,A ,DIALOG ON ,PRIMITIVISM 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,JOHN ,Z]ZAN 

,AU?OR 3 ,LAWR5CE ,J>A* 

,TEXT 3 

,A ,DIALOGUE ON ,PRIMITIVISM3 ,LAWR5CE ,J>A* 9T]VIEWS ,JOHN ,Z]ZAN 

,!RE >E MANY PREJUDIC$ C>ICATURES & OBJECTIONS CONC]N+ PRIMITIVISM2 = EXAMPLE ?AT ITS PROPON5TS WANT TO GO 0BACK TO ! ,/ONE ,AGE10 OR ?AT ANY MOVE AWAY FROM 9DU/RIAL CAPITALISM W\LD RESULT 9 AN IMM$IATE MASS DIE-(F ( ?\S&S -- IF NOT MILLIONS -- ( HUMANS4 ,!SE DISMISSALS %[CASE A LACK ( S]I\SNESS ON ! P>T ( ANTI-PRIMITIVI/S1 & !IR REFUSAL TO 5GAGE 9 ANY K9D ( SUB/ANTIAL DIALOGUE >\ND ! ISSUES ( ! ORIG9S ( CAPITALISM & ! V>I\S ME*ANISMS ( SOCIAL CONTROL & DOM9ATION4 ,:ILE UND]/&ABLE COM+ FROM NON-AN>*I/S 7:O >E 5GAG$ 9 PROMOT+ ONE OR ANO!R =M ( DOM9ATION & EXPLOITATION71 SU* A KNEE-J]K REACTION FROM AN>*I/S & ANTIAU?ORIT>IANS IS CAUSE = CONC]N4 ,CAN IT REALLY BE ! CASE ?AT ! ISSUES ( 9DU/RIALIZATION1 URBANISM1 C5TRALIZ$ TE*NOLOGIES1 & ! FUR!R+ ( HI]>*ICAL P[] RELATIONS ?AT >ISE FROM !SE PH5OM5A >E (F-LIMITS TO AN>*I/ DISC\RSE8 

,AS F> AS ,I CAN TELL1 MO/ PRIMITIVI/S ONLY WANT TO GO BACK AS F> AS ! ,IRON ,AGE4 ,AS = ! SUPPOS$ MASS DIE-(F1 ?IS DEVA/ATION W\LDN'T T\* ! MAJORITY ( PEOPLE 9 ! NON- & SEMI-9DU/RIAL >EAS ( ,ASIA1 ,AFRICA1 & ,S\? ,AM]ICA1 :O >E ALREADY EXP]I5C+ MASS />VATION & DEA?4 ,PEOPLE 9 !SE PLACES >E SUFF]+ & DY+ AT ! H&S ( ! CURR5T REGIMES ( AU/]ITY IMPOS$ BY ! ,9T]NATIONAL ,MONET>Y ,FUND1 & OCCASIONALLY BACK$ UP BY ,U,S_/,U,N MILIT>Y =CE4 ,!N !RE'S ! OV]PRODUCTION & EXPORT+ ( CA% CROPS 7) ITS DISRUPTION ( TRADITIONALLY SU/A9ABLE L& USE & AGRICULTURE1 & ! RELIANCE ON PETRO-*EMICAL F]TILIZ]S & G5ETICALLY 5G9E]$ SE$7 TO (FSET GOV]NM5T DEBTS4 ,! IDEA ?AT !SE >EAS NE$ TO BECOME EV5 MORE 9DU/RIALIZ$ 9 ORD] TO 0SAVE0 !IR POPULATIONS FROM />VATION & MASS DEA? IS ! SELF-S]V+ POSITION ( ! BRA9S BEH9D ! ,WORLD ,BANK1 ,I,M,F1 ,N,A,F,T,A1 ,G,A,T,T1 ,W,T,O1 ETC4 ,IT IS APPALL+ ?AT MANY AN>*I/S SEEM TO BELIEVE ! ASSUMPTIONS & CONCLUSIONS ( !SE TE*NOCRATS1 BANK]S1 & CAPITALI/S4 

,9 ORD] TO CL>IFY SOME ( ! MISUND]/&+S AB\T PRIMITIVISM1 ,I 9ITIAT$ ?IS DIALOGUE ) ,JOHN ,Z]ZAN1 CONSID]$ BY MANY TO BE ! MA9 !ORETICIAN & SPOKESP]SON ( AN>*O-PRIMITIVISM1 ONE ( ! NEWE/ TR5DS )9 ANTIAU?ORIT>IANISM4 

,LAWR5CE ,J>A*3 ,!RE >E MANY ECOLOGICALLY M9D$ AN>*I/S !SE DAYS1 FROM ,SOCIAL ,ECOLOGI/S TO ,GRE5 ,AN>*I/S1 TO ,E>? ,FIR/]S1 TO PRIMITIVI/S4 ,IT SEEMS ?AT !RE >E MANY >EAS ( OV]LAPP+ CONC]NS & ANALYZES1 BUT ALSO DIFF]5CES 9 T]MS ( /RATEGIES = PROMOT+ !SE VISIONS ( A BETT] FUTURE4 ,GRE5 AN>*I/S = EXAMPLE1 SEEM TO TAKE !IR /RATEGIC CUE FROM ! DIRECT ACTION W+ ( ,E>? ,FIR/61 :ILE NOT NECESS>ILY ESP\S+ ! ,E,F6 IDEAS ( NEO-,MAL?USIANISM4 ,PRIMITIVISM1 ON ! O!R H&1 SEEMS TO BE A MORE !ORETICAL P]SPECTIVE1 CELEBRAT+ 7CRITICALLY1 ( C\RSE7 ! PRE-CIVILIZATION #i#i.0 ( HUMAN EXI/5CE :5 !RE WAS NO /ATE OR ANY O!R 9/ITUTIONALIZ$ =MS ( POLITICAL P[]4 ,SOCIAL ,ECOLOGY1 AS >TICULAT$ BY ,MURRAY ,BOOK*91 SEEMS TO EMPHASIZE ! RATIONAL ABILITY ( HUMANS TO 9T]V5E E?ICALLY & WISELY 9 ! NATURAL WORLD1 :ILE LEAV+ MU* ( ! 9DU/RIAL BASE ( MOD]N CAPITALISM UNT\*$ ASIDE FROM SOME SORT ( F$]AT$ QUASI-SYNDICALI/ SELF-MANAGEM5T4 ,SOCIAL ,ECOLOGI/S TAKE ! EXI/5CE ( URBAN 9DU/RIALISM = GRANT$1 :ILE PRIMITIVI/ DISC\RSE REJECTS ! 9EVITABILITY ( IT4 ,SOCIAL ,ECOLOGI/S BUILD ON ! ASSUMPTIONS ( LEFTISM 7:I* HAS SOCIAL CONTROL AS ONE ( ITS F\NDATIONAL PR9CIPLES7 & !IR ANALYZES & /RATEGIES = SOCIAL *ANGE COME FROM IT4 ,MY S5SE IS ?AT PRIMITIVISM IS A CRITICAL & ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK1 :ILE GRE5 AN>*I/S 5GAGE 9 ACTIONS ?AT MAKE S5SE FROM ?AT FRAMEWORK4 ,W\LD IT BE CORRECT TO SAY ?AT :ILE ALL SOCIAL ECOLOGI/S >E LEFTI/S1 NOT ALL GRE5 AN>*I/S >E PRIMITIVI/S8 ,:AT >E ! DIFF]5CES AS Y\ UND]/& !M8 

,JOHN ,Z]ZAN3 ,YES1 ALL SOCIAL ECOLOGI/S SEEM TO EMBRACE NOT ONLY MASS PRODUCTION & HI<LY DEVELOP$ TE*NOLOGY1 BUT ALSO ! DIVISION ( LABOR & DOME/ICATION ?AT UND]GIRD !M & DRIVE !M =W>D TO NEW LEVELS ( /&>DIZATION & E/RANGEM5T4 ,SOCIAL ECOLOGY IS P]HAPS ! LA/ REFUGE ( ! LEFT1 AS 0GRE50 AW>5ESS NECESS>ILY SPREADS4 ,BUT IT IS ALSO TRUE ?AT GRE5 AN>*I/S MAY ACTUALLY HOLD ONTO SOME ( ! SAME BASIC 9/ITUTIONS4 ,I'M REF]R+ TO ?OSE :O EXPLICITLY REJECT ! 0PRIMITIVI/0 PO9T ( VIEW4 ,TO ME PRIMITIVISM 7& ,I USE ! T]M RELUCTANTLY1 AS %OR?&1 HOP+ IT DOES NOT H>D5 9TO AN IDEOLOGY OR DOGMA7 MEANS QUE/ION+ & REJECT+ SU* BASIC 9/ITUTIONS AS DIVISION ( LABOR & DOME/ICATION4 ,GRE5 ,AN>*I/ 7,U4,K47 IS V]Y CLE>LY PRIMITIVI/1 REJECT+ CIVILIZATION & ITS BASIS1 AGRICULTURE 7DOME/ICATION74 ,! F\ND+ $ITOR ( ,GRE5 ,AN>*Y 7,U4,S471 ON ! O!R H&1 IS A GRE5 AN>*I/ BUT NOT A PRIMITIVI/4 ,HE HAS NO PROBLEM ) DOME/ICATION4 

,:AT ,I FE>1 AS ! NEW MOVEM5T DEVELOPS1 IS ! AGE-OLD 5EMY1 CO-OPTATION OR RECUP]ATION4 ,GRE5 AN>*ISM S\NDS GOOD1 IT'S ! COM+ ?+1 BUT IT MAY BE TOO VAGUE OR FLABBY4 ,:AT DOES IT REALLY MEAN8 ,H[ F> DO GRE5 AN>*I/S WANT TO GO1 SEE ! NE$ TO GO8 ,:AT 9/ITUTIONS DOES ,GRE5 ,AN>*ISM PLACE (F-LIMITS TO CRITIQUE1 ?AT >E NOT P>T ( ! DEEP5+ CRISIS8 

,L,J3 ,! FIR/ & SEEM+LY MA9 OBJECTION ?R[N AT A PRIMITIVI/ \TLOOK IS ?AT 0MILLIONS WILL DIE IMM$IATELY0 :E!R ?R\< />VATION OR G5OCIDE1 IF ! /ATE & 9DU/RIAL CIVILIZATION W]E DISMANTL$4 ,H[ DO Y\ RESPOND TO ?IS ACCUSATION8 

,J,Z3 ,CIVILIZATION HAS ALWAYS TOLD PEOPLE ?AT !Y CAN'T SURVIVE )\T ITS COM=TS & PROTECTIONS4 ,\TSIDE ! CITY WALLS LIE DANG]1 *AOS1 DEA?4 ,WE'VE ALWAYS BE5 HELD HO/AGE TO CIVILIZATION1 :I* IS NOT TO =GET ?AT BILLIONS ( PEOPLE N[ 9HABIT ! PLANET4 ,P]HAPS ! KEY WORD 9 Y\R QUE/ION IS 0IMM$IATELY40 ,9 O!R WORDS1 IF ! :OLE PREVAIL+ APP>ATUS VANI%$ 9/ANTLY SOMEH[1 MILLIONS PROBABLY W\LD DIE4 7,MANY HAVE DI$ & CONT9UE TO DIE UNTIMELY DEA?S UND] ! PRES5T SY/EM1 BY ! WAY47 

,! KEY IS 9 H[ A *ANGEOV] W\LD COME AB\T4 ,P]HAPS ! ONLY WAY IT C\LD HAPP5 IS :5 MO/ PEOPLE DECIDE ?AT *ANGE NE$S TO HAPP51 & ?US BECOME 9VOLV$ 9 MAK+ IT HAPP54 ,:5_/IF ?IS OCCURS1 A TRANSITION W\LD BE CREATIVELY UND]TAK5 9 ! 9T]E/S ( ?OSE 9VOLV$4 ,NOT 9 AN 9/ANT1 BUT AS QUICKLY & ?OR\<LY AS POSSIBLE4 

,BRIEFLY1 ONE SPECIFIC EXAMPLE IS A NEW P>ADIGM = FOOD4 ,! WORK ( ,MOLLISON &1 EV5 MORE1 ,FUKUOKA1 = 9/ANCE1 %[ ?AT A GREAT DEAL ( VEGETABLES CAN BE GR[N 9 V]Y SMALL >EAS4 ,?IS ME?OD NOT ONLY AVOIDS ! GREAT 5]GY WA/E ( GLOBAL TRANSPORTATION1 /ORAGE1 ETC41 BUT CAN MOVE 9 ANTI-DOME/ICATION DIRECTIONS4 ,FUKUOKA'S 0NO-WORK0 APPROA* REM9DS ME ( ! ,JOHNNY ,APPLESE$ /ORY1 :I* C]TA9LY ALSO HAD ANTI-PRIVATE PROP]TY IMPLICATIONS4 

,L,J3 ,! L9E ?AT CIVILIZ]S ?R[ AT ! RE/ ( US CONC]N+ SURVIVAL REM9DS ME ( ! SAME L9E ?AT TE*NOCRATS ?R[ AT ! RE/ ( US AB\T SO-CALL$ LABOR-SAV+ DEVICES FREE+ UP \R TIME SO ?AT IT CAN BE US$ = MORE 9T]E/+ & FUN ?+S4 ,9 FACT1 ALL !SE DEVICES HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE = ! WORK]S OP]AT+ !M TO 9CREASE !IR PRODUCTIVE \TPUT = ! SAME WAGE AS BE=E ! 9TRODUCTION ( ! DEVICE4 ,! 0LABOR-SAV+0 IS ON ! BOSS'S SIDE3 HE CAN SAVE ON ! WAGE-LABOR HE HAS TO EXP5D1 !REBY 9CREAS+ HIS PR(ITS4 ,IT'S ! TYPICAL AU?ORIT>IAN LIE3 0?IS IS = Y\R [N GOOD40 ,DO Y\ ?9K IT W\LD BE POSSIBLE TO 9V5T A DEVICE ?AT ACTUALLY W\LD BE TIME-SAV+ & /ILL BE ACCEPTABLE = TE*NOPHOBES OR PRIMITIVI/S8 

,J,Z3 ,I RECALL SOMEONE ) ,FIF? ,E/ATE ASS]T+1 AB\T #b YE>S AGO1 ?AT !RE SIMPLY IS NO 0LABOR-SAV+ DEVICE40 ,BASICALLY MEAN+ ?AT :5 ANY MA*9E OR DEVICE IS DECON/RUCT$1 IT CAN BE SE5 TO CONTA9 MORE CONGEAL$ OR REQUIR$ LABOR ?AN IS ACTUALLY 0SAV$0 BY ITS USE4 ,?IS W\LD 9CLUDE ALL K9DS ( HIDD5 9PUTS1 SU* AS /ORAGE1 TRANSPORTATION1 M>KET+1 ETC4 ,I'VE NEV] HE>D ?IS ASS]TION REFUT$4 

,= ME1 H[EV]1 IT IS NOT SO MU* :E!R OR NOT !RE IS A SAV+1 WORK-WISE1 AS :E!R OR NOT DIVISION ( LABOR IS 9VOLV$4 ,IF DIVISION ( LABOR DE/ROYS :OL5ESS1 AUTONOMY1 NON-HI]>*Y1 ?AT IS MORE IMPORTANT4 ,9 FACT1 IT MAY BE ?AT ONLY NON-DIVISION-(-LABOR DEVICES 7LIKE A LEV] OR 9CL9E7 >E ACTUALLY LABOR-SAV+4 

,L,J3 ,! CRITIQUE ( CIVILIZATION & TE*NOLOGY LEADS TO SOME 9T]E/+ IDEAS FROM A PHILOSOPHICAL & EV5 EPI/EMOLOGICAL P]SPECTIVE4 ,= EXAMPLE ! CONCLUSION ?AT Y\ HAVE DRAWN CONC]N+ ! PROCESS ( SYMBOLIC ?\<T 7LANGUAGE1 MUSIC1 NUMB]S1 >T73 ?AT IT RESULTS 9 DOME/ICATION1 & ?AT IT IS DOME/ICATION ( PLANTS & ANIMALS ?AT !N LEADS TO CIVILIZATION1 :I* 9 TURN W\LD BE IMPOSSIBLE )\T 9/ITUTIONALIZ$ HI]>*IES & POLITICAL P[]4 ,YET CLE>LY WE CANNOT REJECT ! USE ( LANGUAGE OR MUSIC OR O!R =MS ( SYMBOLIC ?\<T TODAY4 ,DOES A CRITIQUE NECESSITATE A REJECTION8 ,I DON'T LIKE AUTOMOBILES OR COMPUT]S1 BUT ,I HAVE ONE ( EA*4 ,BECAUSE ,I HAVE A CRITIQUE ( !IR MANUFACTURE & USE )9 ! P>AMET]S ( #b#a/ C5TURY ,AM]ICAN 9DU/RIAL CAPITALISM1 DOES ?AT MEAN ?AT ,I CAN'T USE !M8 ,IF ,I DIDN'T HAVE ! CRITIQUE1 W\LD ,I BE 0(F ! HOOK0 9 T]MS ( MY RESPONSIBILITY = ! CONT9UATION ( !IR HEGEMONY8 

,J,Z3 ,AS = H[ TO DISMANTLE SYMBOLIC CULTURE ITSELF1 ALL ,I CAN SAY IS ?AT FIR/ ! TOPIC NE$S TO BE ADDRESS$4 ,IT HASN'T BE5 YET1 SO LET'S />T !RE4 ,BUT A CRITIQUE DOES MEAN A REJECTION1 O!RWISE IT'S JU/ TALK1 JU/ MORE ACCOMMODATION TO :AT IS4 ,9 ! SAME VE91 PEOPLE MAY D5Y ?AT A PROBLEM EXI/S2 BUT ?IS MAY TURN \T LAT] TO HAVE BE5 AN UN=GIVABLE FAILURE ( MORAL IMAG9ATION4 ,HI/ORY HAS JUDG$1 OV] & OV]1 ?AT = SUBSEQU5T G5]ATIONS1 IGNORANCE & D5IAL DO NOT EXCUSE ! COMPLICITY 9H]5T 9 DO+ NO?+4 ,ACQUIESC5CE TO SLAV]Y1 ,NAZI ASC5DANCY1 & ,/AL9I/ T]ROR >E ONLY ?REE ( MANY REC5T EXAMPLES4 ,A LOT ( CONTEMPOR>Y AU?ORS PRES5T A NE>-COMPLETE 9DICTM5T1 ONLY TO COP \T AT ! V]Y 5D4 ,ANY NUMB] ( BOOKS SAY1 9 EFFECT1 0,NATURALLY1 ,I DON'T ADVOCATE ACTUALLY DISMANTL+ ! PRES5T SOCIETY4 ,I JU/ MEAN ?AT WE HAVE TO ?9K AB\T IT DIFF]5TLY40 ,OR SOME SIMIL> 9CONSEQU5TIAL NONS5SE4 ,?AT'S H[ PEOPLE GET PUBLI%$4 

