM9I/RATION & SELF- MANAGEM5T4 ,F9ALLY1 ! CONCEPT ( A POLITICAL CULTURE GAVE RISE TO CIVIC RITUALS1 FE/IVALS1 CELEBRATIONS1 & %>$ EXPRESSIONS ( JOY & M\RN+ ?AT PROVID$ EV]Y LOCALITY1 BE IT A VILLAGE1 T[N1 NEIACT]S & ! LATT] UNIT$ TOGE!R TO =M ! CONT\RS & DOMA9 ( A /RONG PUBLIC SPH]E4 ,IT REMA9S TO EMPHASIZE ?AT SU* FREE COMMUNITIES DID NOT ALWAYS OR NECESS>ILY DISSOLVE 9TO SELF-CONTA9$1 MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE1 & P>O*IAL UNITS4 ,!Y (T5 NETWORK$ ) EA* O!R TO COORD9ATE !IR DECISIONS 9 A COOP]ATIVE WAY4 ,!Y CONF$]AT$ -- 9ITIALLY ON ! EQUIVAL5T ( :AT WE1 TODAY1 W\LD DESIGNATE AS A 0C\NTY0 LEVEL2 LAT]1 9 MANY CASES1 ON A REGIONAL 7P]HAPS EQUIVAL5TLY1 9 ! ,U4,S41 ON A /ATEWIDE7 LEVEL4 ,WE HAVE A RI* HI/ORY ( SU* MUNICIPAL CONF$]ATIONS1 9 SOME CASES /RUCTUR$ >\ND GRASSROOTS1 EV5 NEIEFULLY SUP]VIS$ C\NCILS ADM9I/]$ !M 9 A PURELY TE*NICAL WAY4 ,:]EV] EXP]TS W]E NE$$ TO PROVIDE /RICTLY TE*NICAL ALT]NATIVES1 !Y W]E ORGANIZ$ 9TO ADVISORY BO>DS &1 LACK+ ANY DECISION-MAK+ P[]S1 ADVANC$ V>I\S ALT]NATIVES = CONSID]ATION1 MODIFICATION1 & DET]M9ATION BY ! CITIZ5S' ASSEMBLIES 9 VILLAGES1 T[NS1 NEIBITRATION BO>DS1 SU* AS !Y /ILL >E TODAY :5 DIFF]5T1 (T5 CONFLICT+ V>IATIONS ( ! SAME LAW >E PASS$ BY ! ,U4,S4 ,S5ATE & ! ,H\SE ( ,REPRES5TATIVES4 _? ,! MOD]N V]SION ( :AT WE CALL 0POLITICS10 TODAY1 IS REALLY /ATECRAFT4 ,IT EMPHASIZES 0PR(ESSIONALISM10 NOT POPUL> CONTROL2 ! MONOPOLY ( P[] BY ! FEW1 NOT ! EMP[]M5T ( ! MANY2 ! 0ELECTION0 ( AN 0,ELECT0 GR\P1 NOT FACE-TO-FACE DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES ?AT 9VOLVE ! PEOPLE AS A :OLE2 0REPRES5TATION10 NOT P>TICIPATION4 ,WE USE 0POLITICS0 TO MOBILIZE 0CON/ITU5CIES0 TO A*IEVE PRESELECT$ GOALS1 NOT $UCATE !M 9TO ! SELF MANAGEM5T ( SOCIETY & ! =MATION ( ! /RONG SELVES ?AT MAKE = G5U9E 9DIVIDUALITY & P]SONALITY4 ,WE DEAL ) ! PEOPLE AS A PASSIVE 0ELECTORATE0 :OSE 0POLITICAL0 TASK IS TO RITUALI/ICALLY VOTE = 0C&IDATES0 :O COME FROM SO-CALL$ 0P>TIES10 NOT = DEPUTIES :O >E /RICTLY M&AT$ TO ADM9I/] ! POLICIES =MULAT$ & DECID$ BY ACTIVE CITIZ5S4 ,WE /RESS OB$I5CE1 NOT 9VOLVEM5T -- & EV5 DI/ORT WORDS LIKE 09VOLVEM5T0 TO MEAN LITTLE MORE ?AN A SPECTATORIAL /ANCE 9 :I* ! 9DIVIDUAL IS LO/ 9 ! 0MASS0 & ! 