,DEMOCRACY1 ,R$ 9 ,TOO? & ,CLAW 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,CRIME?,9C4 

,TEXT 3 

,ON ,OCTOB] #a1 DUR+ A REF]5DUM ON ,CATALAN 9DEP5D5CE1 ,SPANI% POLICE ATTACK$ CR[DS ( VOT]S1 SMA%$ \T ! W9D[S ( S*OOLS HO/+ POLL+ /ATIONS1 & BEAT S5IOR CITIZ5S AT R&OM4 ,9 RESPONSE1 A MASSIVE G5]AL /RIKE TOOK PLACE 9 ,B>CELONA ON ,OCTOB] #c4 ,BY SETT+ UP ?IS OPPOSITION BETWE5 ! VIOL5CE ( ! ,SPANI% POLICE & ! SELF-ORGANIZATION ( ,CATALAN VOT]S1 PROPON5TS ( 9DEP5D5CE HAVE CREAT$ ! IMPRESSION ?AT NATIONALISM & DEMOCRACY (F] A SOLUTION TO /ATE OPPRESSION & POLICE VIOL5CE4 ,9 ! PROCESS1 !Y'VE 9VE/$ ,CATALAN POLICE & POLITICIANS ) R5EW$ LEGITIMACY4 ,YET :AT IF DEMOCRACY1 NATIONALISM1 & POLICE VIOL5CE >E NOT OPPOS+ PH5OM5A1 BUT ?REE ASPECTS ( ! SAME ?+8 ,H]E1 WE >GUE ?AT ! WAY TO A*IEVE SELF-DET]M9ATION IS NOT TO CREATE A NEW /ATE1 BUT TO ABOLI% ! /ATE AS A MODEL = HUMAN RELATIONS4 

,DON'T TAKE \R WORD = IT1 ?\<4 ,LET'S BACK UP & SEE IF !RE'S ANY COH]5T WAY TO RESOLVE ?IS CONFLICT OV] /ATE SOV]EIGNTY BESIDES ! AN>*I/ APPROA*4 

,:I* ,SIDE ,IS ,DEMOCRATIC8 

,BO? SIDES CLAIM TO BE FI<T+ = DEMOCRACY4 ,! ,SPANI% POLICE PRES5T !MSELVES AS ! DEF5D]S ( LAW & ORD]1 :ILE ! PROPON5TS ( ,CATALAN 9DEP5D5CE SAY !Y SEEK SELF-DET]M9ATION ?R\< ELECTIONS4 ,!SE >E TWO DIFF]5T VISIONS ( :AT DEMOCRACY 5TAILS4 

,OR >E !Y8 ,LET'S LOOK CLOS]4 

,IF DEMOCRACY SIMPLY MEANS BE+ ASSAULT$ BY POLICE 9 ! NAME ( CON/ITUTIONS RATIFI$ BE=E Y\ W]E BORN1 !RE ISN'T MU* TO DI/+UI% IT FROM DICTATOR%IP4 ,! FACT ?AT ! SAL>IES ( ! (FIC]S :O BEAT Y\ >E PAID ) TAX MONEY !Y EXTORT FROM Y\ JU/ ADDS 9SULT TO 9JURY4 ,! ,SPANI% /ATE NE$S TO LEGITIMIZE ?OSE LAWS1 POLICE1 & TAXES ) DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS OR ELSE IT WILL BE OBVI\S TO EV]YONE ?AT !IR RULE RE/S ON =CE ALONE4 ,?IS EXPLA9S SOME ( ! 9NU5DO AB\T H[ ! MAJORITY ( ,CATALAN PEOPLE DON'T ACTUALLY WANT 9DEP5D5CE4 

,BUT ! P>TISANS ( ,CATALAN 9DEP5D5CE FACE A V]SION ( ?IS SAME P>ADOX4 ,:AT WEI<T WILL !IR REF]5DUM C>RY IF ! RESULT IS NOT IMPLEM5T$ VIA LAWS1 POLICE1 & TAXES8 ,9 CALL+ = AN 9DEP5D5T ,CATALAN /ATE1 !Y >E CALL+ TO REPLICATE EV]Y?+ !Y CURR5TLY OBJECT TO 9 ,SPANI% RULE4 ,CATALUNYA ALREADY HAS ITS [N POLICE & TAX COLLECTORS :O TREAT ?OSE :O RESI/ !M JU/ AS VIOL5TLY AS ! ,SPANI% POLICE TREAT$ ASPIR+ VOT]S ON ,SUNDAY4 

