,FROM #a#e,M TO ,PODEMOS 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,CRIME?,9C4 

,TEXT 3 

,I4 ,EM]G5CE 

,SPR+ #b#a#a4 

0,?IS IS \R REVOLUTION6 ,NO B>RICADES1 NO?+ ROMANTIC LIKE ?AT1 BUT :AT DO WE EXPECT8 ,IT'S A PIECE ( %IT1 BUT WE ALREADY KNEW ?IS IS ! WORLD WE LIVE 940 

,I WAS %\LD] TO %\LD] ) A FRI5D1 PU%+ ?R\< ! SW>M+ CR[DS1 ! T5S ( ?\S&S ?AT HAD COALESC$ \T ( ! DEMOCRATIC DESOLATION TO FILL ,PLACA ,CATALUNYA1 ,B>CELONA'S C5TRAL PLAZA4 ,WE W]E ON \R WAY BACK FROM A COPY %OP :OSE EMPLOYES1 ALSO TAK5 UP 9 ! F]VOR1 LET US PR9T ANO!R FIVE HUNDR$ COPIES ( ! LATE/ OP5 LETT] ) A HUGE DISC\NT1 EASILY PAID = ) ALL ! *ANGE PEOPLE W]E LEAV+ 9 ! DONATIONS J> AT ! 9FO TABLE WE AN>*I/S HAD SET UP4 

,9 LESS ?AN AN H\R1 ALL ! PAMPHLETS HAD BE5 SNAT*$ UP1 WE'D MET MORE PEOPLE :O %>$ SOME ( \R IDEAS1 HAD ANO!R C\PLE 5GAG+ DEBATES1 ANO!R BRIEF >GUM5T4 ,DECADES ( SOCIAL ISOLATION HAD SUDD5LY BE5 WA%$ AWAY 9 A SUDD51 UNEXPECT$ \TP\R+ ( SOCIAL ANG/1 ANG]1 HOPE1 A DESIRE TO RELATE4 ,A MILLION 9DIVIDUAL NE$S = ! EXPRESSION ( COLLECTIVE NE$S3 ,YES1 ,I NE$ ?AT1 TOO4 ,A MILLION SOLIT>Y VOICES RECOGNIZ+ !MSELVES 9 A CRY !Y ALL TOOK UP TOGE!R3 ,YES1 ,I AM H]E1 TOO4 ,A MILLION /ORIES ( LONEL9ESS F9D+ !MSELVES 9 A %>$ ALI5ATION3 ,YES1 ,I FEEL ?AT1 TOO4 ,IT WAS H>D NOT TO GET C>RI$ AWAY4 ,WE FELT IT TOO4 

,BUT 9 ?AT COMMUNE ( ALI5ATION WE ALSO FELT A C]TA9 CYNICISM4 ,IT WAS MORE ?AN JU/ >ROGANCE1 NOT M]ELY LOOK+ D[N \R NOSES AT !SE PEOPLE AS !Y %\T$ EV]Y EV5+1 0AQUI COM5CA LA ,REVOLUCIO60--! ,REVOLUTION BEG9S H]E4 ,! TRU? IS1 WE D\BT$ ! POPUL> UND]/&+ ( :AT A REVOLUTION W\LD ACTUALLY 5TAIL4 

,& \R D\BTS W]E NOT )\T REASON4 ,BE+ \T ALONE 9 ! /REETS = YE>S1 TRY+ TO SPREAD CRITICAL IDEAS1 TRY+ TO OP5 SMALL SPACES ( FRE$OM1 GETT+ H&CUFF$ OR BEAT51 :5 NO ONE ELSE GIVES A CRAP1 :5 EV]YONE ELSE SEEMS CONT5T TO />E 9TO !IR ,T,V SCRE5S :ILE ! WORLD DIES >\ND !M1 CAN C]TA9LY MAKE Y\ >ROGANT4 ,IT CAN MAKE Y\ BITT]1 & CYNICAL1 & SUP]IOR1 & COMPLETELY OBLIVI\S TO UNEXPECT$ *ANGES ?AT ROCK ! SY/EM Y\'VE SP5T Y\R :OLE LIFE FI<T+4 ,BUT IT CAN ALSO GIVE Y\ P]SPECTIVE4 ,IT CAN MAKE Y\ ASK1 ,:Y >E !SE PEOPLE 9 ! /REETS N[1 ONLY :5 !IR [N SOCIAL B5EFITS >E ?REAT5$1 :ILE !Y DIDN'T LIFT A F+] :5 IT WAS O!R PEOPLE ON ! *OPP+ BLOCK8 ,IT CAN PROVOKE ! QUE/ION1 ,:Y IS ! M$IA GIV+ SO MU* ATT5TION TO ?IS PH5OM5ON1 EV5 IF IT'S (T5 NEGATIVE ATT5TION1 :5 !Y'VE BE5 IGNOR+ \R /RUGGLES = YE>S8 

,:5 ! PLAZA OCCUPATION MOVEM5T BROKE \T ON ! #a#e? ( ,MAY 7#a#e,M71 #b#a#a1 ?R\<\T ! ,SPANI% /ATE1 WE ?REW \RSELVES 9TO IT4 ,A FEW AN>*I/S DISMISS$ IT \TRI<T1 UNABLE TO F9D TRACTION 9 ?AT *AOTIC1 UNSEEMLY JUMBLE ( A MOVEM5T1 & O!RS UNCRITICALLY GAVE !IR /AMP ( APPROVAL TO ANY?+ ?AT APPE>$ TO HAVE ! SUPPORT ( A MASS4 ,BUT WE REFUS$ TO SURR5D] ! P]SPECTIVES & EXP]I5CES WON ?R\< YE>S ( LONELY /RUGGLE :5 FEW O!RS W]E 9SI/+ ?AT ! SY/EM WE LIV$ 9 WAS UNACCEPTABLE4 

,WE DIDN'T ALL 9T]PRET ?OSE EXP]I5CES ! SAME WAY1 JU/ AS WE DID NOT DEVELOP ! SAME /RATEGIES 9 ! MID/ ( ! PLAZA OCCUPATION MOVEM5T4 ,I CAN ONLY GIVE ONE ACC\NT ( ?IS /ORY2 NONE!LESS IT IS A /ORY WE HELP$ BUILD COLLECTIVELY1 /RUGGL+ SIDE BY SIDE & ALSO DISPUT+ ONE ANO!R'S POSITIONS4 ,!RE IS NO CONS5SUS HI/ORY ( ! MOVEM5T1 & NOT EV5 ( AN>*I/ P>TICIPATION 9 IT1 BUT AT ! SAME TIME1 NO ONE >RIV$ AT !IR P>TICUL> V]SION ( EV5TS ALONE4 

,ONE ELEM5T WE ALL %>$ WAS A CRITIQUE ( DEMOCRACY4 ,!RE WAS A HI/ORY TO \R POSITION4 ,9 #a#i#g#e1 ,FRANCISCO ,FRANCO DI$4 ,A FASCI/ DICTATOR :O WAS SUPPORT$ BY ,HITL] & ,MUSSOL9I1 & MORE DISCREETLY BY ! ,BRITI%1 ,U,S1 & ,FR5* GOV]NM5TS1 HIS OP5 ACCEPTANCE BY ! ,WE/ 9 #aidi REVEAL$ YET AGA9 ! TOL]ANCE A DEMOCRATIC WORLD SY/EM CAN HAVE = DICTATOR%IPS ?AT SUCCE$ 9 PREV5T+ REVOLUTIONS4 ,9 #a#i#g#f1 ! ,BASQUE 9DEP5D5CE GR\P ,E,T,A BLEW UP ,FRANCO'S H&PICK$ SUCCESSOR4 ,! C\NTRY WAS AWA% 9 WILDCAT /RIKES & PROTE/S4 ,>M$ ACTIONS W]E MULTIPLY+1 BUT !RE WAS NO VANGU>DI/ GR\P ) ! HOPE ( CONTROLL+ OR REPRES5T+ ! :OLE MOVEM5T4 ,NO FIGUREHEAD ?AT C\LD BE CO-OPT$ OR DE/ROY$4 ,IT WAS ! BEG9N+ ( ! ,TRANSITION4 

,P]CEIV+ ! 9EVITABILITY ( DEMOCRATIC GOV]NM5T1 ! FASCI/S TURN$ 9TO CONS]VATIVES1 CON/ITUT+ ! ,POPUL> ,P>TY1 & 9 EX*ANGE = LEGALIZATION & A *ANCE AT P[]1 !Y 5TIC$ ! COMMUNI/S & ! SOCIALI/S 9TO NEGOTIATIONS1 GIV+ BIR? TO A NEW LEGALIZ$1 9/ITUTIONALIZ$ LABOR UNION1 ,C,C,O,O1 & A NEW POLITICAL P>TY1 ! ,SOCIALI/ ,WORK]S ,P>TY ( ,SPA9 7,P,S,O,E74 ,! ,P,S,O,E RUL$ ! C\NTRY FROM #aihb TO #a#i#i#f1 & 9 #ba !Y W]E AGA9 9 P[] :5 ,EUROPEAN ,UNION BUREAUCRATS & BANK F9ANCI]S DEM&$ AU/]ITY MEASURES4 ,!Y QUICKLY COMPLI$4 

,BUT BACK 9 ! MID-#gS1 NOT EV]YONE JUMP$ ON ! B&WAGON4 ,MANY PEOPLE REJECT$ NEGOTIATIONS ) FASCI/S1 OR REJECT$ ANY K9D ( GOV]NM5T & ANY =M ( CAPITALISM ALTOGE!R4 ,AS ! YE>S TURN$ 9TO DECADES1 !SE HOLD\TS BECAME EV] MORE ISOLAT$1 UNTIL !Y HAD BE5 CONSIGN$ BY 9/ITUTIONAL1 JUDICIAL1 & M$IA M>G9ALIZATION 9TO A R$UC$ POLITICAL <ETTO4 ,BY ?IS PO9T1 ! 0IRR$UCTIBLES0 C\LD MO/LY BE F\ND )9 AN AN>*I/ MOVEM5T ?AT WAS MU* WEAK] & MORE 9FIRM ?AN IT HAD BE5 BE=E ! ,CIVIL ,W> ?AT PUT ,FRANCO 9 P[]4 

,!SE AN>*I/S KEPT FI<T+1 L>GELY DEVELOP+ AN ANTISOCIAL *>ACT] AS A TOOL TO HELP !M RESI/ ! PSY*OSOCIAL EFFECTS ( EXTREME M>G9ALIZATION1 & TO FACILITATE A CRITIQUE ( DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY AS A MAJORIT>IAN1 M$IATIC CONTROL /RUCTURE4 ,BUT AS REVOLTS />T$ BREAK+ \T 9 NEI<BOR+ C\NTRIES SEV]AL YE>S BE=E ! ONSET ( ! ECONOMIC CRISIS1 SOME AN>*I/S />T$ BECOM+ ATT5TIVE TO ! POSSIBILITIES ( A WIDESPREAD SOCIAL REVOLT1 & !Y BEGAN *ANG+ !IR ME?ODS & ANALYZES TO BE ABLE TO 5C\RAGE & P>TICIPATE 9 SU* REVOLTS1 9 ! SEEM+LY UNLIKELY *ANCE ?AT ONE %\LD BREAK \T H]E4 ,BUT 9 A FEW %ORT YE>S1 CO9CID+ ) ! BEG9N+ ( ! CRISIS1 ! REVOLTS MULTIPLI$1 COM+ CLOS]--IF NOT GEOGRAPHICALLY1 !N IDEOLOGICALLY4 

