,SPECIFISM ,EXPLA9$ 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,COLLECTIVE ,ACTION 

,TEXT 3 

,9 DISCUSS+ ! PLAT=M ( ,COLLECTIVE ,ACTION SOME 9DIVIDUALS HAVE EXPRESS$ CONFUSION AT \R USE ( ! LABEL 0SPECIFISM0 TO DESCRIBE ! TRADITION ( SOCIAL AN>*ISM WE ASSOCIATE )4 ,! FOLL[+ IS A %ORT 9TRODUCTION TO :AT WE CONSID] TO BE ! MO/ ESS5TIAL CONCEPTS )9 ! SPECIFI/ MODEL4 ,?IS TEXT IS AN ADAPTATION ( A =?COM+ 9T]VIEW ) ,%IFT ,MAGAZ9E ON ANTI-CAPITALI/ REGR\PM5T4 

0,SPECIFISM0 REF]S TO AN ORGANISATIONALI/ CURR5T )9 ! AN>*I/ TRADITION :I*1 9 CONTEMPOR>Y T]MS1 IS PR9CIPALLY ELABORAT$ BY ! ,F$]ACAO ,AN>QUI/A DO ,RIO DE ,JANEIRO 7,F,>,J7 BUT HAS ITS HI/ORICAL ROOTS 9 ! WRIT+S ( ,BAKUN91 ,MALATE/A & ,MAKHNO 7AMONG O!RS74 ,MANY ASSOCIATE !SE IDEAS SOLELY ) ,MAKHNO'S 0,ORGANIZATIONAL ,PLAT=M ( ! ,G5]AL ,UNION ( ,AN>*I/S 7,DRAFT70 BUT !Y ACTUALLY DATE FROM ONE ( ! FIR/ ORGANIZATIONAL DOCUM5TS ( SOCIAL AN>*ISM -- ,BAKUN9'S PROGRAM = ! ,9T]NATIONAL ,ALLIANCE ( ,SOCIALI/ ,DEMOCRACY4 ,AT ! CORE ( ! SPECIFI/ FRAMEWORK IS AN UND]/&+ ( ! DIVISION ( AN>*I/ ACTIVITY 9TO ! SOCIAL & POLITICAL LEVEL4.<#a.> ,SPECIFI/S >GUE ?AT A LOT ( ! ORGANIZATIONAL ]RORS ( AN>*I/ MILITANTS RESULT FROM A CONFUSION ( ! SOCIAL & POLITICAL LEVEL4 

,! SOCIAL LEVEL IS UND]/OOD AS ?OSE /RUGGLES ?AT EXI/ )9 ! MAT]IAL & IDEOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK ( CAPITALISM 7BREAD-&-BUTT] ISSUES 9 LAYMAN T]MS74 ,!SE WILL BE HEAVILY DET]M9$ BY ! IDEOLOGY ( CAPITALI/ SOCIETY & SITUAT$ PR9CIPALLY )9 ! LOGIC ( CAPITALISM1 = EXAMPLE ! DEM& = 9CREAS$ WAGES 9 EX*ANGE = LABOR OR ! DESIRE = SOCIAL RE=MS FROM ! /ATE4 ,!SE WILL ALSO BE /RUCTUR$ BY A WID] CULTURAL1 ECONOMIC & POLITICAL FRAMEWORK ?AT WILL BO? %APE !IR *>ACT]1 AS WELL AS CAUS+ !IR LEVEL ( COMBATIVITY & CONSCI\SNESS TO EBB & FL[1 ONE EXAMPLE BE+ ! WAY 9 :I* ! ONGO+ F9ANCIAL CRISIS HAS PROVOK$ AN ACCEL]ATION ( WORK+ CLASS RESI/ANCE 9 C]TA9 SECTORS & GEOGRAPHICAL >EAS4 ,AN>*I/S NE$ TO F9D A WAY ( 5GAG+ ) !SE /RUGGLES 9 A WAY ?AT RELATES DIRECTLY TO ! EXI/+ COMPOSITION & LEVEL ( CONSCI\SNESS PRES5T )9 ! CLASS4 ,SUCCESSFUL 5GAGEM5T REQUIRES BO? A RELATION%IP ( /UDY1 9 T]MS ( ! NE$ TO UND]/& & CRITICALLY EVALUATE ! EXI/+ COMPOSITION & IDEAS ( ! CLASS1 & A RELATION%IP ( 9T]V5TION1 TO PRACTICALLY %APE AN>*I/ IDEAS & ME?ODS SO !Y APPE> AS S5SIBLE & USEFUL TOOLS = ?OSE 5GAG$ AT ! SOCIAL LEVEL4 