,L,J3 ,I SEE Y\R PO9T AB\T ! RELATION ( CRITIQUE TO REJECTION4 ,& ,I HAVE NO PROBLEM ) ! IDEA ?AT %\LD ! 9DU/RIAL 9FRA/RUCTURE BECOME UNUSABLE1 ,I'D HAVE TO TURN TO ALT]NATE MODES ( TRANSPORTATION & COMMUNICATION4 ,9 ! MEANTIME1 DOES IT MAKE S5SE TO USE ! TE*NOLOGIES ?AT EXI/ 9 ORD] TO SPREAD !SE CRITIQUES8 ,I'M ?9K+ AB\T ! NEW WEBSITE PRIMITIVISM4COM :I*1 UPON FIR/ HE>+ ! T]M1 S\NDS TOTALLY ABSURD4 ,YET ! SITE CONTA9S ! BE/ ESSAYS ON ! TOPIC ,I'VE SE5 9 ONE PLACE1 PLUS !RE'S A DISCUSSION BO>D :]E ! ASSUMPTIONS ( PRIMITIVISM >E *ALL5G$ & REF9$4 ,Y\ & ,I HAVE HAD ALREADY HAD DISCUSSIONS AB\T US+ RADIO & TELEVISION4 ,:]E1 IF AT ALL1 DO WE DRAW ! L9E ( NOT US+ :AT WE MI<T CONSID] TO BE ! MO/ DE/RUCTIVE TE*NOLOGIES8 ,IS IT UP TO EA* ( IS TO DECIDE8 ,& W\LDN'T ?IS DRAW+ ( ! L9E CREATE A MORAL HI]>*Y 9 T]MS ( RANK+ ! WOR/ TE*NOLOGIES8 

,J,Z3 ,WE >E ALL COMPLICIT 9 ! REPRODUCTION ( SOCIETY4 ,WE ALL LIVE 9 IT1 NOT ON SOME O!R PLANET OR 9 A GA!R]-HUNT] MODE4 ,SO ,I AM G5]ALLY W>Y AB\T FEEL+ ABLE TO E/ABLI% PRIORITIES AB\T ! USE ( TE*NOLOGIES4 

,BUT ,I'M NOT SURE A 0MORAL HI]>*Y0 IS 9VOLV$ 9 TRY+ TO AVOID BE+ COMPLETELY >BITR>Y AB\T IT1 ON ! O!R H&4 ,9 O!R WORDS1 V>I\S TE*NOLOGIES HAVE DIFF]5T *>ACT]I/ICS :I* MAKE SOME MORE E/RANG+ ?AN O!RS4 ,SOME >E MORE M$IAT$1 >TIFICIAL1 & REMOTE4 ,RADIO IS LESS COLONIZ+ ?AN ,T,V1 ,I W\LD SAY4 ,NONCOMM]CIAL CABLE-ACCESS ,T,V DOES NOT HAVE ALL ! NEGATIVES ?AT NETWORK TELEVISION DOES4 ,!RE >E SOME OBVI\S DI/9CTIONS1 EV5 IF ONE C\LD >GUE ?AT AT TIMES O!R FACTORS MI<T OV]RIDE !M4 ,P]HAPS1 = EXAMPLE1 AN URG5T NE$ TO COMMUNICATE ) A LOT ( PEOPLE 9 A GIV5 SITUATION4 

,I GUESS ?IS T5DS TO GET 9TO ! KNOTTY QUE/ION ( M$IA1 RELAT$ BUT SOME:AT DIFF]5T4 ,IF WE CONCLUDE ?AT WE NE$ TO USE C]TA9 TE*NOLOGIES SO AS NOT TO BE AT A SEV]E DISADVANTAGE1 WE %\LD REMEMB] :AT !Y CONSI/ ( & NOT =GET TO MAKE SU* ANALYSIS CLE>4 ,:O ELSE TRIES TO DISCUSS ! NATURE ( TE*NOLOGY & ITS CONSEQU5CES8 

,L,J3 ,!RE >E ?+S AB\T MOD]N CIVILIZATION ?AT >E 9DISP5SABLE = ! CONT9UATION ( URBAN EXI/5CE-SEWAGE TREATM5T = EXAMPLE4 ,IS A PRIMITIVI/ VISION AT ALL COMPATIBLE ) URBAN LIFE8 ,DOES IT NECESSITATE ! AB&ONM5T ( CITIES8 ,:AT AB\T PEOPLE :O WANT TO LIVE 9 CITIES1 & :O C\LD 7HYPO!TICALLY7 BE ABLE TO DEVELOP AN AN>*IC ME?OD ( CONTROLL+ & MA9TA9+ URBANISM )\T ! MORE UNSAVORY ASPECTS ( IT8 7,I'M ?9K+ H]E ( ! AN>*O-SYNDICALI/ TRADITION SPECIFICALLY47 ,W\LD GRE5 AN>*I/S D5\NCE &_/OR OPPOSE ?IS HYPO!TICAL ANTI-HI]>*ICAL1 ANTIAU?ORIT>IAN URBANISM AS 9COMPATIBLE ) A TRU] AN>*IC VISION8 ,& IF SO1 H[ W\LD ?AT NOT BE AN IDEOLOGICAL OBJECTION8 ,I GUESS :AT ,I'M GETT+ AT H]E IS ?AT !RE SEEMS TO BE 9 PRIMITIVISM 7AS A !ORY7 & GRE5 AN>*ISM 7AS ITS PRACTICE7 JU/ AS MU* DANG] ( IDEOLOGICAL RIGIDITY & DOGMATISM AS 9 ANY O!R !ORY4 ,>E !RE ANY POSSIBILITIES = TRANSITIONAL /AGES BETWE5 URBANISM & PRIMITIVISM8 ,IF NOT1 DOESN'T ?AT MAKE PRIMITIVISM MAXIMALI/1 ) ALL ! 9H]5T MORALISM ( A MAXIMALI/ PROGRAM8 

,J,Z3 ,I WANT TO LIVE 9 A CITY AT PRES5T1 = V>I\S REASONS4 ,LANGUAGE1 >T1 ETC4 >E ALSO 9T]E/+1 EV5 9DISP5SABLE GIV5 ! PRES5T CONDITIONS4 ,BUT 9 A DISALI5AT$ WORLD W\LD !SE COMP5SATIONS OR CONSOLATIONS BE NECESS>Y OR 9T]E/+8 0,! ,CASE ,AGA9/ ,>T10 = 9/ANCE1 DOES NOT REALLY BA% >T2 IT IS MA9LY AN EXPLORATION ( H[ >T >RIV$1 ALONG ) ALI5ATION4 ,! COROLL>Y QUE/ION1 AGA91 IS :E!R >T'S ROLE WILL ALWAYS BE NE$$4 

,GETT+ BACK TO ! CITY1 ?9K ( ALL ! NEGATIVE DEVELOPM5TS ?AT BR+ CITIES 9TO EXI/5CE4 ,:AT >E !Y =8 ,COMM]CE1 RULE1 TAXATION1 SPECIALIZATION1 ETC41 ETC4 ,TAKE ?OSE AWAY & :]E'S ! CITY8 ,! ?+S ?AT SU/A9 A CITY >E /ILL P>T ( ! PROBLEM4 ,MAYBE 9 ITS PLACE WE'LL SEE FLUID SITES ( FE/IVAL1 REUNION1 PLAY4 ,:O KN[S8 

,! *ALL5GE ( AN ANTI-CIVILIZATION TRANSITION IS A V]Y REAL1 S]I\S ONE4 ,IT WON'T BE EFFECT$ BY SNAPP+ \R F+]S OR MAK+ ABSOLUTI/ JUDGM5TS AB\T :AT MU/ BE4 

,!RE IS ALSO ! DANG] ( TEMPORIZ+1 ( HALF-MEASURES1 ( BE+ CO-OPT$4 ,AN OLD L9E SAYS ?AT ?OSE :O MAKE HALF A REVOLUTION ONLY DIG !IR [N GRAVES1 ONLY /R5G!N ! HOLD ( ! OLD SOCIETY4 ,! *ANGE NE$S TO BE QUALITATIVE1 DECISIVE1 PURSU$ ) ALL POSSIBLE SPE$ & RESOLVE4 ,!RE IS A DANG] ( M]ELY RE-=M+ ! BASIC SY/EM BY *ANG+ ONLY SOME ( IT1 & ?US NOT BREAK+ ITS HOLD OV] LIFE4 

,L,J3 ,I MET A GUY AT ! ,NOR? ,AM]ICAN ,AN>*I/ ,CONF]5CE :O'S DIABETIC4 ,AS HE WAS TE/+ HIS BLOOD-SUG> LEVEL ) A COMPUT]IZ$ MONITOR1 SOMEONE SNIDELY ASS]T$ TO ME ?AT ?IS GUY W\LD BE DEAD IF IT W]5'T = 0TE*NOLOGY40 ,ASIDE FROM ! TOTALLY UNCRITICAL ACCEPTANCE ( ! 9SULAT$ & >ROGANT IDEOLOGY & HEAL+ MODALITY ( ALLOPA?IC M$IC9E AS REPRES5T$ BY ! ,AM]ICAN ,M$ICAL ,ASSOCIATION1 ?IS DOES BR+ UP A P]T95T QUE/ION4 ,>E !RE ANY GOOD ?+S ?AT HAVE COME \T ( CIVILIZATION8 ,ADVANCES 9 M$IC9E = EXAMPLE8 ,)\T ! ADVANCES 9 FIB]OPTICS1 MY FA!R PROBABLY W\LD HAVE DI$ FROM HIS HE>T ATTACK1 LIKE MY GR&FA!R4 ,?AT P>TICUL> M$ICAL APPLICATION D]IV$ FROM ! SEEM+LY UNRELAT$ TE*NOLOGY ( COMMUNICATIONS1 :I* PROBABLY W\LDN'T HAVE ADVANC$ TO ?AT PO9T IF IT W]5'T = ITS MILIT>Y APPLICATIONS4 ,\TSIDE ( ! NECESSITY = SELF-PRES]VATION & SELF-REPLICATION ( 9/ITUTIONS ( P[] & KN[L$GE1 HAVE !RE BE5 ANY TANGIBLE B5EFITS = HUMANS8 ,LONG] LIFE-EXPECTANCY1 SANITATION 7CLEAN WAT] BE+ ! BE/ EXAMPLE ( ?AT71 ! ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE ) MORE PEOPLE444IT W\LD SEEM ?AT NONE ( !SE ?+S W\LD BE AVAILABLE 9 SU* SO-CALL$ ABUNDANCE 7IF WE CAN AF=D TO BUY !M7 IF NOT = ! EXI/5CE ( CIVILIZATION4 ,ON ! O!R H&1 :ATEV] TE*NOLOGICAL SO-CALL$ B5EFITS HAVE ACCRU$ TO PEOPLE \TSIDE ! 9/ITUTIONS ?AT CREATE !M HAVE BE5 EI!R 9CID5TAL OR ACCID5TAL4 

,J,Z3 ,I SUPPOSE MO/ EV]YONE IS HOPEFUL AB\T SU* ?+S AS 0ADVANCES 9 M$IC9E40 ,FR$Y ,P]LMAN NO D\BT HOP$ ?AT HE W\LD SURVIVE HIS LA/ HE>T SURG]Y 9 #a#i#h#e4 

,ON ! O!R H&1 WE CAN ALSO SEE ?AT ! TE*NOLOGICAL SY/EM ALWAYS PROMISES SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS IT HAS CREAT$4 0,JU/ A LITTLE MORE TE*NOLOGICAL ADVANCE & ALL WILL BE F9E40 ,:AT A LIE ?AT IS1 & HAS BE5 FROM ! BEG9N+4 

,/RESS1 TOX9S1 ISOLATION1 ! %E] MAGNITUDE ( ALI5ATION BR+ SU* A MULTIPLICITY ( DISEASE4 ,EPIDEMIC CANC]1 T5S ( MILLIONS ON ANTI-DEPRESSANTS JU/ TO GET ?R\< ! DAY1 AL>M+ RATES ( HEAL?-?REAT5+ OBESITY1 NEW 0MY/]Y0 ILLNESSES ALL ! TIME 7SU* AS FIBROMYALGIA1 ) NO KN[N CAUSE71 MILLIONS ( KIDS UND] FIVE DRUGG$ 9TO COMPLIANCE ) ?IS EMPTY WORLD4 ,! LI/ C\LD GO ON & ON4 

,WE HAVE ALWAYS BE5 HELD CAPTIVE BY CIVILIZATION1 9 V>I\S WAYS4 ,AT SOME PO9T ! CAPTIVITY MAY NOT SEEM WOR? IT TO MO/ PEOPLE1 AS LIFE1 HEAL?1 FRE$OM1 AU!NTICITY CONT9UE TO DW9DLE AWAY4 

,L,J3 ,:5 Y\ W]E 9 ,L,A1 & ON ! T\R Y\ HAD ( P>TS ( ,EUROPE & ! ,EA/ ,COA/1 W]E !RE ANY QUE/IONS ?AT PEOPLE ASK$ Y\ ?AT MADE Y\ ?9K AB\T SOME ( ! ASSUMPTIONS ?AT Y\ TOOK = GRANT$8 ,DID ANY EXP]I5CES PROD Y\ TO ?9K AB\T ! DI/+UI%+ *>ACT]I/ICS ( PRIMITIVISM_/GRE5 AN>*Y8 ,:AT WAS ! WOR/ EXP]I5CE ON Y\R TRAVELS8 ,! BE/8 ,J,Z3 ,I FRANKLY DON'T REMEMB] BE+ *ALL5G$ ALL ?AT MU*1 MAYBE BECAUSE PRIMITIVI/ !SES >E A NOVELTY TO SO MANY PEOPLE4 ,! MA9 OPPOSITION CAME FROM AN>*O-LEFTI/S1 (T5 DESP]ATE 9 !IR DEF5SE ( ! OLD AN>*ISM1 ! FAIL$1 SUP]FICIAL1 WORK]I/1 PRODUCTIONI/ MODEL4 ,I DIDN'T HE> ANY?+ NEW 9 !IR PROTE/ATIONS1 EXCEPT1 9 !IR DEF5SIV5ESS1 EVID5CE ?AT !Y >E LOS+ & KN[ IT4 

,! TURN\TS W]E GOOD1 ! RANGE ( QUE/IONS GOOD1 & ,I S5S$ A RECEPTIV5ESS TO NEW IDEAS4 ,9 FACT1 ! MA9 HIT ,I GOT OV]ALL WAS ! AW>5ESS ?AT SOME?+ NEW IS NE$$4 ,I DIDN'T HAVE ANY NEGATIVE EXP]I5CES1 REALLY4 

,L,J3 ,:AT >E ! MA9 OBJECTIONS 7& !IR %ORTCOM+S7 TO PRIMITIVISM ?AT D]IVE FROM 0OLD AN>*ISM08 ,H[ >E !Y DIFF]5T FROM ! NON-AN>*I/ PROTE/ATIONS8 ,Y\ TOLD ME AB\T A ,SOCIAL ,ECOLOGI/ AT ! TALK Y\ GAVE AT ,YALE1 :]E %E /OOD UP1 D5\NC$ PRIMITIVISM & Y\1 !N /ORM$ \T ( ! ROOM-EFFECTIVELY %UTT+ D[N ANY POSSIBILITY ( DISCUSSION1 HEAT$ OR O!RWISE4 ,IS CONDEMNATION LIKE ?AT TYPICAL ( ! 9T]ACTIONS Y\ HAVE ) AN>*O-LEFTI/S8 

,J,Z3 ,CLASSICAL AN>*ISM IS A FIX$ BODY ( IDEAS ?AT IS NOT FULLY 9=M$ BY ! CONDITIONS ( CONTEMPOR>Y SOCIETY4 ,! PLI<T ( BO? \T] NATURE & 9N] NATURE HAS WORS5$ HUGELY1 9 MY OP9ION1 S9CE ! #a#i? C5TURY4 ,?US WE >E L$ TO QUE/ION :AT US$ TO BE GIV5S1 QUE/ION & 9DICT SOME BASIC 9/ITUTIONS ?AT SEEM TO BE AT ! ROOT ( \R PRES5T EXTREMITY4 

,AN>*ISM1 9S(> AS IT WANTS TO REMA9 P>T ( ! LEFT1 DOES NOT APPE> TO WANT SU* QUE/ION+4 ,IT MAY BE ?AT NON-AN>*I/S >E MORE OP5 TO NEW P]SPECTIVES ?AN DOGMATIC 0OLD AN>*I/S40 ,HOPE ,I'M WRONG1 BUT ,SOCIAL ,ECOLOGI/S1 .<&.> V>I\S LEFTI/ AN>*I/S SEEM QUITE CLOS$ TO EXAM9+ BASICS LIKE DIVISION ( LABOR1 DOME/ICATION1 TE*NOLOGY1 CIVILIZATION4 

,:Y ,I ,AM A ,PRIMITIVI/ BY ,MI*AEL ,WILLIAM 

,IF ASK$ IF ,I'M A PRIMITIVI/ ,I'D ANSW] ?AT ,I AM1 AL?\< ! T]M IS NOT REALLY SATISFACTORY4 ,I PREF] ANTICIVILIZATIONI/1 ?\< ?AT HAS ITS PROBLEMS TOO4 ,LABELS >E QUITE ! PA9 9 ! ASS4 ,AT ONE PO9T ,I /OPP$ CALL+ MYSELF AN AN>*I/ BECAUSE ,I DIDN'T AGREE ) MO/ AN>*I/S BUT ,I DID />T CALL+ MYSELF AN AN>*I/ AGA9 EV5TUALLY -- ! NAME BELONGS TO ME AS MU* AS ANYONE ELSE4 

,PRIMITIVISM IS AN EXTREME RESPONSE TO AN EXTREME SITUATION ( 9DU/RIALISM \T ( CONTROL4 ,= ME1 SIMPLY CRITIQU+ ! PRES5T TE*NO-/RUCTURE IS NOT 5\<3 ,I WANT TO BEG9 TO DISMANTLE IT4 ,H[ F> DO ,I WANT TO GO8 ,H[ F> CAN WE GO8 ,I DON'T KN[4 ,?AT REMA9S TO BE SE54 

