,! ,UNITY ( ,IDEALS & ,PRACTICE 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,MURRAY ,BOOK*9 

,TEXT 3 

,I 

,REC5TLY ,I HAVE BEGUN TO 5C\NT]1 ESPECIALLY AMONG Y\NG PEOPLE1 9DIVIDUALS :O CALL !MSELVES 0LEFTI/S0 BUT :O HAVE LITTLE OR NO AW>5ESS ( ! MO/ BASIC FEATURES ( ! ,LEFT'S LONG/&+ ANALYSIS ( CAPITALISM1 OR ( ! HI/ORY ( ! REVOLUTION>Y MOVEM5TS ?AT HAVE /OOD 9 FUNDAM5TAL OPPOSITION TO B\RGEOIS SOCIETY4 ,IT DI/RESSES ME ?AT ! IDEOLOGICAL CONT\RS ?AT HAVE LONG DEF9$ CAPITALISM & ! ,LEFT >E BE+ =GOTT5 TODAY1 AS WELL AS ! MO/ CRITICAL 9SI<TS ( LIB]T>IAN SOCIALISM & REVOLUTION>Y AN>*ISM4 ,GIV5 ?IS SPREAD+ SOCIAL AMNESIA1 ,I F9D ?AT BE=E ,I CAN SUMM>IZE MY POLITICAL & SOCIAL IDEALS1 ,I MU/ BRIEFLY \TL9E ! TRAJECTORY ( CAPITALI/ SOCIETY & ! RESPONSIBILITY ( ! REVOLUTION>Y ,LEFT1 S9CE MY [N IDEAS >E 9TEGRALLY EMB$D$ 9 ! TRADITION ( ?AT ,LEFT4 

,C]TA9 BASIC CONCEPTS >E FUNDAM5TAL TO TRADITIONAL LEFTI/S1 ESPECIALLY TO SOCIAL AN>*I/S1 & :5 ,I 5C\NT] PEOPLE :O CALL !MSELVES SOCIAL AN>*I/S1 ,I MU/ ASSUME ?AT1 IF !IR POLITICS IS TO HAVE ANY MEAN+1 !Y /ILL UPHOLD !SE CONCEPTS4 ,I MU/ ASSUME ?AT SOCIAL AN>*I/S1 LIKE O!R LEFTI/S1 UND]/& ?AT CAPITALISM IS A COMPETITIVE M>KET SY/EM 9 :I* RIVALRY COMPELS B\RGEOIS 5T]PRISES TO CONT9UALLY GR[ & EXP&4 ,I MU/ ASSUME !Y UND]/& ?AT ?IS PROCESS ( GR[? IS ABSOLUTELY 9EXORABLE1 DRIV5 BY ! 0COMPETITIVE M>KET =CES0 ( PRODUCTION & CONSUMPTION - AS ! B\RGEOISIE ITSELF ACKN[L$GES4 ,NOR CAN !SE 0=CES0 BE ELIM9AT$ AS LONG AS CAPITALISM EXI/S1 ANY MORE ?AN A CLASS-DOM9AT$ ECONOMY C\LD EV] PUT AN 5D TO ! EXPLOITATION ( LABOR4 ,SOCIAL AN>*I/S1 ,I MU/ ASSUME1 UND]/& ?AT IF CAPITALISM CONT9UES TO EXI/1 IT WILL YIELD CATA/ROPHIC RESULTS = SOCIETY & ! ECOLOGICAL 9TEGRITY ( ! NATURAL WORLD4 ,SO 9H]5T >E !SE FEATURES TO CAPITALISM ?AT TO EXPECT ! CAPITALI/ SY/EM NOT TO HAVE !M IS TO EXPECT IT TO BE SOME?+ O!R ?AN CAPITALI/4 

,FUR!R1 ,I MU/ ASSUME ?AT SOCIAL AN>*I/S1 LIKE O!R LEFTI/S1 BELIEVE ?AT IF HUMANITY IS EV] TO ATTA9 A FREE & RATIONAL SOCIETY1 CAPITALISM MU/ BE COMPLETELY DE/ROY$4 ,SOCIAL AN>*I/S >E DI/9CTIVE AMONG LEFTI/S1 H[EV]1 9 MA9TA9+ ?AT ! SOCIAL ORD] ?AT MU/ REPLACE IT MU/ BE A COLLECTIVI/1 9DE$ A LIB]T>IAN COMMUNI/ SOCIETY1 9 :I* PRODUCTION & DI/RIBUTION >E ORGANIZ$ ACCORD+ TO ! MAXIM 0,FROM EA* ACCORD+ TO ABILITY1 TO EA* ACCORD+ TO NE$0 7TO ! EXT5T1 TO BE SURE1 ?AT SU* NE$S CAN BE SATISFI$ GIV5 ! EXI/+ RES\RCES ( ! SOCIETY74 ,SOCIAL AN>*I/S AGREE1 ,I MU/ ASSUME1 ?AT SU* A LIB]T>IAN COMMUNI/ SOCIETY CANNOT BE A*IEV$ )\T ! PRIOR ABOLITION NOT ONLY ( CAPITALISM BUT ( ! /ATE1 ) ITS PR(ESSIONAL BUREAUCRACY1 ITS MONOPOLY OV] ! MEANS ( VIOL5CE1 & ITS 9H]5T COMMITM5T TO ! 9T]E/S ( ! B\RGEOISIE4 

