,SPANI% ,REVOLUTION AT A ,CROSSROADS 
,! ,L9ES ( ,CONFLICT 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,PET] ,GELD]LOOS 

,TEXT 3 

,B>CELONA4 

,IT />T$ ) A PROTE/ ANN\NC$ VIA ,TWITT]1 ,FACEBOOK1 & V>I\S LI/S]VES1 S*$UL$ = ,MAY #a#e1 A WEEK BE=E ! C\NTRYWIDE ELECTIONS4 ,DEMOCRACIA ,REAL ,YA1 0,REAL ,DEMOCRACY ,N[10 WAS ! NAME ( ! PLAT=M & ITS C5TRAL DEM&4 ,! PROTE/ TOOK PLACE SIMULTANE\SLY 9 DOZ5S ( CITIES ?R\<\T ,SPA94 ,9 ,MADRID !RE WAS A MASSIVE TURN\T2 EV]Y:]E ELSE IT PASS$ )\T 9CID5T1 EASILY LO/ AMID A S]IES ( O!R PROTE/S ?AT HAVE BE5 OCCURR+ ) 9CREAS+ FREQU5CY 9 RESPONSE TO ! ,LABOR ,RE=M1 SOCIAL CUTS1 & HOME REPOSSESSIONS4 

,BUT ! NI<T ( ,MAY #ae & ! FOLL[+ DAY1 ! PROTE/S TRANS=M$ 9TO OCCUPATIONS ( C5TRAL PLAZAS 9 EV]Y CITY :]E PEOPLE HAD TAK5 TO ! /REETS UND] ! SLOGAN1 0REAL DEMOCRACY N[40 ,! C5TRAL PR9CIPLES ( ! ,REAL ,DEMOCRACY ,N[ PLAT=M1 ADOPT$ TO A GREAT] OR LESS] DEGREE 9 O!R CITIES \TSIDE ( ,MADRID1 W]E UNITY AMONG PEOPLE 9DIGNANT AT ! PRES5T SITUATION1 ASSEMBLY DECISION-MAK+1 NO POLITICAL P>TIES1 NO IDEOLOGIES1 & NONVIOL5CE4 ,! OCCUPATION MOVEM5T EXPLICITLY EVOK$ ! REVOLTS 9 ! ,>AB WORLD4 ,) BLOGS & CELLPHONES !Y MIMICK$ ! HI<-TE* COMPON5T ?AT ,WE/]N M$IA ID5TIFI$ 7& EXAGG]AT$7 9 ! POPUL> MOVEM5TS 9 ,TUNISIA & ,EGYPT4 ,BUT !IR GA9S ON ! GR\ND W]E QUICK] & MO/ SUB/ANTIAL ?AN !IR EXT5SION ?R\< CYB]SPACE4 ,)9 A WEEK1 !RE W]E P]MAN5T 5CAMPM5TS 9 A HUNDR$ CITIES ?R\<\T ! ,IB]IAN P59SULA1 AS WELL AS NUM]\S SUPPORT ACTIONS4 ,9 ,CATALUNYA ALONE1 #aba P]MAN5T OR TEMPOR>Y OCCUPATIONS & O!R GA!R+S W]E REPORT$ BE=E ! ELECTIONS ( ,MAY #b#b4 

,E>LY ON1 POLICE 9 ,MADRID TRI$ TO EVICT ! OCCUPATION AT ,PU]TA DEL ,SOL1 BEAT+1 >RE/+1 & H>RAS+ DOZ5S ( PEOPLE4 ,BUT ! CR[DS ONLY CAME BACK L>G]4 ,AFT] ?AT1 ! AU?ORITIES DECID$ TO ADOPT A CAUTI\S /ANCE ON A NATIONAL SCALE1 & 9 A F9E BIT ( POLITICAL F>CE1 ! ,CON/ITUTIONAL ,TRIBUNAL1 ! ,SPANI% SUPREME C\RT1 ANN\NC$ ?AT A C>EFUL /UDY ( ! LAW L$ !M TO BELIEVE ! OCCUPATIONS C\LD BE ALL[$ TO CONT9UE ?R\< ELECTION WEEK5D1 EV5 ?\< HOLD+ ANY POLITICAL PROTE/ OR GA!R+ ON ,ELECTION ,SUNDAY OR ! PRIOR ,SATURDAY1 ! 0,DAY ( ,REFLECTION10 IS A BLATANT VIOLATION ( ! ,SPANI% ,CON/ITUTION4 ,9 REALITY1 ! ,CON/ITUTIONAL ,TRIBUNAL W]E M]ELY EXPRESS+ A PRAGMATIC AV]SION TO PROVOK+ A PRE-ELECTION SURPRISE4 