,BE=E ! #a#e,M MOVEM5T />T$1 ,B>CELONA HAD ALREADY WITNESS$ A ONE-DAY G5]AL /RIKE ) MAJORITY P>TICIPATION1 9 :I* ANTICAPITALI/ DISC\RSES W]E FREQU5T IF NOT PR$OM9ANT1 & :I* RESULT$ 9 L>GE SCALE OCCUPATIONS1 RIOT+1 LOOT+1 & CLA%ES ) POLICE1 CON/ITUT+ AN IMPORTANT /EP 9 ! REAPPROPRIATION ( /REET TACTICS ?AT W\LD MAKE O!R VICTORIES POSSIBLE 9 ! FOLL[+ YE>S4 ,A COMBATIVE ,MAY ,DAY PROTE/ HAD AB&ON$ ! TYPICAL R\TE ?R\< ! CITY C5T] TO SNAKE ?R\< SEV]AL RI* NEI<BORHOODS1 S[+ DE/RUCTION & A SMALL MEASURE ( ECONOMIC REV5GE4 

,! #a#e,M MOVEM5T BROKE \T JU/ TWO WEEKS LAT]1 & ITS (FICIAL DISC\RSES CALL$ = TOTAL PACIFISM & SYMBOLIC CITIZ5 PROTE/S TO A*IEVE A BETT]1 HEAL?I] DEMOCRACY ?R\< CON/ITUTIONAL RE=M4 ,ALMO/ NO M5TION WAS MADE1 )9 ?IS (FICIAL DISC\RSE1 ( ! CONDITIONS ( DAILY LIFE1 ( COLLECTIVE SELF-DEF5SE AGA9/ AU/]ITY & ! DIRECT SELF-ORGANIZATION ( \R SURVIVAL4 ,BUT :]E DID ?IS (FICIAL DISC\RSE COME FROM1 & H[ WAS IT PRODUC$ 9 SU* A HUGE1 HET]OG5E\S CR[D8 

#a#e,M WASN'T HUGE FROM ! BEG9N+4 ,9 FACT1 ! FIR/ ASSEMBLY 9 ,B>CELONA1 ! FIR/ NI<T ON ,PLACA ,CATALUNYA1 !RE W]E JU/ A HUNDR$ PEOPLE PRES5T4 ,SOME ( !SE W]E ADH]5TS ( 0,REAL ,DEMOCRACY ,N[10 A NEW GR\P BAS$ 9 ,MADRID ?AT HAD PRODUC$ ! ORIG9AL CALL-\T = ! C\NTRYWIDE PROTE/S & OCCUPATIONS4 ,!IR DISC\RSE WAS EXTREMELY RE=MI/ & MADE NO M5TION ( ! GR[+ WAVES ( REAL PROTE/ & SOCIAL CONFLICT ?AT HAD BE5 GR[+ 9 ,SPA91 BUILD+ (F A TRADITION ( /RUGGLE ?AT CONTA9$ A GREAT DEAL ( COLLECTIVE KN[L$GE4 ,?IS HI/ORY WAS ABS5T FROM !IR P]SPECTIVE1 :I* WAS P]HAPS ! ONLY WAY !Y C\LD FEASIBLY CALL = A MOVEM5T BAS$ ON PACIFISM & LEGAL RE=M4 ,!Y DID M5TION ! 0,>AB ,SPR+10 ABOVE ALL ! UPRIS+ 9 ,EGYPT1 BUT ONLY 9 ! MO/ CONDESC5D+1 MANIPULATIVE WAY4 ,!Y DESCRIB$ IT AS A NONVIOL5T MOVEM5T1 & !Y PORTRAY$ IT AS HAV+ ALREADY WON ITS OBJECTIVES1 :51 AS IS CLE> N[ & WAS CLE> !N = ANYONE ) A RADICAL P]SPECTIVE1 ! /RUGGLE HAD ONLY BEGUN4 

,9 ?AT FIR/ ASSEMBLY1 !Y TOOK UP AN OLD ,TROTSKYI/ TACTIC4 ,DI/RIBUT+ !MSELVES ?R\<\T ! CIRCLE1 !Y TRI$ TO PU% ! GR\P TO ADOPT A PRE-ORDA9$ CONS5SUS ?AT MAT*$ ! DIRECTIVES ?AT HAD COME D[N FROM ,MADRID4 ,BUT IT WAS CLE> ?AT !SE ACTIVI/S W]E NOT EXP]I5C$ 9 SU* TACTICS1 = !Y W]E ALL WE>+ ID5TICAL 0,REAL ,DEMOCRACY ,N[0 T-%IRTS4 ,! M9UTE SOMEONE FROM ! LEFTW+ ,CATALAN 9DEP5D5CE MOVEM5T SAID ?AT ! ,B>CELONA OCCUPATION %\LD SET \T ON ITS [N PA? RA!R ?AN FOLL[+ ,MADRID1 ! CR[D AGRE$4 ,!RE W]E V]Y FEW AN>*I/S ?AT FIR/ NI<T1 BUT ?OSE PRES5T ALSO MADE SURE ?AT ! RE=MI/ ACTIVI/S W]E NOT ABLE TO LIMIT ! MOVEM5T FROM ! \TSET4 

0,:O IS 9 FAVOR80 ASKS ! P]SON ) ! MICROPHONE1 H] VOICE BOOM+ \T FROM CONC]T-QUALITY SPEAK]S4 ,A FEW ?\S& PEOPLE RAISE !IR H&S4 

0,:O IS AGA9/80 ,SOME FIFTY PEOPLE RAISE !IR H&S4 ,PRO =MA1 A FEW PEOPLE MAKE A RAPID C\NT4 ,IT'S D\BTFUL !IR NUMB]S MAT* UP1 BUT IT DOESN'T MATT]4 ,IT IS CLE> ?AT ! 0NO0 VOTES >5'T 5\< TO BE CONSID]$ IMPORTANT4 ,IT TAKES A HUNDR$ TO BLOCK A MEASURE4 

0,:O WANTS MORE DEBATE80 ,A DOZ5 H&S GO UP4 ,AGA91 %ORT ( M9IMUM NECESS>Y TO S5D ! PROPOSAL BACK = MORE DEBATE4 

0,! PROPOSAL PASSES40 ,! MOD]ATORS PAUSE A MOM5T BE=E MOV+ ON TO ! NEXT ITEM4 ,! CR[D1 P]HAPS T5 ?\S& /RONG1 WAITS1 SITT+ ) A TOL]ANT BUT BOR$ PATI5CE4 

0,:AT DID WE JU/ VOTE ON80 ,I HE> ONE Y\NG /UD5T ASK ANO!R4 ,)\T EXAGG]AT+1 ,I ?9K IT IS ONE ( ! MO/ COMMON QUE/IONS 9 ?AT MON? ( OCCUPATION4 

,JU/ A WEEK 9TO ?IS GR& EXP]IM5T 9 DIRECT DEMOCRACY1 AB/5TION HAD ALREADY C>RI$ ! DAY4 ,9 MO/ VOTES1 AB/5TION REA*$ PROPORTIONS ?AT EQUAL$ OR SURPASS$ ! P]C5TAGE :O OPT \T ( VOT+ 9 ! ELECTIONS & REF]5DUMS ( A TYPICAL REPRES5TATIVE DEMOCRACY4 

,IT'S NO SURPRISE4 ,EMP[]M5T WAS LITTLE MORE ?AN A SLOGAN 9 ! PLAZA4 ,) EV5 A HUNDR$ PEOPLE 9 AN ASSEMBLY1 NOT EV]YONE CAN P>TICIPATE4 ,ONCE ! NUMB] ( P>TICIPANTS GREW FROM ! HUNDR$S TO ! ?\S&S1 COMMISSIONS & SUBCOMMISSIONS />T$ POPP+ UP LIKE MU%ROOMS AFT] A RA94 ,EXP]I5C$ MOD]ATORS BEGAN DIRECT+ ! ASSEMBLIES1 PUTT+ 9 PRACTICE TE*NIQUES = A MODIFI$ CONS5SUS PROCESS ?AT HAD BE5 DEVELOP$ DUR+ ! ANTI-GLOBALIZATION MOVEM5T4 ,PROPOSALS W]E DEVELOP$ & CONS5S$ ON 9 COMMISSIONS1 !N !Y HAD TO BE CLE>LY READ \T TO BE RATIFI$ BY ! G5]AL ASSEMBLY4 ,A HUNDR$ PEOPLE1 IF ,I RECALL CORRECTLY1 C\LD BLOCK A DECISION1 & A SMALL] NUMB] C\LD S5D IT BACK TO ! COMMISSION = MORE DEBATE4 

,TO TRULY HAVE ANY MEAN+FUL 9FLU5CE ON A DECISION1 SOMEONE W\LD HAVE TO SP5D TWO TO F\R H\RS DUR+ ! DAY AT A COMMISSION MEET+ TO DRAFT ! PROPOSAL1 9 ADDITION TO ! SEV]AL H\RS ?AT ! NI<TTIME G5]AL ASSEMBLY LA/$4 ,MORE DIFFICULT PROPOSALS W]E 9 COMMISSION = DAYS OR A :OLE WEEK1 & 9 ANY CASE Y\ HAD TO GO TO ! COMMISSION MEET+S EV]Y DAY IF Y\ WANT$ TO MAKE SURE ?AT ! OLD PROPOSAL WASN'T ]AS$ BY A NEW ONE4 ,CLE>LY1 ONLY A SMALL NUMB] ( PEOPLE ) A C]TA9 LEVEL ( ECONOMIC 9DEP5D5CE C\LD P>TICIPATE FULLY 9 !SE DIRECTLY DEMOCRATIC /RUCTURES4 ,EV5 IF EV]YONE 5JOY$ ECONOMIC 9DEP5D5CE1 ! /RUCTURES !MSELVES NECESS>ILY FUNCTION AS FUNNELS1 LIMIT+ & CONC5TRAT+ P>TICIPATION SO ?AT A L>GE1 HET]OG5E\S MASS CAN PRODUCE UNIFI$1 5UM]AT$1 HOMOG5E\S DECISIONS4 ,9 ANY GIV5 ASSEMBLY OR COMMISSION1 C]TA9 /YLES ( COMMUNICATION & DECISION-MAK+ >E FAVOR$1 :ILE O!RS >E DISADVANTAG$4 

,DIRECT DEMOCRACY IS JU/ REPRES5TATIVE DEMOCRACY ON A SMALL] SCALE4 ,IT 9EVITABLY RECREATES ! SPECIALIZATION1 C5TRALIZATION1 & EXCLUSION WE ASSOCIATE ) EXI/+ DEMOCRACIES4 ,)9 F\R DAYS1 ONCE ! CR[DS EXCE$$ #e1 ! EXP]IM5T 9 DIRECT DEMOCRACY WAS ALREADY RIFE ) FALSE & MANIPULAT$ CONS5SUS1 SIL5C$ M9ORITIES1 9CREAS+ AB/5TION FROM VOT+1 & DOM9ATION BY SPECIALI/S & 9T]NAL POLITICIANS4 

,9 ONE EXAMPLE1 AN>*I/S 9 ! ,SELF-,ORGANIZATION & ,DIRECT ,DEMOCRACY ,SUB-,COMMISSION WANT$ TO ORGANIZE A SIMPLE DEBATE AB\T NONVIOL5CE4 ,! 9ITIATIVE ALMO/ FAIL$ BECAUSE ! ,SUB-,COMMISSION NE$$ DAYS TO DEBATE & CONS5SE ON EXACTLY H[ !Y WANT$ TO DO IT4 ,9 ! 5D1 TWO PEOPLE DECID$ TO IGNORE ! COMMISSION1 & JO9+ ) ANO!R AN>*I/ :O WAS NOT P>TICIPAT+ 9 ,SELF-,ORGANIZATION1 ! ?REE ( !M SELF-ORGANIZ$ A SUCCESSFUL TALK & DEBATE 9 JU/ A DAY1 ACCOMPLI%+ :AT A GR\P ( FIFTY PEOPLE HAD FAIL$ AT OV] ! C\RSE ( A WEEK4 