,SO IT'S NOT A QUE/ION ( :I* SIDE IS DEMOCRATIC4 ,!Y BO? >E4 ,! QUE/ION1 RA!R1 IS :I* ELECTIONS1 LAWS1 & POLICE %\LD HOLD SWAY--! ,SPANI% ONES OR ! ,CATALAN ONES8 ,TO ANSW] ?AT QUE/ION1 WE HAVE TO CONFRONT A DEEP] PROBLEM1 ! QUE/ION ( SOV]EIGNTY4 

,:AT ,MAKES ,ELECTIONS ,LEGITIMATE8 

,WAS ! REF]5DUM ON ,OCTOB] #a LEGITIMATE8 ,! ,CATALAN GOV]NM5T ASS]TS ?AT IT WAS4 ,MEAN:ILE1 ,SPANI% ,PRESID5T ,RAJOY MA9TA9S ?AT 0A SELF-DET]M9ATION REF]5DUM 9 ,CATALONIA DIDN'T HAPP510 9 ! LONG/&+ TRADITION ( POLITICIANS LIKE ,DONALD ,TRUMP :O PROCLAIM REALITY BY FIAT4 

,:AT DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE A REF]5DUM LEGITIMATE8 ,IS IT A QUE/ION ( :AT PROPORTION ( ! POPULATION P>TICIPATES8 ,OR IS ! IMPORTANT ?+ :E!R ! VOTE ADH]ES TO AN E/ABLI%$ PROTOCOL8 

,ACCORD+ TO ! ,CATALAN GOV]NM5T1 #i P]C5T ( ! BALLOTS CA/ ON ,SUNDAY W]E = 9DEP5D5CE4 ,ON ! O!R H&1 ONLY #db P]C5T ( REGI/]$ VOT]S P>TICIPAT$ 9 ! REF]5DUM--#b4#b MILLION PEOPLE \T ( #e4#c MILLION REGI/]$ VOT]S4 ,?AT /ILL SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY GOOD TURN\T1 CONSID]+ ?AT #a#b1 ,SPANI% POLICE W]E VIOL5TLY ATTACK+ VOT]S ALL OV] ,CATALUNYA1 9FLICT+ NE>LY #i DOCUM5T$ 9JURIES & SURELY A GREAT DEAL MORE ?AT W5T UNREPORT$4 ,BUT IT /ILL ACC\NTS = LESS ?AN HALF ( ! REGI/]$ VOT]S & CONSID]ABLY LESS ?AN HALF ! POPULATION4 

,OPPON5TS ( ,CATALAN 9DEP5D5CE BOYCOTT$ ! ELECTION4 ,EV5 IF !Y HADN'T BOYCOTT$ IT1 MO/ ( !M PROBABLY W\LDN'T HAVE RISK$ BE+ BEAT5 BY ,SPANI% POLICE 9 ORD] TO VOTE = ?OSE POLICE TO CONT9UE TO WIELD AU?ORITY4 ,IT'S 5TIRELY POSSIBLE ?AT ! MAJORITY ( ! RESID5TS ( ,CATALUNYA DON'T WANT 9DEP5D5CE1 REG>DLESS ( ! RESULTS ( ! REF]5DUM4 

,= REF]5CE1 NO ,PRESID5TIAL ELECTION 9 ,U,S HI/ORY HAS EV] 9CLUD$ MORE ?AN #d#c.0 ( ! TOTAL POPULATION4 ,C\NTLESS PEOPLE HAVE BOYCOTT$ ,U,S ELECTIONS1 BUT ?IS HAS NEV] DISC\RAG$ ?OSE :O RULE FROM ,WA%+TON1 ,D,C FROM ASSUM+ ?AT !Y HOLD RI<TFUL AU?ORITY4 ,IF WE DECIDE ! ,CATALAN REF]5DUM WASN'T REPRES5TATIVE 5\<1 WE %\LD PROBABLY REJECT ! LEGITIMACY ( EV]Y ,U,S ,PRESID5TIAL ELECTION AS WELL4 

,O!RS >GUE ?AT :AT MAKES AN ELECTION LEGITIMATE IS NOT :AT PROPORTION ( ! POPULATION P>TICIPATES1 BUT :E!R IT TAKES PLACE ACCORD+ TO PROP] PROTOCOL4 ,?IS >GUM5T IS MO/ POPUL> ) ! EXTREME C5T]1 ! SORT ( PEOPLE :O >E /ICKL]S = ! RULES REG>DLESS ( :AT ! RULES >E OR :O WROTE !M4 ,BE=E WE BUY 9TO ?IS >GUM5T1 LET'S RECALL ?AT IT WAS PROTOCOL ?AT KEPT WOM5 & PEOPLE ( COLOR FROM P>TICIPAT+ 9 ELECTIONS = ! FIR/ C5TURY & A HALF ( ,U,S DEMOCRACY1 JU/ AS ! CURR5T RULES /ILL S]VE TO PREV5T MANY PEOPLE ( COLOR FROM VOT+ TODAY4 ,ADH]5CE TO PROTOCOL DOES NOT GU>ANTEE 9CLUSION OR EGALIT>IANISM4 