,SOCIAL AN>*I/S AGREE1 ,I MU/ FUR!R ASSUME1 ?AT ! /ATE MU/ BE REPLAC$ BY A DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL REALM1 ONE ?AT COMPRISES 0COMMUNES0 OR MUNICIPALITIES ( SOME K9D ?AT >E 9 CONF$]ATION ) ONE ANO!R4 ,AN>*OSYNDICALI/S BELIEVE ?AT IT IS ESS5TIALLY WORKPLACE COMMITTEES & LIB]T>IAN UNIONS ?AT WILL /RUCTURE !SE CONF$]ATIONS4 ,AN>*OCOMMUNI/S ADVANCE A V>IETY ( O!R =MS1 & MY [N WILL BE SUMM>IZ$ LAT]4 ,BUT :5 ,I MEET A SOCIAL AN>*I/1 ,I ASSUME ?AT HE OR %E %>ES !SE M9IMAL1 UND]LY+ COMMON PR9CIPLES3 ! BASIC ANALYSIS ( CAPITALISM & ITS TRAJECTORY ?AT ,I HAVE DESCRIB$1 AS WELL AS ! IMP]ATIVE TO REPLACE COMPETITIVE M>KET-ORI5T$ SOCIAL RELATIONS ) LIB]T>IAN 9/ITUTIONS4 
,DIDACTIC AS MY PRES5TATION MAY SEEM1 ,I CONT5D ?AT TO AB&ON ANY ( !SE PR9CIPLES IS TO AB&ON ! DEF9+ FEATURES ( SOCIAL AN>*ISM1 OR ( ANY REVOLUTION>Y LIB]T>IAN ,LEFT4 ,TO BE SURE1 IT IS NOT EASY TO ADVANCE SU* IDEAS TODAY4 ,=M] LEFTI/S :O HAVE !MSELVES SURR5D]$ SOME ( !SE PR9CIPLES 9 ORD] TO ACCOMMODATE !MSELVES TO ! EXI/+ SOCIETY 9CESSANTLY SNE] AT REVOLUTION>Y LEFTI/S :O /ILL MA9TA9 !M1 ACCUS+ !M ( BE+ 0DOGMATIC10 DISMISS+ ! COH]5CE !Y PRIZE AS 0TOTALIT>IAN10 & IMPUGN+ !IR RESOLUTE SOCIAL COMMITM5T AS 0SECT>IAN40 ,MOREOV]1 9 A TIME :5 SOCIAL & POLITICAL IDEAS >E BE+ BLURR$ BEYOND RECOGNITION1 PR9CIPL$ LEFTI/S >E ADVIS$ REPEAT$LY TO REL9QUI% !IR MILITANCY - & PRESUMABLY SUCCUMB TO ! M9DLESS 9COH]5CE & PLURALISM ?AT IS COMMONLY HALL[$ 9 ! NAME ( 0DIV]SITY40 ,MO/ ( ALL1 !Y >E SUBJECT$ TO PRESSURES TO R5\NCE ! ,LEFT & BL5D 9 ) ! ACCOMMODATION ?AT IS PREVAL5T TODAY1 AS SO MANY ( !IR =M] COMRADES HAVE DONE4 
,DESPITE !SE P]SONAL & CULTURAL PRESSURES1 SOCIAL AN>*I/S1 ,I BELIEVE1 MU/ NOT ALL[ !IR VIEWS & ACTIVITIES TO BE FRAGM5T$ & ?R[N 9TO ! PO/MOD]N SCRAP HEAP ( UNREP5TANTLY CONTRADICTORY IDEOLOGIES1 ANY MORE ?AN !Y %\LD EMBRACE ! B\RGEOISIE 9 A LOVE FE/IVAL ( CLASS COLLABORATION4 ,9 SU* TIMES IT IS ALL ! MORE IMP]ATIVE ?AT A SOCIALLY ORI5T$1 REVOLUTION>Y LIB]T>IAN ,LEFT FIRMLY MA9TA9 ITS [N 9TEGRITY & IDEALS4 ,IF ?OSE IDEALS >E TO BE MA9TA9$1 !RE >E L9ES ?AT SOCIAL AN>*I/S CANNOT CROSS & /ILL REMA9 SOCIAL AN>*I/S4 

,?IS ASS]TION1 LET ME EMPHASIZE1 IS NOT AN EXPRESSION ( 9TOL]ANCE4 ,IT IS AN APPEAL TO PRES]VE SPECIFICITY1 CL>ITY1 & SELF-DEF9ITION AGA9/ AN OV]:ELM+ CULTURAL DECAD5CE ?AT BLURS S]I\S DI/9CTIONS 9 ! 9TIMIDAT+ NAME ( A SPECI\S 0DIV]SITY10 0H>MONY10 & 0COMPROMISE10 AS A RESULT ( :I* ! CL>IFICATION ( IMPORTANT POLITICAL DIFF]5CES BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO A*IEVE4 

,NOR AM ,I TRY+ TO CA/ ! ISSUES ?AT SOCIAL AN>*I/S FACE OR ! PRACTICE !Y %\LD FOLL[ 9 NE$LESSLY H>% 0EI!R-OR0 T]MS4 ,:5 A CORPORATION OR /ATE TAKES ACTION TO WORS5 WORK+ CONDITIONS1 R$UCE WAGES1 OR D5Y POOR & VULN]ABLE PEOPLE ! ELEM5T>Y AM5ITIES ( LIFE1 SOCIAL AN>*I/S %\LD RAISE !IR VOICES 9 PROTE/ & JO9 9 ACTIONS TO PREV5T SU* MEASURES FROM BE+ EXECUT$4 ,9 %ORT1 !Y %\LD FI<T EXPLOITATION & 9JU/ICE ON EV]Y FRONT & BECOME P>T ( A V>IETY ( /RUGGLES = ELIM9AT+ ECONOMIC1 SOCIAL1 & ECOLOGICAL ABUSES :]EV] !Y OCCUR1 AT HOME OR ABROAD4 ,SOCIAL AN>*I/S >E NO LESS HUMANE 9 RESPONSE TO HUMAN SUFF]+ & NO LESS \TRAG$ BY SOCIAL AFFLICTIONS ?AN ! BE/-9T5TION$ RE=MI/S4 
,BUT !IR ACTIONS %\LD NOT BE LIMIT$ M]ELY TO ADVANC+ REM$IAL MEASURES - :I* ! B\RGEOISIE CAN USUALLY ADOPT IF IT *OOSES TO1 ) LITTLE LOSS TO ITSELF4 ,9DE$1 B\RGEOIS SOCIETY IS SOMETIMES MORE ?AN WILL+ TO AMELIORATE SOCIAL AFFLICTIONS )9 ITS [N FRAMEWORK1 ALL ! BETT] TO CONCEAL BROAD] SOCIAL PROBLEMS OR TO NEUTRALIZE ! DANG] ( WID] SOCIAL UNRE/4 

,!RE IS A MAJOR DIFF]5CE1 9 MY VIEW1 BETWE5 ! WAY SOCIAL DEMOCRATS1 LIB]ALS1 & O!R WELL-MEAN+ PEOPLE 5GAGE 9 EV]YDAY /RUGGLES & ! WAY SOCIAL AN>*I/S & O!R REVOLUTION>Y LEFTI/S DO4 ,SOCIAL AN>*I/S DO NOT DIVORCE !IR IDEALS FROM !IR PRACTICE4 ,!Y BR+ TO !SE /RUGGLES A DIM5SION ?AT IS USUALLY LACK+ AMONG RE=MI/S3 !Y WORK TO SPREAD POPUL> AW>5ESS ( ! ROOTS ( ! SOCIAL AFFLICTION - PATI5TLY $UCAT+1 MOBILIZ+1 & BUILD+ A MOVEM5T ?AT %[S ! CONNECTIONS BETWE5 ! ABUSES ?AT EXI/ 9 MOD]N SOCIETY & ! BROAD] SOCIAL ORD] FROM :I* !Y /EM4 ,!Y >E PR(\NDLY CONC]N$ ) %[+ PEOPLE ! S\RCES ( !IR AFFLICTIONS & H[ TO CONSCI\SLY ACT TO REMOVE !M COMPLETELY BY SEEK+ TO FUNDAM5TALLY *ANGE SOCIETY4 