,! ELECTIONS CAME & W5T1 ! RI<TW+ ,POPULI/ ,P>TY PICK$ UP SEV]AL /RON<OLDS ( ! GOV]N+ C5T]-LEFT ,SOCIALI/ ,WORK]S' ,P>TY1 BUT ON ! :OLE ! TWO MA9 P>TIES LO/ A HUGE *UNK ( ! VOTE1 :ILE EXTREME RI<T FASCI/ & ANTI-IMMIGRANT P>TIES1 OR F> LEFT & ,CATALAN OR ,BASQUE 9DEP5D5CE P>TIES GA9$ GR\ND4 ,MO/ SIGNIFICANTLY1 AB/5TION LOOM$ AT BETWE5 ONE-?IRD & ONE-HALF ( ! ELECTORATE1 :ILE BLANK & NULL VOTES D\BL$ OR TRIPL$ 9 MO/ DI/RICTS4 

,! ELECTIONS 5D$1 BUT ! 5CAMPM5TS DIDN'T4 

,S9CE LA/ YE>'S G5]AL /RIKE ON ,SEPTEMB] #b#i1 :I* 9 ,B>CELONA TURN$ 9TO A V]ITABLE--IF ONLY DAY-LONG--9SURRECTION1 ,SPA9 HAS BE5 ALI<T ) PROTE/S1 OCCUPATIONS1 PICKETS1 & ACTS ( DISOB$I5CE OR SABOTAGE4 ,MEAN:ILE1 ! SY/EM HAS LO/ ITS ABILITY TO CON/RA9 RESI/ANCE US+ ! USUAL *ANNELS1 S9CE ! TWO MAJOR LABOR UNIONS 7,C,C,O,O & ,U,G,T7 HAVE SIGN$ ONTO ! ,LABOR ,RE=M1 A TYPICAL NEOLIB]AL AU/]ITY PACKAGE ?AT CUTS $UCATION & HEAL? S]VICES1 FIRES PUBLIC SECTOR WORK]S1 & PU%ES BACK ! RETIREM5T AGE4 ,9CREAS+LY1 PEOPLE HAVE BE5 COLLECTIVIZ+ !IR RAGE & TAK+ ACTION 9 A V>IETY ( WAYS ?AT RANGE FROM ! SPECTACUL> TO ! ANONYM\S1 CON/ITUT+ A RESI/ANCE ?AT ON ! :OLE HAS BE5 IMPOSSIBLE TO P9PO9T4 

,UNTIL N[4 ,! ,REAL ,DEMOCRACY ,N[ OCCUPATIONS HAVE BECOME ! VESSEL TO *ANNEL ALL ?IS RESI/ANCE & \TRAGE4 ,BUT AS ! C5TRAL OCCUPATIONS /EADILY DISSIPATE ) ! PASS+ ( TIME1 9T]NAL DEBATES >E RAG+ ?AT HAVE NOT BE5 REFLECT$ ON ! \TSIDE1 NEI!R 9 ! P$ANTIC J\RNALISM ) :I* ! M$IA HOPE TO SUBTLY PATRONIZE ! MOVEM5T & DISCIPL9E IT T[>DS GREAT] PRAGMATISM1 NOR 9 ! TRIUMPHANT & POPULI/ MANIFE/OS BROADCA/ ?R\<\T CYB]SPACE4 ,!SE DEBATES M>K A /RATEGIC WAT]%$ ?AT MAY DET]M9E :E!R ! /RUCTURES ( PROTE/ WE CREATE WILL BE US$ AGA9/ US1 AS HAS HAPP5$ SO (T5 9 ! PA/1 OR :E!R ON A G5]AL SCALE WE CAN F9ALLY ID5TIFY & ATTACK ! SOCIAL /RUCTURES RESPONSIBLE = ! >RAY ( PRIVATIONS WE'VE SUFF]$ = AS LONG AS WE CAN REMEMB]4 

,A SKEPTICAL VIEW ( ! OCCUPATIONS CAN HELP US SEE :AT IS VALUABLE 9 !M1 & :AT IS SELF-DEFEAT+4 ,TO ANYONE :O WAS ALREADY PAY+ ATT5TION TO RESI/ANCE AT ! GRASSROOTS 9 ,SPA9 BE=E ,MAY #a#e1 IT IS UND5IABLE ?AT ?\S&S ( PEOPLE W]E ALREADY TAK+ ACTION1 (T5 AT ! NEI<BORHOOD LEVEL OR 9 ! WORKPLACE1 9 RESPONSE TO ! ECONOMIC & SOCIAL W> BE+ WAG$ AGA9/ !M4 ,NOR IS ! APPROA*+ 5D ( ! OCCUPATION MOVEM5T AN 5D TO ?IS WEB ( /RUGGLE4 ,9 ,B>CELONA1 MANY PREEXI/+ NEI<BORHOOD ASSEMBLIES HAVE />T$ WEEKLY MEET+S & PROTE/S 9 !IR LOCAL PLAZAS1 :ILE SEV]AL NEI<BORHOODS ?AT DID NOT PREVI\SLY HAVE AN ASSEMBLY >E N[ =M+ !M4 ,9 O!R CITIES1 /RUGGLES AGA9/ MORTGAGE EVICTIONS OR ECOLOGICALLY DEVA/AT+ DEVELOPM5T PROJECTS >E CONT9U+ ) R5EW$ VIGOR & VISIBILITY4 