,IT WAS NOT ?AT EASY1 H[EV]1 BECAUSE ( ! MANY OB/ACLES ?AT ! DEMOCRACY ACTIVI/S PUT 9 ! WAY ( ANY DIRECT ACTION ?AT DID NOT HAVE !IR /AMP ( APPROVAL4 ,TWICE1 WE RES]V$ ! S\ND SY/EM & ! C5TRAL SPACE 9 ! PLAZA 9 ORD] TO DEBATE ! NONVIOL5CE POLICY ?AT HAD BE5 =CIBLY IMPOS$ ON ! :OLE MOVEM5T4 ,EA* TIME1 \R RES]VATION MY/]I\SLY DISAPPE>$1 & AFT] ! SECOND TIME1 ! S\ND SY/EM WAS RES]V$ = ANO!R EV5T AT ! SAME TIME WE HAD S*$UL$ \R DEBATE4 ,DEFEAT$1 WE DECID$ TO HOLD ! DEBATE ) JU/ A MEGAPHONE ON ! $GE ( ! PLAZA4 ,IT W\LD BE SMALL]1 EFFECTIVELY M>G9ALIZ$1 BUT WE W]E 9SI/5T ON REGI/]+ \R DISAGREEM5T ) A POSITION ?AT REALLY ONLY A SMALL M9ORITY ( ACTIVI/S HAD SUCCESSFULLY IMPOS$4 

,WE W5T TO ! ,ACTIVITY ,COMMISSION T5T TO AGA9 9=M !M ( \R PLANS4 ,9 A /ORY WOR?Y ( ,KAFKA1 ! KID AT ! TABLE LOOK$ D[N AT HIS =M1 A CRAPPY LITTLE PIECE ( PAP] WRITT5 UP 9 BALLPO9T P51 & TOLD US WE C\LDN'T HAVE \R EV5T 9 ! SPOT :]E WE WANT$4 0,:Y80 ,I ASK$1 GETT+ READY TO GO BALLI/IC4 ,WAS ?IS YET ANO!R TRICK BY ! NEW SPECIALI/S ( DIRECT DEMOCRACY TO PROTECT !IR FALSE CONS5SUS >\ND NONVIOL5CE8 

,! RESPONSE WAS F> MORE PA!TIC ?AN ,I HAD EXPECT$4 

0,BECAUSE \R =MS >E DIVID$ 9TO DIFF]5T COLUMNS1 SEE1 ONE COLUMN = EA* SPACE 9 ! PLAZA1 BUT ?AT SPACE OV] BY ! /AIRCASE1 WELL ?AT'S NOT AN (FICIAL SPACE40 

0,?AT'S OKAY1 WE DON'T M9D1 JU/ WRITE IT D[N40 

0,BUT1 BUT1 ,I CAN'T4 ,!RE ISN'T A COLUMN = IT40 

0,WELL1 MAKE A COLUMN40 

0,UM1 ,I CAN'T40 

0,OH ,*RI/1 LOOK1 :I* ONE'S OP5--LOOK1 H]E1 ',P9K ,SPACE1' JU/ WRITE \R EV5T D[N = ! ',P9K ,SPACE' & :5 ! TIME COMES WE'LL JU/ MOVE IT40 

,)9 TWO WEEKS1 )\T ANY PRIOR TRA9+1 ! ,SPANI% ,REVOLUTION HAD CREAT$ P]FECT BUREAUCRATS6 

,EXAMPLES ( ! MANIPULATION ( PROCESS AB\ND4 ,9 ! V]Y BEG9N+1 ! ASSEMBLY MADE ! V]Y AN>*I/ DECISION TO NOT RELEASE UNIT>Y MANIFE/OS SPEAK+ = EV]YONE4 ,SUBSEQU5TLY1 PEOPLE SPOKE !IR [N M9DS 9 ! ASSEMBLIES & 9 9=MAL SPACES ?R\<\T ! DAY4 ,WE AN>*I/S SET UP A LIT]ATURE TABLE :]E WE DI/RIBUT$ OP5 LETT]S & PAMPHLETS1 PUBLI%+ NEW TEXTS EV]Y DAY4 ,WE W]E CONT5T TO EXPRESS \RSELVES 9 DIALOGUE ) ! RE/1 RA!R ?AN TRY+ TO REPRES5T ! :OLE MOVEM5T4 ,BUT ! GRASSROOTS POLITICIANS 9 ! MIX CRAV$ SOME UNIT>Y MANIFE/O1 SOME LI/ ( DEM&S ) :I* !Y C\LD PRESSURE ! POLITICIANS 9 P[]4 ,!Y ONLY SAW ! HUGE CR[DS AS NUMB]S1 MEANS TO AN 5D4 

,SUBSEQU5TLY1 !Y =M$ A ,CONT5TS ,COMMISSION 9 ORD] TO =MULATE ! 0CONT5TS0 OR ! IDEAS ( ! MOVEM5T1 AS ?\< ! :OLE PLAZA OCCUPATION WAS JU/ AN EMPTY VESSEL1 A M9DLESS BEA/ WAIT+ = ! ASSEMBLY TO RATIFY A LI/ ( COMMON BELIEFS & POSITIONS4 ,AT ! AN>*I/ T5T1 WE DEBAT$ :E!R OR NOT TO P>TICIPATE 9 ! COMMISSIONS4 ,SOME ( US W]E /AUN*LY AGA9/1 BUT AS AN>*I/S1 WE DIDN'T SEEK CONS5SUS4 ,?OSE :O WANT$ TO P>TICIPATE DID NOT NE$ \R P]MISSION4 ,& AT LEA/ ONE GOOD ?+ CAME \T ( !IR P>TICIPATION3 MANY MORE EXAMPLES ( ! 9TR9SIC CORRUPTION & AU?ORIT>IANISM ( DEMOCRACY AT EV]Y LEVEL4 

,:5 ! AN>*I/ P>TICIPATION PREV5T$ ! ,TROTSKYI/S1 ,REAL ,DEMOCRACY ACTIVI/S1 & O!R GRASSROOTS POLITICIANS FROM PRODUC+ ! SORT ( UNIT>Y DEM&S & MANIFE/OS ?AT ! G5]AL ASSEMBLY HAD E>LI] VETO$1 ! ,COMMISSION WAS BROK5 UP 9TO A DOZ5 SUB-COMMISSIONS4 ,EV]Y S+LE DAY1 9 MULTIPLE SUB-COMMISSIONS1 ! GRASSROOTS POLITICIANS MADE ! SAME PROPOSALS ?AT HAD BE5 DEFEAT$ ! DAY BE=E1 UNTIL ONE MEET+ :5 NONE ( !IR OPPON5TS W]E PRES5T4 ,! DEM&S W]E PASS$ ?R\< ! COMMISSION & SUBSEQU5TLY RATIFI$ BY ! G5]AL ASSEMBLY1 :I* RATIFI$ NE>LY EV]Y PROPOSAL PASS$ BE=E IT4 

,ON ! O!R H&1 AFT] A WEEK ( DEBATE1 AN>*I/S 9 ! ,SELF-,ORGANIZATION & ,DIRECT ,DEMOCRACY ,SUB-,COMMISSION REA*$ A H>D-WON CONS5SUS ) ! PROPON5TS ( DIRECT DEMOCRACY = A PROPOSAL TO DEC5TRALIZE ! ASSEMBLY1 MEAN+ ?AT HET]OG5EITY & DIFF]5CES W\LD BE RESPECT$1 & ! ASSEMBLY W\LD BE TURN$ 9TO A SPACE = %>+ PROPOSALS & 9ITIATIVES1 BUT NOT = RATIFY+ !M1 BECAUSE1 9 ! NEW SY/EM1 EV]YONE W\LD BE FREE TO TAKE :ATEV] ACTIONS !Y SAW FIT1 & W\LDN'T NE$ SOME BUREAUCRATIC P]MISSION4 ,! PROPOSAL W\LD HAVE MEANT ! UTT] DEFEAT ( ! GRASSROOTS POLITICIANS1 BECAUSE ! ASSEMBLY W\LD NO LONG] BE A MASS !Y C\LD CONTROL = !IR [N 5DS4 ,EV]YONE W\LD BE FREE TO ORGANIZE !IR [N 9ITIATIVES & MAKE !IR [N DECISIONS4 ,! FUNNEL W\LD BE TURN$ 9TO AN OP5 FIELD4 

,! AN>*I/ PROPOSAL TO DEC5TRALIZE ! ASSEMBLY WAS VOT$ ON TWICE1 & EA* TIME A*IEV$ OV]:ELM+ SUPPORT1 BUT CURI\SLY WAS DEFEAT$ ON TE*NICALITIES BO? TIMES4 ,! MOD]ATORS HEMM$ & HAW$1 DELAY$ & ?REW UP OB/ACLES4 ,:5 !Y C\LD NO LONG] PREV5T A VOTE1 ! PROPOSAL RECEIV$ A GREAT] MAJORITY ?AN P]HAPS ANY O!R ITEM 9 ?OSE WEEKS4 ,!IR TACTIC ( TRY+ TO SC>E PEOPLE AWAY FROM ! PROPOSAL1 9SI/+ ?AT IT BE READ SEV]AL TIMES1 ?AT EV]YONE MADE SURE !Y UND]/& ITS IMPLICATIONS1 & ?AT AN EXTRA DAY BE GRANT$ TO REFLECT ON IT BACKFIR$4 ,9 ! 5D1 ?IS WAS ONE ( ! FEW PROPOSALS ?AT EV]YONE 9 ! ASSEMBLY PAID ATT5TION TO1 DISCUSS$1 & VOT$ ON ) TOTAL AW>5ESS4 

,ONLY AB\T FIFTY PEOPLE VOT$ AGA9/4 ,! SAME FIFTY PEOPLE VOT$ = MORE DEBATE1 EV5 ?\< !Y HAD ABSOLUTELY NO 9T5TION ( P>TICIPAT+ 9 ! DEBATE1 & ! PROPOSAL WAS EFFECTIVELY %ELV$4 ,IT HAS ALREADY A*IEV$ A CONSI/5T CONS5SUS 9 ! ,SUB-,COMMISSION4 ,MORE DEBATE W\LD *ANGE NO?+4 ,IT W\LD ONLY COME BACK BE=E ! G5]AL ASSEMBLY :]E IT W\LD BE BLOCK$ AGA94 ,?ANKS TO DIRECT DEMOCRACY1 FIFTY PEOPLE C\LD CONTROL TW5TY ?\S&4 

,?IS ACTION DEMON/RAT$ ?AT WE W]E RI<T1 WE HAD LOTS ( SUPPORT1 & ! ASSEMBLY WAS A %AM--?AT1 9 ITSELF1 WAS A VICTORY4 ,BUT DIRECT DEMOCRACY CANNOT BE RE=M$ FROM )94 ,IT HAS TO BE DE/ROY$4 

,MANY PEOPLE TOOK ! COMMISSIONS & ! G5]AL ASSEMBLY MORE S]I\SLY ?AN !Y W>RANT$4 ,TRUE1 FRUITFUL DEBATES 9 GR\PS ( FIFTY OR A HUNDR$ PEOPLE TOOK PLACE 9 ! COMMISSIONS1 & ! ASSEMBLY P>TIALLY S]V$ AS A PLAT=M = /RANG]S TO AIR !IR GRIEVANCES & CON/RUCT A S5SE ( COLLECTIVITY4 ,BUT ! ONLY WOR?:ILE POSITION WAS TO SUBV]T ?OSE /RUCTURES ( BUREAUCRACY & C5TRALIZATION1 TO CRITICIZE ! P[] DYNAMICS !Y CREAT$ & CREATE SOME?+ MORE VIBRANT & FREE 9 ! %AD[ ( ! G5]AL ASSEMBLY4 