,DISSEM9AT+ ?IS UND]/&+1 :I* 9 ! PA/ W5T UND] ! NAME ( CLASS CONSCI\SNESS 7AN EXPRESSION ?AT IS /ILL V]Y RELEVANT TODAY7 OR1 MORE BROADLY1 SOCIAL CONSCI\SNESS1 IS ONE ( ! MAJOR FUNCTIONS ( A REVOLUTION>Y ORGANIZATION OR MOVEM5T4 ,UNLESS SOCIAL AN>*I/S TAKE ! OCCASION ( A PROTE/ TO PO9T TO ! BROAD] SOCIAL ISSUES 9VOLV$1 UNLESS !Y PLACE !IR OPPOSITION 9 ?IS CONTEXT & USE IT TO ADVANCE ! TRANSITION TO A RATIONAL SOCIAL ORD] LIKE LIB]T>IAN COMMUNISM1 !IR OPPOSITION IS ADV5TITI\S1 PIECEMEAL1 & ESS5TIALLY RE=MI/4 

,9 ! C\RSE ( DEMON/RAT+ H[ SPECIFIC SOCIAL ABUSES CAN BE TRAC$ TO CAPITALISM AS SU*1 SOCIAL AN>*I/ PRACTICE1 9 MY VIEW1 MU/ 9CREAS+LY MAKE APP>5T ?AT1 IF ?OSE ABUSES >E TO BE FULLY REM$I$1 IT IS SOCIETY AS A :OLE ?AT MU/ BE *ANG$4 ,:E!R A GIV5 RE=M IS ATTA9$ OR NOT1 ! ISSUE ?AT G5]ATES ! NE$ = IT MU/ BE EXP&$1 CA/ 9 EV] BROAD] SOCIAL T]MS1 & L9K$ ) LESS OBVI\S BUT RELAT$ SOCIAL ABUSES UNTIL A :OLE EM]GES FROM APP>5TLY DISCONNECT$ P>TS & *ALL5GES ! VALIDITY ( ! EXI/+ SOCIAL ORD]4 

,ON ! O!R H&1 TO ASK ?AT SOCIAL ABUSES BE ADDRESS$ M]ELY BY RE=MS & ?AT !Y BE RESOLV$ BY ! /ATE IS TO DEEP5 ! MY/IFICATION1 TO ABET ! LEGITIMATION1 & TO GLOSS ! IDEOLOGICAL PAT9A SO 9DISP5SABLE = ! EXI/5CE ( ! 5TIRE SY/EM4 ,FROM #ahdh TO #a#i#i#g1 ?IS RE=MI/ PRACTICE1 :ATEV] IDEALS IT CLAIMS = ITSELF1 HAS BE5 ! MO/ PRON\NC$ FLAW ( MOVEM5TS = *ANGE4 ,9DE$1 /RUGGLES CONDUCT$ )9 ! FRAMEWORK ( ! EXI/+ SY/EM - :ILE !Y MAY YIELD MANY PALLIATIVE RE=MS - ULTIMATELY P]PETUATE ! MY/IFICATION ?AT CAPITALISM CAN 0DELIV] ! GOODS0 7AS ,M>CUSE PUT IT7 & ?AT ! /ATE CAN RISE ABOVE ! CONFLICT ( CONT5D+ 9T]E/S TO S]VE ! PUBLIC GOOD4 

,I,I 

,9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES1 AS 9 O!R ,WE/]N C\NTRIES TODAY1 !RE IS NO LACK ( SOCIAL-DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATIONS & 5VIRONM5TAL GR\PS ?AT CONC]N !MSELVES ) SOCIAL & 5VIRONM5TAL PROBLEMS - EV5 IF IT MEANS LITTLE MORE ?AN LOBBY+ P[]FUL (FICIALS4 ,DESPITE !IR T5D5CY TO COMPROMISE ON KEY ISSUES1 !SE GR\PS >E VISIBLE & VOCAL4 ,9ASMU* AS !Y WORK )9 ! FRAMEWORK ( ! /ATE1 !Y SOMETIMES F9D PLACES :]E ! SY/EM B5DS TO ! NE$S ( ! POOR & ! VULN]ABLE4 ,! WIDELY CELEBRAT$ 0REALISM0 ( !SE GR\PS1 !IR LESS]-EVIL POLITICS1 & !IR ATTEMPTS TO WORK AMELIORATIVELY )9 ! SY/EM SOMETIMES LEAD TO PALLIATIVES ?AT SEEM TO IMPROVE ! LIVES ( ?OSE :O NE$ HELP4 

,BUT ! /ATE R>ELY B5DS TO POPUL> DEM&S = *ANGES ?AT >E 9IMICABLE TO ! BASIC 9T]E/S ( ! B\RGEOISIE4 ,DESPITE ! OPPOSITION ( MANY LABOR UNIONS & 5VIRONM5TALI/S AS WELL AS L>GE SECTORS ( ! POPULATION1 = EXAMPLE1 ! ,NOR? ,AM]ICAN ,TREATY ,ORGANIZATION 7,N,A,F,T,A7 WAS PASS$ BY ! ,CONGRESS & SIGN$ BY ,CL9TON4 ,CAPITAL - BIG ,CAPITAL - WANT$ ,N,A,F,T,A1 & ?AT WAS ?AT6 ,D\BTLESS !RE >E /ATES & /ATES4 ,HI/ORICALLY1 !RE HAVE BE5 SLAVE-[N+ /ATES1 FEUDAL /ATES1 MON>*ICAL /ATES1 REPUBLICAN /ATES1 & TOTALIT>IAN /ATES4 ,IT W\LD BE NAIVE TO SUPPOSE ?AT !Y >E ALL ALIKE JU/ BECAUSE !Y >E /ATES4 ,YET EV5 ! MO/ RHETORICALLY 0FREE0 & CON/ITUTIONALLY CON/RA9$ REPUBLICS 9 ! SO-CALL$ ,FIR/ ,WORLD - :I* WE EUPHEMI/ICALLY CALL 0DEMOCRACIES0 - >E CLASS 9/ITUTIONS4 ,!Y >E /RUCTUR$ BY !IR TRADITIONS1 CON/ITUTIONS1 LAWS1 BUREAUCRATIC & JUDICIAL 9/ITUTIONS1 POLICE1 & >MIES TO ASSURE ?AT ! PROP]TY1 PR(IT-MAK+1 COMPETITION1 CAPITAL ACCUMULATION1 & ! ECONOMIC AU?ORITY ( ! B\RGEOISIE & O!R PRIVILEG$ /RATA >E PROTECT$4 ,?IS RELATION%IP IS FUNDAM5TAL TO ! MOD]N /ATE4 