0MASSES0 >E !MSELVES FRAGM5T$ 9TO ISOLAT$1 FRU/RAT$1 & P[]LESS ATOMS4 ,?IS IMAGE ( 0POLITICS10 AS #a HAVE 9DICAT$1 IS A FAIRLY REC5T PH5OM5ON ?AT EM]G$ 9 ,EUROPE 9 ! SIXTE5? C5TURY & MADE ITS WAY 9TO POPUL> CONSCI\SNESS 9 FAIRLY REC5T TIMES4 ,IT WAS /ILL NOT ! ACCEPT$ NOTION ( 0POLITICS0 9 ! LA/ C5TURY4 ,QUITE TO ! CONTR>Y3 ! ,NATION-,/ATE 9 ,FRANCE1 ,SPA91 ,G]MANY1 & ,ITALY -- & P]HAPS MO/ SIGNIFICANTLY1 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES -- /ILL HAD TO MAKE EV]Y EF=T TO ASS]T ITS AU?ORITY OV] LOCALITIES & REGIONS AGA9/ MASSIVE POPUL> RESI/ANCE4 ,9 ,AM]ICA1 ?IS PROCESS IS P]HAPS LESS ,COMPLETE ?AN MO/ ,EUROPEAN C\NTRIES4 ,\R ,REVOLUTION1 TWO C5TURIES AGO1 GAVE 5ORM\S P[]S -- 9ITIALLY COMPLETE P[] -- TO REGIONAL & LOCAL >EAS 7,I REF] TO \R FIR/ CON/ITUTION1 ,! ,>TICLES ( ,CONF$]ATION1 :I* GAVE ! ORIG9AL ?IRTE5 /ATES PREEMPTIVE AU?ORITY OV] ! NATIONAL GOV]NM5T -- A CON/ITUTION1 ,I MAY ADD1 ?AT FAVOR$ ! F>M]S & URBAN POOR OV] ! WEAL?Y1 H5CE ITS 0IGNOBLE0 PLACE 9 \R HI/ORY TEXTS7 & /RUCTUR$ \R DEF5SE >\ND A CITIZ5'S MILITIA1 NOT A PR(ESSIONAL >MY4 ,! REALITY ( E>LY POLITICS P]SI/$ = G5]ATIONS EV5 AFT] ! ,NATION-,/ATE BEGAN TO ASS]T ITSELF JURIDICIALLY4 ',?AT IS TO SAY1 REGIONS & MUNICIPALITIES RETA9$ 5ORM\S DE FACTO P[] & PROVID$ VITAL POLITICAL >5AS DESPITE ! 5ACTM5T ( LAWS TO DIM9I% !IR ACTIVITIES & PLACE !M UND] ! ,NATION-,/ATE'S SOV]EIGNTY4 ,! ,AM]ICAN TRADITION1 (T5 9 M>K$ CONTRA/ TO ! ,EUROPEAN1 /RESSES ?IS IDEAL ( LOCAL AUTONOMY & ! DANG]S ( EXCESSIVE ,/ATE P[]4 ,?AT TRADITION EMPHASIZES ! RIIES & ! SPOKESM5 ( L>GE CORPORATIONS TO PREEMPT !SE BASIC LIB]T>IAN ,AM]ICAN IDEALS4 ,WE HAVE P]MITT$ !M NOT ONLY TO BECOME ! SPECI\S 0VOICE0 ( !SE IDEALS SU* ?AT 9DIVIDUALISM HAS BE5 US$ TO JU/IFY EGOTISM2 ! 0PURSUIT ( HAPP9ESS0 TO JU/IFY GRE$1 & EV5 \R EMPHASIS ON LOCAL & REGIONAL AUTONOMY HAS BE5 US$ TO JU/IFY P>O*IALISM1 9SUL>ISM1 & EXCLUSIVITY -- (T5 AGA9/ E?NIC M9ORITIES & SO-CALL$ 0DEVIANT0 9DIVIDUALS4 ,WE HAVE EV5 P]MITT$ !SE REACTION>IES TO /AKE \T A CLAIM TO ! WORD 0LIB]T>IAN10 A WORD1 9 FACT1 ?AT WAS LIT]ALLY DEVIS$ 9 ! #a#h#iS 9 ,FRANCE BY ,ELISEE ,RECLUS AS A SUB/ITUTE = ! WORD 0AN>*I/10 :I* ! GOV]NM5T HAD R5D]$ AN ILLEGAL EXPRESSION = ID5TIFY+ ONE'S VIEWS4 ,! PROP]T>IANS1 9 EFFECT -- ACOLYTES ( ,AYN ,R&1 ! 