,I GREW UP 9 ! FIFTIES & SIXTIES1 ! LA/ ]A ( UNV>NI%$ TE*NO-OPTIMISM4 ,NOT ?AT !RE ISN'T A /RONG1 EV5 OMNIPRES5T1 PRO-TE* S5TIM5T TODAY4 ,BUT IT HAS BE5 TEMP]$ BY A WIDESPREAD REALIZATION ( ! EXT5T TO :I* 9DU/RIALISM HAS DEGRAD$ ! PLANET'S ECOLOGY4 

,I BEGAN TO MOVE T[>D A PRIMITIVI/ POSITION 9 ! E>LY EI<TIES UND] ! 9FLU5CE ( ! ,FIF? ,E/ATE & WRIT]S SU* AS ,P]LMAN1 ,ELLUL1 ,CAMATTE1 & ,Z]ZAN4 ,H[EV]1 !SE WRIT+S ONLY GAVE ME A !ORETICAL BASIS = :AT ,I ALREADY 9TUITIVELY KNEW3 CIVILIZATION IS AN 9TEGRAL P>T ( ALI5ATION4 ,9 O!R WORDS1 MY 9/9CTIVE DISLIKE ( TE*NO MUSIC IS COMPLETELY NORMAL4 

,9 ! AN>*O-PRIMITIVI/ MILIEU NO !ORETICAL OR?ODOXY REIGNS4 ,9FLU5CES >E WIDE-RANG+1 FROM PO/-SITUATIONI/ TO ,/IRN]I/ TO TAOI/1 DEEP ECOLOGI/1 CLASSICAL CLASS /RUGGLE LIB]T>IAN-COMMUNI/1 TO ! APPROA* ( ,JOHN ,Z]ZAN4 ,!RE IS NO LACK ( ROOM = ANYONE :O WANTS TO C>VE \T A SPACE6 

,9 REC5T YE>S ! ,FIF? ,E/ATE1 :I* 9 ! SEV5TIES & EI<TIES DID MU* TO SET ! BASIS ( A PRIMITIVI/ APPROA*1 HAS MOV$ TO A LESS RADICAL1 OR 9 A T]M EMPLOY$ BY ,F,E $ITOR ,PET] ,W]BE1 A MORE 0MODE/0 \TLOOK4 ,9 ! LETT]S COLUMN ( ! PREVI\S ,AN>*Y1 A CORRESPOND5T ( ,W]BE'S QUOTES HIM AS SAY+3 0,AT PRES5T1 ,I FEEL A LITTLE FOOLI% ADVOCAT+ ! 5D ( CIVILIZATION :5 :AT ?AT LOOKS LIKE IS ,CONGO OR ,AF<ANI/AN40 ,CONGO OR ,AF<ANI/AN8 ,9 ! ,CONGO A REGIONAL W> IS TAK+ PLACE 9VOLV+ HALF A DOZ5 /ATES4 ,ACT+ AS A P]K = ,ZIMBABWE'S P>TICIPATION1 = EXAMPLE1 IS ACCESS TO DIAMOND M9ES4 ,9 ,AF<ANI/AN V>I\S RADICAL ,ISLAMIC \TFITS =M]LY FI<T+ ! ,SOVIETS SUBSEQU5TLY BEGAN FI<T+ AMONG !MSELVES4 ,! LA/ ,I HE>D ! ,TALIBAN W]E CLUT*+ COPIES ( ! ,KORAN1 NOT OLD ,FIF? ,E/ATE REPR9TS FROM ! EI<TIES4 

,MY \TLOOK IS NOT PREMIS$ ON ! LIFEWAYS ( SPECIFIC PRIMITIVE GR\PS OR A BELIEF 9 ! EXI/5CE ( A PA/ GOLD5 AGE ( HUMANITY 9 H>MONY ) NATURE 7AL?\< ?IS MAY HAVE OCCURR$74 ,IT IS BAS$ ON TRY+ TO A*IEVE ! K9D ( WORLD ,I DESIRE ALONG ) O!RS4 ,BUT ,I ALSO BELIEVE IT VALUABLE TO EXAM9E GR\PS :I* HAVE LIV$ 9 LESS 5CUMB]$ WAYS1 & 9 COM+ YE>S ,I HOPE TO DO MORE AN?ROPOLOGICAL READ+4 

,AL?\< A CRITIQUE ( TE*NIQUE_/TE*NOLOGY IS CLE>LY FUNDAM5TAL1 A DANG] EXI/S ( EMPHASIZ+ TE*NOLOGY TO ! DETRIM5T ( O!R ASPECTS ( DOM9ATION4 ,SU* IS ! CASE 9 ! WORKS ( ,JACQUES ,ELLUL & ,ELLUL 9FLU5C$ ,T$ ,KACZYNSKI4 ,ON ! O!R H& ,ELLUL DOES %[ CONV9C+LY ?AT P[] 9 MOD]N SOCIETY IS PR$OM9ANTLY 9 ! H&S ( TE*NOCRATS RA!R ?AN ECONOMIC OR POLITICAL MOV]S & %AK]S4 

,AGRICULTURE REMA9S A CONTROV]SIAL QUE/ION4 ,:E!R ONE PREF]S AN AGRICULTURAL OR A HUNT]-GA!R] APPROA*1 AGRICULTURE WILL CONT9UE TO PLAY A ROLE = A CONSID]ABLE TIME TO COME1 AS A TRANSITIONAL PHASE IF NOT ALWAYS AN 5D 9 ITSELF4 ,9 ,QUEBEC MU* TRADITIONAL L& LIES FALL[ BECAUSE M>KET =CES MAKE IT TOO EXP5SIVE TO GR[ CROPS4 ,SUBSI/5CE F>M+ HAS A LONG HI/ORY 9 ,QUEBEC & PEOPLE C\LD R5EW ?IS TRADITION AS A WAY ( A*IEV+ LOCAL AUTONOMY4 ,SOME CULTIVAT$ L& C\LD ALSO BE SIMPLY AB&ON$ TO ! WILD4 

,PRIMITIVISM IS A MORE RADICAL1 MORE NEGATIVE APPROA* ?AN MA9/REAM AN>*ISM :I* CONT9UES TO CONF9E ITS GOAL TO SELF-MANAG+ ! CURR5T /RUCTURE1 OR ONE ?AT IS SLI<TLY MODIFI$4 ,IF ! GOALS ( PRIMITIVI/S APPE> EV5 LESS LIKELY TO BE A*IEV$ ?AN ?OSE ( MORE CONV5TIONAL RADICALS1 ! FACT IS ?AT TODAY REVOLUTION>IES ( ALL /RIPES >E F> FROM A*IEV+ !IR GOALS4 ,I SEE NO NE$ TO MOD]ATE MY APPROA* JU/ BECAUSE WE LIVE 9 NON-REVOLUTION>Y TIMES4 

,LIV+ 9 ! CITY1 IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO AVOID ! CORROSIVE EFFECTS ( URBAN ALI5ATION4 ,I ATTEMPT TO ATT5UATE !M BY AVOID+ COMPUT]S1 BY WALK+ :5 POSSIBLE1 & BY /AY+ 9 CONTACT ) CITY GRE5 SPACES4 ,AT LA/ YE>'S LOCAL AN>*I/ BOOK FAIR ,I P>TICIPAT$ 9 A PANEL ON ! SUBJECT ( ! ,9T]NET4 ,I >GU$ ?AT IT W\LD BE PREF]ABLE TO FO/] FACE-TO-FACE COMMUNICATION 9/EAD4 ,I ALSO DO BOOK TABLES AT :I* ,I SELL SELECT$ BOOKS & MAGAZ9ES4 

,WELL1 ! SCOPE ( ?IS HA/ILY WRITT5 >TICLE HAS BE5 MODE/4 ,HOPEFULLY ?IS SPECIAL ISSUE ON SU* AN IMPORTANT TOPIC WILL LEAD TO A FRUITFUL DEBATE4 

,:Y ,I AM NOT A ,PRIMITIVI/ BY ,JASON ,MC,QU9N 

,! LIFE WAYS ( GA!R]-HUNT] COMMUNITIES HAVE BECOME A C5TRAL FOCUS ( /UDY = MANY AN>*I/S 9 REC5T YE>S1 = SEV]AL GOOD REASONS4 ,FIR/ ( ALL1 & MO/ OBVI\SLY1 IF WE >E TO LOOK AT ACTUALLY-EXI/+ AN>*I/ SOCIETIES1 ! PREHI/ORY ( ! SPECIES SEEMS TO HAVE BE5 A GOLD5 AGE ( AN>*Y1 COMMUNITY1 HUMAN AUTONOMY & FRE$OM4 ,V>I\S =MS ( ! /ATE1 5CLOSURES ( ! SOCIAL COMMONS1 & ACCUMULATIONS ( DEAD LABOR 7CAPITAL7 HAVE BE5 ! AXIOMATIC ORGANIZ+ PR9CIPLES ( CIVILIZ$ SOCIETIES FROM ! DAWN ( HI/ORY4 ,BUT1 FROM ALL AVAILABLE EVID5CE1 !Y SEEM TO HAVE BE5 5TIRELY ABS5T 9 ! VA/ PREHI/ORY ( ! HUMAN SPECIES4 ,! DEVELOPM5T ( CIVILIZATION HAS BE5 ! FLIPSIDE ( ! /EADY ]OSION ( BO? P]SONAL & COMMUNAL AUTONOMY & P[] )9 PRECIVILIZ$1 AN>*IC SOCIETIES & ! REMNANT LIFE WAYS /ILL SURVIV+ FROM !M4 

,FUR!RMORE1 9 ! LA/ SEV]AL DECADES )9 ! FIELDS ( AN?ROPOLOGY & >*AEOLOGY !RE HAS BE5 AN EXPLICIT & 79 ITS IMPLICATIONS7 QUITE RADICAL REVALUATION ( ! SOCIAL LIFE ( !SE NONCIVILIZ$1 GA!R]-HUNT] & HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES1 BO? PREHI/ORIC & CONTEMPOR>Y4 ,?IS REVALUATION HAS L$1 AS MANY AN>*I/ WRIT]S HAVE PO9T$ \T 7ESPECIALLY ,JOHN ,Z]ZAN1 ,DAVID ,WATSON .<AKA ,GEORGE ,BRAD=D1 ETC4.> & ,BOB ,BLACK71 TO A GREAT] UND]/&+ & APPRECIATION = SEV]AL KEY ASPECTS ( LIFE 9 !SE SOCIETIES3 !IR EMPHASIS ON P]SONAL & COMMUNITY AUTONOMY 75TAIL+ !IR REFUSAL ( NON-RECIPROCAL P[] TO !IR HEAD-M5 OR *IEFS71 !IR RELATIVE LACK ( DEADLY W>F>E1 !IR ELEGANCE ( TE*NIQUE & TOOL-KIT1 !IR ANTI-WORK E?OS 7REFUSAL TO ACCUMULATE UNNECESS>Y SURPLUS1 REFUSAL TO BE TI$ D[N TO P]MAN5T SETTLEM5TS71 & !IR EMPHASIS ON COMMUNAL %>+1 S5SUALITY1 CELEBRATION & PLAY4 

,! RISE ( ECOLOGICAL CRITIQUES & ! REVALUATION ( NATURE 9 ! LA/ DECADES ( ! TW5TIE? C5TURY HAVE 5TAIL$ = MANY A SE>* ?R\< HI/ORY = EXAMPLES ( ECOLOGICALLY SU/A9ABLE SOCIETIES -- SOCIETIES :I* DIDN'T DESPOIL ! WILD]NESS1 MASSACRE ! WILDLIFE & EXPLOIT ALL ( ! NATURAL RES\RCES 9 SI<T4 ,UNSURPRIS+LY1 ANY G5U9E SE>* = ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES & CULTURES PR$OM9ANTLY TURNS UP HUNT] & GA!R] SOCIETIES :I* HAVE NEV] 7\TSIDE ( SITUATIONS :]E !Y W]E PRESSUR$ BY 5CROA*+ CIVILIZATIONS7 DEVELOP$ ANY COMPELL+ NE$S TO BUILD SURPLUS ACCUMULATIONS ( FOOD OR GOODS1 NOR TO IGNORE OR DESPOIL !IR ANIMAL K9 OR NATURAL SURR\ND+S4 ,!IR LONG-T]M /ABILITY & ! ELEGANCE ( !IR ADAPTATIONS TO !IR NATURAL 5VIRONM5TS MAKE HUNT+ & GA!R+ SOCIETIES ! SU/A9ABLE SOCIETY & SU/A9ABLE ECONOMY P> EXCELL5CE4 

,ADDITIONALLY1 ! CUMULATIVE FAILURES ( BO? ! REVOLUTION>Y SOCIAL MOVEM5TS ( ! LA/ SEV]AL C5TURIES & ! CONT9U+ M>* ( CAPITAL & TE*NOLOGY 9 RE%AP+ ! WORLD HAVE CALL$ 9TO QUE/ION AS NEV] BE=E ! ILLUSORY IDEOLOGY ( PROGRESS ?AT UND]P9S MOD]N CIVILIZATION 7AS WELL AS MO/ OPPOSITIONAL MOVEM5TS74 ,A PROGRESS ?AT HAS PROMIS$ 9EVITABLE1 9CREM5TAL IMPROVEM5TS 9 \R 9DIVIDUAL LIVES & ! LIVES ( ALL HUMANITY 7IF ONLY WE KEEP ! FAI? & CONT9UE SUPPORT+ CAPITALI/ TE*NOLOGICAL DEVELOPM5T7 HAS BE5 PROV5 9CREAS+LY HOLL[4 ,IT HAS BECOME H>D] & H>D] TO MA9TA9 ! LIE ?AT LIFE N[ IS QUALITATIVELY BETT] ?AN 9 ALL PREVI\S EPO*S4 ,EV5 ?OSE :O MO/ WANT TO FOOL !MSELVES 7?OSE ON ! M>G9S ( CAPITALI/ PRIVILEGE1 P[] & WEAL?7 MU/ FACE 9CREAS+ D\BTS AB\T !IR RATIONALITY & !IR E?ICAL VALUES1 NOT TO M5TION !IR SANITY1 9 A WORLD ( GLOBAL W>M+1 MASS EXT9CTIONS1 EPIDEMIC OIL & TOXIC *EMICAL SPILLS1 GLOBAL POLLUTION1 MASSIVE CLE>+ ( RA9 =E/S1 5DEMIC ,?IRD ,WORLD MALNUTRITION & RECURR5T FAM9E4 ,ALL AMID AN 9CREAS+ POL>IZATION BETWE5 AN 9T]NATIONAL ELITE ( ! SUP]RI* & VA/ MASSES ( ! P[]LESS1 L&LESS & POOR4 ,9 ADDITION1 IT HAS BECOME 9CREAS+LY QUE/IONABLE :E!R ! MULTIPLE PLEASURES ( ELECTRIC HEAT1 *LOR9AT$ WAT]1 HYDROC>BON-P[]$ TRANSPORT & ELECTRONIC 5T]TA9M5T WILL EV] \TWEI< ! 9SIDI\S CO/S ( 9DU/RIAL 5SLAVEM5T1 PROGRAMM$ LEISURE & \R SEEM+ R$UCTION TO OBJECTS ( A SCI5TIFIC EXP]IM5T TO DET]M9E AT :AT PO9T WE WILL F9ALLY LOSE ALL TRACE ( \R HUMANITY4 

,! DEVELOPM5T ( CONTEMPOR>Y PRIMITIVI/ !ORIES 7& ESPECIALLY AN>*O-PRIMITIVISM7 MI<T ?US SEEM TO BE AN EASY1 LOGICAL & 9EVITABLE /EP FROM !SE F\NDATIONS1 AL?\< ?IS W\LD BE TO OV]LOOK O!R ALT]NATIVES EQUALLY ROOT$ 9 RESI/ANCE CULTURE4 ,AT ! LEA/1 PRIMITIVISM1 AS A MULTIFACET$ & /ILL-DEVELOP+ RESPONSE TO ! EPO*AL CRISES N[ FAC+ HUMANITY1 DES]VES \R S]I\S EVALUATION4 ,IT IS C]TA9LY ONE ( ! SEV]AL POSSIBLE RESPONSES :I* DOES ATTEMPT TO MAKE S5SE ( \R CURR5T PR$ICAM5T 9 ORD] TO SUGGE/ A WAY \T4 ,YET1 AT ! SAME TIME !RE REMA9 MANY PROBLEMS ) PRIMITIVI/ POSITIONS ?AT HAVE BE5 EXPRESS$ ?US F>4 ,AS WELL AS POT5TIALLY S]I\S PROBLEMS ) ! V]Y CONCEPT ( PRIMITIVISM ITSELF AS A MODE ( !ORY & PRACTICE4 ,IT MAY MAKE S5SE TO EXAM9E SOME ( ! S\RCES ( PRIMITIVISM FIR/ 9 ORD] TO ID5TIFY & DEVELOP A FEW ( ITS MO/ OBVI\S DIFFICULTIES & SUGGE/ SOME SOLUTIONS4 

,PRIMITIVI/ /R&S 

,!RE >E SEV]AL /R&S ( DEVELOPM5T :I* SEEM TO HAVE MORE OR LESS COALESC$ TO =M ! CURR5T PRIMITIVI/ MELANGE ( !ORIES & PRACTICES1 AT LEA/ )9 ,NOR? ,AM]ICA 7,I'M NOT AS FAMILI> ) ,BRITI% PRIMITIVISM74 ,BUT TWO OR ?REE /R&S /& \T AS ! MO/ 9FLU5TIAL & IMPORTANT3 7#a7 ! /R& GR[+ \T ( ,DETROIT'S AN>*O-,M>XI/ ,BLACK @& ,R$ & ! AN>*I/S CONTRIBUT+ TO ! ,FIF? ,E/ATE1 9CLUD+ = A:ILE 7#b7 ,JOHN ,Z]ZAN1 AL?\< HE & ! ,F,E EV5TUALLY P>T$ WAYS OV] DISAGREEM5TS AB\T ! /ATUS & 9T]PRETATION ( AGRICULTURE1 CULTURE & DOME/ICATION4 ,?IRDLY 7#c7 SOME ACTIVI/S COM+ \T ( ! ,E>? ,FIR/6 MILIEU1 (T5 9FLU5C$ BY DEEP ECOLOGI/S1 PROMOTE A 0,BACK TO ! ,PLEI/OC5E0 P]SPECTIVE 7! ,PLEI/OC5E1 BE+ ! GEOLOGIC P]IOD DUR+ :I* ! HUMAN SPECIES EM]G$74 