,BUT ! REAL PROBLEM ) RELY+ ON PROTOCOL IS ?AT IT RETURNS US TO ! PROBLEM ( SOV]EIGNTY4 ,IF TWO DIFF]5T GOV]NM5TS E/ABLI% TWO DIFF]5T SETS ( RULES1 H[ DO WE DET]M9E :I* IS LEGITIMATE8 ,EV]Y EXI/+ GOV]NM5T CAME TO P[] BY REJECT+ ! AU?ORITY ( ITS PR$ECESSOR4 ,WE CAN'T SIMPLY DO :ATEV] ! AU?ORITIES TELL US2 WE HAVE TO MAKE \R [N DECISIONS AB\T :AT IS RI<T4 

,! ,PROBLEM ( ,SOV]EIGNTY--,DEMOCRACY1 ,NATIONALISM1 & ,W> 

,:AT %\LD DET]M9E :I* POLITY PEOPLE BELONG TO8 ,NATIONS G5]ALLY MAKE ?IS DET]M9ATION ACCORD+ TO PLACE ( BIR? OR P>5TAGE4 ,! =M] APPROA* P]PETUATES ! FEUDAL SY/EM2 ! LATT] MAKES NATIONALITY A K9D ( CA/E SY/EM4 ,NEI!R ( !SE MODELS IS 0DEMOCRATIC0 9 ! S5SE ( GU>ANTEE+ EV]YONE EQUAL RI<TS & P>TICIPATION 9 SOCIETY4 ,!Y ALSO DON'T (F] ANY GUIDANCE AS TO :AT WE %\LD DO :5 COMPET+ POLITIES DEM& \R FEALTY1 AS WILL OCCUR 9 ,CATALUNYA IF ?IS CONFLICT 9T5SIFIES4 

,%\LD ! ANSW] TO ?IS QUE/ION BE DET]M9$ BY MAJORITY RULE8 ,!RE >E MANY PROBLEMS ) ?IS APPROA*4 ,= EXAMPLE1 IT DOESN'T ADDRESS ! QUE/ION ( SCALE4 ,P>TISANS ( 9DEP5D5CE MAY COMPRISE ! MAJORITY ( ! POPULATION ( ,B>CELONA--DOES ?AT MEAN !Y %\LD BE ABLE TO =CE !IR AG5DA ON ! M9ORITY ?AT OPPOSES IT8 ,CATALANS COMPRISE A M9ORITY )9 ! ,SPANI% /ATE--DOES ?AT MEAN ,SPA9 %\LD BE ABLE TO =CE !M TO REMA9 ,SPANI% SUBJECTS8 ,SPA9 COMPRISES A M9ORITY )9 ! ,EUROPEAN ,UNION1 :I* ITSELF IS A M9ORITY )9 ! ,UNIT$ ,NATIONS4 ,%\LD WORLD POLITICS SIMPLY BE A MATT] ( EV] BIGG] MAJORITIES =C+ DECISIONS ON M9ORITIES8 

,NATIONALISM HAS DEVELOP$ AS A RESPONSE TO ?IS QU&>Y4 ,UND]/&+ ! QUE/ION ( SOV]EIGNTY AS A COMPETITION TO AMASS MAJORITIES AT ALL CO/S1 PEOPLE =M BLOCS ON ! BASIS ( SUP]FICIAL SIMIL>ITIES SU* AS E?NICITY1 LANGUAGE1 RELIGION1 & CITIZ5%IP4 ,!SE BLOCS CONT5D = CONTROL )9 EA* /ATE & 9 CONFLICTS BETWE5 /ATES4 ,?IS /RUGGLE TAKES PLACE NONVIOL5TLY AS DEMOCRACY & VIOL5TLY AS W>--:]EV] Y\ F9D DEMOCRACY1 W> IS NEV] F> AWAY4 