,! QUE/ION ( ! /ATE HAS BE5 AN ISSUE ( PR(\ND IMPORTANCE = ANTICAPITALI/ REVOLUTION>IES1 9CLUD+ SOCIAL AN>*I/S1 ?R\<\T 9 ! HI/ORY ( SOCIALISM4 ,M>XI/S >E AT LEA/ CONSI/5T :5 !Y 5GAGE 9 P>LIAM5T>ISM1 S9CE ,M>X LEFT US ) NO D\BT ?AT HE ?\<T ! /ATE WAS NECESS>Y1 EV5 AFT] A PROLET>IAN REVOLUTION1 9 ORD] TO E/ABLI% SOCIALISM1 & 9 #ahgb HE EV5 DECL>$ ?AT IT WAS POSSIBLE TO USE ! B\RGEOIS P>LIAM5T>Y SY/EM TO LEGISLATE SOCIALISM 9TO EXI/5CE 9 ,BRITA91 ,AM]ICA1 & POSSIBLY ! ,NE!RL&S - TO :I* ,5GELS LAT] ADD$ ,FRANCE4 

,:5 ! PEOPLE DO NOT RETA9 POLITICAL P[] = !MSELVES1 ?AT P[] IS CLAIM$ BY ! /ATE -  CONV]SELY1 :ATEV] P[] ! /ATE DOES NOT HAVE MU/ BE CLAIM$ BY ! MASSES4 ,MOD]N POLITICAL P>TIES >E EI!R /ATES 9 P[] OR1 :5 \T ( P[]1 /ATES WAIT+ TO TAKE P[]4 ,9 ORD] TO FUNCTION AS /ATI/ ORGANIZATIONS1 ! V]Y EXIG5CIES ( /ATE P[] OBLIGE !M TO REPLICATE ! /ATE TO ONE DEGREE OR ANO!R4 ,!Y MU/1 IF !Y >E TO GA9 P[]1 CON/ITUTE !MSELVES AS TOP-D[N EXT5SIONS ( ! /ATE1 JU/ AS CAPITALI/ 5T]PRISES MU/ BE ORGANIZ$ TO MAKE PR(IT AT ! PUBLIC'S EXP5SE1 !IR CLAIMS TO BE P]=M+ A B5EFIC5T 0PUBLIC S]VICE0 TO ! CONTR>Y NOT)/&+4 ,9DE$1 ! MORE P>TIES & 5T]PRISES & EV5 /ATES COV] !MSELVES ) A LIB]T>IAN PAT9A1 ! MORE 9SIDI\SLY !Y BESMIR* ! V]Y PUBLIC TRU/ !Y PR(ESS TO HOLD MO/ SACR$4 
,! E>LY CLAIMS ( ! ,G]MAN ,GRE5S TO BE A 0NONP>TY P>TY0 REFLECT$ A T5SION ?AT C\LD NOT CONT9UE TO EXI/ 9DEF9ITELY ONCE ! ,GRE5S W]E ELECT$ TO ! ,BUNDE/AG4 ,:ATEV] MAY HAVE BE5 ! BE/ 9T5TIONS ( !IR SPOKESP]SONS1 P>TICIPATION 9 ! /ATE ( NECESSITY RE9=C$ EV]Y P>TY-ORI5T$ T5D5CY 9 !IR ORGANIZATION AT ! EXP5SE ( !IR 0NONP>TY0 CLAIMS4 ,TODAY1 F> FROM BE+ A *ALL5GE TO ! SOCIAL ORD] 9 ,G]MANY1 ! ,GRE5S >E ONE ( ITS PROPS4 ,?IS IS ! PRODUCT NOT ( ANY ILL WILL ON ! P>T ( 9DIVIDUAL ,GRE5S BUT RA!R ( ! 9EXORABLE IMP]ATIVES ( WORK+ )9 ! /ATE RA!R ?AN AGA9/ IT4 ,9V>IABLY1 IT IS ! /ATE ?AT %APES ! ACTIVITIES & /RUCTURES ( ?OSE :O PROPOSE TO USE IT AGA9/ ITSELF1 NOT ! REV]SE4 

,SOCIAL AN>*I/S1 9 CONTRA/ TO ,M>XI/S1 REG>D ! /ATE AS SU* AS A GREAT 9/ITUTIONAL IMP$IM5T TO ! A*IEVEM5T ( LIB]T>IAN SOCIALISM OR COMMUNISM4 ,9 B\RGEOIS REPUBLICS1 ! PRACTICAL DEM& ( SOCIAL AN>*I/S TO DESI/ FROM P>TICIPAT+ 9 NATIONAL ELECTIONS REFLECTS !IR COMMITM5T TO DELEGITIMATE ! /ATE1 TO DIVE/ IT ( ITS MY/IQUE AS AN 9DISP5SABLE AG5CY = 0PUBLIC ORD]0 & ! ADM9I/RATION ( SOCIAL LIFE4 ,:AT IS AT ISSUE 9 SOCIAL AN>*I/ AB/5TION FROM !SE P>LIAM5T>Y RITUALS IS !IR ATTEMPT TO EXPOSE ! AU?ORIT>IAN BASIS ( ! /ATE1 TO DISSOLVE ITS LEGITIMACY AS A 0NATURAL0 S\RCE ( ORD]1 & TO *ALL5GE ITS CLAIMS TO BE A SUPRACLASS AG5CY & TO BE ! ONLY COMPET5T 9/ITUTIONAL S\RCE ( P[]--AS DI/+UI%$ FROM ! 9COMPET5CE ( ! MASSES 9 MANAG+ PUBLIC AFFAIRS4 
,?IS RESPONSIBILITY ( SOCIAL AN>*ISM TO DEMY/IFY CAPITALISM1 ! NATION-/ATE1 & !IR 9T]CONNECTION - 9DE$ TO *ALL5GE !IR LEGITIMACY AS A PRIORI 0NATURAL0 PH5OM5A - IS NOT SIMPLY A MATT] ( !ORETICAL ELUCIDATION4 ,TO BE RELEVANT TO PEOPLE G5]ALLY1 IT MU/ BE EMBODI$ 9 A PRACTICE ?AT IS PUBLICLY VISIBLE1 ONE ?AT CAN MUTATE ! NE$ = RE=MS ( ! EXI/+ SY/EM 7:I* MAY BE ALL[$7 9TO ! NE$ = A REVOLUTION>Y TRANS=MATION ( SOCIETY 7:I* ! SY/EM MU/ RESI/74 