,FR$Y ,P]LMAN & ! ,FIF? ,E/ATE 

,AL?\< !RE HAVE BE5 H9TS ( RADICAL PRIMITIVISM )9 -- & EV5 BE=E ! ADV5T ( -- ! MOD]N AN>*I/ MOVEM5T1 CONTEMPOR>Y PRIMITIVISM [ES MO/ TO ,FR$Y ,P]LMAN & ! ,DETROIT ,BLACK @& ,R$ COLLECTIVE ?R\< :I* HIS WORK WAS PUBLI%$1 BEG9N+ 9 ! #a#i#fS4 ,MO/ 9FLU5TIAL ( ALL HAS BE5 HIS VISION>Y RECON/RUCTION ( ! ORIG9S & DEVELOPM5T ( CIVILIZATION1 ,AGA9/ ,HIS-,/ORY1 ,AGA9/ ,LEVIA?AN PUBLI%$ 9 #a#i#h#c4 ,9 ?IS WORK1 ,P]LMAN SUGGE/$ ?AT CIVILIZATION ORIG9AT$ DUE TO ! RELATIVELY H>% LIV+ CONDITIONS 79 ONE PLACE & TIME7 :I* W]E SE5 BY ! TRIBAL ELITE TO REQUIRE ! DEVELOPM5T ( A SY/EM ( PUBLIC WAT]WAYS4 ,! SUCCESSFUL BUILD+ ( ?IS SY/EM ( PUBLIC WAT]WAYS REQUIR$ ! ACTIONS ( MANY 9DIVIDUALS 9 ! MANN] ( A SOCIAL MA*9E UND] ! DIRECTION ( ! TRIBAL ELITE4 ,& ! SOCIAL MA*9E ?AT WAS BORN BECAME ! FIR/ ,LEVIA?AN1 ! FIR/ CIVILIZATION1 :I* GREW & REPRODUC$ ?R\< W>S1 5SLAVEM5T & ! CREATION ( EV] GREAT] SOCIAL MA*9]Y4 ,! SITUATION WE N[ FACE IS A WORLD 9 :I* ! PROG5Y ( ?AT ORIG9AL CIVILIZATION HAVE N[ SUCCESSFULLY TAK5 OV] ! GLOBE & CONQU]$ NE>LY ALL HUMAN COMMUNITIES4 ,BUT1 AS ,P]LMAN PO9TS \T1 ?\< ALMO/ ALL HUMANITY IS N[ TRAPP$ )9 CIVILIZATIONS1 )9 ,LEVIA?ANS1 !RE IS /ILL RESI/ANCE4 ,&1 9 FACT1 ! DEVELOPM5T ( CIVILIZATIONS FROM !IR BEG9N+S ON HAS ALWAYS FAC$ RESI/ANCE FROM EV]Y NON-CIVILIZ$1 FREE HUMAN COMMUNITY4 ,HI/ORY IS ! /ORY ( E>LY CIVILIZATIONS DE/ROY+ ! RELATIVELY FRE] COMMUNITIES >\ND !M1 9CORPORAT+ !M OR EXT]M9AT+ !M1 & ! SUCCE$+ /ORY ( CIVILIZATIONS WRE/L+ ) EA* O!R1 CIVILIZATIONS EXT]M9AT+1 9CORPORAT+ OR SUBJUGAT+ O!R CIVILIZATIONS1 UP TO ! PRES5T DAY4 ,YET RESI/ANCE IS /ILL POSSIBLE1 & WE CAN ALL TRACE \R ANCE/RAL L9EAGES TO PEOPLE :O W]E ONCE /ATELESS1 MONEYLESS & 9 SOME PR(\ND S5SE MORE FREE4 

,FR$Y ,P]LMAN'S VISION WAS TAK5 UP & ELABORAT$ UPON BY O!RS 9VOLV$ 9 ! ,FIF? ,E/ATE NEWSPAP] PROJECT1 MO/ NOTABLY1 ,DAVID ,WATSON1 :O HAS WRITT5 UND] A NUMB] ( PSEUDONYMS1 9CLUD+ ,GEORGE ,BRAD=D4 ,! ,FIF? ,E/ATE WAS ITSELF AN UND]GR\ND NEWSPAP] 9 ! '#fS1 :I* EVOLV$ 9TO A REVOLUTION>Y AN>*I/ NEWSPAP] 9 ! MID-'#gS1 & !N 9TO AN AN>*O-PRIMITIVI/ PROJECT LAT] 9 ! '#hS4 ,?\< ! ,FIF? ,E/ATE HAS REC5TLY BACK$ AWAY FROM SOME ( ! MORE RADICAL IMPLICATIONS ( ITS E>LI] /ANCES1 IT REMA9S ONE ( ! MAJOR /R&S ( ! CONTEMPOR>Y PRIMITIVI/ MILIEU4 

,& AL?\< ,WATSON'S WORK IS CLE>LY BAS$ ON ,P]LMAN'S1 HE HAS ALSO ADD$ HIS [N CONC]NS1 9CLUD+ ! FUR!R DEVELOPM5T ( ,LEWIS ,MUM=D'S CRITIQUE ( TE*NOLOGY & ! 0MEGAMA*9E10 A DEF5SE ( PRIMITIVE SPIRITUALITY & %AMANISM1 & ! CALL = A NEW1 G5U9E SOCIAL ECOLOGY 7:I* WILL AVOID ! ]RORS ( ,MURRAY ,BOOK*9'S NATURALISM1 RATIONALISM1 & PO/-SC>CITY1 TE*NO-URBANISM74 ,WATSON'S WORK CAN N[ BE EVALUAT$ 9 A NEW COLLECTION ( HIS MO/ SIGNIFICANT ,FIF? ,E/ATE WRIT+S ( ! #a#i#hS TITL$ ,AGA9/ ! ,MEGAMA*9E 7#a#i#i#h74 ,BUT HE'S ALSO ! AU?OR ( TWO PREVI\S BOOKS3 ,H[ ,DEEP IS ,DEEP ,ECOLOGY 7#a#i#h#i1 WRITT5 UND] ! NAME ( ,GEORGE ,BRAD=D7 & ,BEYOND ,BOOK*93 ,A ,PREFACE TO ,ANY ,FUTURE ,SOCIAL ,ECOLOGY 7#a#i#i#f74 

,JOHN ,Z]ZAN 

,JOHN ,Z]ZAN1 PROBABLY N[ ! MO/ WELL-KN[N TOR*-BE>] = PRIMITIVISM 9 ,NOR? ,AM]ICA1 />T$ QUE/ION+ ! ORIG9S ( SOCIAL ALI5ATION 9 A S]IES ( ESSAYS ALSO PUBLI%$ 9 ! ,FIF? ,E/ATE ?R\<\T ! '#hS4 ,!SE ESSAYS EV5TUALLY F\ND !IR WAY 9TO HIS COLLECTION ,ELEM5TS ( ,REFUSAL 7#a#i#h#h1 & A SECOND $ITION 9 #a#i#i#i74 ,!Y 9CLUD$ EXTREME CRITIQUES ( C5TRAL ASPECTS ( HUMAN CULTURE -- TIME1 LANGUAGE1 NUMB] & >T -- & AN 9FLU5TIAL CRITIQUE ( AGRICULTURE1 ! WAT]%$ *ANGE 9 HUMAN SOCIETY :I* ,Z]ZAN CALLS 0! BASIS ( CIVILIZATION40 7#a#i#i#i1 P4#g#c7 ,H[EV]1 :ILE !SE 0ORIG9S0 ESSAYS1 AS !Y >E (T5 CALL$1 W]E PUBLI%$ 9 ! ,FIF? ,E/ATE1 !Y W]E NOT ALWAYS WELCOM$4 ,&1 9 FACT1 EA* ISSUE ( ,F,E 9 :I* !Y APPE>$ USUALLY 9CLUD$ COMM5T>IES REJECT+ HIS CONCLUSIONS 9 NO UNC]TA9 T]MS4 ,EV5TUALLY1 :5 ! ,FIF? ,E/ATE COLLECTIVE TIR$ ( PUBLI%+ HIS ORIG9>Y ESSAYS1 & :5 ,Z]ZAN WAS F9D+ IT H>D] & H>D] TO 5DURE ! ,F,E'S OBVI\S DI/A/E = HIS L9E ( 9VE/IGATION1 ,Z]ZAN TURN$ TO O!R V5UES = PUBLICATION1 9CLUD+ ?IS MAGAZ9E1 ,AN>*Y1 ,MI*AEL ,WILLIAM'S %ORT-LIV$ ,DEMOLITION ,D]BY1 & ULTIMATELY ,5GL&'S ,GRE5 ,AN>*I/ AS WELL1 AMONG O!RS4 ,A SECOND COLLECTION ( HIS ESSAYS1 ,FUTURE ,PRIMITIVE & ,O!R ,ESSAYS1 WAS CO-PUBLI%$ BY ,AN>*Y_/,C4,A4,L4 ,PRESS 9 ASSOCIATION ) ,AUTONOM$IA 9 #a#i#i#d4 ,&1 ADDITIONALLY1 HE HAS $IT$ TWO IMPORTANT PRIMITIVI/ AN?OLOGIES1 ,QUE/ION+ ,TE*NOLOGY 7CO-$IT$ BY ,ALICE ,C>NES1 #a#i#h#h1 ) A SECOND $ITION PUBLI%$ 9 #a#i#i#a7 & MO/ REC5TLY ,AGA9/ ,CIVILIZATION 7#a#i#i#i74 

,JOHN ,Z]ZAN MAY BE MO/ NOTORI\S = ! BLUNT1 NO-NONS5SE CONCLUSIONS ( HIS ORIG9>Y CRITIQUES4 ,9 !SE ESSAYS1 & 9 HIS SUBSEQU5T WRIT+S -- :I* WILL BE FAMILI> TO READ]S ( ,AN>*Y MAGAZ9E1 HE ULTIMATELY REJECTS ALL SYMBOLIC CULTURE AS ALI5ATION & A FALL FROM A PRE-CIVILIZ$1 PRE-DOME/ICAT$1 PRE-DIVISION-(-LABOR1 PRIMITIVE /ATE ( HUMAN NATURE4 ,HE HAS ALSO BECOME NOTORI\S 9 SOME CIRCLES = HIS EMBRACE ( ! ,UNABOMB]1 TO :OM HE D$ICAT$ ! SECOND $ITION ( ,ELEM5TS ( ,REFUSAL1 9DICAT+ = ?OSE :O MI<T HAVE BE5 UNSURE1 ?AT HE REALLY IS S]I\S AB\T HIS CRITIQUES & \R NE$ TO DEVELOP A FUNDAM5TALLY CRITICAL1 UNCOMPROMIS+ PRACTICE4 

,E>? ,FIR/6 & ,DEEP ,ECOLOGY 

,! PRIMITIVI/ /R& DEVELOP+ FROM ! ,E>? ,FIR/6 DIRECT-ACTION 09 ! DEF5SE ( ,MO!R ,E>?0 MILIEU IS HEAVILY 5TW9$ ) ! =MULATION ( DEEP ECOLOGY BY ,>NE ,NAESS1 ,BILL ,DEVALL & ,GEORGE ,SESSIONS1 AMONG O!RS4 ,9 ?IS /R& ! ,E>? ,FIR/6 DIRECT ACTION COMMUNITY 7L>GELY BAS$ 9 ! WE/]N ,U,S1 & L>GELY AN>*I/7 SEEMS TO HAVE F\ND ITSELF 9 SE>* ( A PHILOSOPHICAL F\NDATION APPROPRIATE TO ITS NON-URBAN DEF5SE ( WILD]NESS & HUMAN WILDNESS -- & F\ND SOME IRRESI/IBLE AMMUNITION1 IF NOT A COH]5T !ORY1 9 DEEP ECOLOGY4 

,E>? ,FIR/6 AS A SUB/ANTIALLY1 BUT C]TA9LY NOT COMPLETELY1 9=MAL ORGANIZATION HAD ITS [N ORIG9S 9 ! NATIVI/ ECO-AN>*ISM ( ,$W>D ,ABBEY 7:OSE NATURE WRIT+S -- LIKE ,DES]T ,SOLITAIRE -- & NOVEL ,! ,MONKEY ,WR5* ,GANG W]E HUGELY 9FLU5TIAL7 & ! NATIVI/ RADICAL 5VIRONM5TALISM ( ,DAVID ,=EMAN & FRI5DS4 ,9 FACT1 ! ORIG9AL ,E>? ,FIR/6 (T5 MA9TA9$ AN EXPLICITLY ANTI-IMMIGRATION1 ,NOR?-,AM]ICAN-WILD]NESS-=-,U4,S4-@&-,CANADIAN-CITIZ5S-ONLY APPROA* TO SAV+ :ATEV] WILD]NESS C\LD /ILL BE SAV$ FROM ! 9CREAS+ HUMAN DEPR$ATION ( M9+1 ROAD-BUILD+1 CLE> CUTT+1 AGRICULTURAL EXPLOITATION1 GRAZ+ & T\RISM 9 ! S]VICE ( CONTEMPOR>Y MASS CONSUM] SOCIETY -- )\T EV] FEEL+ COMPELL$ TO DEVELOP ANY CRITICAL SOCIAL !ORY4 ,H[EV]1 ONCE ,E>? ,FIR/6 EXP&$ \T ( ! S\?WE/ ,U4,S4 & BECAME ! FOCUS ( A WIDESPREAD DIRECT ACTION MOVEM5T IT BECAME CLE> ?AT MO/ ( ! PEOPLE JO9+ ! BLOCKADES1 M>*ES1 BANN]-HANG+S & LOCK-D[NS W]E MORE ?AN A LITTLE 9FLU5C$ BY ! DECID$LY NON-NATIVI/ SOCIAL MOVEM5TS ( ! #a#i#fS & '#gS 7! CIVIL RI<TS1 ANTI-W>1 ANTI-NUCLE>1 FEM9I/ & AN>*I/ MOVEM5TS1 ETC474 ,! CONTRADICTIONS BETWE5 ! RANK-&-FILE & ! 9=MAL LEAD]%IP 9 CONTROL ( ! ,E>? ,FIR/6 J\RNAL CAME TO A HEAD ) ! RESIGNATION ( ,=EMAN & HIS SUBSEQU5T 9AUGURATION ( ! ,WILD ,E>? J\RNAL ) ITS FOCUS ON A CONS]VATION BIOLOGY P]SPECTIVE MORE TO HIS LIK+4 ,! NEW ,E>? ,FIR/6 LEAD]%IP 7& ! NEW J\RNAL COLLECTIVES S9CE ,=EMAN'S DEP>TURE7 REFLECT ! ACTUAL DIV]SITY ( ! ACTIVI/S N[ 9VOLV$ 9 ! 5TIRE ,E>? ,FIR/6 MILIEU -- AN ECLECTIC MIX ( LIB]AL_/RE=MI/ 5VIRONM5TALI/S1 ECO-LEFTI/S 7& EV5 ECO-SYNDICALI/S AFFILIAT$ ) ! ,I,W,W71 SOME GRE5S1 A V>IETY ( ECO-AN>*I/S & MANY DEEP ECOLOGI/S4 ,BUT REG>DLESS ( ?IS DIV]SITY1 IT IS CLE> ?AT DEEP ECOLOGY MAY WELL HAVE ! MO/ WIDESPREAD 9FLU5CE )9 ! ,E,F6 MILIEU AS A :OLE1 9CLUD+ ?OSE :O CONSID] !MSELVES TO BE PRIMITIVI/S4 ,?IS SEEMS TO BE MO/LY BECAUSE ,E>? ,FIR/6 IS PRIM>ILY A DIRECT ACTION MOVEM5T 9 DEF5SE ( NON-HUMAN ,NATURE1 & CLE>LY NOT A SOCIALLY-ORI5T$ MOVEM5T1 DESPITE ! (T5 RADICAL SOCIAL COMMITM5TS ( MANY ( ! P>TICIPANTS4 ,DEEP ECOLOGY PROVIDES ! !ORETICAL JU/IFICATION = ! K9D ( ,NATURE-FIR/1 SOCIETY-LAT] 7IF AT ALL7 ATTITUDE (T5 PREVAL5T 9 ,E,F6 ,IT SUB/ITUTES A SPECIALLY CON/RUCT$ BIOC5TRIC OR ECO-C5TRIC VISION 70! P]SPECTIVE ( A UNIFI$ NATURAL WORLD0 AS ,LONE ,WOLF ,CIRCLES PUTS IT7 = ! SUPPOS$ AN?ROPOC5TRIC P]SPECTIVES :I* PRIVILEGE HUMAN VALUES & GOALS 9 MO/ O!R PHILOSOPHIES4 ,& IT (F]S A NATURE PHILOSOPHY ?AT M]GES ) NATURE SPIRITUALITY1 :I* TOGE!R HELP JU/IFY AN ECO-PRIMITIVI/ P]SPECTIVE = MANY ACTIVI/S :O WI% TO SEE A HUGE R$UCTION 9 HUMAN POPULATION & A SCAL+-D[N OR ELIM9ATION ( 9DU/RIAL TE*NOLOGY 9 ORD] TO R$UCE OR REMOVE ! 9CREAS+ DE/RUCTION ( ! NATURAL WORLD BY MOD]N 9DU/RIAL SOCIETY4 ,AL?\< ! ,NORWEGIAN PHILOSOPH] ,>NE ,NAESS 7NO PRIMITIVI/ HIMSELF7 IS USUALLY CR$IT$ ) ! CREATION ( DEEP ECOLOGY1 ! BOOK :I* ORIG9ALLY MADE IT'S NAME 9 ,NOR? ,AM]ICA WAS ,BILL ,DEVALL & ,GEORGE ,SESSION'S ,DEEP ,ECOLOGY 7#a#i#h#f74 ,>NE ,NAESS' BOOK1 ,ECOLOGY1 ,COMMUNITY & ,LIFE/YLE3 ,\TL9E ( AN ,ECOSOPHY1 APPE>$ 9 #a#i#i1 :ILE ,GEORGE ,SESSIONS CONTRIBUT$ ,DEEP ,ECOLOGY = ! ,TW5TY-,FIR/ ,C5TURY 9 #a#i#i#d4 