,AN>*I/S ALSO NE$ TO MA9TA9 !IR [N COH]5T VISION ( AN ALT]NATIVE SOCIETY -- AN>*I/ COMMUNISM4 ,?IS IS ! POLITICAL LEVEL4 ,! POLITICAL LEVEL REPRES5TS ! IDEA 7!ORY7 EXPRESS$ BY REVOLUTION>Y M9ORITIES AS VISIONS = SOCIAL TRANS=MATION & ALT]NATIVE SOCIETIES4 ,?IS POLITICAL L9E IS OBVI\SLY NOT /ATIC & EXI/S RELATIONALLY TO ! SOCIAL LEVEL4 ,! POLITICAL LEVEL CANNOT BE PURELY ! EXPRESSION ( PROPAG&A ( ! IDEAL4 ,AN>*I/ COMMUNISM IS A TRADITION DEVELOP$ FROM ! LESSONS DRAWN FROM ! /RUGGLES ( ! POPUL> CLASSES4 ,WORK AT ! POLITICAL LEVEL IS CULTIVAT$ ?R\< ! /UDY1 SELF-CRITICISM & ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITY ( AN>*I/ COMMUNI/ MILITANTS & EXPRESS$ ?R\< ! UNITY & ORGANIZATIONAL DISCIPL9E ( ! SPECIFIC AN>*I/ ORGANIZATION 7,S,A,O74 ,:ILE ! SOCIAL LEVEL ACTS AT AS ! 0COMPASS01 AS ,MAGON PUTS IS1 ?AT /E]S ! !ORY ( REVOLUTION>Y MILITANTS1 ! POLITICAL LEVEL IS ALSO DI/9CT FROM ! SOCIAL LEVEL 9 ?AT ! IDEAS H]E >E HELD IRRESPECTIVE ( ! G5]AL SOCIAL FRAMEWORK & !RE=E NOT SUBJECT TO ! M$IATIONS ( CAPITALISM & ! /ATE4 ,! POLITICAL LEVEL1 !RE=E1 :ILE EXPRESS+ CL>ITY 9 REVOLUTION>Y IDEAS DOES ?IS 9 ! =M ( M9ORITY ORGANIZATIONS ?AT >E 9DEP5D5T & NOT REPRES5TATIVE ( ?OSE HELD BY ! CLASS-AS-A-:OLE4 

,:AT RESULTS FROM ?IS UND]/&+ ( ! POLITICAL & SOCIAL LEVELS IS ! PRACTICE ( 0ORGANIZATIONAL DUALISM04 ,SPECIFICALLY AN>*I/ GR\PS 7H5CE ! T]M 0SPECIFISM07 ) WELL DEF9$ POSITIONS ( PR9CIPLE & OP]AT+ UND] CONDITIONS ( POLITICAL UNITY AT ! POLITICAL LEVEL 9T]V5E1 P>TICIPATE )9 OR SEEK TO BUILD POPUL> MOVEM5TS AT ! SOCIAL LEVEL4 ,! OBJECTIVE ( ?IS 9T]V5TION IS NOT TO 0CAPTURE0 OR E/ABLI% AN>*I/ FRONTS BUT TO CREATE ! CORRECT CONDITIONS1 BY >GU+ = AN>*I/ ME?ODS & IDEAS1 = ! FL\RI%+ ( WORK+ CLASS AUTONOMY4 ,IT IS ?IS AUTONOMY ?AT IS ! BASIS = WORK+ CLASS C\NT]-P[] & REVOLUTION>Y *ANGE1 AS ,MALATE/A 7#a#h#i#g7 FAM\SLY /AT$1 0,WE AN>*I/S DO NOT WANT TO EMANCIPATE ! PEOPLE2 WE WANT ! PEOPLE TO EMANCIPATE !MSELVES04 

,AS ! ,F$]AZIONE DEI ,COMUNI/I ,AN>*ICI 7,FD,C,A7 7#b#e7 >GUE1 WORK AT ! SOCIAL LEVEL %\LD NOT BE A C>BON COPY ( ! ORGANIZATIONS ( ! POLITICAL LEVEL4 ,9T]V5TION AT ! SOCIAL LEVEL HAS TO >ISE )9 ! CONTEXT ( ! IMM$IATE NE$S ( ! PROLET>IAT & !IR CURR5T /ATE ( IDEOLOGICAL & TE*NICAL COMPOSITION4 ,9 ?IS S5SE WORK AT ! SOCIAL LEVEL 9T]V5ES )9 & AIMS TO ACCEL]ATE ! PROCESS (1 AS ,M>X EXPRESS$ IT1 ! CLASS ACT+ 09 ITSELF01 SUBJECT TO A COMMON CONDITION UND] CAPITALISM1 T[>DS A CLASS-=-ITSELF1 A SELF-CONSCI\S GR\P+ ACT+ TO ITS [N MAT]IAL 9T]E/S - COMMUNISM4 