,:AT WAS USEFUL AB\T ! OCCUPATIONS WAS ?AT !Y PROVID$ A SPACE = PEOPLE TO MEET1 = OLDTIM]S TO HE> NEW VOICES & = NEWCOM]S TO F9D ACCOMPLICES2 !Y REVEAL$ A COLLECTIVE /R5G?2 & !Y CREAT$ A RUPTURE ) ! QUOTIDIAN REALITY ?AT HAS US CONV9C$ ( ! ILLUSION ( SOCIAL PEACE TRANSMITT$ DAILY BY ! M$IA4 ,ONLY 9 SU* A RUPTURE CAN PEOPLE BEG9 TO REALIZE ?AT ! CURR5T SY/EM IS NEI!R 9EVITABLE NOR ACCID5TAL BUT A DELIB]ATE %AM ?AT WE CAN & MU/ DISMANTLE4 ,ONLY 9 SU* A GA!R+ CAN PEOPLE SEE ?AT SOCIETY IS MORE ?AN ! CUBICLE1 ! *ECK\T L9E1 ! METRO1 ?AT WE HAVE ! P[] TO MAKE SOME?+ NEW4 ,& 9 ! OCCUPATIONS1 \R CAPACITY = SPONTANE\S SELF-ORGANIZATION WAS REVEAL$4 ,NO MATT] H[ BIG ! CR[DS GREW1 9 EV]Y CITY PEOPLE W]E ABLE TO MEET ALL ! LOGI/ICAL NE$S ?AT >OSE1 EI!R 9=MALLY OR ?R\< ! (FICIAL /RUCTURES ( G5]AL ASSEMBLIES & COMMISSIONS4 

,BUT ! OCCUPATIONS ALSO DISPLAY$ A NUMB] ( OBVI\S /RUCTURAL WEAKNESSES4 ,IRONICALLY1 :ILE DEM&+ 0REAL DEMOCRACY N[10 ! PROTE/]S RECREAT$ A NEW DEMOCRACY1 JU/ LIKE ! OLD DEMOCRACY1 MU* SOON] ?AN !Y HAD ANTICIPAT$4 ,EV]Y:]E ?AT ! OCCUPATIONS GREW TO 9CLUDE MORE ?AN A ?\S& PEOPLE1 ! C5TRAL ASSEMBLIES ?AT W]E US$ AS A SUPREME ORGANIZATIONAL BODY BECAME TOTALLY 9OP]ATIVE4 ,EV5 ! MO/ EXP]I5C$ MOD]ATORS TO COME \T ( ! ,EUROPEAN ANTIGLOBALIZATION MOVEM5T HAD TO ADMIT ?AT 9 ! ASSEMBLIES1 REAL DEBATE & MEAN+FUL CONS5SUS WAS IMPOSSIBLE4 ,NONE!LESS1 !Y CONT9U$ TO TRY TO ADDRESS ! SITUATION ) MORE & BETT] MOD]ATION4 

,A SYMPHONY ( CRITIQUES & COMPLA9TS >OSE FROM ,B>CELONA1 ,MADRID1 ,VAL5CIA1 ,SEVILLA1 & ELSE:]E3 ASSEMBLIES W]E BE+ MANIPULAT$ BY LEFTW+ POLITICIANS OR ,TROTSKYI/S2 ! REAL DECISION-MAK+ WAS DONE 9 ! COMMISSIONS & ! ASSEMBLY JU/ RUBB]-/AMP$ EV]Y PROPOSAL PASS$ BY IT2 ! C5TRALIZ$ NATURE ( ! ASSEMBLIES =C$ MO/ PEOPLE TO BE SPECTATORS & MADE P>ICIPATION IMPOSSIBLE1 ESPECIALLY = ?OSE :O C\LDN'T SP5D FIVE TO SIX H\RS A NI<T 9 A COMMISSION & !N 9 ! ASSEMBLY2 ! C5TRAL PR9CIPLES ( ! ,REAL ,DEMOCRACY PLAT=M1 SU* AS NONVIOL5CE1 W]E IMPOS$1 SOMETIMES BY =CE1 & %IELD$ FROM DEBATE2 M9ORITIES W]E SIL5C$2 PEOPLE 9 C]TA9 COMMITTEES W]E ACCUS$ ( CORRUPTION2 ! ABILITY TO MAKE POPULI/ SPEE*ES & SWAY ! MASSES \TWEI<$ REAL DEBATE2 PEOPLE ) CRITICAL VIEWS OR IDEAS FALL+ \TSIDE ! DOM9ANT PROGRESSIVE-DEMOCRATIC IDEOLOGY W]E EXCLUD$1 SIL5C$1 OR EV5 EJECT$1 :ILE 9 SOME CITIES FASCI/S W]E ALL[$ TO P>TICIPATE 9 ! NAME ( UNITY4 