,!RE WAS A LOT MORE TO ! PLAZA OCCUPATION ?AN !SE FRU/RAT+LY BUREAUCRATIC /RUCTURES4 ,! (FICIAL C5T]1 9 FACT1 WAS T9Y COMP>$ TO ! *AOTIC M>G9S4 ,!SE M>G9S W]E ALL ! SPACES 9 ! PLAZA \TSIDE ( ! COMMISSION T5TS & ! C\PLE H\RS ( G5]AL ASSEMBLY EV]Y EV5+4 ,ALL ?R\<\T ! DAY1 ! PLAZA WAS AN EXT5SIVE1 *AOTIC SPACE ( SELF-ORGANIZATION1 :]E PEOPLE MET !IR LOGI/ICAL NE$S1 SOMETIMES GO+ ?R\< ! (FICIAL *ANNELS1 SOMETIMES NOT4 ,!RE WAS A LIBR>Y1 A G>D51 AN 9T]NATIONAL TRANSLATION C5T]1 A KIT*5 ) BIG /OVES & SOL> COOK]S1 & AT ANY TIME !RE W]E A C\PLE CONC]TS1 WORK%OPS1 DEBATES1 & MASSAGE P>LORS GO+ ON1 ALONG ) 9NUM]ABLE SMALL] CONV]SATIONS1 DEBATES1 & 5C\NT]S4 ,PEOPLE DRANK1 >GU$1 CELEBRAT$1 SLEPT1 MADE \T1 MADE FRI5DS4 

,IT WAS *AOS1 9 ! LIT]AL S5SE ?AT PATT]NS EM]G$ & FAD$1 & !RE WAS NO C5TRAL SPACE FROM :I* EV]Y?+ C\LD BE P]CEIV$1 MU* LESS CONTROLL$4 ,CONSID] ! (FICIALLY RECOGNIZ$ PROGRAM3 ONE ONLY HAD TO GO TO ! ,ACTIVITIES ,COMMISSION T5T TO SEE ! :OLE S*$ULE4 ,FROM ?AT ONE PO9T1 A POLICE DETECTIVE C\LD REGI/] ALL ! EV5TS TAK+ PLACE1 :AT WAS BE+ TALK$ AB\T1 :AT WAS BE+ ORGANIZ$4 ,A NEW P]SON WI%+ TO TAKE P>T C\LD COME & LE>N :]E TO GET 9VOLV$1 !IR 9TRODUCTION TAK+ ! =M ( A PIECE ( PAP]1 A S*$ULE1 RA!R ?AN A NEW FRI5D4 ,A GRASSROOTS POLITICIAN C\LD MONOPOLIZE ! MORE IMPORTANT SPACES & TIMES1 GIV+ PRIORITY TO C]TA9 MEET+S OR EV5TS & M>G9ALIZ+ O!RS 7OR !Y C\LD EV5 MAKE UNDESIR$ EV5TS DISAPPE>1 AS HAPP5$ ) \R NONVIOL5CE DEBATE74 ,IT IS ABSOLUTELY NO CO9CID5CE ?AT ! 9T]E/S ( /ATE CONTROL FROM )\T1 ! 9T]E/S ( HI]>*ICAL CONTROL FROM )91 & ! 9T]E/S ( IMP]SONAL OR RATIONAL EFFICI5CY ALL CONV]GE 9 ! /RUCTURES ( DIRECT DEMOCRACY4 

,9 CONTRA/1 ! UN(FICIAL M>G9S W]E MU* LIVELI] & MORE DYNAMIC4 ,MO/ NEW FRI5D%IPS & COMPLICITIES1 MO/ MEAN+FUL1 FACE-TO-FACE CONV]SATIONS1 & MO/ ( ! SATISFY+ COMMUNAL EXP]I5CES ?AT KEPT PEOPLE COM+ BACK OCCURR$ 9 ! *AOTIC M>G9S4 ,A H&FUL ( PEOPLE C\LD ORGANIZE A DEBATE OR A SMALL CONC]T )\T HAV+ TO EXHAU/ !MSELVES GO+ ?R\< COMMISSIONS & SUBCOMMISSIONS4 ,SAV+ !IR 5]GIES = :AT REALLY MATT]$--! ACTUAL ACTIVITY--A FEW 9DIVIDUALS C\LD PREP>E A QUALITY EV5T ON !IR [N 9ITIATIVE1 & A CR[D ( A HUNDR$ OR EV5 FIVE HUNDR$ PEOPLE MI<T SPONTANE\SLY GA!R & TAKE P>T4 

,EV5 DUR+ ! G5]AL ASSEMBLIES1 ! *AOTIC M>G9S C\LD NOT BE EXT+UI%$4 ,MANY ?\S&S ( PEOPLE BOYCOTT$ ! VOTES4 ,SOME ( US REFUS$ ON PR9CIPAL1 AS AN>*I/S1 TO LEGITIMATE SU* F>CICAL EX]CISES ( AU?ORITY 9 ! NAME ( ! PEOPLE1 A COLLECTIVE :OLE ?AT WAS ONLY EFFAC$ BY ! >TIFICIAL IMPOSITION ( UNITY4 ,MANY O!RS DIDN'T VOTE BECAUSE !Y F\ND ! ASSEMBLY BOR+ 7MU* LIKE ! *ILD 9 ! CLASSROOM :O DAYDREAMS1 NOT BECAUSE %E IS UN9TELLIG5T1 BUT BECAUSE %E IS1 9 FACT1 MORE 9TELLIG5T1 BECAUSE %E IS NOT 5GAG$ BY ! AU?ORIT>IAN1 PACIFY+ ME?OD ( $UCATION74 ,O!RS BECAUSE1 ONCE ! CR[DS HAD SURPASS$ FIFTY ?\S&1 !Y C\LDN'T GET CLOSE 5\< TO HE>4 ,! M>G9S ( ! PLAZA BECAME AN UNRULY C\NTRY ( :ISP]$ CONV]SATIONS1 CRITICISMS1 & OCCASIONAL HECKL+4 

,W]5'T ALL !SE O!R SPACES ALSO DECISION-MAK+ SPACES8 ,DON'T WE MAKE DECISIONS 9 EV]Y MOM5T ( \R LIVES8 ,:Y IS ! =MALIZ$1 MASCUL9E SPACE ( AN ASSEMBLY MORE LEGITIMATE ?AN ! COMMON KIT*51 :]E MANY DECISIONS & CONV]SATIONS ALSO TAKE PLACE8 ,:Y IS IT MORE LEGITIMATE ?AN ! HUNDR$ CLU/]S ( SMALL CONV]SATIONS & DEBATES ?AT TAKE PLACE DUR+ ! DAY1 ON A SMALL SCALE1 ALL[+ PEOPLE TO EXPRESS !MSELVES MORE 9TIMATELY & MORE FULLY8 

,EV5 IF WE P>TICIPATE 9 EV]Y =MAL DECISION1 >E !SE ! SAME DECISIONS WE W\LD >RIVE AT 9 SPACES ( COM=T1 SPACES ( LIFE RA!R ?AN ( POLITICS8 ,IS IT POSSIBLE ?AT \R =MAL SELVES BECOME A M]E REPRES5TATION1 A MANIPULATION PRODUC$ DUR+ A FEW BOR+ H\RS ( MEET+S ?AT IS US$ TO CONTROL US DUR+ ALL ! O!R MOM5TS ( \R LIVES8 

0,DON'T DO ?AT10 SAYS ! SELF-APPO9T$ LEAD] TO ! P]SON :O HAS />T$ TO SPRAY-PA9T A BANK1 0?IS IS A PEACEFUL PROTE/40 ,! =M] SPEAKS ) ALL ! LEGITIMACY ( A POPUL> M&ATE4 ,SUPPOS$LY1 !RE IS CONS5SUS ON ! QUE/ION ( NONVIOL5CE1 = ?IS PROTE/ WAS ORGANIZ$ BY ! PLAZA ASSEMBLY4 ,YET1 :AT K9D ( CONS5SUS NE$S TO BE CONT9UALLY 5=C$8 ,:Y IS IT ?AT PEOPLE :O TOOK P>T 9 ! ASSEMBLY SO FREQU5TLY REBELL$ AGA9/ ! DECISIONS ?AT SUPPOS$LY REPRES5T$ !M8 

,NE$LESS TO SAY1 ! PROPON5TS ( DIRECT DEMOCRACY & ITS (FICIAL /RUCTURES DID :ATEV] !Y C\LD TO SUPPRESS ! *AOTIC ZONES 9 ! PLAZA4 ,! AN>*I/ T5T1 = EXAMPLE1 NEV] HAD (FICIAL P]MISSION1 & ON ! FIR/ DAY WE SET UP1 !Y TRI$ TO KICK US \T4 ,WE MADE IT CLE> ?AT !Y W\LD HAVE TO USE =CE TO GET US \T1 & !N EV]YONE W\LD SEE :AT !IR DEMOCRACY CONSI/$ (4 ,!Y W\LD HAVE DONE IT1 IF WE HADN'T BE5 NUM]\S1 & FI]CE1 & HON$ BY ! YE>S ( /REETFI<T+ BEH9D US4 ,9/EAD1 !Y SET UP SOME COMMISSION T5TS ON \R SPOT E>LY ! NEXT MORN+4 ,BUT WE JU/ F\ND ANO!R SPOT4 

,! 0,CONVIV5CIA0 ,COMMISSION 70,LIV+ ,TOGE!R10 A CLASSI/1 (T5 RACI/ T]M ?AT IS SY/EMATICALLY US$ BY ! CITY'S ADM9I/RATORS7 BUSI$ ITSELF TRY+ TO EJECT PEOPLE :O W]E DR9K+ 9 ! PLAZA--BUT NOT ! Y\NG :ITE /UD5TS1 ONLY ! OLD]1 TYPICALLY IMMIGRANT HOMELESS M5 :O W]E SLEEP+ 9 ! PLAZA4 ,!Y ALSO REPEAT$LY TRI$ KICK+ \T ! UNDOCUM5T$ IMMIGRANTS :O HAD TO WORK SELL+ BE]S OR PURSES 9 ! /REETS1 & :O (T5 HAD TO RUN FROM ! POLICE4 ,! ,COMMISSION MEMB]S TRI$ TO D5Y !SE IMMIGRANTS ACCESS TO ! SAFE SPACE WE ALL HAD CREAT$ 9 ! PLAZA1 UNTIL SOME ( US GOT UP 9 !IR FACES1 CALL$ !M RACI/S1 & ?REAT5$ !M ) PHYSICAL VIOL5CE4 

,CALL+ ! #a#e,M MOVEM5T IMP]FECT DOESN'T CUT IT4 ,ALL ! OPPRESSIVE DYNAMICS1 ALL ! HABITS ( PASSIVITY & AU?ORIT>IANISM 9 \R SOCIETY FOLL[$ US 9TO ! PLAZA4 ,BUT !RE1 9 ?AT COLLECTIVE SPACE1 WE HAD ! OPPORTUNITY TO CONFRONT !M4 ,! /RUCTURES ( DIRECT DEMOCRACY ONLY MASK$ OR EXAC]BAT$ ?OSE DYNAMICS2 !Y W]E FEEBLE ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL ! UND]LY+ *AOS4 ,EV5 SOME AN>*I/S FAIL$ TO SEE ?IS4 ,LIKE MANY O!RS1 !Y GOT DI/RACT$ BY ! AURA ( (FICIALITY--! TITLES & PROCESSES1 COMMISSIONS1 S*$ULES1 & DIAGRAMS4 ,ALL ?AT WAS A F>CE4 ,! IMPOSITION ( AN (FICIAL FRAMEWORK WAS 9T5D$ TO R$IRECT \R ATT5TION JU/ ! SAME AS IT S\<T TO CONTROL \R P>TICIPATION4 ,NEXT TIME1 HOPEFULLY1 WE WILL KN[ NOT TO TAKE IT S]I\SLY4 