,!RE >E TWO GRIEV\S PROBLEMS ) ?IS APPROA*4 ,FIR/1 IT EXAC]BATES 9T]NAL HI]>*IES2 SECOND1 IT IMPOSES CON=MITY & ! /RUGGLE TO DOM9ATE O!RS AS ! DUAL BASIS ( ALL RELATIONS4 ,9 PRACTICE1 NATIONALISM MEANS BE+ OPPRESS$ & EXPLOIT$ BY PEOPLE ( Y\R [N E?NICITY1 LANGUAGE1 RELIGION1 OR CITIZ5%IP4 ,TO DEF5D \RSELVES AGA9/ ?OSE :O AIM TO RULE US1 WE HAVE TO JO9 =CES ACROSS ! B\ND>IES ( ID5TITY1 =M+ COMMON CAUSE ON ! BASIS ( %>$ ASPIRATIONS = FRE$OM & PEACEFUL COEXI/5CE4 ,NATIONALI/S PROMISE TO DELIV] SELF-DET]M9ATION ON ! BASIS ( %>$ ID5TITIES1 BUT TRUE SELF-DET]M9ATION DEM&S SYMBIOTIC RELATION%IPS ?AT TRANSC5D ID5TITY4 

,! PR9CIPLE ( MAJORITY RULE ITSELF IS ! PROBLEM4 ,ON ! ONE H&1 ! !ORY ( MAJORITY RULE SUGGE/S ?AT WE >E OBLIGAT$ TO ACCEPT :ATEV] ! MAJORITY DESIRES1 PRESCRIB+ A COMPLETE ABDICATION ( E?ICAL RESPONSIBILITY4 ,ON ! O!R H&1 ! PRACTICE ( MAJORITY RULE TACITLY IMPLEM5TS ! PR9CIPLE ?AT MI<T MAKES RI<T1 R$UC+ ALL RELATIONS TO CUT?ROAT COMPETITION4 

,BECAUSE MAJORITY RULE IS ! F\NDATION ( DEMOCRACY1 WE %\LD NOT BE SURPRIS$ :5 DEMOCRACY S]VES TO LEGITIMIZE & MOBILIZE ! VIOL5CE ( ! /ATE1 PROVOK+ RIVAL /ATES TO DO ! SAME ?+ 9 RESPONSE4 ,?IS IS ! DUAL RISK POS$ BY ! 9DEP5D5CE MOVEM5T 9 ,CATALUNYA3 IT C\LD E/ABLI% A NEW /ATE JU/ AS OPPRESSIVE AS ! PREVI\S ONE1 BUT MORE DIFFICULT TO QUE/ION ON ACC\NT ( APPE>+ MORE REPRES5TATIVE--& IT C\LD TRIGG] OP5 HO/ILITIES BETWE5 5TR5*$ /ATE ACTORS :O BECOME 9CAPABLE ( IMAG9+ EA* O!R AS ANY?+ O!R ?AN 5EMIES4 ,! LATT] SC5>IO APPE>S V]Y UNLIKELY = N[1 BUT WE >E NOT ! ONLY ONES TO SPECULATE ?AT AS ECONOMIC & ECOLOGICAL CRISES 9T5SIFY1 ! ,SYRIAN CIVIL W> WILL BECOME A MORE COMMON TEMPLATE = ! POLITICS ( ! FUTURE ?AN ! SOCIAL DEMOCRACIES ( ! #b? C5TURY4 

,AN>*I/ ,ALT]NATIVES 

,AN>*I/S HAVE LONG S\<T A WAY \T ( ! TRAPS ( NATIONALISM & DEMOCRACY4 

,9 PLACE ( CITIZ5%IP1 A HOLDOV] ( FEUDALISM & ! CA/E SY/EM1 WE PROPOSE VOLUNT>Y ASSOCIATIONS ?AT DO NOT CLAIM EXCLUSIVE CONTROL ( POPULATIONS OR REGIONS4 ,9 PLACE ( NATIONALISM1 WE PROPOSE MUTUAL AID ACROSS ALL L9ES ( ID5TITY4 ,9 PLACE ( ! /ATE1 WE PROPOSE TRUE SELF-DET]M9ATION ON A DEC5TRALIZ$ BASIS4 ,9 PLACE ( DEMOCRACY1 ! PR9CIPLE ( MAJORITY RULE1 WE PROPOSE ! PR9CIPLES ( HORIZONTALITY & AUTONOMY4 ,9 PLACE ( ! W>S ?AT NATIONALISM & DEMOCRACY ALWAYS FOM5T1 WE PROPOSE SOLID>ITY & TRANS=MATIVE JU/ICE4 

,:AT C\LD ?IS MEAN 9 ,CATALUNYA TODAY1 :]E P>TISANS ( ,SPANI% SOV]EIGNTY CLA% ) P>TISANS ( ,CATALAN 9DEP5D5CE8 ,\R ANSW] IS UTOPIAN1 BUT IT (F]S A PO9T ( DEP>TURE TO IMAG9E :AT WE C\LD AIM TO ACCOMPLI% 9 \R SOCIAL MOVEM5TS BESIDES SETT+ UP NEW /ATE /RUCTURES4 