,9 ,B>CELONA1 A PROPOSAL TO DEC5TRALIZE ! G5]AL ASSEMBLY DEMON/RAT$ ! ABSURDITY ( ! *OS5 /RUCTURE4 ,! PROPOSAL W\LD HAVE CONV]T$ ! COMMISSIONS 9TO AUTONOM\S WORK+ GR\PS1 & ! C5TRALIZ$ ASSEMBLY 9TO AN 05CU5TRO0 :]E PEOPLE C\LD %>E IDEAS1 RES\RCES1 & PROPOSALS1 BUT )\T HAV+ TO GET ! APPROVAL ( A MAJORITY 9 ORD] TO PUT AN 9ITIATIVE 9TO PRACTICE4 ,:]E DIFF]+ 9ITIATIVES CONFLICT$1 ! WORK+ GR\PS 9VOLV$ W\LD COORD9ATE & FIGURE ?+S \T ON !IR [N4 ,9 REALITY1 ! ,B>CELONA OCCUPATION ALREADY WORK$ P>TIALLY 9 ?IS WAY1 & ! (FICIAL ORGANIZATIONAL /RUCTURE WAS JU/ A ?9 V5E] ( LEGITIMACY IMPOS$ ATOP A FAIRLY *AOTIC & IMPRESSIVELY CREATIVE & V]SATILE ORGANIZ+ NETWORK4 

,! PROPOSAL WAS EXPLA9$ SEV]AL TIMES TO ! G5]AL ASSEMBLY1 & VOT$ ON TWO CONSECUTIVE NI<TS4 ,BO? TIMES1 NE>LY EV]YBODY PRES5T 7P]HAPS T5 ?\S& PEOPLE7 VOT$ 9 FAVOR ( ! PROPOSAL4 ,& BO? TIMES1 ! PROPOSAL WAS DEFEAT$4 ,! FIR/ TIME1 ! VOTE WAS REVOK$ ON A TE*NICALITY1 ?AT MAY HAVE BE5 ! FAULT ( AN EXHAU/$ MOD]ATOR4 ,! SECOND TIME1 AB\T ?IRTY PEOPLE1 \T ( ?\S&S1 VOT$ = 0MORE DEBATE40 ,IT HAD ALREADY BE5 FIRMLY E/ABLI%$ ?AT DEBATE WAS IMPOSSIBLE 9 ! MASS ASSEMBLY1 SO ! PROPOSAL WAS S5T BACK TO ! COMMISSION4 ,BUT PEOPLE 9 ! COMMISSION HAD ALREADY REA*$ AN ABSOLUTE CONS5SUS ON ! PROPOSAL AFT] DAYS ( DEBATE4 ,9 O!R WORDS1 ! PROPOSAL TO DEC5TRALIZE ! ASSEMBLY WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO REALIZE BECAUSE ! ASSEMBLY WAS 9OP]ATIVE1 = ! V]Y REASONS ( OV]-MASSIFICATION ?AT MOTIVAT$ ! PROPOSAL 9 ! FIR/ PLACE4 

,9 A %ORT P]IOD ( TIME1 ! EXP]IM5T 9 DIRECT DEMOCRACY FAC$ AN UPW>D LIMIT4 ,9 ! EXHAU/+ CONTEXT ( ! CUMB]SOME G5]AL ASSEMBLIES1 ONE C\LD BEG9 TO APPRECIATE DELEGATION OR REPRES5TATION 7! BANE ( DIRECT DEMOCRACY7 AS A B5IGN 9NOVATION DESIGN$ SIMPLY TO MAKE ! PROCESS WORKABLE4 ,& AS ! MAJORITY ( PEOPLE REALIZ$ !Y W]E JU/ SPECTATORS1 NO DIFF]5T ?AN 9 ! EXI/+ DEMOCRACIES1 & P>TICIPATION 9 ! MEET+S BEGAN TO DW9DLE1 ORGANIZ]S MI<T HAVE COME TO APPRECIATE DEMOCRACY'S CO]CIVE ASPECT3 ! SOCIAL CONTRACT IS NONVOLUNT>Y1 & CITIZ5S CAN'T SIMPLY WALK AWAY4 