,9 TIME1 ! #a#e,M MOVEM5T SUBSID$1 BL5D+ BACK 9TO ! SOCIAL CONFLICTS ?AT GAVE BIR? TO IT1 :I* CONT9U$ UNABAT$4 ,= A :ILE1 MANY AN>*I/S 9 ,B>CELONA P>TICIPAT$ ) ?\S&S ( O!R PEOPLE 9 ! NEI<BORHOOD ASSEMBLIES ?AT REPLAC$ ! ,PLACA ,CATALUNYA OCCUPATION4 ,HOME DEF5SE PROTE/S AGA9/ =ECLOSURES GA9$ FREQU5CY4 ,!RE W]E OCCUPATIONS ( S*OOLS & HOSPITALS AGA9/ AU/]ITY MEASURES4 ,G5]AL /RIKES & RIOTS4 ,PROTE/S AGA9/ NEW REPRESSIVE LAWS4 ,WAVES ( >RE/S & C\NT]PROTE/S4 ,! /RUGGLE CONT9U$4 

,! RISE ( !SE MOVEM5TS TAU<T US A NUMB] ( ?+S4 ,!IR ORIG9S CONFIRM$ C]TA9 AN>*I/ !ORIES AB\T SOCIAL CONFLICT4 ,!Y W]E NOT ME*ANICALLY TRIGG]$ BY MAT]IAL CONDITIONS1 AS !Y T5D$ TO PREC$E ! CRISIS OR ! WOR/ ECONOMIC EFFECTS ( AU/]ITY4 ,I W\LD SAY ?AT MAT]IAL CONDITIONS DO NOT EXI/1 ONLY PEOPLE'S 9T]PRETATIONS ( !IR CONDITIONS4 7,9 FACT1 ! :OLE CATEGORY ( ! 0MAT]IAL0 SEEMS MORE LIKE A CRUDE ATTEMPT TO APPE> SCI5TIFIC1 ?\< IT RELIES ON A DI*OTOMY ?AT /EMS FROM ! ORIG9S ( ,WE/]N1 ,*RI/IAN CIVILIZATION47 ,! TRUE TRIGG]S ( ! MOVEM5TS & REVOLTS W]E A COLLECTIVE EMPA?Y = OR S$UCTION BY REVOLTS HAPP5+ 9 O!R C\NTRIES1 A COLLECTIVE S5SE ( 9SECURITY OR EVALUATION ?AT ! ,/ATE HAD BECOME WEAK1 A COLLECTIVE \TRAGE 9 RESPONSE TO GOV]NM5T MEASURES SE5 AS 9SULT+ TO PEOPLE'S DIGNITY & ?REAT5+ TO !IR WELLBE+1 & A COLLECTIVE 9T]PRETATION OR PR$ICTION ( WORS5+ CONDITIONS4 

,9/ITUTIONAL RESPONSES %[$ US ?AT GOV]NM5TS (T5 REACT CLUMSILY TO EM]G+ MOVEM5TS1 PROVOK+ GR[? & RADICALIZATION1 :]EAS RE=MI/ OR P[]-HUNGRY P>TICIPANTS >E ! MO/ EFFECTIVE & A/UTE 9 E/ABLI%+ /ATI/ ORGANIZATION )9 ! MOVEM5TS & PREV5T+ !M FROM DEVELOP+ REVOLUTION>Y P]SPECTIVES4 

,ADDITIONALLY1 A NUMB] ( HYPO!SES REG>D+ PACIFISM W]E CONFIRM$3 \R SOCIETY TRA9S PEOPLE TO UNCRITICALLY FAVOR PACIFISM 9 SOCIAL MOVEM5TS1 & ! PR$OM9ANT CURR5T ( PACIFISM MOVES PROGRESSIVELY AWAY FROM A PRACTICE ( SOCIAL *ANGE TO A PRACTICE ( TOTAL PACIFICATION2 ?AT M$IA1 POLICE1 & W\LD-BE MOVEM5T LEAD]S CONSPIRE TO 5=CE PACIFISM2 & ?AT ! NATURAL EVOLUTION ( MOVEM5TS LEADS !M TO BREAK ) NONVIOL5CE & DEVELOP MORE =CEFUL TACTICS4 ,BUT EV5TS ALSO GAVE US ! OPPORTUNITY TO SEE H[ W\LD-BE LEAD]S ( SOCIAL MOVEM5TS1 IF ! CR[D LEAVES !M TOO F> BEH9D1 WILL AB&ON !IR COMMITM5T TO NONVIOL5CE & SUPPORT OR AT LEA/ PASSIVELY CONDONE C]TA9 ILLEGAL OR DE/RUCTIVE TACTICS4 

,9 CONTRA/1 ! LEAD]S' COMMITM5T TO DEMOCRACY RUNS DEEP]1 & IT WAS A %>$ E/EEM1 A BL9D SUPPORT = ! VALUES ( DEMOCRACY ?AT BE/ ALL[$ !M TO ASS]T !IR LEAD]%IP OV] :AT HAD BE5 AN AN>*IC MOVEM5T4 

,REAL ,DEMOCRACY ,N[ DID AN EXCELL5T JOB ( =MULAT+ A M$IOCRE POLITICS DEF9$ BY ITS POPULISM1 VICTIMISM1 RE=MISM1 & MORALISM4 ,BY US+ COMMON1 VALUE-LAD5 T]MS SU* AS 0DEMOCRACY0 7GOOD7 & 0CORRUPTION0 7BAD71 !Y CREAT$ A DISCURSIVE TRAP ?AT G>N]$ OV]:ELM+ SUPPORT = ALL !IR PROPOSALS :ILE DEFLECT+ OR FALSELY 9CLUD+ PROPOSALS ?AT W5T FUR!R4 ,!IR /AT$ M9IMUMS 9CLUD$ REVOLUTION>Y LANGUAGE & ! HI<LY POPUL> S5TIM5T ?AT 0WE'RE GO+ TO *ANGE EV]Y?+10 :ILE (F]+ A LADD] ( DEM&S ?AT BASICALLY SIGNAL$ ! PRICES1 FROM *EAP TO EXP5SIVE1 AT :I* !Y W\LD SELL \T4 ,IT />T$ ) RE=M ( ! ELECTORAL LAW1 PASS$ ?R\< LAWS = 9CREAS$ OV]SI<T ( ! BANK]S1 & REA*$1 AT ITS MO/ RADICAL EXTREME1 A REFUSAL TO PAY BACK ! BAIL\T LOANS4 ,EV]Y?+ WAS /RUCTUR$ >\ND DEM&S COMMUNICAT$ TO ! EXI/+ GOV]NM5T1 BUT PRETTI$ UP 9 POPULI/ LANGUAGE4 ,?US1 ! POPUL>1 AN>*I/ SLOGAN ,N+U 5S REPRES5TA1 0,NO ONE REPRES5TS US10 WAS DI/ORT$ )9 !IR PROGRAM TO MEAN1 0,NONE ( ! POLITICIANS CURR5TLY 9 P[] REPRES5T US3 WE WANT BETT] ONES :O WILL40 

,H[EV]1 TO C>RY \T ?IS BALANC+ ACT1 !Y DID HAVE TO ADOPT VAGUELY ANTIAU?ORIT>IAN ORGANIZ+ PR9CIPLES 9H]IT$ FROM ! ANTIGLOBALIZATION MOVEM5T1 SU* AS A COMMITM5T TO OP5 ASSEMBLIES & A REJECTION ( SPOKESP]SONS & POLITICAL P>TIES4 ,PROPOSALS C5T]$ ON DIRECT ACTION OR S5TIM5TS CONTA9+ A REJECTION ( GOV]NM5T & CAPITALISM W]E EASILY NEUTRALIZ$ )9 ?IS IDEOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK4 ,! =M] W\LD BE PAT]NALI/ICALLY TOL]AT$ AS CUTE LITTLE SIDE PROJECTS ECLIPS$ BY ! MAJOR PROJECTS ( RE=MI/ DEM&S1 & ! LATT] W\LD BE APPLAUD$1 L9K$ BACK TO ! POPUL> RHETORIC ALREADY 9 USE1 & CORRUPT$ TO MEAN AN OPPOSITION TO CURR5T POLITICIANS OR SPECIFIC BANK]S4 

,! ONLY WAY TO *ALL5GE ?IS CO-OPTATION ( POPUL> RAGE WAS TO FOCUS CRITIQUE ON DEMOCRACY ITSELF4 ,WE QUICKLY DISCOV]$ ?AT ! IDEA ( DIRECT DEMOCRACY WAS ! MAJOR !ORETICAL B>RI] ?AT PROTECT$ ! EXI/+ REPRES5TATIVE DEMOCRACY1 & DIRECT DEMOCRACY ACTIVI/S1 9CLUD+ AN>*I/S1 W]E ! CRITICAL BRIDGE BETWE5 ! P>ASITIC GRASSROOTS POLITICIANS & !IR SOCIAL HO/ BODY4 

,! EXP]I5CE 9 ! PLAZA TAU<T US 9 PRACTICE :AT WE HAD ALREADY >GU$ 9 !ORY3 ?AT DIRECT DEMOCRACY RECREATES REPRES5TATIVE DEMOCRACY2 ?AT IT IS NOT ! FEATURES ?AT CAN BE RE=M$ 7CAMPAIGN F9ANCE1 T]M LIMITS1 POPUL> REF]5DUMS71 BUT ! MO/ C5TRAL IDEALS ( DEMOCRACY ?AT >E 9H]5TLY AU?ORIT>IAN4 ,! BEAUTIFUL ?+ AB\T ! 5CAMPM5T 9 ! PLAZA WAS ?AT IT HAD MULTIPLE C5T]S = TAK+ 9ITIATIVE & CREAT+4 ,! C5TRAL ASSEMBLY FUNCTION$ TO SUPPRESS ?IS2 HAD IT SUCCE$$1 ! OCCUPATION W\LD HAVE DI$ MU* SOON]4 ,IT DID NOT SUCCE$1 ?ANKS 9 P>T TO AN>*I/ 9T]V5TION4 

,! C5TRAL ASSEMBLY DID NOT GIVE BIR? TO A S+LE 9ITIATIVE4 ,:AT IT DID1 RA!R1 WAS TO GRANT LEGITIMACY TO 9ITIATIVES WORK$ \T 9 ! COMMISSIONS2 BUT ?IS PROCESS MU/ NOT BE PORTRAY$ 9 POSITIVE T]MS4 ,?IS GRANT+ ( LEGITIMACY WAS 9 FACT A ROBB+ ( ! LEGITIMACY ( ALL ! DECISIONS MADE 9 ! MULTIPLE SPACES ?R\<\T ! PLAZA NOT 9CORPORAT$ 9TO AN (FICIAL COMMISSION4 ,MULTIPLE TIMES1 SELF-APPO9T$ REPRES5TATIVES ( ?IS OR ?AT COMMISSION TRI$ TO SUPPRESS SPONTANE\S 9ITIATIVES ?AT DID NOT BE> !IR /AMP ( LEGITIMACY4 ,AT O!R TIMES1 COMMISSIONS1 MOD]ATORS1 & 9T]NAL POLITICIANS SPECIFICALLY CONTRAV5$ DECISIONS MADE 9 ! C5TRAL ASSEMBLY1 :5 DO+ SO W\LD FAVOR FUR!R C5TRALIZATION4 ,?IS IS NOT A QUE/ION ( CORRUPTION OR BAD =M2 DEMOCRACY ALWAYS SUBV]TS ITS [N ME*ANISMS 9 ! 9T]E/S ( P[]4 