,:I* ,PRIMITIVISM8 

,AS IS OBVI\S FROM ?IS BRIEF OV]VIEW 7:I* NECESS>ILY LEAVES \T DISCUSSION ( MANY DETAILS AS WELL AS O!R IMPORTANT P>TICIPANTS & 9FLU5CES71 ! /R&S ( ! PRIMITIVI/ MILIEU >E NOT JU/ DIV]SE1 BUT (T5 9 IMPORTANT WAYS 9COMPATIBLE4 ,TO ID5TIFY ) PRIMITIVISM CAN MEAN V]Y DIFF]5T ?+S TO ?OSE 9FLU5C$ BY ,FR$Y ,P]LMAN OR ,DAVID ,WATSON1 ,JOHN ,Z]ZAN OR ,>NE ,NAESS4 ,FR$Y ,P]LMAN POETICALLY COMMEMORATES ! SONG & DANCE ( PRIMITIVE COMMUNITIES1 !IR IMM]SION 9 NATURE & K9%IP ) O!R SPECIES4 ,= ,DAVID ,WATSON1 PRIMITIVISM FIR/ ( ALL IMPLIES A CELEBRATION ( ! SU/A9ABLE1 PRE9DU/RIAL 7?\< NOT NECESS>ILY PRE-AGRICULTURAL7 LIFE WAYS ( MANY PEOPLES1 :I* HE BELIEVES >E MO/-IMPORTANTLY C5T]$ ON TRIBAL CULTURES 7ESPECIALLY TRIBAL RELIGIONS7 & CONVIVIAL TOOLS & TE*NIQUES4 ,= ,JOHN ,Z]ZAN1 PRIMITIVISM IS FIR/ & =EMO/ A /ANCE DEM&+ AN 5D TO ALL POSSIBLE SYMBOLIC ALI5ATIONS & ALL DIVISION ( LABOR 9 ORD] ?AT WE EXP]I5CE ! WORLD AS A RECLAIM$ UNITY ( EXP]I5CE )\T NE$ = RELIGION1 >T OR O!R SYMBOLIC COMP5SATIONS4 ,:ILE = ?OSE 9FLU5C$ BY DEEP ECOLOGY1 PRIMITIVISM MEANS A RETURN TO A PRE9DU/RIAL WORLD 9HABIT$ BY A SMALL HUMAN POPULATION ABLE TO LIVE NOT ONLY 9 H>MONY ) NATURE1 BUT ABOVE ALL ) A M9IMAL IMPACT ON ALL O!R ANIMAL & PLANT 7& EV5 BACT]IAL7 SPECIES4 

,PRIMITIVISM AS IDEOLOGY 

,AL?\< ,I APPRECIATE & RESPECT ! 9SI<TS ( MO/ PRIMITIVI/ CURR5TS1 !RE >E OBVI\S PROBLEMS ) ! =MULATION ( ANY CRITICAL !ORY PRIM>ILY FOCUS+ >\ND A PRIMITIVI/ ID5TITY 7OR ANY O!R POSITIVELY CONCEIV$ ID5TITY74 ,AS ,BOB ,BLACK HAS CONT5D$3 

0,! COMMUNI/-AN>*I/ HUNT]-GA!R]S 7= ?AT IS :AT1 TO BE PRECISE1 !Y >E71 PA/ & PRES5T1 >E IMPORTANT4 ,NOT 7NECESS>ILY7 = !IR SUCCESSFUL HABITAT-SPECIFIC ADAPTATIONS S9CE !SE >E1 BY DEF9ITION1 NOT G5]ALIZABLE4 ,BUT BECAUSE !Y DEMON/RATE ?AT LIFE ONCE WAS1 ?AT LIFE CAN BE1 RADICALLY DIFF]5T4 ,! PO9T IS NOT TO RECREATE ?AT WAY ( LIFE 7AL?\< !RE MAY BE SOME OCCASIONS TO DO ?AT7 BUT TO APPRECIATE ?AT1 IF A LIFE-WAY SO UTT]LY CONTRADICTORY TO \RS IS FEASIBLE1 :I* 9DE$ HAS A MILLION-YE> TRACK RECORD1 !N MAYBE O!R LIFE-WAYS CONTRADICTORY TO \RS >E FEASIBLE0 7,BOB ,BLACK1 0,TE*NOPHILIA1 ,AN ,9FANTILE ,DISORD]10 PUBLI%$ 9 ,GRE5 ,AN>*I/ @& ON ! WEB AT3 WWW4PRIMITIVISM4COM74 

,IF IT WAS OBVI\S ?AT PRIMITIVISM ALWAYS IMPLI$ ?IS TYPE ( OP5-5D$1 NON-IDEOLOGICAL /ANCE1 A PRIMITIVI/ ID5TITY W\LD BE MU* LESS PROBLEMATIC4 ,UN=TUNATELY1 = MO/ PRIMITIVI/S AN IDEALIZ$1 HYPO/ATIZ$ VISION ( PRIMAL SOCIETIES T5DS TO IRRESI/IBLY DISPLACE ! ESS5TIAL C5TRALITY ( CRITICAL SELF-!ORY1 :ATEV] !IR OCCASIONAL PROTE/ATIONS TO ! CONTR>Y4 ,! LOCUS ( CRITIQUE QUICKLY MOVES FROM ! CRITICAL SELF-UND]/&+ ( ! SOCIAL & NATURAL WORLD TO ! ADOPTION ( A PRECONCEIV$ IDEAL AGA9/ :I* ?AT WORLD 7& ONE'S [N LIFE7 IS MEASUR$1 AN >*ETYPALLY IDEOLOGICAL /ANCE4 ,?IS NE>LY IRRESI/IBLE SUSCEPTIBILITY TO IDEALIZATION IS PRIMITIVISM'S GREATE/ WEAKNESS4 

,?IS BECOMES ESPECIALLY CLE> :5 ATTEMPTS >E MADE TO P9 D[N ! EXACT MEAN+ ( ! PRIMITIVE4 ,9 A VITALLY IMPORTANT S5SE !RE >E NO CONTEMPOR>Y 0PRIMITIVE0 SOCIETIES & !RE IS NOT EV5 ANY S+LE1 ID5TIFIABLE1 >*ETYPAL 0PRIMITIVE0 SOCIETY4 ,AL?\< ?IS IS ACKN[L$G$ EV5 BY MO/ PRIMITIVI/S1 ITS IMPORTANCE IS NOT ALWAYS UND]/OOD4 ,ALL SOCIETIES N[ 7& HI/ORICALLY7 9 EXI/5CE HAVE !IR [N HI/ORIES & >E CONTEMPOR>Y SOCIETIES 9 A MO/ IMPORTANT S5SE1 ?AT !Y EXI/ 9 ! SAME WORLD -- EV5 IF F> FROM ! C5T]S ( P[] & WEAL? -- AS NATION-/ATES1 MULT9ATIONAL CORPORATIONS & GLOBAL COMMODITY EX*ANGE4 ,& EV5 ANCI5T SOCIETIES :I* EXI/$ BE=E ! ADV5T ( AGRICULTURE & CIVILIZATION 9 ALL LIKELIHOOD ADAPT$ MANY UNIMAG9ABLY DIV]SE & 9NOVATIVE LIFE WAYS OV] ! C\RSE ( !IR EXI/5CE4 ,BUT1 BEYOND SOME BASIC SPECULATIONS1 WE CAN SIMPLY NEV] KN[ :AT !SE LIFE WAYS W]E1 MU* LESS1 :I* W]E ! MO/ AU!NTICALLY PRIMITIVE4 ,:ILE ?IS DOESN'T MEAN ?AT WE CAN'T LE>N FROM ! LIFE WAYS ( CONTEMPOR>Y HUNT]S & GA!R]S -- OR HORITCULTURALI/S1 NOMADIC H]D]S1 & EV5 SUBSI/5CE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITIES1 IT DOES MEAN ?AT !RE IS NO PO9T 9 PICK+ ANY ONE =M ( LIFE AS AN IDEAL TO BE UNCRITICALLY EMULAT$1 NOR ( HYPO/ATIZ+ AN >*ETYPAL PRIMITIVE IDEAL BAS$ ON SPECULATIONS ALWAYS AB\T :AT MI<T HAVE BE54 

,NEI!R BACK NOR =W>D1 BUT :]EV] WE *OOSE TO GO 

,AS ALL CRITICS ( PRIMITIVISM NEV] TIRE ( PO9T+ \T1 WE CAN'T SIMPLY GO BACK 9 TIME4 ,?\< ?IS IS NOT BECAUSE 7AS MO/ CRITICS BELIEVE7 ?AT SOCIAL & TE*NICAL 0PROGRESS0 IS IRREV]SIBLE1 NOR BECAUSE MOD]N CIVILIZATION IS UNAVOIDABLE4 ,!RE >E MANY HI/ORICAL EXAMPLES ( BO? RESI/ANCE TO SOCIAL & TE*NICAL 9NOVATIONS1 & DEVOLUTIONS TO :AT >E USUALLY CONSID]$ 7BY ! BELIEV]S 9 ,PROGRESS7 NOT JU/ SIMPL]1 BUT 9F]IOR OR BACKW>D1 LIFE WAYS4 ,MO/ IMPORTANTLY1 WE CAN'T GO BACK 9 ! S5SE ?AT :]EV] WE GO AS A SOCIETY1 WE HAVE TO MAKE \R DEP>TURE FROM :]E WE >E RI<T N[4 ,WE >E ALL CAU<T UP 9 AN HI/ORICAL SOCIAL PROCESS :I* CON/RA9S \R OPTIONS4 ,AS ,M>XI/S TYPICALLY PUT IT1 ! PRES5T MAT]IAL CONDITIONS ( PRODUCTION & SOCIAL RELATIONS ( PRODUCTION L>GELY DET]M9E ! POSSIBILITIES = SOCIAL *ANGE4 ,AL?\< AN>*I/S >E 9CREAS+LY 7& CORRECTLY7 CRITICAL ( ! PRODUCTIVI/ ASSUMPTIONS BEH9D ?IS TYPE ( =MULATION1 IT REMA9S MORE G5]ALLY TRUE ?AT EXI/+ CONDITIONS ( SOCIAL LIFE 79 ALL !IR MAT]IAL & CULTURAL DIM5SIONS7 DO HAVE AN 9]TIA ?AT MAKES ANY ?\<TS ( A 0RETURN0 TO PREVI\SLY EXI/+ 7OR MORE LIKELY IMAG9$7 LIFE WAYS EXTREMELY PROBLEMATIC4 

,BUT NEI!R DO WE NECESS>ILY NE$ TO GO =W>D 9TO ! FUTURE ?AT CAPITAL & ! /ATE >E PREP>+ = US4 ,AS WE >E LE>N+ FROM HI/ORY1 !IR PROGRESS HAS NEV] BE5 \R PROGRESS -- CONCEIV$ AS ANY SUB/ANTIAL DIM9UTION ( SOCIAL ALI5ATION1 DOME/ICATION OR EV5 EXPLOITATION4 ,RA!R1 WE MI<T DO MU* BETT] TO DISP5SE ) ! /&>D TIMELI] ( ALL PHILOSOPHIES ( HI/ORY 9 ORD] TO F9ALLY GO \R [N WAY4 

,ONLY )\T ! UNNECESS>Y1 ALWAYS IDEOLOGICAL1 CON/RA9TS IMPOS$ BY ANY DIRECTIONAL 9T]PRETATIONS ( HI/ORY1 >E WE F9ALLY FREE TO BECOME :ATEV] WE WILL1 RA!R ?AN :AT SOME CONCEPTION ( PROGRESS 7OR ( RETURN7 TELLS US WE NE$ TO BE4 ,?IS DOESN'T MEAN ?AT WE CAN EV] JU/ IGNORE :AT WE1 AS A GLOBAL SOCIETY1 >E RI<T N[4 ,BUT IT DOES MEAN ?AT ULTIMATELY NO IDEOLOGY CAN CONTA9 OR DEF9E ! SOCIAL REVOLUTION>Y IMPULSE )\T FALSIFY+ IT4 ,! VITALITY ( ?IS CRITICAL IMPULSE HAS AN EXI/5CE PRIOR TO ANY !ORIZ+ 9 EA* & EV]Y CONTRADICTION BETWE5 \R IMM$IATE DESIRES = UNIT>Y1 NON-ALI5AT$ LIVES & ALL ( ! CURR5T SOCIAL RELATIONS1 ROLES & 9/ITUTIONS :I* PREV5T !SE DESIRES FROM BE+ REALIZ$4 

,CRITIQUES ( ,CIVILIZATION1 ,PROGRESS1 ,TE*NOLOGY 

,MU* MORE IMPORTANT = US ?AN ! REVALUATION ( :AT >E CALL$ PRIMITIVE SOCIETIES & LIFE WAYS IS ! CRITICAL EXAM9ATION ( ! SOCIETY )9 :I* WE LIVE RI<T N[ & ! WAYS :I* IT SY/EMATICALLY ALI5ATES \R LIFE-ACTIVITIES & D5IES \R DESIRES = A MORE UNIT>Y & SATISFY+ WAY ( LIFE4 ,& ?IS MU/ ALWAYS BE =EMO/ A PROCESS ( NEGATION1 AN IMM95T CRITIQUE ( \R LIVES FROM )9 RA!R ?AN FROM )\T4 ,IDEOLOGICAL CRITIQUES1 :ILE CONTA9+ A NEGATIVE COMPON5T1 ALWAYS REMA9 C5T]$ \TSIDE ( \R LIVES >\ND SOME SORT ( POSITIVE IDEAL TO :I* WE MU/ EV5TUALLY CON=M4 ,! P[] ( !IR 7OV]SIMPLIFI$7 SOCIAL CRITICISMS IS GA9$ AT ! EXP5SE ( D5Y+ ! NECESS>Y C5TRALITY ( \R [N LIVES & \R [N P]SPECTIVES TO ANY G5U9E CRITIQUE ( \R SOCIAL ALI5ATION4 

,! PRIMITIVI/ MILIEU HAS DEVELOP$ & POPUL>IZ$ CRITIQUES ( CIVILIZATION1 PROGRESS & TE*NOLOGY & ?AT IS ITS MO/ IMPORTANT /R5G?4 ,I DON'T CONSID] MYSELF A PRIMITIVI/ BECAUSE ( :AT ,I SEE AS ! 9H]5TLY IDEOLOGICAL ?RU/ ( ANY !ORY :I* IDEALIZES A P>TICUL> =M ( LIFE 7:E!R OR NOT IT HAS EV] ACTUALLY EXI/$74 ,BUT ?IS DOES NOT MEAN ?AT ,I AM ANY LESS CRITICAL ( CIVILIZATION1 PROGRESS OR TE*NOLOGY4 ,RA!R1 ,I SEE !SE CRITIQUES AS ESS5TIAL TO ! R5EWAL & FUR!R RADICALIZATION ( ANY G5U9E ATTEMPTS AT G5]AL CONTEMPOR>Y SOCIAL CRITIQUE4 

,PRIMITIVISM AS AN IDEOLOGY IS /UCK 9 AN UN5VIABLE POSITION ULTIMATELY DEM&+ ! CON/RUCTION ( A COMPLEX =M ( SOCIETY 7H[EV] MU* DISPUT$ 9 P>TICUL>S7 ?AT OBVI\SLY REQUIRES NOT ONLY MASSIVE SOCIAL TRANS=MATIONS1 TE*NICAL *ANGES & POPULATION DISLOCATIONS1 BUT ! RELATIVELY QUICK AB&ONM5T ( AT LEA/ #a1 YE>S ( CIVILIZ$ DEVELOPM5T4 ,IT IS AN UND]/ATEM5T TO SAY ?AT ?IS POSES 5ORM\S RISKS = \R SURVIVAL AS 9DIVIDUALS1 & EV51 CONCEIVABLY1 AS A SPECIES 7DUE TO ! PRIM>ILY TO POT5TIAL ?REATS ( NUCLE>1 *EMICAL & BIOLOGICAL W>F>E ?AT C\LD BE UNLEA%$74 ,YET PRIMITIVISM CAN AT BE/ (F] ONLY 9DET]M9ATE PROMISES ( HI<LY SPECULATIVE RESULTS1 EV5 UND] ! MO/ FAVORABLY IMAG9ABLE CIRCUM/ANCES3 ! EV5TUAL1 WORLDWIDE DEMORALIZATION & CAPITULATION ( ! MO/ P[]FUL RUL+ CLASSES1 )\T TOO MANY SIGNIFICANT CIVIL W>S F\<T BY FACTIONS ATTEMPT+ TO RE/ORE ! COLLAPS+ OLD ORD] 9 P>T OR 9 TOTAL4 ,?US PRIMITIVISM1 AT LEA/ 9 ?IS =M1 IS NEV] LIKELY TO COMM& ! SUPPORT ( MORE ?AN A RELATIVELY SMALL MILIEU ( M>G9AL MALCONT5TS1 EV5 UND] CONDITIONS ( SUB/ANTIAL SOCIAL COLLAPSE4 

,BUT ! CRITIQUE ( CIVILIZATION DOESN'T HAVE TO MEAN ! IDEOLOGICAL REJECTION ( EV]Y HI/ORICAL SOCIAL DEVELOPM5T OV] ! C\RSE ( ! LA/ #a OR #b1 YE>S4 ,! CRITIQUE ( PROGRESS DOESN'T MEAN ?AT WE NE$ TO RETURN TO A PREVI\S WAY ( LIFE OR SET AB\T CON/RUCT+ SOME PRECONCEIV$1 IDEALIZ$ /ATE ( NON-CIVILIZATION4 ,! CRITIQUE ( TE*NOLOGY DOESN'T MEAN ?AT WE CAN'T SUCCESSFULLY WORK TO ELIM9ATE ONLY ! MO/ EGREGI\S =MS ( TE*NOLOGICAL PRODUCTION1 CONSUMPTION & CONTROL FIR/1 :ILE LEAV+ ! LESS 9T5SIVE1 LESS SOCIALLY- & ECOLOGICALLY-DE/RUCTIVE =MS ( TE*NOLOGY = LAT] TRANS=MATION OR ELIM9ATION 7:ILE ALSO1 ( C\RSE1 ATTEMPT+ TO M9IMIZE !IR ALI5AT+ EFFECTS74 ,:AT ALL ?IS DOES MEAN IS ?AT IT CAN BE MU* MORE P[]FUL TO =MULATE A REVOLUTION>Y POSITION ?AT WON'T L5D ITSELF SO READILY TO DEG5]ATION 9TO IDEOLOGY4 ,& ?AT PRIMITIVISM1 %ORN ( ALL ITS IDEOLOGICAL PROCLIVITIES1 IS BETT] (F ) ANO!R NAME4 

,:AT %\LD A SOCIAL REVOLUTION>Y P]SPECTIVE BE CALL$ :I* 9CLUDES CRITIQUES ( CIVILIZATION1 PROGRESS & TE*NOLOGY1 ALL 9TEGRAT$ ) CRITIQUES ( ALI5ATION1 IDEOLOGY1 MORALITY & RELIGION8 ,I CAN'T SAY ?AT !RE IS ANY =MULATION ?AT WON'T ALSO HAVE SIGNIFICANT POT5TIAL = DEG5]ATION 9TO IDEOLOGY4 ,BUT ,I D\BT ?AT WE W\LD DO WORSE ?AN 0PRIMITIVISM40 