,SPECIFISM IS A PRAXIS ?AT SEEKS TO /RIKE ! BALANCE BETWE5 A HEAL?Y RELATION%IP ( 9FLU5CE )9 ! CLASS & AN IDEOLOGICALLY COH]5T COMMUNI/ ORGANIZATION1 :ILE REJECT+ ! VANGU>DI/ APPROA*ES ( ,L59I/ GR\PS4 ,:]EAS ,M>XI/S WILL TRADITIONALLY LOOK TO ! FLUCTUAT+ /RUGGLES ( ! SOCIAL LEVEL & >GUE ! NE$ = A REVOLUTION>Y LEAD]%IP FROM )\T1 SPECIFI/S >GUE ?AT AN>*I/ COMMUNI/S FI<T BY ACT+ AS A CRITICAL CONSCI5CE FROM )94 

,= ?IS REASON SPECIFISM IS FUNDAM5TALLY ORGANISATIONALI/ 9 *>ACT] REJECT+ ! IDEA ?AT AN>*ISM CAN BE DEVELOP$ PURELY ?R\< ! PROPAG&I/IC ACTIVITY ( DISCUSSION CIRCLES1 GR\PS OR F$]ATIONS4 ,RA!R ! ,S,A,O NE$S TO =M UNIFI$ TACTICS & A /RATEGY AS ! BASIS ( ITS PROGRAM ?AT IT C>RIES ?R\< 9 ITS ACTIVITY )9 ! CLASS4 

,SPECIFISM REPRES5TS BO? AN ALT]NATIVE TO AN>*I/ ACTIVISM1 :I* DOES NOT COMPOSE ITSELF =MALLY AT ! POLITICAL LEVEL1 & C]TA9 MODELS ( AN>*O-SYNDICALISM1 :I* ATTEMPT TO UNIFY ! PRACTICE ( ! SOCIAL & POLITICAL LEVEL 9 ! =MATION ( REVOLUTION>Y UNIONS4 

,9 CRITICISM ( AN>*I/ ACTIVISM1 SPECIFI/S /RESS ! NE$ = AN $UCAT$ & SELF-CRITICAL PRACTICE AT ! POLITICAL LEVEL TO BUILD SU/A9ABLE LONG-T]M 9T]V5TIONS AT ! SOCIAL LEVEL4 ,! ALT]NATIVE IS SPORADIC1 REACTIVE POLITICAL WORK ?AT DOESN'T 9CORPORATE A CYCLE ( REVIEW & REEVALUATION4 ,LIKEWISE1 AS ,FABBRI NOTES1 ! LACK ( 0VISIBLE ORGANIZATIONS0 ON ! P>T ( AN>*I/ MILITANTS1 I4E4 CLE> & ACCESSIBLE L9ES ( P>TICIPATION1 CREATES SPACE = ! 0E/ABLI%M5T ( >BITR>Y1 LESS LIB]T>IAN ORGANIZATIONS04 

,9 RESPONSE TO AN>*O-SYNDICALISM1 SPECIFI/S >GUE ?AT ! =MATION ( SOCIAL-LEVEL ORGANIZATIONS -- UNIONS -- ) REVOLUTION>Y PR9CIPLES1 DOES NOT RESOLVE ! PROBLEMS CREAT$ BY CAPITALI/ M$IATION AT ! SOCIAL LEVEL4 ,RA!R1 AS ! ,FD,C,A >GUE1 :AT RESULT (T5 IS1 0A /RANGE MIX ( MASS ORGANIZATION & POLITICAL ORGANIZATION :I* IS BASICALLY AN ORGANIZATION ( AN>*I/S :O SET !MSELVES UP TO DO UNION WORK04 ,?IS SITUATION USUALLY RESOLVES EI!R 9 ! ACTUAL EXI/5CE ( A REVOLUTION>Y M9ORITY )9 ! UNION ITSELF ?AT SEEKS TO PRES]VE ! L9E 9 ! FACE ( FLUCTUATIONS AT ! SOCIAL LEVEL1 (T5 BE+ =C$ TO ACT UNDEMOCRATICALLY OR NECESS>ILY PRES]V+ A M9ORITY MEMB]%IP = ! UNION1 OR A FLEXIBILITY 9 AN>*I/ PR9CIPLES :I* LEAVES OP5 ! QUE/ION ( :]E ! RADICALIZATION BETWE5 ! POLITICAL & SOCIAL LEVEL WILL OCCUR4 ,LIKEWISE ! ,F,>,J MAKE A HI/ORICAL PO9T ?AT ! DISSOLUTION ( AN>*I/ ACTIVITY 9TO ! SOCIAL LEVEL HAS MEANT 9 MANY CASES ! COMPLETE LOSS ( ANY POLITICAL REF]5CE PO9T FOLL[+ ! COLLAPSE OR REPRESSION ( !SE ORGANIZATIONS4 ,! ,S,A,O1 9 ?IS S5SE1 CAN ACT AS A VITAL L9E ( CONT9UITY = AN>*I/ COMMUNI/ IDEAS4 