,AGA9 & AGA9 9 ! PLAZA1 WE SAW A CORRELATION BETWE5 DEMOCRACY & ! P>ANOIA ( CONTROL3 ! NE$ = ALL DECISIONS & 9ITIATIVES TO PASS ?R\< A C5TRAL PO9T1 ! NE$ TO MAKE ! *AOTIC ACTIVITY ( A MULTITUD9\S OCCUPATION LEGIBLE FROM A S+LE VANTAGE PO9T--! CONTROL ROOM1 AS IT W]E4 ,?IS IS A /ATI/ IMPULSE4 ,! NE$ TO IMPOSE LEGIBILITY ON A SOCIAL SITUATION--& SOCIAL SITUATIONS >E ALWAYS *AOTIC--IS %>$ BY ! DEMOCRACY ACTIVI/1 :O WI%ES TO IMPOSE A BRILLIANT NEW ORGANIZATIONAL /RUCTURE2 ! TAX COLLECTOR1 :O NE$S ALL ECONOMIC ACTIVITY TO BE VISIBLE SO IT CAN BE REAPPROPRIAT$2 & ! POLICEMAN1 :O DESIRES A PANOPTICON 9 ORD] TO CONTROL & PUNI%4 ,I ALSO F\ND ?AT NUM]\S AN>*I/S ( V>I\S IDEOLOGICAL /RIPES W]E UNABLE TO SEE ! CRUCIAL !ORETICAL DIFF]5CE BETWE5 ! OPPOSITIONS REPRES5TATIONAL DEMOCRACY VS4 DIRECT DEMOCRACY_/CONS5SUS & C5TRALIZATION VS4 DEC5TRALIZATION1 BECAUSE ! FIR/ & SECOND T]MS ( BO? PAIRS HAVE BE5 TURN$ 9TO SYNONYMS ?R\< MISUSE4 ,= ?IS REASON1 ,I HAVE DECID$ TO REHABILITATE ! T]M 0*AOS0 9 MY P]SONAL USAGE1 AS IT IS A FRI<T5+ T]M NO POPULI/ 9 ! CURR5T CONTEXT W\LD USE & ABUSE1 & IT RELATES DIRECTLY TO MA!MATICAL !ORIES ?AT EXPRESS ! K9D ( %IFT+1 CONFLICTUAL1 CON/ANTLY REG5]AT+1 ACEPHAL\S ORGANIZATION AN>*I/S >E CALL+ =4 

,I,I4 ,OSSIFICATION 

,FALL #b#a#e4 

,JUNTS PEL ,SI1 ! PRO-9DEP5D5CE COALITION ?AT COMB9ES ! MAJOR RI<T-W+ & LEFT-W+ POLITICAL P>TIES 9 ,CATALUNYA1 HAS WON ! REGIONAL ELECTIONS4 ,TOGE!R ) ! ,C,U,P--A GRASSROOTS ACTIVI/ PLAT=M ?AT MAKES DECISIONS 9 ASSEMBLIES1 & :I* EM]G$ FROM ! SOCIAL MOVEM5TS TO SEIZE OV] #a.0 ( ! VOTE--!Y HAVE A MAJORITY 9 ! ,CATALAN P>LIAM5T1 & !Y HAVE ANN\NC$ ?AT !Y WILL MAKE A UNILAT]AL DECL>ATION ( 9DEP5D5CE1 TURN+ ! P>LIAM5T 9TO A CON/ITU5T ASSEMBLY = A NEW CON/ITUTION1 BREAK+ AWAY FROM ,SPA94 ,MEAN:ILE1 ! ,POPUL> ,P>TY & ,SOCIALI/ ,P>TY1 :I* UNTIL F\R YE>S AGO RUL$ ! C\NTRY 9 AN UN%AKABLE TWO-P>TY SY/EM1 ?REAT5 LEGAL ACTION FROM ,MADRID4 ,PODEMOS1 AN ACTIVI/ POLITICAL P>TY MODEL$ ON ,SYRIZA1 PROMISES A REF]5DUM ON ! QUE/ION ( 9DEP5D5CE = ,CATALUNYA1 ! ,BASQUE C\NTRY1 ,GALICIA1 IF ONLY !Y >E VOT$ 9TO P[]4 ,!Y H9T AT ! POSSIBILITY ( A NEW CON/ITUTION1 TRANS=M+ ,SPA9 9TO A NATION ( NATIONS4 ,! NEWSPAP]S & ! ,T,V >E FULL ( IT EV]Y DAY4 ,EV]YONE WAITS1 EXPECTANTLY4 

,9 ! SPR+1 ACTIVI/ PLAT=MS1 SOME ( !M B>ELY A YE> OLD1 WON ! ELECTIONS 9 ,MADRID1 ,VAL5CIA1 & ,B>CELONA4 ,9 ,DONO/IA1 ! NEWLY LEGALIZ$ ,BASQUE 9DEP5D5CE P>TY1 ,BILDU1 WAS ALREADY 9 P[]4 ,!SE CON/ITUTE F\R ( ,SPA9'S MO/ IMPORTANT CITIES1 9CLUD+ ! TWO L>GE/4 

,! NEW MAYOR ( ,B>CELONA1 ,ADA ,COLAU1 HAD BE5 A H\S+ ACTIVI/ :O ONCE GOT >RE/$ 9 A HI<LY PUBLICIZ$ ACT ( CIVIL DISOB$I5CE TO /OP AN EVICTION4 ,PEOPLE EV]Y:]E TALK AB\T :E!R %E WILL DELIV] ON H] PROMISES & PROTECT ALL ! FAMILIES :O CAN NO LONG] PAY MORTGAGES FROM GETT+ KICK$ \T !IR H\SES4 ,WILL %E CREATE DIGNIFI$ EMPLOYM5T8 ,WILL %E HALT ! RAVAGES ( T\RISM ?AT >E REMAK+ ! CITY8 ,EV]YONE WAITS1 EXPECTANTLY4 

,A NEW AN>*I/ TEXT FROM ,B>CELONA1 0,A ,WAG] ON ! ,FUTURE10 >GUES ?AT !SE NEW POLITICAL P>TIES >E ! RESULT ( ! DEA? ( ! #a#e,M MOVEM5T4 ,! W\LD-BE LEAD]S DID NOT SUCCE$ 9 DIRECTLY TURN+ ! MOVEM5T 9TO A NEW POLITICAL P>TY1 AL?\< !Y C]TA9LY TRI$4 ,ACROSS ! C\NTRY1 HUNDR$S ( ?\S&S ( PEOPLE GAVE SELF-ORGANIZATION 9 ASSEMBLIES A *ANCE4 ,& ON ! FACE ( IT1 !Y A*IEV$ EXACTLY NO?+4 ,A C\PLE YE>S LAT]1 9 A CLIMATE ( G5]AL DISAPPO9TM5T1 PASSIVITY1 & DEMOBILIZATION1 ,PODEMOS & ! O!R NEW POLITICAL P>TIES1 LIKE ,B>CELONA 5 ,COMU1 W]E =M$4 ,PREEXI/+ ACTIVI/ PLAT=MS-TURN$-POLITICAL-P>TIES1 LIKE ! ,C,U,P OR ,COMPROMIS 9 ,VAL5CIA1 GE>$ UP TO SEIZE A BIGG] SLICE ( PIE4 ,! FEW REMA9+ NEI<BORHOOD ASSEMBLIES OR #a#e,M ASSEMBLIES1 B>E SKELETONS1 BECAME RECRUIT+ TOOLS = ONE P>TY OR ANO!R4 

,SPANI% DEMOCRACY HAS BE5 REG5]AT$4 ,PEOPLE1 HAV+ FAIL$ !MSELVES1 >E ONCE AGA9 READY TO PLACE !IR TRU/ 9 POLITICIANS1 AS LONG AS !Y >E NEW FACES MAK+ NEW PROMISES4 ,DIRECT DEMOCRACY HAS REVEAL$ H[ FULLY IT TRANS=MS BACK 9TO REPRES5TATIVE DEMOCRACY AS IT SCALES UP4 

,AT ?IS JUNCTURE1 WE CAN SEE H[ DIRECT DEMOCRACY PROTECT$ & REVITALIZ$ REPRES5TATIVE DEMOCRACY4 ,COH]5T ) ITS EMPHASIS ON =MAL1 SUP]FICIAL1 & REGULAT$ P>TICIPATION 9 AN ALI5AT$ SPACE ( POLITICS--! C5TRAL ASSEMBLY AS ! >BIT] ( ALL SOCIAL DECISION-MAK+--! DIRECT DEMOCRACY MOVEM5T PU%$ = A SET ( DEM&S BAS$ ON 9/ITUTIONAL RE=M & SOCIAL CONS5SUS4 

,:AT DOES ?IS MEAN 9 ! DETAILS ( EV]YDAY LIFE & /RUGGLE8 ,LIKE ALL O!R =MS ( GOV]NM5T1 DIRECT DEMOCRACY PRES]VES & EV5 CELEBRATES POLITICS AS AN ALI5AT$ SPH]E ( LIFE2 9 FACT1 POLITICS--! MANAGEM5T ( ! POLIS--IS 9 ITS ORIG9S DIRECTLY DEMOCRATIC4 ,9 ONE ( ! ORIG9AL ALI5ATIONS1 PEOPLE >E MADE SPECTATORS TO ! DECISIONS ?AT DET]M9E H[ !Y LIVE4 

,ASSEMBLIES >E A GREAT WAY TO MAKE C]TA9 DECISIONS 9 SPECIFIC SITUATIONS1 BUT DIRECT DEMOCRACY GIVES PREC$5CE TO ! G5]AL ASSEMBLY OV] ! AFF9ITY GR\P1 OV] ! KIT*51 OV] ! /UDY CIRCLE1 OV] ! WORK%OP1 & OV] A ?\S& O!R SPACES 9 :I* WE ORGANIZE \RSELVES4 ,?IS IS AN EXACT P>ALLEL TO H[ ALL GOV]NM5TS BE/[ AN EXCLUSIVE LEGITIMACY ON :ATEV] =M ( DECISION-MAK+ !Y CONTROL )9 9/ITUTIONAL *ANNELS4 ,A GOV]NM5T RUN BY *>ISMATIC /ATESM5 WILL GIVE PREC$5CE TO A CONGRESS OR P>LIAM5T1 A GOV]NM5T RUN BY TE*NOCRATS WILL GIVE PREC$5CE TO C5TRAL BANKS & /ATE COMMISSIONS444 & A GOV]NM5T RUN BY GRASSROOTS ACTIVI/S ON !IR WAY TO PR(ESSIONALIZATION WILL GIVE PREC$5CE TO ! ASSEMBLY4 

,9 ONE ( ! G5RE-SETT+ REVOLUTIONS ( ! MOD]N ]A1 ! ,BOL%EVIKS MADE USE ( ! SOVIETS--:I* FUNCTION$ AS DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLIES & :I* CONTEMPOR>Y AN>*I/S LIKE ,VOL9E PO9T$ \T W]E RIPE = CO-OPTATION--UNTIL !Y HAD CONSOLIDAT$ !IR BUREAUCRATIC /ATE 5\< TO NO LONG] NE$ ! E>LI] /RUCTURE4 ,! COMPATIBILITY BETWE5 :AT WAS A DIRECT OR AT LEA/ A F$]AT$ DEMOCRACY & ! 0DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM0 ?AT LAT*$ ONTO ! =M] & TOOK IT OV] %\LD NOT ESCAPE US4 ,IT'S NOT ANCI5T HI/ORY1 BUT A PATT]N ?AT KEEPS REPEAT+4 