,I WILL LIKELY CONT9UE TO ID5TIFY MO/ ) ! SIMPLE LABEL ( 0AN>*I/10 TRU/+ 9 P>T ?AT OV] TIME ! MO/ VALID CRITIQUES N[ ID5TIFI$ CLOSELY ) PRIMITIVISM WILL BE 9CREAS+LY 9CORPORAT$ 9TO & ID5TIFI$ CLOSELY ) ! AN>*I/ MILIEU1 BO? )9 AN>*I/ !ORY & AN>*I/ PRACTICE4 ,AN>*O-LEFTI/S WON'T LIKE ?IS PROCESS4 ,& NEI!R WILL AN>*O-LIB]ALS & O!RS4 ,BUT ! CRITIQUE ( CIVILIZATION IS H]E TO /AY1 ALONG ) ITS COROLL>Y CRITIQUES ( PROGRESS & TE*NOLOGY4 ,! CONT9U$ DEEP5+ ( WORLDWIDE SOCIAL CRISES RESULT+ FROM ! UNCEAS+ DEVELOPM5TS ( CAPITAL1 TE*NOLOGY & /ATE WILL NOT ALL[ ?OSE AN>*I/S /ILL RESI/ANT TO ! DEEP5+ ( CRITIQUE TO IGNORE ! IMPLICATIONS ( !SE CRISES =EV]4 

,WE N[ /& AT ! BEG9N+ ( A NEW C5TURY4 ,MANY W\LD SAY WE'RE NO CLOS] TO AN>*Y N[ ?AN WE W]E A TWO C5TURIES AGO 9 ! TIMES ( ,GODW91 ,C\RD]OY OR ,PR\DHON4 ,MANY MORE MI<T SAY ?AT WE >E 9CREAS+LY FUR!R AWAY4 ,OR >E WE8 ,IF WE CAN =MULATE A MORE P[]FUL CRITIQUE1 MORE RESI/ANT TO ! TEMPTATIONS ( IDEOLOGY2 & IF WE CAN DEVELOP A MORE RADICAL & 9TRANSIG5T1 YET OP5-5D$ PRACTICE1 P]HAPS WE /ILL HAVE A FI<T+ *ANCE TO 9FLU5CE ! 9EVITABLE REVOLUTIONS /ILL TO COME4 

,! ,QUE/ION ( ,PRIMITIVISM BY ,ALEX ,TROTT] 

,AN AN>*I/ SE>* = ! PRIMITIVE ACTUALLY 9VOLVES MULTIPLE QUE/IONS4 ,IS CIVILIZATION ITSELF REALLY ! PROBLEM8 ,IS ITS OV]COM+ A REALI/IC POSSIBILITY8 ,IS IT TO BE OV]?R[N OR AB&ON$8 

,! RADICAL AN?ROPOLOGY ?AT MANY AN>*I/S HAVE REC5TLY TAK5 9T]E/ 9 HAS ! M]IT ( DEMON/RAT+ ?AT HUMANITY HAS LIV$ ! GREAT BULK ( ITS TIME ON E>? 9 HUNT]-GA!R] B&S FREE ( CLASS HI]>*Y1 ALI5AT$ DIVISION ( LABOR1 SEXUAL 9EQUALITY1 & DEVA/AT+ TE*NOLOGICAL W>F>E4 ,9 LI<T ( ALL ! FAIL$ REVOLUTIONS ( MOD]N HI/ORY IT PROVIDES US ) A GLIMPSE ( ! ONLY HUMAN COMMUNITIES ?AT HAVE EV] REALLY BE5 :AT C\LD BE CALL$ AN>*I/ OR COMMUNI/ 9 A SU/A9$ & SUCCESSFUL WAY4 ,?IS 9 ITSELF IS A P[]FUL C\NT] TO ,HOBBESIAN & O!R IDEOLOGUES :O >GUE ?AT ! NATURE ( ! HUMAN BEA/ REQUIRES AU?ORIT>IAN CONTROLS4 ,BUT DRAW+ A POLITICS \T ( ?IS AN?ROPOLOGY IS TRICKY4 ,CIVILIZATION MAY WELL HAVE BE5 A MI/AKE FROM ! />T1 BUT IT C\LD BE SOME?+ ?AT WE >E MORE OR LESS /UCK )4 ,! IDEA ( PRIMITIVISM IMPLIES1 9 ITS MO/ RADICAL =M1 A RETURN TO A GOLD5 AGE ( HUNT]-GA!R] SOCIETY1 AL?\< FEW IF ANY ( EV5 ! MO/ >D5T CRITICS ( CIVILIZATION ADVOCATE ?IS C\RSE4 ,AN ABSOLUTI/ PRIMITIVISM CAN >RIVE AT ! CONCLUSION ?AT ! HUMAN SPECIES ITSELF IS ! PROBLEM1 ) A RESULT+ MISAN?ROPIC NIHILISM4 ,AL?\< ,I WILL AGREE ?AT CIVILIZATION HAS DEEPLY ALI5AT$ HUMANITY FROM ! RE/ ( NATURE1 & ?AT TODAY IT SEEMS TO TAKE ON ! ASPECT ( A COLOSSAL PROLONG$ TRA9 WRECK1 ,I DON'T BELIEVE ?AT ALL ( ITS PRODUCTS 7E4G41 BOOKS1 *ESS1 W9E1 TO NAME A FEW ( MY [N LIKES7 >E EVIL2 SOME ASPECTS ( CIVILIZATION >E PROBABLY WOR? PRES]V+ EV5 AS ITS MORE OPPRESSIVE & H>MFUL ASPECTS DES]VE DISMANTL+4 ,WE C]TA9LY NE$ TO FREE \RSELVES FROM A TOXIC OV]CIVILIZATION & RECONCILE ) NATURE1 BUT ,I AM SKEPTICAL AB\T ! FEASIBILITY & EV5 DESIRABILITY ( AN ABSOLUTE DE/RUCTION OR AB&ONM5T ( CIVILIZATION4 ,BE=E RETURN+ TO !SE QUE/IONS1 ,I WILL BRIEFLY EXAM9E ! ORIG9S ( CONTEMPOR>Y PRIMITIVISM 7IF ?AT'S REALLY :AT WE WANT TO CALL IT7 & ITS QU>REL ) ,M>XISM & LEFTISM4 

,REC5T YE>S HAVE SE5 ! EM]G5CE ( A GRE5 AN>*ISM1 BUT IT %\LD BE REMEMB]$ ?AT CONTEMPOR>Y PRIMITIVISM & ITS AFF9ES 7DEEP ECOLOGY EXCEPT$7 HAVE /RONG ROOTS 9 ,EUROPEAN ULTRALEFT ,M>XISM1 OR RA!R1 9 ATTEMPTS TO TRANSC5D IT FOLL[+ ! GREAT NE>-REVOLUTION ( #aifh 9 ,FRANCE & GA!R+ MOM5TUM UP TO ! PRES5T TIME4 ,JACQUES ,CAMATTE1 =M]LY A MEMB] ( A ,BORDIGUI/ P>TY1 IS ONE ( ! KEY FIGURES & WAS AN IMPORTANT 9FLU5CE ON ,FR$Y ,P]LMAN & ! ,FIF? ,E/ATE4 ,9 ! #a#i#fS ,/AL9ISM WAS /ILL V]Y MU* DOM9ANT AS AN IDEOLOGICAL OPPOSITION TO CAPITALISM1 EV5 9 SOME ,WE/]N C\NTRIES SU* AS ,FRANCE & ,ITALY4 ,! REJECTION ( ,M>XISM 9VOLV$ NOT JU/ ,/AL9ISM & ! V>I\S NATIONALI/IC IDEOLOGIES 7RE7EM]G+ FROM ITS DECAY1 H[EV]1 BUT W5T ON TO QUE/ION EV5 ! LESS AU?ORIT>IAN_/IDEOLOGICAL & MORE CRITICAL /R&S ( ,WE/]N ,M>XISM SU* AS LEFT OR C\NCIL COMMUNISM & ! ,SITUATIONI/ ,9T]NATIONAL & ITS IMITATORS1 :I* HAD ALL SEEM+LY BURN$ \T 9 FAILURE OR IRRELEVANCE AFT] AB\T #a#i#g4 ,! V>I\S !ORI/S TODAY ASSOCIAT$ ) ! G5]AL IDEA & MILIEU ( 0PRIMITIVISM0 W5T 9 V>Y+ DIRECTIONS FROM !RE1 MO/LY T[>D A CRITICAL 5GAGEM5T ) AN AN>*ISM ?AT HAD BEGUN TO EM]GE FROM A LONG ECLIPSE4 ,AMONG !M ,CAMATTE REMA9S MO/ 9DEBT$ TO ,M>X4 

,! ,M>XI/ S*EMA ( HI/ORY HAD A PLACE1 ALBEIT A RA!R SMALL ONE1 = PREHI/ORY 9 ! CATEGORY ( 0PRIMITIVE COMMUNISM10 :I* W\LD1 ! !ORY W5T1 RETURN ON A 0HI<]0 LEVEL ?R\< ! HI/ORICAL DIALECTIC ( CLASS /RUGGLE4 ,CAMATTE1 & O!RS SU* AS ,FR$Y ,P]LMAN & ,JOHN ,Z]ZAN1 CAME TO ! CONCLUSION ?AT ! WORK+ CLASS C\LD NO LONG] BE CONSID]$ ! REVOLUTION>Y SUBJECT1 & QUE/ION$ ! SUPPOS$ NECESSITY ( ! LONG DET\R ?R\< CIVILIZATION 7! 0W&]+ ( HUMANITY0 OR 0,HIS-/ORY07 ) ITS V>I\S /AGES ORGANIZ$ >\ND MODES ( PRODUCTION4 ,M>X1 9 CONTRA/ TO JU/ AB\T ANY FLAVOR ( ,M>XI/S Y\ CAN ?9K (1 HAD SOME 0PRIMITIVI/0 T5D5CIES ( HIS [N1 :I* CAN BE SE51 = EXAMPLE1 9 ! ,E?NOLOGICAL ,NOTEBOOKS & 9 HIS E>LY ,P>IS WRIT+S ON ALI5ATION1 9 :I* HE PO9T$ TO COMMUNISM AS ! EM]G5CE ( HUMAN COMMUNITY1 ! NATURAL MAN & WOMAN :OSE FREE CREATIVITY1 & NOT ! DEVELOPM5T ( ECONOMIC =CES ( PRODUCTION1 IS ! GOAL4 ,AT HIS BE/1 ,M>X (F]$ ! P]SPECTIVE ( RADICAL SUBJECTIVITY RA!R ?AN FAI? 9 AN OBJECTIVE PROCESS OP]AT+ BY RIGID TELEOLOGY & ECONOMIC DET]M9ISM4 ,UN=TUNATELY1 IT IS ! LATT] FACE ( ,M>XISM ?AT ! WORLD HAS COME TO KN[ ALL TOO WELL1 & ,5GELS AS WELL AS ,M>X HIMSELF HAVE TO %>E P>T ( ! BLAME = ?AT4 

,ANO!R RADICAL ?9K] WOR? M5TION+ 9 ?IS REG>D IS ,DWI<T ,MACDONALD1 ALSO A REFUGEE FROM LEFT ,M>XISM 79 HIS CASE1 ,TROTSKYISM71 :OSE PR9CIPAL WRIT+S DATE FROM ! #a#i#dS & #a#i#eS1 A TIME :5 ,/AL9ISM WAS EV5 MORE FIRMLY 5TR5*$1 9DE$ AT ! Z5I? ( ITS P[]4 ,MACDONALD WAS NOT A CONTEMN] ( CIVILIZATION AS SU* 7HE WAS1 9 FACT1 RA!R FOND ( ! ANCI5T ,GREEKS1 :O W]E1 HE NOT$ APPROV+LY1 0TE*NOLOGICALLY AS PRIMITIVE AS !Y W]E ES!TICALLY CIVILIZ$071 BUT HIS WELL-REASON$ CRITIQUE ( ,M>XISM PLAC$ IT FIRMLY 9 ! CONTEXT ( ! ,WE/]N ,5LI<T5M5T PROJECT ( B\NDLESS FAI? 9 SCI5CE1 PROGRESS1 & MA/]Y OV] NATURE4 ,MACDONALD CALL$ = A R5EWAL ( AN AN>*ISM BO? 9DIVIDUALI/ & COMMUNIT>IAN1 & FREE ( ! FETI% ( 0SCI5TIFIC SOCIALISM0 ?AT HAD SPRUNG FROM CLASSICAL AN>*I/ & ,UTOPIAN ?9K]S AS MU* AS FROM ,M>X4 ,! REEM]G5CE ( AN>*ISM S9CE ! #a#i#fS HAS TAK5 A MU* MORE CRITICAL /ANCE T[>D SCI5CE & TE*NOLOGY ?AN ?AT ( ! BE>D$ PROPHETS ( ! #a#i? C5TURY4 ,9S(> AS ,MACDONALD HELP$ LAY ! GR\NDWORK = ?AT REEM]G5CE1 HE CAN BE CONSID]$ A =]UNN] ( 0PRIMITIVISM10 AL?\< ,I GET ! S5SE ?AT HE MAY NOT HAVE 5TIRELY APPROV$ ( IT 9 ITS PRES5T MANIFE/ATIONS4 

,:ATEV] GOOD !RE IS ?AT PEOPLE ASSOCIATE ) CIVILIZATION 7E4G41 CULTURAL1 SPIRITUAL1 OR E?ICAL A*IEVEM5TS7 USUALLY HAS TO DO ) SOME?+ O!R ?AN JU/ MAK+ MONEY1 :I* IS ! ALPHA & OMEGA ( ?IS SOCIETY4 ,! CIVILIZATION ( ,CAPITAL -- TO ! EXT5T ?AT IT HAS A CIVILIZATION ( ITS [N1 AP>T FROM ! M>KET -- & TE*NOLOGY-DRIV5 MASS CULTURE -- IS A P>ASITIC PAT9A OV]LY+ ! CULTURE ( PREVI\S =MS ( SOCIETY1 :I* IT CONT9UALLY DECOMPOSES1 RECOMPOSES1 & PACKAGES AS AN IMM5SE COLLECTION ( COMMODITIES TO BE SOLD & CONSUM$4 ,CAMATTE HAS DESCRIB$ ! PRES5T SOCIETY 9 BLEAK T]MS AS A 0MAT]IAL COMMUNITY ( CAPITAL0 9 :I* ! SOCIAL CLASSES ( ! CLASSIC ,M>XIAN POL>ITY1 B\RGEOISIE & PROLET>IAT ALIKE1 HAVE BE5 SUPPRESS$ OR SUP]S$$ 9 A G5]ALIZ$ HUMAN SLAV]Y TO WAGE LABOR & ! COMMODITY1 & 9 :I* LIFE ITSELF 9CREAS+LY TAKES ON ! CA/ ( 0VIRTUAL REALITY40 ,9 ?IS SOCIETY1 BY ANALOGY ) ! 0,ASIATIC MODE ( PRODUCTION10 !RE MAY BE REVOLTS1 BUT !RE IS NO EXIT ?R\< A DIALECTIC ( HI/ORY4 

,BUT IF ! PROLET>IAT 7:E!R DEF9$1 CLASSICALLY1 AS ?OSE )\T [N]%IP ( MEANS ( PRODUCTION1 OR MORE BROADLY1 BY ,CA/ORIADIS & ! ,SITUATIONI/S1 AS ?OSE )\T P[] OR CONTROL OV] !IR [N LIVES7 WILL NOT S]VE AS REVOLUTION>Y SUBJECT & =CE ( NEGATION 9 MOD]N SOCIETY1 !N :O OR :AT WILL8 ,! ANTIW>1 GRE51 FEM9I/1 GAY1 & CIVIL-RI<TS 0NEW SOCIAL MOVEM5TS0 7NO LONG] V]Y NEW AT ?IS PO9T7 COM+ \T ( ! #a#i#fS HAD !IR [N UND]/&ABLE REASONS = REJECT+ ,M>XISM & ! OLD WORK]S' MOVEM5T1 BUT !SE MOVEM5TS HAVE T5D$ TO BECOME ?OR\<LY 9TEGRAT$ 9TO CAPITALI/ SOCIETY ?R\< PO/MOD]N ACADEME & LIB]AL OR SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC P>TY POLITICS4 ,A DEEP ECOLOGY P]SPECTIVE MI<T SEE LITTLE NE$ = A HUMAN SUBJECT TO EFFECT REVOLUTION>Y *ANGE1 BUT MO/ AN>*I/S1 9CLUD+ ! 0PRIMITIVI/S0 AMONG !M1 DO HAVE A VISION ( SOCIAL REVOLUTION4 ,AL?\< ! SOCIETY ( CAPITAL SEEMS REM>KABLY RESILI5T1 !RE IS 7OR WAS1 AT LEA/1 UNTIL V]Y REC5TLY7 AT LEA/ SOME CAUSE = OPTIMISM4 ,RESI/ANCE TO ALL ! V>I\S IDEOLOGICAL1 TE*NOLOGICAL1 & 9/ITUTIONAL SUPPORTS ( ?IS SOCIETY CONT9UES & SEEM$ TO BE 9CREAS+ DRAMATICALLY1 AL?\< :AT WILL N[ HAPP5 9 ! CURR5T DRIVE TO W> IS A BIG QUE/ION M>K4 