,I,I,I 

,MY [N V]SION ( SOCIAL AN>*ISM1 AS MANY READ]S ( ,GRE5 ,P]SPECTIVES WILL ALREADY KN[1 9VOLVES ! CREATION ( A DIRECT FACE-TO-FACE DEMOCRACY 9 :I* PEOPLE DIRECTLY P>TICIPATE 9 ! MANAGEM5T ( !IR COMMUNITY'S AFFAIRS4 ,9 CONTRA/ TO SY/EMS ( 0REPRES5TATIVE DEMOCRACY0 7! PHRASE IS A CONTRADICTION 9 T]MS1 ,I %\LD EMPHASIZE71 A LIB]T>IAN DEMOCRACY W\LD BE /RUCTUR$ >\ND POPUL> ASSEMBLIES1 =M$ AT ! MUNICIPAL LEVEL TO REPLACE EXI/+ MUNICIPAL GOV]NM5TS4 ,!SE POPUL> ASSEMBLIES W\LD BE OP5 >5AS = POPUL> DECISION-MAK+ = ALL ADULTS 9 A GIV5 COMMUNITY TO ATT5D 7OR NOT ATT5D1 ACCORD+ TO !IR WI%ES74 ,H]E ! PEOPLE !MSELVES W\LD MAKE DECISIONS AB\T H[ !IR COMMUNITIES' AFFAIRS %\LD BE RUN4 ,!SE ASSEMBLIES W\LD BE TRANSP>5T & 5TIRELY OP5 TO PUBLIC SCRUT9Y4 

,I HAVE GIV5 ?IS COMMUNALI/ SY/EM ( CIVIC SELF-MANAGEM5T ! NAME LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM4 ,AS A POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY ( DIRECT DEMOCRACY1 IT /&S 9 M>K$ CONTRA/ TO ! /ATE1 P>LIAM5T>ISM1 & ! PR9CIPLE ( REPRES5TATION4 ,IT RES]VES ! WORD POLITICS = ! SELF-ADM9I/RATION ( A COMMUNITY BY ITS CITIZ5S 9 A FACE-TO-FACE ASSEMBLY4 ,AT ! RISK ( REPEAT+ IDEAS FAMILI> TO READ]S1 LET ME EMPHASIZE ?AT ?IS K9D ( POLITICS /&S 9 DIRECT CONTRA/ TO & 9DE$ 9 %>P T5SION ) /ATECRAFT1 ! TOP-D[N SY/EM ( PR(ESSIONAL REPRES5TATION ?AT IS ULTIMATELY BAS$ ON ! /ATE'S MONOPOLY ( VIOL5CE4 

,BASIC TO LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM IS ! VIEW ?AT ! T[N & CITY--:I* HI/ORICALLY ANT$ATE ! EM]G5CE ( ! /ATE--REPRES5T ! MO/ BASIC >5A ( HUMAN CONSOCIATION BEYOND ! SOCIAL REALM ( FAMILY1 FRI5DS1 & C[ORK]S4 ,! T[N OR CITY NEI<BORHOOD--! MUNICIPALITY--IS ! AU!NTIC REALM ( POLITICS1 9 ! DIRECT-DEMOCRATIC S5SE FROM :I* ! WORD IS ETYMOLOGICALLY D]IV$3 ! ,A!NIAN POLIS ( ! FIF? C5TURY ,B4,C4,E4 7,I DO NOT REG>D ,A!NS AS A 0MODEL0 OR 0P>ADIGM10 /ILL LESS AS AN 0IDEAL0 ( A LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALI/ CITY1 MANY ( MY CRITICS' CLAIMS TO ! CONTR>Y NOT)/&+4 ,! %ORTCOM+S & OPPRESSIVE FEATURES ( ANCI5T ,A!NIAN SOCIETY & POLITICS %\LD NOT PREV5T US FROM EXPLOR+ ! WORK+ 9/ITUTIONS ( ! MUNICIPAL DIRECT DEMOCRACY ?AT >OSE & P]SI/$ = A TIME 9 ! SELF-MANAG$ ,A!NIAN POLIS47 ,A!NS1 9 CONTRA/ TO MO/ CITIES 9 HI/ORY1 DEVELOP$ DEMOCRATIC 9/ITUTIONS--ESPECIALLY ! ASSEMBLY1 OR EKKLESIA--& SOME ( !SE 9/ITUTIONS & /&>DS ( CITIZ5%IP PROVIDE US ) MAT]IALS 9VALUABLE = =M+ A PRACTICAL LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALITY4 

,!RE IS A T5D5CY )9 AN>*ISM TO REJECT DEMOCRACY 9 ANY =M AS ! IMPOSITION ( ! WILL ( A MAJORITY ON A M9ORITY4 ,AS DI/+UI%$ FROM ! SOCIALI/IC T5D5CY 9 AN>*ISM ?AT EMPHASIZES SOCIAL FRE$OM1 ?IS ESS5TIALLY LIB]ALI/IC T5D5CY EMPHASIZES 9/EAD P]SONAL AUTONOMY4 ,9 MY VIEW1 IF ANY APPROA* TO DECISION-MAK+ IS AU?ORIT>IAN1 IT IS NOT MAJORITY RULE BUT ! REQUIREM5T1 AS MANY ( !SE 9DIVIDUALI/IC AN>*I/S PROPOSE1 ( ATTA9+ CONS5SUS 9 A L>GE =MAL SETT+4 ,! RI<T ( A S+LE 9DIVIDUAL TO OB/RUCT ! WI%ES ( ! MAJORITY IS A =M ( P]SONAL TYRANNY ?AT W\LD R5D] ANY SOCIETY DYSFUNCTIONAL4 