,DIRECT DEMOCRACY IS DIFF]5TIAT$ FROM O!R =MS ( GOV]NM5T ?R\< AN EMPHASIS ON ! PR9CIPLE ( 0SELF-GOV]NM5T40 ,ANTI-AU?ORIT>IANS :O ADVOCATE DIRECT DEMOCRACY MI<T AVOID ?IS T]M1 BUT 9 FACT IT IS QUITE ACCURATE4 ,DIRECT DEMOCRACY 9VOLVES PEOPLE 9 !IR [N GOV]NM5T1 :I* IS TO SAY !IR ALI5ATION FROM SOCIAL DECISION-MAK+4 ,WE CAN SEE ?IS 9 H[ PEOPLE 9 ,PLACA ,CATALUNYA 5D$ UP AB/A9+ OR GO+ ?R\< ! MOTIONS 9 ! NI<TLY ASSEMBLIES4 ,BY BE+ GIV5 AN OPPORTUNITY = SELF-GOV]NM5T1 !Y W]E BE+ RE$UCAT$1 9 A V]Y DIRECT1 ACCURATE1 & H&S-ON WAY1 AS TO EXACTLY :AT GOV]NM5T MEANS4 ,IT IS NO CO9CID5CE ?AT 9 ! AFT]MA?1 A HUGE PROPORTION ( !SE MASSES W]E ONCE AGA9 READY TO SUPPORT A POLITICAL P>TY & REPRODUCE ALL ! SAME PROBLEMS ( DISEMP[]M5T & ALI5ATION ?AT HAD BR\<T !M \T 9TO ! PLAZAS 9 ! FIR/ PLACE4 

,:5 WE AN>*I/S DIRECT \R ANG] & CRITICISM AT ! PROPON5TS ( DIRECT DEMOCRACY1 IT IS NOT BECAUSE WE >E SO DOGMATIC1 SO 9FATUAT$ ) NAVEL-GAZ+ OR ) PURIFY+ \R T9Y SPACES ( DISSID5CE ?AT WE W\LD RA!R ATTACK AN ALLY ?AN GO UP AGA9/ ! REAL BAD GUYS 9 ! BANKS1 BO>D ROOMS1 & P>LIAM5TS4 ,ON ! CONTR>Y1 IT IS BECAUSE ! MOVEM5T = DIRECT DEMOCRACY CON/ITUTES ! MO/ EFFECTIVE APP5DAGE ( ! ,/ATE )9 \R /RUGGLES = LIB]ATION4 ,AFT] ALL1 WE >E NOT VICTIMS4 ,WE LIVE 9 AN OPPRESSIVE SOCIETY BECAUSE EV]Y DAY WE HELP TO REPRODUCE ?AT OPPRESSION4 ,IT IS = ?IS REASON WE CRITICIZE4 ,JU/ AS A LIMIT$ 0SELF-MANAGEM5T0 9 ! WORKPLACE TURNS Y\ 9TO Y\R [N BOSS1 SELF-GOV]NM5T TURNS Y\ 9TO Y\R [N RUL]1 & !RE IS NO?+ SADD] ?AN BE+ ! ACTIVE AG5T 9 Y\R [N ALI5ATION4 ,9 SUM1 SELF-GOV]NM5T MEANS BE+ Y\R [N WOR/ 5EMY4 

,?AT IS :Y IT WAS LOGICAL = A MOVEM5T BAS$ 9 DIRECT DEMOCRACY TO ADVOCATE DEM&S BAS$ ON 9/ITUTIONAL RE=M & SOCIAL CONS5SUS3 ! MOVEM5T'S SI<TS W]E ALREADY FIX$ ON SEIZ+ C5TRALIZ$ P[]--! P[] ?AT /EMS FROM \R ALI5ATION & P[]LESSNESS--RA!R ?AN DE/ROY+ IT4 ,9/EAD ( PROPOS+ AN 5D TO ! RUL+ 9/ITUTIONS1 DIRECT DEMOCRACY ACTIVI/S PROPOS$ WAYS TO FIX !M4 ,RA!R ?AN SEEK+ ! ABOLITION ( HI]>*ICAL SOCIETY1 RA!R ?AN *OOS+ SIDES 9 ! ANTAGONISMS ( CLASS1 COLONIALISM1 & PATRI>*Y1 !Y S\<T SOCIAL UNITY4 ,AFT] ALL1 SOCIETY IS ! MA*9E ?AT POLITICIANS WI% TO DRIVE1 SO IT MAKES NO S5SE = W\LD-BE POLITICIANS TO TRY TO DISMANTLE IT4 

,?IS RE=MI/ B5T DIV]T$ ! MOVEM5T FROM A COLLISION C\RSE ) AU?ORITY4 ,! VALUES ( DIRECT DEMOCRACY SUPPRESS$ A MORE RADICAL CONFLICT ?AT HAD BE5 BREW+1 AS SE5 9 ! RIOTS DUR+ ,MAY ,DAY1 ! G5]AL /RIKES1 & SO ON4 ,& IT IS ?AT CONFLICT :I* S]VES AS A LABORATORY1 AS A CAULDRON = REVOLUTION4 ,BY LIMIT+ ! CONFLICT1 ! MOVEM5T = DEMOCRACY PUT A H&ICAP ON \R COLLECTIVE LE>N+ PROCESS & ROBB$ US ( ! EXP]I5CES ?AT MI<T HAVE (F]$ A GLIMPSE ( A REVOLUTION>Y HORIZON1 ONE )\T RUL]S1 )\T EXPLOITATION1 )\T DOM9ATION4 

,! RE=MI/ PROMISES ( ! W\LD-BE LEAD]S A*IEV$ SOME?+ ELSE4 ,BY R$IRECT+ ATT5TION TO ! QUE/ION ( ! BAIL-\TS1 PUBLIC FUNDS1 GOV]NM5T CORRUPTION1 & SO ON1 !Y DI/RACT$ PEOPLE FROM ! VITAL POSSIBILITY ( RESPOND+ TO AU/]ITY ON ! T]RA9 ( DAILY LIFE1 ) ! COLLECTIVE SELF-ORGANIZATION ( \R NE$S4 ,& BECAUSE NO RE=M WAS A*IEV$ ?R\< ! ASSEMBLIES1 MO/ PEOPLE EXP]I5C$ !M AS FAILURES4 ,9T]E/+ & 9SPIR+1 BUT FAILURES NONE!LESS4 ,SURELY ! PRAGMATI/S W]E RI<T 9 SAY+ ?AT SELF-ORGANIZATION ON ! SCALE ( SOCIETY IS AN IDEALI/IC UTOPIA4 

,?IS BAIT-&-SWIT* BL9D$ MANY PEOPLE TO ! ADVANCES ?AT ! ASSEMBLIES DID A*IEVE4 ,!Y CON/ITUT$ AN IMPORTANT FIR/ /EP--MEET+ ONE ANO!R1 />T+ ! GREAT SOCIAL CONV]SATION--T[>DS ! SELF-ORGANIZATION ( LIFE4 ,& !Y S]V$ AS A TOOL TO 9CREASE \R P[]1 \R ABILITY TO TAKE OV] PUBLIC SPACE & TRANS=M IT 9TO COMMUNAL SPACE4 ,9 ! /RUGGLE = \R LIVES1 ?IS IS A HUGE VICTORY4 ,BUT ! ?9K+ BEH9D DIRECT DEMOCRACY DOES NOT PROPOSE PUTT+ P[] BACK 9 \R H&S ON ANY MORE ?AN A SYMBOLIC1 =MALI/IC LEVEL1 BECAUSE = SELF-GOV]NM5T TO WORK1 P[] MU/ REMA9 C5TRALIZ$1 ALI5AT$4 

,WE CAN BLAME DEMOCRACY & ITS NAIVE PROPON5TS = SELL+ \T ?IS /ILLBORN REVOLUTION1 = FAIL+ TO REALIZE1 AFT] SO MANY SIMIL> FAILURES BE=E !M1 ?AT REVOLUTION IS NEV] PRAGMATIC OR CAUTI\S1 ?AT IT MU/ C>RI$ BEYOND \R HORIZONS 9TO ! C\NTRY ( ! UNPR$ICTABLE1 ! UNC]TA91 ! FUR!/ B\NDS ( \R IMAG9ATION1 OR IT WILL DIE4 

,BUT WE W]E NOT PASSIVE SPECTATORS TO ?IS FAILURE4 ,I ?9K ?AT ON ! :OLE1 WE--H]E ,I SIMPLY REF] TO MYSELF & ! FRI5DS ,I WAS 9 CLOSE/ CONTACT ) 9 ?OSE DAYS--QUICKLY LE>N$ H[ TO KEEP W\LD-BE POLITICIANS FROM TAK+ OV] OR C5TRALIZ+ ! NEW ASSEMBLIES4 ,OR 9 ! CASE ( ! ,PLACA ,CATALUNYA ASSEMBLY1 :I* QUICKLY BECAME TOO MASSIVE TO FUNCTION 9 AN EMP[]+ WAY1 WE LE>N$ H[ TO MAKE ITS FAIL+S EVID5T & H[ TO DRAW \T ! POT5TIAL ( O!R SPACES ( ORGANIZATION & 5C\NT]4 ,(T51 ?IS MEANT OPPOS+ ! MODEL ( ! C5TRALIZ$ ASSEMBLY BAS$ ON UNIT>Y DECISION-MAK+ ) \R [N MODEL BAS$ ON DIFF]5CE1 ON PLURALITY1 ON MULTIPLE PA?WAYS ( DECISION-MAK+1 & ON TOTAL FRE$OM ( ACTION1 MEAN+ ?AT ANYONE C\LD DO :AT !Y WANT$ )\T P]MISSION FROM AN ASSEMBLY1 AS LONG AS WE CULTIVAT$ MUTUAL RESPECT SO ?AT ! 9EVITABLE CONFLICTS BETWE5 ! DIFF]5T CURR5TS ( ACTIVITY W]E CON/RUCTIVE RA!R ?AN FATAL4 

,:AT WE DID NOT LE>N H[ TO DO1 ,I N[ SEE 9 H9DSI<T1 WAS TO LAUN* PROPOSALS ?AT A L>GE P>T ( ! ASSEMBLY C\LD GET EXCIT$ BY & P>TICIPATE 92 PROPOSALS >IS+ FROM A RADICAL ANALYSIS2 PROPOSALS = SOLUTIONS TO AU/]ITY BAS$ 9 DIRECT ACTION & ! IMM$IATE SELF-ORGANIZATION ( \R NE$S1 \TSIDE & AGA9/ ! IMPOSITIONS ( CAPITALISM4 

,AS ! A=EM5TION$ TEXT >GUES1 TRUE1 IT IS NOT \R RESPONSIBILITY AS AN>*I/S TO COME UP ) SOLUTIONS = ! RE/ ( SOCIETY1 BUT IF WE \RSELVES >E NOT CAPABLE ( FIGUR+ \T H[ TO USE HET]OG5E\S ASSEMBLIES TO ADVANCE ANTI-AU?ORIT>IAN PROJECTS BAS$ ON MUTUAL AID 9 RESPONSE TO PEOPLE'S REAL NE$S1 H[ CAN WE EXPECT ANYONE ELSE TO DO SO8 

,IT IS 9 ?IS S5SE ?AT ! ASSEMBLIES 5D$ UP BE+ USELESS4 ,NO ONE D>$ TAKE ! /EP ( US+ !M TO FULFILL \R COLLECTIVE NE$S4 ,CAPITALISM & DEMOCRATIC GOV]NM5T W]E WAIT+1 AS ALWAYS1 TO /EP 9 & (F] !IR [N SOLUTIONS4 