,! !ORY ( ! PROLET>IAT 5UNCIAT$ 9 ! #a#i? C5TURY HAS LO/ ITS CR$IBILITY BUT RETA9S A HALF-LIFE ?AT CONT9UES TO RESONATE4 ,BOB ,BLACK1 :O IS NOT A PRIMITIVI/ P] SE BUT %>ES MANY ELEM5TS ( A PRIMITIVI/ CRITIQUE ( TE*NOLOGICAL SOCIETY1 PUT IT ?IS WAY3 0,! 7SUR7RATIONAL K]NEL ( TRU? 9 ! MY/ICAL ,M>XI/ %ELL IS ?IS3 ! 'WORK+ CLASS' IS ! LEG5D>Y 'REVOLUTION>Y AG5T'3 BUT ONLY IF1 BY NOT WORK+1 IT ABOLI%ES CLASS40 ,Z][ORK TAKES ! REFUSAL OR )DRAWAL ( LABOR AS ! />T+ PO9T ( ANY EF=T TO *ANGE OR ESCAPE ?IS WORLD1 ONLY IT REJECTS LEFTI/ EF=TS TO ORGANIZE SU* REFUSAL ?R\< P>TIES & UNIONS4 ,IT IS NECESS>ILY AMBIVAL5T 7AGNO/IC87 ON ! QUE/ION ( CIVILIZATION & TE*NOLOGY4 ,9 LOOK+ AT WAYS TO FREE HUMANITY FROM WORK1 !RE >E DIFF]5T DIRECTIONS 9 :I* TO TURN4 ,PAUL ,LA ,F>GUE >GU$ = AUTOMATION UND] WORK] CONTROL1 AS DID ! ,SITUATIONI/S4 ,9 ?IS SC5>IO TE*NOLOGY CAN BE SE5 AS A POT5TIAL HELP & NOT NECESS>ILY AS AN UNMITIGAT$ =CE ( OPPRESSION4 ,! POT5TIAL D[NSIDE IS ?AT IT 5TAILS A CONT9U$ DEP5D5CY ON TE*NOLOGY4 ,!N !RE IS ! EXAMPLE ( ! HUNT]-GA!R] PEOPLES1 :O WORK H>DLY AT ALL & DON'T USE OR NE$ AUTOMATION BECAUSE NATURE MAKES AVAILABLE TO !M EV]Y?+ !Y NE$4 ,GIV5 ?AT RE-CREAT+ SU* LIFEWAYS 9 !IR ORIG9AL ,PALEOLI?IC =MS IS NI< IMPOSSIBLE1 H[EV]1 ?IS EXAMPLE HAS PRACTICAL LIMITS AS A MODEL = TRANS=M+ \R [N LIVES4 

,9 CONSID]+ ! IMPORTANCE 7OR NOT7 ( ! WORK+ CLASS IT IS WELL TO OBS]VE ?AT MO/ PEOPLE 9 ! WORLD >E NOT 7PO/79DU/RIAL WORK]S1 BUT PEASANTS4 ,! RELATION%IP TO ! L& IS MO/ IMPORTANT1 & ! CATEGORIES ( DISC\RSE ASSOCIAT$ ) ,M>X & O!R #a#i?-C5TURY RADICALS >E /ILL RELEVANT1 ESPECIALLY ! EMPHASIS ON CAPITALISM'S ORIG9S AS AN AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION4 ,CAMATTE1 :O ADVOCATES MOVEM5TS BAS$ ON COMMUNITY RA!R ?AN CLASS1 HAS WRITT5 MU* ON ?IS SUBJECT4 ,! CONCEPT ( COMMUNITY IS FRU/RAT+LY VAGUE :5 APPLI$ TO CONTEMPOR>Y ,WE/]N SOCIETIES1 BUT IS EASI] TO SEE 9 RELATION TO ?AT GREAT] P>T ( ! WORLD :]E CAPITAL HAS /ILL NOT COMPLETELY P5ETRAT$ ! TRADITIONAL SOCIETIES1 & SOCIAL =MATIONS :OSE ROOTS PR$ATE CAPITALISM >E /ILL ! NORM4 ,9 HIS ESSAY ON ! ,RUSSIAN ,REVOLUTION1 ,CAMATTE EMPHASIZ$ ! POPULI/1 PEASANT-BAS$ DIM5SION RA!R ?AN ! CLASS-/RUGGLE DIALECTIC ( B\RGEOISIE VS4 PROLET>IAT4 ,HE MADE ! CASE ?AT ! WORK]S' C\NCILS W]E 9 A S5SE EXT5SIONS ( ! PEASANT COMMUNE1 BECAUSE MANY ( ! 9SURRECTION>Y WORK]S 9 ! RAPIDLY 9DU/RIALIZ+ ,RUSSIA ( ?AT TIME W]E REC5T MIGRANTS FROM ! C\NTRYSIDE1 :]E COMMUNAL SOCIAL =MS PREVAIL$4 ,TODAY1 9 NON-,WE/]N SOCIETIES1 URBANIZATION & 9DU/RIALIZATION CONT9UE TO GR[ & CAPITAL MAKES FUR!R 9ROADS ?R\< ! SAME MEANS BY :I* IT BECAME E/ABLI%$ 9 ! ,WE/3 5CLOSURES & ! UPROOT+ ( PEOPLE FROM !IR MEANS ( SUBSI/5CE ON ! L&4 ,BUT !RE IS /ILL AT LEA/ A TRACE ( COMMUNIT>IAN DIM5SION 9 WORK]S' LIVES4 ,PEOPLE 9 MANY P>TS ( ,AFRICA & ,ASIA1 = EXAMPLE1 :O HAVE BECOME WORK]S 9 CITIES /ILL HAVE FAMILY1 FOOD1 & O!R RES\RCES 9 !IR NATIVE VILLAGES 9 ! C\NTRYSIDE4 ,!SE REGIONS >E POOR 9 RELATION TO ,NOR? ,AM]ICA1 ,WE/]N ,EUROPE1 & ,JAPAN1 BUT 9 ! EV5T ( F>-REA*+ 9DU/RIAL COLLAPSE IT IS CONCEIVABLE !Y MI<T ACTUALLY F>E BETT] BAS$ ON ?IS SURVIV+ RELATION%IP TO ! L&4 

,IF PEASANT-BAS$ SOCIALISM W]E TO TAKE HOLD ON A L>GE SCALE1 MANY >EAS ( ! WORLD C\LD BE PULL$ \T ( ! GLOBAL M>KET4 ,BUT AS LONG AS CAPITAL REMA9S SECURELY 9 P[] 9 ITS METROPOLITAN /ON<OLDS1 ?IS SC5>IO PROBABLY WON'T WORK4 ,9DE$1 IT CAN BE SAID TO HAVE BE5 TRI$ ALREADY4 ,?IRD-,WORLD ,/AL9ISM WAS ALREADY ?IS ATTEMPT 9 MANY REGIONS :]E1 9 P>T BECAUSE ( COLONIALISM1 A NATIVE B\RGEOISIE NEV] REALLY DEVELOP$4 ,PEASANTS HAVE S]V$ AS ! FOOT SOLDI]S = MANY REVOLUTIONS1 BUT !SE HAVE ALL BE5 PROJECTS ( /ATE-RUN CAPITAL OV]SE5 BY ,M>XI/ & NATIONALI/ PETTY-B\RGEOIS BUREAUCRATS4 ,AS ! #aiag REVOLUTION 9 ,RUSSIA REMA9$ ISOLAT$ & F\<T ! ,:ITE ,T]ROR ) ,R$ ,T]ROR1 ! ,BOL%EVIK P>TY-/ATE PRESID$ OV] ! IMPOSITION ( 9DU/RIAL SOCIETY 9 ?AT C\NTRY4 ,?IS BECAME A PATT]N REPEAT$ SEV]AL TIMES DISA/R\SLY ?R\<\T ! #b? C5TURY AS MANY POOR NATIONS ATTEMPT$ TO FOLL[ ! TOTALIT>IAN MODEL ( ,SOVIET OR ,*9ESE ,/AL9ISM4 ,! WORLD IS /ILL REEL+ FROM ?IS PROCESS1 AL?\< IT N[ SEEMS TO HAVE RUN ITS C\RSE4 

,A PEASANT COMMUNALISM FREE ( /ATI/ BUREAUCATIC M$IATION W\LD BE WOR?Y ( SUPPORT = ! OB/ACLE IT C\LD POSE TO ! SPREAD ( CAPITAL'S REAL DOM9ATION TO EV]Y CORN] ( ! WORLD & ALL FACETS ( LIFE4 ,IT W\LD /ILL1 ( C\RSE1 BE BAS$ ON AGRICULTURE1 SO IT W\LD NOT REALLY BE AN ALT]NATIVE TO CIVILIZATION AS SU*4 ,9 ,Z]ZAN'S VIEW AGRICULTURE IS 0! 9DISP5SABLE BASIS ( CIVILIZATION10 & 0LIB]ATION IS IMPOSSIBLE )\T ITS DISSOLUTION40 ,9 ! MO/ DEVELOP$ CAPITALI/ NATIONS1 CITIES >E HOME TO ! MAJORITY ( ! POPULATION1 ! SEP>ATION ( PEOPLE FROM ! L& IS NE>LY TOTAL1 & AGRICULTURE IS C>RI$ \T AS AN 9T5SELY 9DU/RIALIZ$ PROCESS4 ,BUT PRACTICALLY NO ONE1 9CLUD+ ,Z]ZAN1 IMAG9ES ?AT EI!R CITIES OR AGRICULTURE C\LD BE AB&ON$ OV]NI<T4 ,A TRANSITION !RE W\LD C]TA9LY HAVE TO BE1 & IT W\LD PROBABLY BE A PROLONG$ PROCESS UND]TAK51 IF HI/ORY IS ANY 9DICATOR1 9 ! TEE? ( DET]M9$ C\NT]REVOLUTION>Y EF=TS AIM$ AT ! RE/ORATION ( ! OLD SOCIAL ORD] 7UNLESS ! PRES5T RUL+ ELITES SIMPLY ?R[ 9 ! T[EL PEACEFULLY A SEEM+LY UNLIKELY BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE SC5>IO74 ,W\LD WE !N BE ANTICIPAT+ A WI!R+ AWAY ( AGRICULTURE1 TO REPLACE ! ,M>XI/S' 0WI!R+ AWAY ( ! /ATE08 ,! ABOLITION ( WORK IS A MORE FLEXIBLE IDEA & IS PROBABLY MORE LIKELY TO CAT* ON ) ! PLEBEIAN MULTITUDES ?AN CALLS TO ABOLI% CIVILIZATION & TE*NOLOGY4 ,BUT !RE IS A C]TA9 UTOPIAN MAXIMALISM 9 ?IS AS WELL4 ,!SE IDEAS MI<T S]VE BETT] AS />S TO NAVIGATE BY1 :ILE WE SAIL ON ,F\RI]'S SEAS ( LEMONADE1 SEEK+ \R ,NOR?WE/ PASSAGE1 ?AN AS ACTUAL DE/9ATIONS4 ,WORK CAN BE RADICALLY M9IMIZ$2 IT IS D\BTFUL ?AT IT CAN EV] BE 5TIRELY ELIM9AT$4 ,AS LONG AS WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY LIV+ AS GA!R]S & HUNT]S1 SOME PRODUCTION MU/ TAKE PLACE4 ,SURELY !RE HAS TO BE A WAY TO ACCOMPLI% IT )\T DOM9ATION & CO]CION ( \R FELL[ HUMAN BE+S1 OR 9SULT TO ! RE/ ( NATURE4 ,! 0SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL0 IDEA IS APPEAL+4 0,APPROPRIATE0 TE*NOLOGIES1 CITY G>D5S 7HORTICULTURE71 &1 :]EV] POSSIBLE1 ! REVIVAL ( >TISANAL RA!R ?AN 9DU/RIAL PRODUCTION >E POSSIBILITIES4 ,! %E] SIZE ( ! E>?'S HUMAN POPULATION1 H[EV]1 MI<T MAKE !SE SOLUTIONS DIFFICULT TO IMPLEM5T UND] ALL CIRCUM/ANCES4 ,EV5 IF 9DU/RIAL SOCIETY W]E CUT D[N TO SIZE RI<T N[1 ! REG5]ATION ( NATURE C\LD TAKE A CONSID]ABLE TIME4 ,9 ! EV5T ( ANO!R DEVA/AT+ WORLD W>-AT ?IS MOM5T1 ALAS1 NOT JU/ POSSIBLE1 BUT LIKELY-RESULT+ 9 ! DE/RUCTION ( MU* ( HUMANSOCIETY1 ! SURVIVORS MAY 9DE$ BE COMPELL$ TO LIVE AS PRIMITIVI/S4 

,:Y ,PRIMITIVISM 7)\T ADJECTIVES7 ,MAKES ,ME ,N]V\S  BY ,LAWR5CE ,J>A*  

0,AN>*O-PRIMITIVISM OPPOSES CIVILIZATION1 ! CONTEXT )9 :I* ! V>I\S =MS ( OPPRESSION PROLIF]ATE & BECOME P]VASIVE -- &1 9DE$1 POSSIBLE4 ,! AIM IS TO DEVELOP A SYN!SIS4( ! ECOLOGICALLY FOCUS$1 NON-/ATI/1 ANTI-AU?ORIT>IAN ASPECTS ( PRIMITIVE LIFEWAYS ) ! MO/ ADVANC$ =MS ( AN>*I/ ANALYSIS ( P[] RELATIONS4 ,! AIM IS NOT TO REPLICATE OR RETURN TO ! PRIMITIVE1 .<BUT.> M]ELY TO SEE ! PRIMITIVE AS A S\RCE ( 9SPIRATION1 AS EXEMPLIFY+ =MS ( AN>*Y40 

-- ,JOHN ,MOORE1 ,A ,PRIMITIVI/ ,PRIM] 

,PRES5T+ A VISION ( A WORLD UN5CUMB]$ BY HI]>*ICAL POLITICS & TE*NOLOGICAL DOM9ATION OV] HUMAN & NON-HUMAN LIFE1 AN>*O-PRIMITIVISM HAS MU* TO CONTRIBUTE TO ANTIAU?ORIT>IAN DISC\RSE4 ,! ANALYTICAL VALUE ( AN>*O-PRIMITIVISM IS ?AT H>DLY ANY ASPECT ( HUMAN CULTURE ESCAPES CRITICAL EXAM9ATION2 FROM ! V]Y F\NDATIONS ( AGRICULTURE & MASS PRODUCTION1 TO ! 9T]RELATION%IP BETWE5 !SE PH5OM5A & 9/ITUTIONALIZ$ =MS ( HI]>*Y & DOM9ATION1 V]Y LITTLE IS TAK5 = GRANT$4 ,:]E AN>*I/S HAVE TRADITIONALLY CRITIQU$ ! MANIFE/ATIONS ( HI]>*ICAL ?9K+ & AU?ORIT>IAN SOCIAL RELATIONS1 AN>*O-PRIMITIVI/S ATTACK ! ASSUMPTIONS BEH9D ?AT ?9K+4 

,AN>*O-PRIMITIVI/S >E QUICK TO PO9T TO ! #i#i.0 ( HUMAN EXI/5CE BE=E ! ADV5T ( AGRICULTURE1 ! P]IOD ( ! PRIMACY ( GA!R+-HUNT+ ECONOMIC & SOCIAL >RANGEM5TS4 ,?IS PRIMAL HUMAN LIFE-WAY1 *>ACT]IZ$ BY ! ABS5CE ( 9/ITUTIONALIZ$ =MS ( P[]1 %[S ?AT SOME?+ RADICALLY DIFF]5T FROM ! CURR5T REGIME ( TRANSNATIONAL 9DU/RIAL CAPITALISM & POLITICS-AN AN>*IC >RANGEM5T 9 FACT-IS NOT ONLY POSSIBLE1 BUT HAS HAD AN 5DUR+ & SUCCESSFUL TRACK RECORD4 ,FUR!R1 ! EXI/5CE & DURABILITY ( !SE AN>*IC CULTURES %[S ?AT ! DEVELOPM5T ( A HI]>*ICAL & PR$ATORY ECONOMIC & POLITICAL SY/EM IS NEI!R NECESS>Y NOR 9EVITABLE4 

,COMMUNISM1 SYNDICALISM1 9DIVIDUALISM1 & FEM9ISM ALL HAVE AN>*I/S :O ADH]E TO !M TO ONE DEGREE OR ANO!R4 ,BUT )\T ! AN>*O- 9 FRONT1 !SE IDEOLOGIES >E M]ELY V>IATIONS ON ! !MES ( /ATISM & AU?ORIT>IANISM4 ,PRIMITIVISM IS NO DIFF]5T4 ,! CRITIQUE & REJECTION ( 9DU/RIAL CAPITALISM & TE*NOLOGICALLY DOM9AT$ CIVILIZATION IS NOT ! MONOPOLY ( ANTIAU?ORIT>IAN ?9K]S & ACTIVI/S4 ,SOME :O >E ATTRACT$ TO PRIMITIVISM >E P>TISANS ( MISAN?ROPY & O!R =MS ( DOM9ATION4 ,AN>*I/S :O >E 9T]E/$ 9 EXT5D+ ! RELEVANCE ( PRIMITIVI/ IDEAS NE$ TO DI/ANCE !MSELVES FROM !SE DEAD 5DS4 

,AU?ORIT>IAN PRIMITIVISM 

,AU?ORIT>IAN PRIMITIVI/S DISREG>D ! EXAMPLE ( GA!R]-HUNT]S2 !Y SEE ?IS =M ( CULTURE AS IRRELEVANT4 ,!Y >E MORE 9T]E/$ 9 NON-TE*NOLOGIZ$ EURO-AM]ICAN CULTURAL SURVIVAL4 7,MANY ,DEEP ,ECOLOGI/S & ! FIR/ G5]ATION ( ,E>? ,FIR/6 PRIOR TO ! HIPPIE_/R$NECK SPLIT BELONG 9 ?IS CATEGORY47 ,! S$5T>Y VILLAGE SOCIETIES ( ,CELTIC1 ,TEUTONIC &_/OR ,NORSE CULTIVATORS & HUNT]S >E SE5 AS RELEVANT MODELS4 ,?AT !Y HAD W>RIOR CA/ES & RAID+ AS AN 9TEGRAL P>T ( !IR CULTURES SEEMS TO BE ( NO CONC]N TO AU?ORIT>IAN PRIMITIVI/S2 9DE$1 MANY CONSID] ?IS H]OIC4 ,SU* A PR$ATORY SY/EM L$ DIRECTLY TO ! E/ABLI%M5T ( ! ,EUROPEAN FEUDAL ORD]2 IT SEEMS ?AT AU?ORIT>IAN PRIMITIVI/S WI% TO REVITALIZE ?IS DEC5TRALIZ$ SOCIAL & ECONOMIC >RANGEM5T ) !MSELVES AS ! HEADS ( !IR [N FIEFDOMS4 ,!Y >E NOT 9T]E/$ 9 ! ABOLITION ( ! DIVISION ( LABOR OR ( ! /ATE2 !IR MODEL REQUIRES ! ADH]5CE TO ! PHILOSOPHY ( MI<T MAKES RI<T4 