0E>? MO!R0 ( GRE$1 EGOTISM1 & ! VIRTUES ( PROP]TY -- HAVE APPROPORIAT$ EXPRESSIONS & TRADITIONS ?AT %\LD HAVE BE5 EXPRESS$ BY RADICALS BUT W]E WILLFULLY NEGLECT$ BECAUSE ( ! LURE ( ,EUROPEAN & ,ASIAN TRADITIONS ( 0SOCIALISM10 0SOCIALISMS0 ?AT >E N[ 5T]+ 9TO DECL9E 9 ! V]Y C\NTRIES 9 :I* !Y ORIG9AT$4 ,IT IS TIME1 AT LONG LA/1 ?AT WE DEVELOP$ A POLITICS ?AT IS NOT /ATECRAFT -- A /ATECRAFT ?AT ! ,AM]ICAN PEOPLE ALREADY VIEW ) DEEP & JU/IFIABLE SUSPICION4 ,IT IS TIME1 TOO1 ?AT WE BEG9 TO SPEAK TO ! ,AM]ICAN PEOPLE 9 ! VOCABUL>Y ( HOMEGR[N ,AM]ICAN RADICALISM1 NOT ,G]MAN ,M>XISM OR ,*9ESE ,MAOISM1 A VOCABUL>Y ?AT IS WAN+ EV5 9 ,G]MANY & ,*9A4 ,F9ALLY1 IT IS TIME ?AT WE DEVELOP AN ORGANIC POLITICS -- AN ECOLOGICAL POLITICS - - NOT A /ATI/ POLITICS /RUCTUR$ >\ND P>TIES1 BUREAUCRACIES1 POLITICAL SPECIALI/S1 & ELITES4 ,ORGANIC OR ECOLOGICAL - 9 A WORD1 ,GRE5 -- MEANS LIT]ALLY ! EVOLUTION ( A POLITICS ( ! ORGANISM 9 ! V]Y REAL S5SE ?AT WE BEG9 ) ! CELLUL> LEVEL ( SOCIAL LIFE3 ! COMMUNITY1 BE IT ! NEITIES1 BUREAUCRACIES1 0EXECUTIVES10 & ! LIKE4 ,GRE5 POLITICS MEANS ?AT WE APPLY ECOLOGICAL PR9CIPLES & PROCESSES TO \R WAYS ( FUNCTION+ POLITICALLY -- AT GRASSROOTS LEVELS 9 FACE-TO-FACE1 DEMOCRATIC1 & POPUL> ASSEMBLIES4 ,IT MEANS AN 9TIMATE POLITICS ?AT IS BAS$ ON $UCATION1 NOT SIMPLY MOBILIZATION1 SU* ?AT WE HELP TO CREATE ACTIVE1 POLITICALLY CONC]N$1 P>TICIPATORY CITIZ5S1 NOT PASSIVE1 PRIVATIZ$1 & SPECTATORIAL 0CON/ITU5TS0 :O HAVE NO CONTROL OV] !IR DE/9IES4 ,! T]RA9 = ?IS POLITICS IS ! MUNICIPALITY3 NEIALLEL LOCAL 9/ITUTIONS 9 ! ,U4,S4 >E /ILL V]Y MU* 9 PLACE4 ,!Y EXI/ AS A DEMOCRACY )9 \R REPUBLIC & AS A =M ( 9DIG5\S RADICALISM )9 \R DEMOCRACY4 ,\R DEM& %\LD BE3 ,AM]ICANS6 ,9 AN ]A ( EV]-GR[+ ,/ATE C5TRALIZATION & BUREAUCRATIZATION1 WE DEM& ?AT WE DEMOCRATIZE \R REPUBLIC & RADICALIZE \R DEMOCRACY6 ,FROM 3 ,AN>*Y ,>*IVES4 ,*RONOLOGY 3 ,DECEMB] #c#a1 #aihe 3 ,T[>D A ,NEW ,K9D ( ,POLITICAL ,PRACTICE -- ,PUBLICATION4 ,FEBRU>Y #b1 #bag 3 ,T[>D A ,NEW ,K9D ( ,POLITICAL ,PRACTICE -- ,ADD$4 ,DECEMB] #c1 #bba 3 ,T[>D A ,NEW ,K9D ( ,POLITICAL ,PRACTICE -- ,UPDAT$4 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3 HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/