,NOR IS LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM A POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY BAS$ ON A LOCALISM ?AT PRESUPPOSES ?AT A MUNICIPALITY CAN EXI/ AUTONOM\SLY1 ON ITS [N4 ,QUITE TO ! CONTR>Y1 9 MOD]N SOCIETY ALL COMMUNITIES MU/ RELY ON EA* O!R1 & REGIONS ON O!R REGIONS1 TO MEET !IR NE$S4 ,SOCIAL AN>*ISM1 ,I BELIEVE1 (F]S A PLAUSIBLE ALT]NATIVE TO ! CLAIMS MADE BY ! /ATE--NAMELY CONF$]ATION1 :]EBY 9T]DEP5D5CIES CAN BE FO/]$ 9 A LIB]T>IAN MANN]4 ,LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALITIES W\LD S5D DELEGATES1 M&AT$ & RECALLABLE1 TO A CONF$]AL C\NCIL TO C>RY \T ! POLICIES E/ABLI%$ BY 9DIVIDUAL ASSEMBLIES4 ,! DECISIONS !SE C\NCILS W\LD MAKE W\LD BE PURELY ADM9I/RATIVE2 9DE$1 !Y W\LD BE EXPRESSLY PROHIBIT$ FROM MAK+ POLICY DECISIONS1 :I* W\LD REMA9 ! EXCLUSIVE PROV9CE ( ! POPUL> ASSEMBLIES4 ,CONF$]ATION IS A SY/EM NOT ( REPRES5TATION BUT ( COORD9ATION4 ,IT IS PR$ICAT$1 SO F> AS POLICY-MAK+ IS CONC]N$1 ON DECISION-MAK+ BY ! OV]ALL MAJORITY ( ! CITIZ5S 9 ! COMMUNITIES ( ! CONF$]ATION4 

,AS A =M ( AN>*I/ COMMUNALISM1 LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM CALLS = ! MUNICIPALIZATION ( ! ECONOMY3 POPUL> MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLIES !MSELVES W\LD TAKE CONTROL ( ! PRODUCTIVE =CES )9 !IR PREC9CTS4 ,! MUNICIPALIZATION ( ! ECONOMY IS TO BE DI/+UI%$ FROM ITS NATIONALIZATION 7:I* M]ELY RE9=CES /ATISM & LEADS QUITE EASILY TO TOTALIT>IAN SY/EMS ( MANAGEM5T7 & FROM A SYNDICALI/ APPROA* ?AT W\LD PLACE ! ECONOMY 9 ! H&S ( WORK]-CONTROLL$ COLLECTIVES 7:I* (T5 FO/] COLLECTIVE CAPITALI/ 5T]PRISES74 ,9 A MUNICIPALIZ$ ECONOMY ! CITIZ5RY 9 !IR RESPECTIVE ASSEMBLIES W\LD MAKE ECONOMIC DECISIONS1 GUID$ NOT BY OCCUPATIONAL 9T]E/S1 :I* MI<T EASILY BIAS SU* DECISIONS 9 FAVOR ( P>TICUL> 5T]PRISES1 BUT BY ! 9T]E/S ( ! COMMUNITY AS A :OLE4 

,IT SEEMS TO ME ?AT IF WE W]E TO D5Y ?AT HUMANITY IS CAPABLE ( CREAT+ A DIRECT-DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY LIKE ! ONE \TL9$ BY LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM1 WE W\LD HAVE TO SACRIFICE \R COMMITM5T NOT ONLY TO SOCIAL AN>*ISM BUT TO ANY K9D ( HUMANI/IC & RATIONAL SOCIETY4 ,SYNDICALISM1 TO BE SURE1 (F]S AN ALT]NATIVE--A SOCIETY ORGANIZ$ >\ND WORK]S' CONTROL ( ECONOMIC PRODUCTION4 ,IF ,I FELT ?AT ?IS ALT]NATIVE C\LD BE A*IEV$ 9 A CONSI/5TLY LIB]T>IAN FA%ION1 ,I MI<T WELCOME IT AS A POSSIBLE ROAD TO A SOCIAL AN>*I/ SOCIETY4 ,:AT TR\BLES ME IS ?AT SYNDICALISM HAS BE5 BELEAGU]$ BY VOCATIONAL P>TICUL>ISM2 NOR IS !RE REASON TO BELIEVE ?AT SYNDICALI/ UNIONS CAN AVOID ! HI]>*ICAL /RUCTURES ?AT >E 5DEMIC TO A SOCIETY /RUCTUR$ >\ND FACTORIES4 

,AS VITAL AS ! ROLE ( WORK+ PEOPLE IS 9 TRANS=M+ SOCIETY1 ! ]A HAS PASS$ :5 ! 9DU/RIAL PROLET>IAT 5JOY$ ! HEGEMONIC ROLE ASSIGN$ TO IT BY ,M>XI/S AS WELL AS SYNDICALI/S4 ,SOCIAL AN>*I/S1 9 MY VIEW1 HAVE TO TAKE A WID] VIEW ( ! SOCIAL CONDITIONS & ( ! PEOPLE :O >E LIKELY TO BE 9VOLV$ 9 ANY LIB]T>IAN TRANS=MATION ( SOCIETY4 ,9 ANY CASE1 WORK+ PEOPLE >E PEOPLE AS WELL AS WORK]S3 ,!Y LIVE 9 COMMUNITIES1 EXP]I5CE PROBLEMS ( POLLUTION1 $UCATION1 ! LOGI/ICS ( CITY LIFE1 & ! LIKE4 ,!Y >E NOT CREATURES ( ! WORKPLACE ALONE--!Y >E ALSO CIVIC OR MUNICIPAL BE+S1 ) ALL ! CONC]NS ?AT SU* PEOPLE HAVE \TSIDE ! WORKPLACE4 

,9DE$1 AS ANY CLOSE /UDY ( PA/ REVOLUTIONS REVEALS1 EV]Y POPUL> UPRIS+ HAS HAD NOT ONLY AN ECONOMIC & SOCIAL DIM5SION BUT A PR(\ND MUNICIPAL DIM5SION AS WELL4 ,IT W\LD BE IMPOSSIBLE1 9 FACT1 TO UND]/& H[ WORK]S1 PEASANTS1 & EV5 RADICAL SECTIONS ( ! MIDDLE-CLASS C\LD HAVE BE5 MOBILIZ$ 9TO REVOLUTION>Y CR[DS )\T CONSID]+ ! NEI<BORHOODS & COMMUNITIES ?AT =M$ ! BASIS = A POLITICAL CULTURE 9 !IR PLACES ( RESID5CE4 