,?IS T5D5CY IS M>K$ BY A MY?ICAL UND]/&+ ( L&2 BIOREGIONALISM 7! IDEA ?AT ONLY 9DIG5\S FLORA & FAUNA BELONG 9 !IR NATIVE ECOSY/EMS7 IS MADE TO APPLY TO HUMANS AS WELL4 ,BIOREGIONALI/ PRIMITIVI/S PROMOTE ! SO-CALL$ NATURAL OR ORGANIC BELONG+ ( A P>TICUL> PEOPLE_/NATION_/E?NICITY TO A P>TICUL> GEOGRAPHICAL >EA4 ,! X5OPHOBIC POPULISM & RACI/ NATIONALISM IMPLICIT 9 SU* A P]SPECTIVE IS NOT DIFFICULT TO SPOT4 ,IT IS ALSO EASY TO SEE ! SIMIL>ITIES BETWE5 AU?ORIT>IAN PRIMITIVISM & ! VOLKSGEME9S*AFT & BLUT UND BOD5 ASPECTS ( NAZI IDEOLOGY4 ,?IS IS NOT TO SAY ?AT ALL PRIMITIVI/S >E CRYPTO-FASCI/S1 BUT !RE >E MANY *>ACT]I/ICS ( AU?ORIT>IAN PRIMITIVISM ?AT OV]LAP ) P>TS ( ,NATIONAL ,SOCIALISM4 

,AU?ORIT>IAN PRIMITIVISM IS ALSO *>ACT]IZ$ BY ! PROMOTION ( ! IDEA ?AT !RE >E TOO MANY PEOPLE 9 ! WORLD RELATIVE TO TOO FEW RES\RCES4 ,SU* A P]SPECTIVE IS SUPPOS$ TO BE BAS$ ON SCI5TIFIC ANALYZES4 ,! ELEVATION ( ,SCI5CE 7NOT EMPIRICISM1 BUT ! BELIEF ?AT ,SCI5CE IS SOME K9D ( NEUTRAL & OBJECTIVE 5DEAVOR1 A PURE ME?OD ( >RIV+ AT ,TRU?7 TO AN IDEOLOGY LEAVES L>G] QUE/IONS UNEXAM9$4 ,POLITICAL & IDEOLOGICAL ASSUMPTIONS 9=M ALL SCI5CE1 & NO KN[L$GE IS SEP>ABLE =M ! USE TO :I* IT IS PUT4 ,! FIELD ( BIOLOGY IS NO EXCEPTION4 ,BIOLOGISM1 A BELIEF 9 ! ACCURACY ( EURO-AM]ICAN BIOLOGICAL SCI5CE1 PLAYS A MAJOR P>T 9 ! UGLI] MANIFE/ATIONS ( AU?ORIT>IAN & VULG> PRIMITIVISM4 ,IF ! ASSUMPTION IS ?AT ! MULTITUDE ( TRADITIONALLY DISPOSSESS$ PEOPLE >E A ?REAT TO ! FEW :O POSSESS MU*1 !N ANY SCI5TI/ -- ESPECIALLY BIOLOGICAL DET]M9I/S -- WILL PROVIDE ! RATIONALE = MA9TA9+ ?AT DISPOSSESSION4 

,! MANTRA ( 0TOO MANY M\?S TO FE$0 IS AS OLD AS IT IS FALSE4 ,BIOLOGICAL RESE>* HAS NO?+ TO DO ) ! DELIB]ATE DE/RUCTION ( TONS ( GRA9S 9 ORD] TO MA9TA9 MAXIMUM PR(ITS1 ! WA/E ( WAT] & PLANT FOODS TO MA9TA9 ! MEAT 9DU/RY1 OR GOV]NM5T SUBSIDIES = ! DAIRY 9DU/RY2 !SE >E POLITICAL & ECONOMIC POLICIES4 ,BUT IT DOES HAVE EV]Y?+ TO DO ) ! FIELD ( G5ETIC MODIFICATION ( SE$ CROPS1 :I* IS SUPPOS$ TO FE$ ! MULTITUDES1 BUT IS US$ M]ELY TO MAXIMIZE PR(ITS = ! PAT5T-HOLD]S ( :ATEV] FRANK5FOODS RESULT4 ,CLE>LY BIOLOGY IS NOT SOME NEUTRAL WAY ( EXAM9+ LIFE4 ,EV5 SO1 AU?ORIT>IAN PRIMITIVI/S LAT* ON TO ! MO/ REACTION>Y PRON\NCEM5TS ( NEO-,MAL?USIAN BIOLOGI/S AS IF IT W]E ! ONLY GAME 9 T[N4 ,WE >E TREAT$ TO SU* MEMORABLE T]MS AS 0C>RY+ CAPACITY0 ) NO EXAM9ATION ( :AT IT IS ?AT'S BE+ 0C>RI$40 ,IT ISN'T ! HUMAN & NON-HUMAN POPULATIONS ( A GIV5 ECOSY/EM2 IT IS ( C\RSE ! CURR5T ORGANIZATION ( 9DU/RIAL CAPITALISM & ! PR(ITS ( ! B5EFICI>IES ( IT4 

,VULG> PRIMITIVISM 

,VULG> PRIMITIVISM MAY BE *>ACT]IZ$ PRIM>ILY BY A ROMANTIC IDEALIZATION ( PRIMAL CULTURES4 ,FROM ?IS TYPE ( PRIMITIVI/ WE CAN HE> UNCRITICAL CELEBRATIONS ( GA!R]-HUNT]S AS EGALIT>IAN & PEACEFUL PEOPLE :O LIVE )\T ANY DIVISION ( LABOR1 9 TOTAL H>MONY ) !MSELVES1 EA* O!R1 & !IR 5VIRONM5TS4 ,9 !SE CULTURES !RE IS NO /ATE TO BE SURE1 & ! LOCATIONS ( P[] >E R>ELY 9/ITUTIONALIZ$ & ALMO/ ALWAYS DI/RIBUT$ HORIZONTALLY4 ,!RE >E O!R TYPES ( CULTURES ?AT %>E !SE SAME *>ACT]I/ICS4 ,PA/ORALI/S POSSESS DOME/ICAT$ ANIMALS & 5GAGE 9 SMALL-SCALE & SUBSI/5CE AGRICULTURE1 & !Y HAVE NO 9/ITUTIONALIZ$ P[] /RUCTURES EI!R2 ?IS TYPE ( CULTURE IS C]TA9LY WOR?Y ( /UDY = ! SAME REASONS GA!R]-HUNT]S >E4 ,BUT VULG> PRIMITIVI/S HAVE LITTLE 9T]E/ 9 PA/ORALI/S & SMALL-SCALE AGRICULTURALI/S4 ,?IS IS A SELECTIVE 7SOME MI<T SAY MANIPULATIVE7 USE ( ! AN?ROPOLOGICAL LIT]ATURE4 

,! ACCUSATION ( PRIMITIVI/S WANT+ TO GO 0BACK TO ! ,/ONE ,AGE0 IS MO/ APPLICABLE TO VULG> PRIMITIVI/S4 ,SOME PRIMITIVI/S PR\DLY PROCLAIM ?AT !Y REALLY DO WANT TO LIVE ?AT WAY1 IF WE CAN BELIEVE MANY ( ! >TICLES 9 ! MA9/REAM PRESS CONC]N+ CONTEMPOR>Y AN>*I/S4 ,! MO/ S]I\S PRIMITIVI/ !ORI/S ,I KN[1 & :OSE ESSAYS ,I'VE READ1 ADVOCATE A SIMPL] NON-9DU/RIALIZ$ LIFE1 ) MU* L[] IMPACT ON ! 5VIRONM5T2 !Y >E 9T]E/$ 9 P]MACULTURE1 COMPO/+ TOILETS1 WILD FOODS1 SELF SUFFICI5CY & G5]ALLY LIV+ 0(F ! GRID40 ,! TE*NOLOGICAL LEVEL ( SU* A CULTURE W\LD MO/ CLOSELY RESEMBLE RURAL LIFE 9 ! PRE-,9DU/RIAL ,REVOLUTION ]A1 COMB9$ ) A 0BACK TO ! L&0 E?OS ( LATE #b? C5TURY ,AM]ICA4 ,TOOLS & PRODUCTION ME?ODS UP TO & 9CLUD+ ! #a#f? ?R\< ! E>LY #a#i? C5TURIES MI<T BE TOTALLY APPROPRIATE = ?AT K9D ( LIFE4 ,?IS MODEL ALSO FITS 9 WELL ) ! IDEA ( LOCAL1 SMALL-SCALE AUTONOM\S COMMUNITIES ?AT NETWORK OR F$]ATE ) EA* O!R-A USUAL 7BUT NOT ! ONLY7 AN>*I/ MODEL4 

,VULG> PRIMITIVI/S ALSO LAT* ONTO BIOLOGISM4 ,?IS CAN BE SE5 9 SOME PRIMITIVI/ DISC\RSE CONC]N+ OV]POPULATION4 ,! ANTI-PRIMITIVI/ ACCUSATION ( PROMOTION ( A 0MASS DIE-(F0 COMES 9TO PLAY H]E1 & ! MORE VULG> PRIMITIVI/S >E RELUCTANT TO RESPOND TO IT1 APP>5TLY BECAUSE !Y DON'T ?9K A 0MASS DIE-(F0 ( HUMANS W\LD BE SU* A BAD ?+4 ,! MISAN?ROPY 9H]5T 9 ?IS P]SPECTIVE IS SELF-DEFEAT+ = ANTIAU?ORIT>IANS4 ,MISAN?ROPY V]Y EASILY L5DS ITSELF TO AU?ORIT>IAN IDEAS & PRACTICES2 IF PEOPLE 9 G5]AL >E 9H]5TLY /UPID & DE/RUCTIVE1 DOESN'T IT MAKE S5SE TO HAVE SOME K9D ( 5LI<T5$ LEAD]%IP TO OV]SEE US1 SO ?AT WE DON'T HURT \R 5VIRONM5TS OR \RSELVES8 ,?IS IS ONE ( ! MO/ BASIC AU?ORIT>IAN LIES4 ,9 ADDITION1 !RE IS A CLE> CONTRADICTION TO ?IS G5]ALIZ$ MISAN?ROPY FROM )9 PRIMITIVISM3 H[ CAN VULG> PRIMITIVI/S JU/IFY ! IDEA ( AN IMPLACABLE HUMAN DRIVE = DE/RUCTION IF HUMANS EXI/$ SO WELL = HUNDR$S & ?\S&S ( YE>S-)\T DE/ROY+ !IR 5VIRONM5TS & EA* O!R8 

,! PEOPLE :O %\LD BE HELD DIRECTLY ACC\NTABLE = ! RAMPANT DE/RUCTION ( ! NATURAL WORLD >E ! SCI5TI/S :O 7RE-75G9E] ITS G5ETIC /RUCTURE1 ! CAPITALI/S :O PR(IT FROM ITS EXPLOITATION1 & ! IDEOLOGI/S :O JU/IFY ALL ( IT4 ,?IS IS A SMALL P>T ( HUMANITY 7BO? HI/ORICALLY & CONTEMPOR>ILY72 EV5 ?\< A MAJORITY ( PEOPLE 9 ! ,NOR? B5EFITS FROM ! CONT9UATION ( ?IS REGIME ( DE/RUCTION1 RESPONSIBILITY %\LD BE PLAC$ :]E IT BELONGS-) ?OSE :O CREATE & MA9TA9 ?AT REGIME4 ,PRIMITIVI/S DISCR$IT !MSELVES :5 !Y BLAME 0HUMANITY0 7AS IF WE W]E SOME K9D ( PLAGUE74 ,?IS DIV]TS ATT5TION AWAY FROM ! REAL CULPRITS4 

,VULG> PRIMITIVI/S HAVE TAK5 ! ACCUSATIONS HURL$ AT PRIMITIVISM BY ANTI-PRIMITIVI/S AS BADGES ( HONOR4 ,SO !Y PROMOTE ! REACTION>Y IDEAS ?AT !RE >E TOO MANY M\?S TO FE$1 & ?AT A CRITIQUE ( 9DU/RIAL TE*NOLOGY NECESS>ILY MEANS RETURN+ TO A ,PALEOLI?IC EXI/5CE4 ,!Y >E KNEE-J]K ANTI-ANTI-PRIMITIVI/S ) NE>LY NO CAPACITY = 9DEP5D5T CRITICAL ?9K+1 NOR DO !Y SEEM CAPABLE ( ?READ+ !IR WAY ?R\< A COH]5T DISCUSSION AB\T :AT IT ACTUALLY MEANS TO REJECT TE*NOLOGICAL SOCIETY4 

,AN>*I/ PRIMITIVISM 

,A SELF-CONSCI\S AN>*O-PRIMITIVISM NE$S TO BEG9 ) A CRITICAL EXAM9ATION ( ! GA!R]-HUNT] CULTURES ?AT >E DISCUSS$ 9 V>I\S E?NOGRAPHIES4 ,AN>*O-PRIMITIVI/S NE$ TO %[ ?AT ?IS TYPE ( CULTURE IS A VALUABLE !ORETICAL & PHILOSOPHICAL GUIDE = LIV+ )\T 9DU/RIAL TE*NOLOGY1 CAPITALISM1 & ! /ATE4 

,!RE >E SEV]AL QUE/IONS ?AT NE$ TO BE ANSW]$ :5 RELY+ SO HEAVILY ON AN?ROPOLOGICAL LIT]ATURE1 H[EV]4 ,H[ MU* ( ! E?NOGRAPHY IS BAS$ ON ! 7POSSIBLY IDEALIZ$7 9T]PRETATIONS ( ! AN?ROPOLOGI/ DO+ ! FIELDWORK8 ,H[ MU* IS ! SUPPOS$ EGALIT>IANISM ( ! ACTUAL CULTURE RECOGNIZABLE TO US AS ANTIAU?ORIT>IANS8 ,IS ! SUPPOS$ LACK ( VIOL5CE RECOGNIZABLE TO US8 ,>E ! SEXUAL DIVISION ( LABOR & ! SEP>ATE SPH]ES ( ACTIVITY BAS$ ON G5D]1 AGE1 & ABILITY RECOGNIZABLE TO US AS POSITIVE EXAMPLES ( A /ATELESS1 NONHI]>*ICAL CULTURE8 

,:AT IF GA!R]-HUNT] CULTURES DO NOT PROVIDE US ) FULLY POSITIVE MODELS ( AN>*IC CULTURES -- ?OSE ?AT AN AV]AGE AN>*I/ W\LD RECOGNIZE AS A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE8 ,DOES IT UND]CUT ! PRIMITIVI/ CRITIQUE IF !RE IS LITTLE OR NO RELIANCE ON E?NOGRAPHIES ( GA!R]-HUNT]S8 ,PROBABLY NOT2 NO S]I\S AN>*O-PRIMITIVI/ PROMOTES AN UNCRITICAL EMULATION OR ADOPTION ( =AG+1 PA/ORALI/1 & SMALL-SCALE AGRICULTURALI/ CULTURE4 ,:AT IS NE$$ IS A CRITICAL EXAM9ATION ( SU* CULTURES & ! V>I\S WAYS ! PEOPLE 9 !M HAVE MANAG$ TO EXCLUDE & PREV5T ! =MATION ( 9/ITUTIONALIZ$ /RUCTURES ( DOM9ATION & EXPLOITATION4 ,COMB9$ ) AN EQUALLY CRITICAL AN>*I/ ANALYSIS ( ! BANAL SY/EM ( TE*NOLOGIZ$ 9DU/RIAL CAPITALISM 9 ! ,NOR? & ! REGIME ( BRUTAL ACCUMULATION & EXTRACTION ( WEAL? FROM ! ,S\?1 AN>*O-PRIMITIVISM C\LD BECOME ! MO/ COH]5T ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK = UND]/&+ & COMBAT+ ! CURR5T TR5D ( 0GLOBALIZATION40 

,= AN ANTI-IDEOLOGICAL AN>*O-PRIMITIVISM 

,MANY PRIMITIVI/S ADH]E TO IDEAS ?AT >E PULL$ FROM ONE OR MORE ( ! ?REE T5D5CIES ,I'VE ID5TIFI$ = ! PURPOSES ( ?IS ESSAY4 ,IT IS ( CRUCIAL IMPORTANCE = AN>*O-PRIMITIVI/S TO PROMOTE SELF-EXAM9ATION & A CRITIQUE ( ! UNT5ABLE POSITIONS ?AT V>I\S PRIMITIVI/S TAKE4 ,:5 PRIMITIVI/S TALK AB\T A VISC]AL OR SPIRITUAL CONNECTION TO ! L& & ! PLANTS & ANIMALS LIV+ !RE1 AN>*O-PRIMITIVI/S NE$ TO CAUTION !M AB\T ! RELATION%IP ( ?IS K9D ( MY/ICISM TO AU?ORIT>IAN IDEOLOGIES4 ,:5 PRIMITIVI/S TALK AB\T OV]POPULATION & 0C>RY+ CAPACITY10 AN>*O-PRIMITIVI/S NE$ TO PO9T \T ! REACTION>Y NATURE ( ,MAL?USIANISM4 

,SIMIL>LY1 :5 ANTI-PRIMITIVI/S ACCUSE PRIMITIVI/S ( BE+ 9 FAVOR ( A RACI/ 0MASS DIE-(F10 AN>*O-PRIMITIVI/S NE$ TO REM9D !M ?AT IT IS ! PEOPLE 9 ! UN- OR P>TIALLY-9DU/RIALIZ$ ,S\? 7:OM ANTI-PRIMITIVI/S PATRONIZ+LY WANT TO PROTECT7 :O WILL SURVIVE ANY TEMPOR>Y-OR P]MAN5T-COLLAPSE ( 9DU/RIALIZ$ CAPITALISM4 ,!Y POSSESS ! BE/ RES\RCES TO SURVIVE ANY SU* DIS9TEGRATION4 ,9 FACT1 IT IS ?OSE FULLY 9TEGRAT$ 9TO & DEP5D5T ON TRANSNATIONAL EURO-AM]ICAN CAPITALISM :O W\LD SUFF] MO/ :5 ! /ORE %ELVES >E EMPTY & ! ELECTRICITY /OPS4 

,AN AN>*I/ PRIMITIVISM WOR?Y ( SUPPORT W\LD REJECT SCI5TISM1 BIOLOGISM1 & ! SELECTIVE & UNCRITICAL EMBRACE ( AN?ROPOLOGICAL RESE>* 9TO GA!R]-HUNT] CULTURES4 ,IT W\LD ALSO REJECT ! REACTION>Y MISAN?ROPY ( BLAM+ ALL HUMANS = ! DOM9ATION & EXPLOITATION C>RI$ \T BY ! RI* & P[]FUL4 ,FUR!R1 IT W\LD REJECT ! 9/9CTIVE HUMANISM ( LIB]ALISM & SOCIALISM 9 FAVOR ( A BALANCE BETWE5 ! ACTUAL NE$S ( HUMANS & ! PRES]VATION & 9TEGRITY ( ! NATURAL WORLD4 

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,JANU>Y #d1 #bbb 3 ,A ,DIALOG ON ,PRIMITIVISM -- ,UPDAT$4 

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