,IF WE >E NOT AFRAID TO TAKE ! ,SPANI% ,REVOLUTION AS A HI/ORICAL EXAMPLE1 WE F9D ALL ! HYPO!SES ( DIRECT DEMOCRACY CONTRADICT$ & DISCR$IT$4 ,! EXCLUSION1 MANIPULATION1 & ELITISM ?AT PEOPLE HAVE GOTT5 SICK ( >E NOT A RESULT ( T]M LIMITS1 CAMPAIGN F9ANC+1 LACK ( ?IRD P>TIES1 OR CORRUPTION1 ANY MORE ?AN ! ECONOMIC CRISIS WAS A RESULT ( UNE?ICAL DECISIONS OR LACK ( OV]SI<T 7SEE 3 ,JO%UA ,CLOV]'S 0,BU/$3 ,/ORIES ( ! ,F9ANCIAL ,CRISIS074 ,RA!R1 !SE PROBLEMS /EM FROM ! HI<E/ IDEALS ( DEMOCRACY ITSELF1 :I* HAVE NEV] BE5 REALIZ$ 9 ANY GOV]NM5T ?AT HAS YET EXI/$1 BUT >E BE+ PUT 9TO PRACTICE 9 ! PLAZAS ( ,SPA94 

,IT IS ! P>ANOIA ROOT$ 9 ! IMPULSE T[>DS C5TRALIZATION--! IDEA ?AT ONE DECISION-MAK+ /RUCTURE %\LD BE LEGITIMIZ$ AT ! CO/ ( ALL O!RS1 ?AT SOCIAL CONFLICT %\LD BE AVOID$1 ?AT ALL DECISIONS NE$ TO BE APPROV$ BY A HI<] P[]1 ?AT PEOPLE CANNOT BE TRU/$ TO ORGANIZE !MSELVES 9 DEC5TRALIZ$ NETWORKS--?AT DEM&S A CONC5TRATION ( P[] & ! CONCOMITANT EXCLUSION1 ELITISM1 & REPRESSION4 ,! SCI5TIFIC BASIS = ! IDEA ( C5TRALIZATION HAS ALREADY BE5 UND]M9$1 9 COMPLEXITY !ORY1 ECONOMICS1 COMPUT] SCI5CE1 ! UND]/&+ ( COLLECTIVE 9TELLIG5CE & EM]G5T BEHAVIORS1 & EV5 9 MILIT>Y /RATEGY4 ,BUT ! ,HOBBESIAN MY? ( A NE$ = A S+UL>1 C5TRALIZ$ P[] TO KEEP EV]Y?+ FROM FALL+ AP>T REMA9S NECESS>Y AS LONG AS ?AT C5TRAL P[] CONT9UES TO EXI/1 & ?ANKS TO ITS CONTROL OV] $UCATION & M$IA1 EV5 ?OSE :O CLAIM TO OPPOSE IT WILL BE 9DOCTR9AT$ 9 ! VALUES ?AT CON/ANTLY REG5]ATE IT4 

,AS SU*1 ! SELF-PROCLAIM$ ,MAY #a#e? MOVEM5T & ! ,REAL ,DEMOCRACY ,N[ PLAT=M CON/ITUTE A TWO-PRONG$ NEUTRALIZATION1 AT ! !ORETICAL & TACTICAL LEVELS1 ( ANY POPUL> REVOLUTION ?AT TRULY SEEKS TO CONFRONT ! PROBLEMS ?AT EV]YONE 9 ,SPA9 IS FAC+4 

,ON ! !ORETICAL LEVEL1 ! >*ITECTS ( ! ,SPANI% ,REVOLUTION >E SUB/ITUT+ A /ULTIFY+ DOSE ( POPULISM = ! 9CREAS+LY RADICAL ANALYZES ?AT W]E BE+ COLLECTIVELY DEVELOP$ ACROSS ! C\NTRY 9 ! MON?S FROM ! ,SEPTEMB] G5]AL /RIKE TO ,MAY ,DAY4 ,ON ! TACTICAL LEVEL1 !Y >E 5=C+ AN EXTREME PACIFISM1 :I* MAKES !IR REF]5CES TO ! ,TAHRIR ,SQU>E & ,ICEL& VICTORIES1 BO? BAS$ >\ND VIOL5T UPRIS+S1 APPE> RA!R DEMAGOGIC4 