,CRITICS ( LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM SOMETIMES OBJECT ?AT TODAY'S CITIES >E F> TOO L>GE TO ACCOMMODATE SELF-GOV]NM5T BY POPUL> ASSEMBLIES4 ,EV5 IF ONE W]E TO DIVIDE UP A CITY LIKE ,NEW ,YORK OR ,P>IS OR ,MEXICO ,CITY 9TO NEI<BORHOODS & SET UP NEI<BORHOOD ASSEMBLIES1 ?IS CRITICISM GOES1 ! ASSEMBLIES W\LD /ILL BE TOO L>GE = DECISION-MAK+ TO BE VIABLE4 ,BUT SU* PROPOSALS (T5 PRESUPPOSE ?AT ! 5TIRE POPULATION--9FANTS1 ! 9FIRM1 ! DEBILITAT$ ELD]LY1 *ILDR51 ! 9SANE--WILL P>TICIPATE 9 LOCAL ASSEMBLY OR WILL WANT TO ATT5D4 ,9 #agic ,P>IS1 A CITY ) A POPULATION ( MORE ?AN #g1 PEOPLE1 WAS DIVID$ 9TO =TY-EI<T SECTIONS1 PRODUC+ AN ASSEMBLY DEMOCRACY 9 ONE ( ! MO/ REM>KABLE COMMUNALI/ REVOLUTIONS 9 HI/ORY4 ,NOR WAS ?IS SECTIONAL DEMOCRACY =GOTT5 9 ! REVOLUTIONS 9 ,P>IS ( #ahdh & #a#h#g#a1 BY :I* TIME ! CITY'S POPULATION HAD SWOLL5 TO AB\T TWO MILLION4 

,MOREOV]1 ?IS K9D ( CRITICISM ASSUMES ?AT ALL P>TS ( A L>GE CITY WILL DEVELOP POLITICALLY AT ! SAME PACE2 ?AT EV]YONE1 EV5 9 ! MO/ FAVORABLE LOGI/ICAL CIRCUM/ANCES1 WILL WANT TO ATT5D EV]Y ASSEMBLY MEET+2 & F9ALLY1 ?AT ! MOD]N CITY WILL ALWAYS REMA9 AS IT IS UNTO ET]NITY4 ,! POLITICS ADVANC$ BY LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM 9VOLVES A PROCESS--A PROTRACT$ ONE1 TO BE SURE--9 :I* BASIC *ANGES WILL BE MADE UNEV5LY4 ,SOME NEI<BORHOODS & T[NS CAN BE EXPECT$ TO ADVANCE MORE RAPIDLY ?AN O!RS 9 POLITICAL CONSCI\SNESS4 ,ALL[ANCES MU/ BE MADE = 9/ITUTIONAL V>IATIONS--POSSIBLY TEMPOR>Y1 POSSIBLY P]MAN5T--?AT >E NOT =ESEEABLE TODAY4 ,AT ! PRES5T TIME WE >E AT A PO9T :]E ONLY ! 9ITIATION ( AN AN>*I/ OR COMMUNALI/ POLITICS IS POSSIBLE2 IT WILL HAVE TO F9D ITS [N MOM5TUM OV] A SPAN ( YE>S1 DUR+ :I* URBAN LIFE IS LIKELY TO UND]GO CONSID]ABLE 9/ITUTIONAL & ULTIMATELY PHYSICAL DEC5TRALIZATION4 

,I,V 

,:ATEV] MY/IQUE SURR\NDS ! ROLE ( ! /ATE 9 MA9TA9+ 0PUBLIC ORD]0 & ADJU/+ SOCIAL DISLOCATIONS--9CLUD+ ! GR[+ ABUSES PRODUC$ BY MOD]N CAPITALISM--! COMMITM5T ( /ATE 9/ITUTIONS IS TO ! ADVANCEM5T ( CORPORATE 7READ3 CLASS7 9T]E/S4 ,! MOD]N /ATE REMA9S ! 9DISP5SABLE MEANS BY :I* CORPORATIONS CAN EXP& & ASS]T !IR P[]4 

,AT A TIME :5 MU* IS MADE ( ! 0GLOBALIZATION0 ( CAPITALISM1 IT IS TEMPT+ = LEFTI/S TO FOCUS PRIM>ILY ON CORPORATE P[] &1 9/EAD ( OPPOS+ ! /ATE1 TO LOOK TO IT AS A MEANS TO RE/RA9 RAPACI\S GLOBAL CORPORATIONS4 ,TO DO SO IS TO OV]LOOK A BASIC FACT AB\T ! /ATE3 ?AT IT S]VES ! 9T]E/S ( WEAL? & PROP]TY4 ,?AT CORPORATIONS >E AU?ORIT>IAN 9/ITUTIONS DOES NOT JU/IFY /R5G!N+ ! /ATE TO OPPOSE !M4 ,CORPORATIONS HAVE ALWAYS BE5 AU?ORIT>IAN4 ,SOME TWO C5TURIES AGO1 DUR+ ! ,9DU/RIAL ,REVOLUTION1 9DIVIDUAL FACTORY [N]S MADE DECISIONS--(T5 AS >ROGANTLY AS A MOD]N ,C,E,O--?AT PR(\NDLY AFFECT$ ! LIVES ( HUNDR$S ( PEOPLE4 ,HAV+ BE5 ON UNION NEGOTIAT+ COMMITTEES MYSELF & OBS]V$ ! PR$ATORY BEHAVIOR ( MANAG]S & CAPITALI/S1 IT SURPRISES ME ?AT LEFTI/S TODAY CAN BE SURPRIS$ BY ! AU?ORIT>IAN RELATIONS ?AT EXI/ 9 FACTORIES & CORPORATIONS4 

,9ASMU* AS CAPITALI/ 5T]PRISES CON/ITUTE ! MO/ BASIC ELEM5TS 9 ! CAPITALI/ S*EME1 IT IS NAIVE TO ASSUME ?AT ! /ATI/ 9/ITUTIONS ?AT EXI/ TO S]VE !M CAN BE DEPLOY$ TO SIGNIFICANTLY CONTROL !M1 /ILL LESS *ALL5GE !M4 ,! DRIFT ( PRES5T-DAY LEFTI/S 9TO /ATI/ POLITICS ) ! 9T5TION ( RE/RICT+ ! P[] ( CAPITAL IS VITIAT$ BY A BASIC CONTRADICTION3 ! V]Y /ATE MA*9E ?AT !Y SUPPOSE CAN CONTROL ! B\RGEOIS =CES ( PRODUCTION & EXPANSION IS PRECISELY ! MA*9E ?AT CAPITAL HAS 9 GREAT P>T CREAT$ TO EXT5D ITS CONTROL OV] SOCIAL LIFE4 