,COLLECTIVE ,ACTION >GUES ?AT ! LESSONS & GUIDES D]IV$ FROM SPECIFI/ !ORY >E A CRITICAL TOOL 9 ! PROCESS ( AN>*I/ REGR\PM5T4 ,! ONLY WAY !RE CAN BE A FUTURE = AN>*I/ POLITICS 9 ! ,U,K 9 ! #b#a/ ,C5TURY IS 9 MAK+ AN>*I/ COMMUNI/ IDEAS & ME?ODS A PRACTICAL & COH]5T TOOL = ORGANIZ+ WORKPLACES1 9T]V5+ 9 SOCIAL /RUGGLES & EMP[]+ WORK+ CLASS COMMUNITIES4 ,AN>*ISM NE$S TO RECAPTURE ITS TRADITIONAL T]RA9 ( ORGANIZ+1 :AT ,BAKUN9 REF]R$ TO AS1 ! 0POPUL> CLASSES0 & AB&ON ! DEAD-5D ( ACTIVISM4 ,?IS MEANS A FUNDAM5TAL RE-ASSESSM5T ( :AT WE DO & :AT WE HOPE TO A*IEVE4 ,IT ALSO MEANS RETURN+1 AS ,VANEIGEM W\LD CALL IT1 TO ! POLITICS ( 0EV]YDAY LIFE04 ,?IS MEANS REORI5TATION ( \R PRACTICE TO BO? ! SOCIAL & POLITICAL LEVEL & UTILIZ+ ! RI*NESS ( \R [N POLITICAL TRADITION TO CL>IFY & IMPROVE \R [N ORGANIZ+ EF=TS4 

,REF]5CES 

  
  

,F$]AZIONE DEI ,COMMUNI/I ,AN>*ICI 7#b#e7 ,AN>*I/ ,COMMUNI/S3 ,A ,QUE/ION ( ,CLASS4 ,/UDIES = A ,LIB]T>IAN ,ALT]NATIVE3 ,FD,C,A 

,MALATE/A1 ,E4 7#a#h#i#g7 0,AN>*ISM & ,ORGANIZATION0 ,AVAILABLE AT3 HTTP3_/_/WWW4M>XI/S4ORG_/>*IVE_/MALATE/A_/#a#h#i#g_/XX_/AN>*ORG4HTM  

,COLLECTIVE ,ACTION IS AN ASSOCIATION ( AN>*I/ COMMUNI/S BAS$ 9 ,BRITA94 ,WE SEE AN>*I/ COMMUNISM AS AN 5GAG$ TRADITION ( WORK+ CLASS SOCIALISM & \R !ORY IS 9=M$ BY BO? \R EXP]I5CE & \R CONT9U+ P>TICIPATION 9 SOCIAL /RUGGLES4 ,\R PROJECT IS TO RE-VISIT \R POLITICAL TRADITION1 RE-GR\P & RE-K9DLE \R POLITICAL ACTION4 

.<#a.> ,A C]TA9 ELA/ICITY MU/ BE ALL[$ ) !SE T]MS & ! LABELS %\LD BY NO MEANS BE CONSID]$ EXCLUSIVE4 ,! 0SOCIAL0 LEVEL1 = EXAMPLE1 IS ( C\RSE AT ! SAME TIME 0POLITICAL0 9 ?AT IT IS A SPH]E = BO? ! CONTE/ATION & BIR? ( IDEAS4 ,LIKEWISE ! 0POLITICAL0 LEVEL IS SIMULTANE\SLY 0SOCIAL0 9 RESPECT TO ! FACT ?AT AN>*I/ COMMUNI/ IDEAS >E D]IV$ FROM A HI/ORICAL & MAT]IALI/ ANALYSIS ( SOCIETY1 & COMPOS$ ( ! EXP]I5CES & LESSONS ( SOCIAL /RUGGLE 7= MORE COMM5T>Y ON ! HI/ORICAL MAT]IALI/ *>ACT] ( AN>*I/ COMMUNISM SEE 0,APP5DIX #a3 ,HI/ORICAL ,MAT]IALISM & ,DIALECTICAL ,MAT]IALISM0 ,93 ,F$]AZIONE DEI ,COMMUNI/I ,AN>*ICI 7#b#e7 ,AN>*I/ ,COMMUNI/S3 ,A ,QUE/ION ( ,CLASS4 ,/UDIES = A ,LIB]T>IAN ,ALT]NATIVE3 ,FD,C,A74 

7,S\RCE3 47 

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

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #a#g1 #bbb 3 ,SPECIFISM ,EXPLA9$ -- ,ADD$4 

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