,:]E ANTICAPITALI/ ANALYZES & CRITIQUES ( ,/ATE P[] W]E GA9+ VISIBILITY ?R\<\T ,SPA91 ! MEMB]S ( ,REAL ,DEMOCRACY ,N[ TALK MO/LY AB\T REPLAC+ ! POLITICIANS CURR5TLY 9 P[]1 MODIFY+ ! ELECTORAL LAWS 9 A WAY ?AT W\LD FAVOR SMALL] P>TIES1 & LEGISLATE PRACTICES ( E?ICAL BANK+4 ,POLITICIANS HAVE ALREADY BE5 REPLAC$ C\NTLESS TIMES--?AT'S ! *>M ( DEMOCRACY--& MANY C\NTRIES ALREADY HAVE IMPORTANT ?IRD & F\R? & FIF? P>TIES1 & NO?+ HAS *ANG$4 ,! POPULI/1 0ANTI-IDEOLOGICAL0 *>ACT] ( MANY ( ! OCCUPATIONS HAS SIL5C$ MANY A DEBATE1 & 9 SOME CASES EV5 RESULT$ 9 PEOPLE ) A MORE RADICAL ANALYSIS BE+ PRESSUR$ TO LEAVE4 ,9 MULTIPLE CITIES1 BANN]S DEEM$ 9APPROPRIATE 7= CRITICIZ+ ! POLICE1 OPPOS+ ! ,/ATE 9 ITS 5TIRETY1 OR CALL+ = ACTIVE ELECTION BOYCOTTS7 W]E TAK5 D[N BY SELF-APPO9T$ ORGANIZ]S4 

,F> FROM REVEAL+1 LET ALONE ATTACK+1 ! ROOTS ( ! PROBLEM1 ! ,REAL ,DEMOCRACY ,N[ MOVEM5T CONGEALS A WIDESPREAD & CRITICAL RESI/ANCE 9TO A UNIVOCAL PO/URE ( OPPOSITION DEVOID ( CONT5T4 ,9 OCCUPATIONS :]E ! ,REAL ,DEMOCRACY ,N[ PLAT=M HAS BE5 ! DOM9ANT IDEOLOGICAL =CE1 SU* AS 9 ,SEVILLA1 ! CRITICAL DISC\RSES PRODUC$ 9 ! ASSEMBLY HAVE BE5 CONF9$ TO SLOGANE]+4 ,! FOCUS ON CORRUPTION RA!R ?AN GOV]N+ /RUCTURES OR SOCIAL RELATIONS LOCATES ! PROBLEM 9 ! UNE?ICAL *OICES ( POLITICIANS & BANK]S1 RA!R ?AN 9 ! V]Y EXI/5CE ( A SY/EM 9 :I* P[] IS MANAG$ BY POLITICIANS & BANK]S4 ,?IS IS A POPULI/ LEAD]'S WET DREAM4 ,ANY *>ISMATIC SW9DL] PROMIS+ AN E?ICAL *ANGE CAN TURN ?IS H>D WON MOM5TUM 9TO VOTES4 ,DEMOCRACY HAS ACCOMPLI%$ ! SAME BAIT & SWIT* SO MANY TIMES 9 ! PA/4 

,ON A TACTICAL LEVEL1 ! PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVI/S HAVE SANITIZ$ ! MOVEM5T BY IMPOS+ AN EXTREME PACIFISM1 (T5 VIOL5TLY4 ,9 A CULTURAL CONTEXT :]E ! CONCEPT ( NONVIOL5CE /ILL HAS ROOM = SELF-DEF5SE1 BLOCKADES1 OR ! SABOTAGE ( 9ANIMATE PROP]TY1 A GOOD SPEAK] CAN EASILY W9 MAJORITY SUPPORT = A 0NONVIOL5T OCCUPATION40 ,SUBSEQU5TLY1 ! IDEOLOGUES ( PACIFISM HAVE V]BALLY OR EV5 PHYSICALLY ATTACK$ PEOPLE ATTEMPT+ TO BLOCK /REETS1 HAVE 9SI/$ ?AT ! OCCUPATION REMA9 )9 ! CONF9ES ( ! PLAZA1 HAVE APPLAUD$ POLICE >RE/+ ?IEVES OR FOOTBALL FANS1 & HAVE SIL5C$ PEOPLE 9SULT+ OR YELL+ AT ! POLICE4 ,DUR+ POLICE ACTIONS1 AS :5 COPS 0CLEAN$ UP0 ,PLACA ,CATALUNYA 9 ,B>CELONA ON ,MAY #b#g1 TAK+ AWAY ALL ! T5TS1 COMPUT]S1 TABLES1 KIT*51 & O!R 9FRA/RUCTURE1 & BEAT+ ALL ?OSE :O /OOD 9 !IR WAY1 ! PACIFI/S 9SI/$ ?AT EV]YONE SIT D[N & RAISE !IR H&S1 PHYSICALLY =C+ MANY PEOPLE TO DO SO1 & CALL+ SOME PEOPLE :O REFUS$ 09FILTRATORS40 ,:5 ! CR[DS F9ALLY SURG$ =W>D & PU%$ \T ! POLICE1 ! PACIFI/S 9ITIALLY =M$ HUMAN *A9S TRY+ TO PROTECT !M4 ,! CR[DS HAD TO PHYSICALLY PU% ?R\< ! PACIFI/ CORDON 9 ORD] TO EJECT ! POLICE FROM ! PLAZA4 ,ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS PACIFI/S HAVE ACCUS$ ! CRITICS ( NONVIOL5CE ( BE+ POLICE PROVOCATEURS1 :ILE AT O!R TIMES !Y HAVE GLORIFI$ ! POLICE OR CLAIM$ !Y W]E FELL[ WORK]S ONLY DO+ !IR JOBS4 