,?IS FAILURE C\LD BE ! SUBJECT = AN 5TIRE BOOK1 OR MORE APPROPRIATELY1 = A COLLECTIVE LE>N+ PROCESS 9VOLV+ ?\S&S ( DREAM]S & REVOLUTION>IES & SPANN+ G5]ATIONS4 ,9 CONCLUSION1 AS A SIMPLE GE/URE TO PO9T \T O!R WAYS =W>D FROM ?IS IMPASSE1 ,I WILL M5TION TWO COMPON5TS ,I F\ND LACK+3 IMAG9ATION & SKILLS4 

,IMAG9ATION4 ,! CAPACITY TO CREATE IMAG9>IES3 VISIONS ( O!R WORLDS 9 :I* \R DESIRES & PROJECTIONS CAN RESIDE1 OR EV5 ?RIVE1 AT TIMES :5 CAPITALISM P]MITS NO AUTONOM\S SPACE 9 :I* COMMUNAL RELATIONS MI<T DEVELOP4 ,IT IS NO CO9CID5CE ?AT TODAY'S REVOLUTION>Y MOVEM5TS LACK IMAG9>IES ( O!R WORLDS1 NOR ?AT A GREAT P>T ( CAPITALI/ PRODUCTION SUPPLANTS IMAG9ATION AMONG ITS CONSUM]S1 (F]+ IMAG9>IES ?AT BECOME MORE ELABORATE EV]Y DAY1 MORE VISUALLY /IMULAT+1 MORE 9T]ACTIVE1 SO ?AT PEOPLE NO LONG] HAVE TO IMAG9E ANY?+ = !MSELVES BECAUSE A ?\S& WORLDS & FANTASIES ALREADY COME PREPACKAG$4 ,ALL ! OLD FANTASIES ?AT US$ TO SET US DREAM+ HAVE N[ BE5 FIX$ 9 ,HOLLYWOOD PRODUCTIONS1 ) CONV9C+ ACTORS1 FULLY DEPICT$ T]RA9S1 & EMOTIVE S\NDTRACKS4 ,NO?+ IS LEFT = US TO RECREATE1 ONLY TO CONSUME4 

,9 ! CURR5T M>KETPLACE ( IDEAS1 IT SEEMS ?AT ! ONLY IMAG9>IES ?AT DESCRIBE \R FUTURE >E APOCALYPSES OR ! SCI5CE FICTION COLONIZATION ( \T] SPACE4 ,9CID5TALLY1 ! LATT] IS ! F9AL FRONTI] = CAPITALI/ EXPANSION1 N[ ?AT ?IS PLANET IS RAPIDLY GETT+ US$ UP1 & ! =M] IS ! ONLY ALT]NATIVE CAPITALISM IS WILL+ TO CONC$E \TSIDE ( ITS DOM9ION4 ,WE >E BE+ 5C\RAG$ TO IMAG9E \RSELVES 9 ! ONLY WORLDS ?AT CAN BE CONCEIV$ FROM )9 ! CAPITALI/ P]SPECTIVE4 

,! REVOLUTION>IES ( A HUNDR$ YE>S AGO CONT9U\SLY DREAM$ & S*EM$ ( A WORLD )\T ! ,/ATE & )\T CAPITALISM4 ,SOME ( !M MADE ! MI/AKE ( TURN+ !IR DREAMS 9TO BLUEPR9TS1 DOGMATIC GUIDEL9ES ?AT 9 PRACTICE FUNCTION$ AS Y>D/ICKS BY :I* TO MEASURE DEVIANCE4 ,BUT TODAY WE FACE A MU* GREAT] PROBLEM3 ! ABS5CE ( REVOLUTION>Y IMAG9>IES & ! NE> TOTAL ATROPHY ( ! IMAG9ATION 9 \RSELVES & 9 ! RE/ ( SOCIETY4 ,& ! IMAG9ATION IS ! MO/ REVOLUTION>Y ORGAN 9 \R BODY1 BECAUSE IT IS ! ONLY ONE CAPABLE ( CREAT+ NEW WORLDS1 ( TRAVEL+ \TSIDE CAPITALISM & /ATE AU?ORITY1 ( 5ABL+ US TO SURPASS ! LIMITS ( 9SURRECTION ?AT HAVE BECOME SO EVID5T 9 !SE LA/ YE>S4 

,TODAY1 ,I KN[ V]Y FEW PEOPLE :O CAN IMAG9E :AT AN>*Y MI<T LOOK LIKE4 ,! UNC]TA9TY IS NOT ! PROBLEM4 ,AS ,I H9T$ E>LI]1 UNC]TA9TY IS ONE ( ! FUNDAM5TALS ( *AOTIC ORGANIZATION1 & IT IS ONLY ! AU?ORIT>IAN NEUROSIS ( /ATES ?AT OBLIGES US TO IMPOSE C]TA9TY ON AN EV] %IFT+ REALITY4 ,! PROBLEM IS ?AT ?IS LACK ( IMAG9ATION CON/ITUTES AN ABS5CE FROM ! WORLD4 ,A VITAL P>T ( \RSELVES IS NO LONG] !RE1 AS IT US$ TO BE1 ON ! CUSP ( ! HORIZON1 ON ! ?RE%OLD BETWE5 D>K & LI<T1 DISC]N+1 MODULAT+1 & GREET+ EA* NEW *>ACT] ?AT COMES 9TO \R LIVES4 ,! WORLD ( DOM9ATION NO LONG] HAS TO CONT5D ) \R ,WORLDS ,TURN$ ,UPSIDE ,D[N1 ! V>I\S =MS ( HEAV5 & REW>D PROMIS$ BY ! AU?ORITIES NO LONG] HAVE TO BE> ! RIDICULE ( \R ,BIG ,ROCK ,C&Y ,M\NTA9S1 & ! GREAT %AD[S CA/ BY ! /RUCTURES ( CONTROL NO LONG] CONTA9 A ?\S& POSSIBILITIES ( ALL ! ?+S WE C\LD BUILD UPON !IR RU9S2 N[ !Y >E ONLY %AD[S1 EMPTY & OBSCURE4 

,\R PROSPECTS1 H[EV]1 >E NOT IRREM$IABLY BLEAK4 ,IMAG9ATION CAN ALWAYS BE R5EW$ & RE9VIGORAT$1 ?\< WE MU/ EMPHASIZE ! RADICAL IMPORTANCE ( ?IS WORK IF PEOPLE >E ONCE MORE TO CREATE1 %>E1 & DISCUSS NEW POSSIBLE WORLDS OR PR(\ND TRANS=MATIONS ( ?IS ONE4 ,I W\LD >GUE ?AT ?IS TASK IS EV5 MORE IMPORTANT ?AN C\NT]-9=MATION4 ,SOMEONE :O DESIRES REVOLUTION CAN ALWAYS $UCATE H]SELF1 BUT SOMEONE :O CANNOT EV5 CONCEIVE A TRANS=MATION WILL BE IMP]VI\S TO ! BE/-DOCUM5T$ >GUM5TS4 

,SKILLS4 ,COMPLEM5T>Y TO \R LACK ( IMAG9ATION IS A LACK ( SKILLS1 ?\< NOT SO COMPLETE AS ! =M]4 ,S9CE ,WORLD ,W> ,I,I1 DESKILL+ HAS BE5 AN ESS5TIAL FEATURE ( CAPITALISM4 ,! SKILLS WE NE$ TO SURVIVE 9 ! CAPITALI/ M>KETPLACE >E COMPLETELY R$UNDANT1 UTT]LY USELESS = SURVIVAL 9 ANY O!R MODE4 ,)\T ! SKILLS TO BUILD1 TO HEAL1 TO FIX1 TO TRANS=M1 TO FE$1 MUTUAL AID & SELF-ORGANIZATION CANNOT BE ANY?+ MORE ?AN SUP]FICIAL1 HOLL[ SLOGANS4 ,:AT >E WE ORGANIZ+8 ,JU/ ANO!R MEET+1 ANO!R PROTE/8 ,:AT SORT ( AID >E WE MUTUALIZ+8 ,%>+ \R MIS]Y1 %>+ ! G>BAGE ?AT CAPITALISM HASN'T YET FIGUR$ \T H[ TO COMM]CIALIZE8 

,=TUNATELY1 SOME PEOPLE /ILL KN[ H[ TO HEAL1 H[ TO T5D1 H[ TO FE$1 H[ TO BUILD1 & MORE PEOPLE >E />T+ TO LE>N4 ,YET ON ! :OLE1 !SE >E NOT TREAT$ AS REVOLUTION>Y ACTIVITIES1 NOR >E !Y DEPLOY$ 9 A REVOLUTION>Y WAY4 ,ANYONE CAN LE>N NATURAL !RAPIES OR G>D5+ & TURN IT 9TO A BUS9ESS1 & CAPITALISM WILL HAPPILY OBLIGE SU* A LIMIT$ RESKILL+--AS LONG AS !RE >E 5\< WEAL?Y CONSUM]S TO S]VE AS PATRONS4 

,IT IS ONLY :5 !SE SKILLS >E PUT AT ! S]VICE ( A REVOLUTION>Y IMAG9ATION & A COLLECTIVE ANTAGONISM T[>DS ! DOM9ANT 9/ITUTIONS ?AT ! POSSIBILITY ( CREAT+ A NEW WORLD >ISES4 ,SIMULTANE\SLY1 WE MU/ LET \R IMAG9>IES *ANGE & GR[ AS !Y COME 9 CONTACT ) \R CON/RUCTIVE SKILLS & ! ANTAGONISM WE CULTIVATE4 ,& ! PRACTICES ( NEGATION1 SABOTAGE1 & COLLECTIVE SELF-DEF5SE ?AT HAVE BE5 LE>N$ 9 ?AT SPACE ( ANTAGONISM MU/ BE PUT AT ! S]VICE ( \R CON/RUCTIVE PROJECTS & \R IMAG9>IES1 RA!R ?AN MASQU]AD+ AS ! FRONTL9E OR ! ONLY S]I\S ELEM5T ( /RUGGLE4 

,! REG5]ATION ( DEMOCRACY1 H]E & ELSE:]E1 HAS GIV5 A NEW LEASE ON LIFE TO ! /RUCTURES ( DOM9ATION ?AT SO MANY PEOPLE W]E LOS+ FAI? 94 ,GRIM FUTURES LOOM1 & IF ANY?+ WE >E ONLY GETT+ FUR!R AWAY FROM ANY POSSIBILITY ( REVOLUTION4 ,BUT ! *AOTIC REALITY ( ! UNIV]SE (F]S US A PROMISE3 NO?+ IS PR$ICTABLE1 NO FUTURE IS WRITT51 & ! MO/ RIGID /RUCTURES >E BROK51 RIDICUL$1 & =GOTT5 9 ! WILD1 RU%+ RIV] ( TIME4 

,SEEM+LY IMP]VI\S ORD]S CRUMBLE & NEW =MS ( LIFE EM]GE4 ,WE HAVE EV]Y REASON TO LE>N FROM \R MI/AKES1 R5EW \R CONVICTION 9 ! !ORIES ?AT EV5TS HAVE CONFIRM$1 & ONCE AGA9 (F] AN 9VITATION TO ANY :O W\LD P>TAKE 9 ?IS DREAM]'S QUE/ = TOTAL FRE$OM4 ,! EASY SOLUTIONS & FALSE PROMISES (F]$ BY ! SELF-/YL$ PRAGMATI/S--SOME ( !M S9C]E1 O!RS HUNG]+ = P[]-- WILL ONLY LEAD US 9TO A DEFEAT ?AT WE HAVE SUFF]$ TOO MANY TIMES BE=E4 ,PEOPLE WILL LE>N TO RECOGNIZE ?IS1 IF WE DON'T LET ! MEMORY FADE4 

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