,LET ,SPA9 BE A VOLUNT>Y ASSOCIATION COMPRIS$ ( EV]YONE 9 EV]Y L& :O ID5TIFIES ) IT1 & LET ,CATALUNYA BE ANO!R SU* VOLUNT>Y ASSOCIATION AMONG A ?\S& MORE4 ,LET ALL ( !SE ASSOCIATIONS COEXI/ ON ! CONDITION ?AT NONE SEEKS TO RULE ! O!RS OR DEPRIVE !M ( RES\RCES4 ,LET EA* ASSOCIATION SET \T TO CREATE COMMONS RA!R ?AN TO AMASS PRIVATE WEAL?1 & LET ALL JO9 =CES TO DEF5D !MSELVES :5EV] ANY?+ ?REAT5S !SE COMMONS OR ! LIB]TY ( ! P>TICIPANTS4 

,9 ?IS VISION1 EA* P]SON C\LD P>TICIPATE 9 AS MANY DIFF]5T ASSOCIATIONS AS %E SAW FIT4 ,EA* ASSOCIATION W\LD FUNCTION AS AN EXP]IM5T 9 COLLECTIVE CREATIVITY1 %AP$ ALT]NATELY BY CONS5SUS-BAS$ DECISION-MAK+ & BY ! SPONTANE\S 9T]PLAY ( ! P>TICIPANTS' SELF-DIRECT$ ACTIVITIES4 ,9 PLACE ( ! CUT?ROAT COMPETITION ( CAPITALISM & /ATECRAFT1 EA* ( !SE ASSOCIATIONS W\LD /RIVE TO (F] ! MO/ FULFILL+ MODEL = COOP]ATIVE HUMAN RELATIONS4 ,A PROCESS ( NATURAL SELECTION W\LD REW>D ! MO/ G5]\S & N\RI%+ PROJECTS RA!R ?AN ! MO/ SELFI% & BRUTAL1 )\T R$UC+ !M TO A L[E/ COMMON D5OM9ATOR OR IMPOS+ COMPETITION AS A W9N]-TAKE-ALL Z]O-SUM GAME4 

,?IS VISION PR$ATES ! AN>*I/ MOVEM5T2 IT HAS ANTEC$5TS 9 A V>IETY ( 9DIG5\S SOCIETIES & F$]ATIONS4 ,IT IS ALREADY ! MODEL BY :I* AN>*I/S 9 ,B>CELONA & ELSE:]E >\ND ! WORLD ORGANIZE !MSELVES 9 NETWORKS ( ASSEMBLIES1 SOCIAL C5T]S1 ORGANIZATIONS1 & AFF9ITY GR\PS4 ,EV5 IF WE CAN'T IMPLEM5T ?IS VISION ON ! SCALE ( A REGION OR A CONT95T YET1 WE CAN ACT ACCORD+ TO ITS LOGIC1 BUILD+ NETWORKS ( MUTUAL AID & /&+ UP TO TYRANNY :]EV] WE 5C\NT] IT4 

,FROM ?IS VANTAGE PO9T1 WE CAN SEE ?AT :5 POLICE ATTACK PEOPLE ATTEMPT+ TO UTILIZE VOT+ BOO?S1 AN>*I/S %\LD 9T]C$E--NOT TO DEF5D ! VOT+ BOO?S1 BUT TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM POLICE4 ,WE %\LD MAKE IT CLE> ?AT W9N+ REF]5DUMS WILL NOT BR+ US CLOS] TO ! WORLD ( \R DREAMS--! IMPORTANT ?+ IS TO BECOME CAPABLE ( CREAT+ ! RELATIONS WE DESIRE ON AN IMM$IATE BASIS1 9 A WAY ?AT CAN SPREAD RHIZOMATICALLY ?R\<\T SOCIETY4 

,AT ! SAME TIME1 WE HAVE TO MAKE CLE> EV]Y?+ ?AT ! ,CATALAN POLICE HAVE 9 COMMON ) ! ,SPANI% POLICE & O!R POLICE ! :OLE WORLD OV]4 ,WE'VE SE5 ! ,CATALAN POLICE ATTACK DEMON/RATIONS OV] & OV] JU/ AS ! ,SPANI% POLICE DID ON ,SUNDAY4 ,IF !Y PROVOKE LESS \TRAGE :5 !Y ATTACK MIGRANTS1 WORK]S1 & AN>*I/S ?AN :5 !Y ATTACK VOT]S1 ?AT ONLY %[S US H[ F> WE HAVE TO GO4 

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