,BY NEV] QUE/ION+ J\RNALI/S' MANIPULATION ( ! T]M 0VIOL5CE10 :I* IS APPLI$ TO PROTE/]S = ! SLI<TE/ 9FRACTION BUT R>ELY TO POLICE & NEV] TO BANK]S OR GOV]NM5TS1 !SE DOGMATIC PACIFI/S HAVE TURN$ !MSELVES 9TO AUXILI>IES = ! MASS M$IA & ! ECONOMIC 9T]E/S !Y REPRES5T4 ,BY BAS+ !IR /RATEGY ON A HYP]S5SITIVITY T[>DS !IR PUBLIC 0IMAGE10 !Y MAKE !MSELVES PAT5TLY EASY TO MANIPULATE BY ?OSE SAME M$IA 9/ITUTIONS :I* JU/ A G5]ATION AGO W]E POPUL>LY CONSID]$ TO BE ! 5EMY4 ,BUT ! CONCEPT ( 5EMIES IS ANTI!TICAL TO TODAY'S FEEL-GOOD NONVIOL5CE1 SO !SE NA8VE ACTIVI/S CONT9UE TO SEEK COMMON GR\ND ) ! >*ITECTS ( PUBLIC OP9ION1 & AS USUAL1 IT'S ?OSE ) ! RES\RCES :O CALL ! %OTS4 

,9 SUM1 ! ,SPANI% ,REVOLUTION IS GA9+ GR\ND PRECISELY :]E IT EXCE$S ! PR9CIPAL LIMITATIONS E/ABLI%$ BY ! ,REAL ,DEMOCRACY ,N[ PLAT=M4 ,9 ! CITIES :]E ! 5CAMPM5TS SIGN$ ON TO ! PLAT=M FROM ! />T1 P>TICIPATION HAS DROPP$ (F %>PLY1 & ! HOMOG5IZ$ DISC\RSES R>ELY EXCE$ ! LEVEL ( SLOGANS4 ,MEAN:ILE1 9 CITIES LIKE ,B>CELONA1 :]E ! PLAT=M WAS REJECT$ & ! OCCUPATION E/ABLI%$ AN 9DEP5D5T *>ACT] FROM ! BEG9N+1 OR 9 ,MADRID1 :]E !RE IS ALSO A /RONG ANTIAU?ORIT>IAN PRES5CE CRITICAL ( ! DISC\RSES ( DEMOCRACY & UNITY1 ! OCCUPATIONS BECAME A PLACE = 9T5SE & MULTIFACET$ DEBATES1 C>RI$ \T AUTONOM\SLY AMONG HUNDR$S ( PEOPLE OV] ! C\RSE ( DAYS & WEEKS2 A PLACE :]E NEW !ORETICAL TEXTS REPRES5T+ V>I\S & DIV]G+ L9ES ( ?\<T HAVE BE5 WRITT51 DI/RIBUT$ 9 ! ?\S&S1 & >GU$ OV]2 A PLACE :]E PEOPLE HAVE ! OPPORTUNITY TO GA9 EXP]I5CES ( SELF-ORGANIZATION1 EI!R 9SIDE OR \TSIDE ! (FICIAL /RUCTURE4 ,9 CITIES :]E ! C5TRAL /RUCTURE WAS NOT *ALL5G$ & CRITIQU$1 IT SOON CONSOLIDAT$ P[]1 PU%$ \T CRITICAL VOICES1 PU%$ \T HOMELESS PEOPLE1 IMMIGRANTS SELL+ BE]S1 OR O!RS DEEM$ ANTISOCIAL1 & IMPLOD$ 9 A SPECTACLE ( BOR$OM AS MO/ PEOPLE LEFT RA!R ?AN SITT+ ?R\< AN UMPTE5? MEET+ 9 :I* ALL !Y C\LD DO WAS LI/5 TO SOMEONE ELSE TALK4 

,FAILURE1 9 !SE CASES1 CANNOT BE *ALK$ UP TO ! USUAL EXHAU/ION & BURN\T AFT] ! FIR/ WEEK'S EXCITEM5T4 ,! LEVEL ( ACTIVITY 9 EA* 5CAMPM5T WAS 9V]SELY PROPORTIONATE TO ITS LEVEL ( C5TRALIZATION4 ,! GREAT] ! POSSIBILITY ( 9CLUSION = MULTIPLE POLITICAL TRAJECTORIES1 MULTIPLE ORGANIZ+ =MS & /YLES1 & A MULTIPLICITY1 RA!R ?AN A UNITY1 ( PROPOSALS & 9ITIATIVES1 ! GREAT] & MORE 5DUR+ ! P>TICIPATION4 ,9 ,B>CELONA1 ?IS DEC5TRALIZATION HAS TAK5 ON A GEOGRAPHICAL AS WELL AS A /RUCTURAL ASPECT1 AS PEOPLE BEG9 TO JO9 OR =M NEI<BORHOOD ASSEMBLIES1 :I* >E HOLD+ WEEKLY MEET+S 9 A C5TRAL PLAZA 9 !IR RESPECTIVE NEI<BORHOODS4 ,!SE MEET+S 5D 9 NOISE DEMOS1 PROTE/S1 BLOCKADES ( MAJOR AV5UES1 OR O!R ACTIONS MORE DYNAMIC ?AN ?OSE ?AT CAME \T ( ! C5TRAL ASSEMBLY 9 ,PLACA ,CATALUNYA4 

,9 EV]Y P]IOD ( MASS 9DIGNATION & REBELLION1 EASY SOLUTIONS (F]+ FALSE PROMISES WILL BE ! ONES ?AT CIRCULATE ! MO/ WIDELY4 ,TAK+ ADVANTAGE ( POPULI/ RHETORIC & ! V]Y VALUES 5C\RAG$ BY ! CURR5T SY/EM1 !SE SOLUTIONS T5D TO COALESCE 9 SUP]FICIAL MOVEM5TS ?AT SQU&] ! COLLECTIVE \TRAGE &1 AT MO/1 OBLIGE ! P[]HOLD]S TO *ANGE !IR MASKS4 ,SPA91 & ! RE/ ( ! WORLD1 IS 9 E>NE/ NE$ ( A REVOLUTION1 BUT CONTR>Y TO CONSUM] CULTURE'S DEM&S = 9/ANT GRATIFICATION1 /&+ 9 A PLAZA ) PROTE/ SIGNS = A WEEK1 OR TWO WEEKS1 OR A MON?1 DOES NOT *ANGE ANY?+4 ,AT MO/1 IT CAN PROVOKE A CRISIS ( GOV]NANCE ?AT BR+S PREVI\SLY 9VISIBLE CONFLICTS TO ! =E4 ,:5 !SE L9ES ( CONFLICT BECOME OBVI\S1 :5 !Y *>GE 9 ) CLUBS & RUBB] BULLETS1 WE MU/ NOT PACIFY \RSELVES1 SIT D[N1 RAISE \R H&S1 & TRU/ ! J\RNALI/S & LAWY]S TO MAKE EV]Y?+ OKAY4 ,ON ! CONTR>Y1 WE MU/ F9D ! C\RAGE TO TRACE !SE L9ES1 ?R\< ALL OB/ACLES1 TO !IR V]Y S\RCES1 & !N ASK \RSELVES3 >E WE READY TO TRULY 0*ANGE EV]Y?+10 AS T5S ( ?\S&S ( PEOPLE FROM ,PU]TA DEL ,SOL TO ,PLACA ,CATALUNYA %\T$ DUR+ ! FIR/ HEADY DAYS ( ! OCCUPATIONS1 OR DO WE WANT ANO!R PLACEBO1 TO GO BACK TO ! EASY1 ALBEIT IMPOV]I%$1 LIFE1 & WAIT UNTIL ! NEXT CRISIS1 ! NEXT FALSE SOLUTION1 A PROBLEM = ! NEXT G5]ATION4 

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

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #b#a1 #bba 3 ,SPANI% ,REVOLUTION AT A ,CROSSROADS -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #f1 #bbb 3 ,SPANI% ,REVOLUTION AT A ,CROSSROADS -- ,UPDAT$4 

 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3  
HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/