,WE CAN NO MORE C\NT]VAIL & CONFRONT ! /ATE BY 5T]+ 9TO IT ?AN WE CAN C\NT]VAIL & CONFRONT ! CORPORATIONS BY 5T]+ 9TO !M4 ,A C\NT]P[] HAS TO BE E/ABLI%$ AGA9/ BO? ! /ATE & CAPITALISM4 ,IT MU/ DRAW ON A V>IETY ( =CES1 SOME ( !M QUITE TRADITIONAL BUT READAPT$ TO PRES5T EXIG5CIES1 TO OPPOSE ! 5TIRE SY/EM ( :AT CAN PROP]LY BE CALL$ /ATE CAPITALISM4 

,?IS C\NT]P[] CAN BE CREAT$ ONLY \T ! GREAT MASSES ( PEOPLE :O FEEL NEGLECT$ & D5I$ ECONOMICALLY & POLITICALLY1 & ALI5AT$ & OPPRESS$ BY /ATI/ 9/ITUTIONS4 ,AT ?IS LEVEL ( SOCIAL S5SIBILITY1 ! CLASSICAL L9ES ( PROLET>IAT & PETTY B\RGEOISIE >E WAN+ 9 IMPORTANCE4 ,! 9DU/RIAL WORK] :O1 LIKE ! PR(ESSIONAL1 MAY AT ANY TIME BE PHAS$ \T ( HIS OR H] OCCUPATION BY A NEW TE*NOLOGICAL ADVANCE2 ! RETAIL] :OSE EXI/5CE IS BE+ ?REAT5$ BY HUGE CORPORATE *A9S2 ! $UCATOR :O IS BE+ SUPPLANT$ BY ELECTRONIC MEANS ( 9/RUCTION--SU* 9/ANCES >E ALMO/ UN5D+ 9 NUMB]-->E FAC$ ) ! LOSS ( A PLACE 9 ! EXI/+ SOCIETY4 

,FROM ?IS 9CREAS+LY SOCIALLY UNDEF9$ MASS1 UNIT$ BY RESID5CE & FAC+ ! PROBLEMS ( A DET]IORAT+ COMMUNITY 9FRA/RUCTURE1 POLLUTION1 9SUFFICI5T *ILD C>E1 OV]WORK1 PROLIF]AT+ MALLS1 & ! DE/RUCTION ( CITY C5T]S1 ! PROBLEMS ( CAPITALISM >E BE+ POOL$ 9TO A FUND ?AT IS NO LONG] DEF9ABLE EXCLUSIVELY ALONG TRADITIONAL CLASS L9ES4 ,AT ! SAME TIME1 AT LEA/ 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES1 9EQUALITIES ( 9COME & WEAL? >E WID] ?AN !Y HAVE EV] BE5 9 HI/ORY4 ,MO/ ORD9>Y PEOPLE UND]/& ?AT !RE >E ?OSE :O 0HAVE0 & ?OSE :O 0HAVE NOT02 ?OSE :O >E OBSC5ELY WEAL?Y1 & ?OSE :OSE 9COME1 $UCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES1 ACCESS TO HEAL? C>E1 & SOCIAL MOBILITY >E DW9DL+ AT A T]RIFY+ PACE4 

,)\T 9 ANY WAY IGNOR+ ! ELEM5T>Y 9SULTS ?AT ! PRES5T SOCIETY 9FLICTS ON ! POOR & UND]PRIVILEG$1 LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM RAISES ! ISSUE ( A POPUL> RECLAMATION ( P[] BY ! COMMUNITY FROM ! /ATE & ! CORPORATIONS4 ,MO/ LEFTI/S >E SO COMMITT$ TO EX]CIS+ !IR 9F9ITESIMAL 9FLU5CE ?R\< /ATI/ 9/ITUTIONS ?AT SOCIAL AN>*I/S >E UNIQUELY POSITION$ TO R$EF9E A PRACTICAL POLITICS ?AT IS CONSI/5T ) !IR HI<E/ IDEALS4 ,!Y ALONE CAN DEM& ! DEVELOPM5T ( COMMUNITY P[]--REAL1 9/ITUTIONALIZ$1 & CONCRETE P[]--9 OPPOSITION TO ! /ATE4 ,!Y ALONE CAN TRY TO CREATE CONF$]AL ORGANIZATIONS AT ! LOCAL & REGIONAL LEVELS ?AT HAVE POLITICAL TANGIBILITY & ?AT CON/ITUTE A SPH]E = A PUBLIC DEBATE ON ALL ! ISSUES ?AT CONC]N COMMUNITY MEMB]S4 

,! 0COMMUNE10 OR 9 MORE CONTEMPOR>Y LANGUAGE1 ! MUNICIPALITY1 HAS ALWAYS BE5 ! BUILD+ BLOCK ( A SOCIAL AN>*I/ VISION ( A LIB]T>IAN SOCIETY4 ,NOT ONLY HAS ! MUNICIPALITY ANT$AT$ ! /ATE HI/ORICALLY2 IT HAS (T5 BE5 ! ANTI!SIS ( ! /ATE 9 /RUGGLES BETWE5 T[NS & FEUDAL LORDS1 ABSOLUTI/ MON>*IES1 & C5TRALI/IC 9/ITUTIONS CREAT$ BY ELITI/ REVOLUTION>IES SU* AS ! ,JACOB9S & !IR HEIRS1 ! ,BOL%EVIKS4 ,! T5SION BETWE5 ! MUNICIPALITY & ! /ATE IS A LONG/&+ HI/ORICAL ONE1 & AL?\< IT IS MORE REC5T1 ! T5SION BETWE5 ! CONF$]ATION & ! MOD]N NATION-/ATE IS NO LESS COMPELL+4 
,:AT ,I AM SUGGE/+ IS ?AT A NEW LIB]T>IAN POLITICS HAS TO BE =MULAT$ & PUT 9TO PRACTICE ?AT CALLS = A RE/ORATION ( POLITICAL P[] TO PEOPLE 9 !IR MUNICIPALITIES1 9 OPPOSITION TO ! /ATE4 ,! PRACTICE ( MY V]SION ( SOCIAL AN>*ISM 9VOLVES NOT ONLY RADICAL P>TICIPATION 9 PROTE/S1 AS ,I HAVE DESCRIB$ !M1 BUT ! BUILD+ ( A MOVEM5T ?AT AIMS TO CREATE ?IS K9D ( FACE-TO-FACE DEMOCRACY4 ,SOCIAL AN>*I/S1 ,I SUBMIT1 %\LD RAISE ! DEM& = ! EMP[]M5T ( CITIZ5S 9 T[NS & CITIES 9 ! =M ( DIRECTLY DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLIES1 REWRITE !IR CITY *>T]S 7:]E !Y HAVE !M7 TO LEGALLY EMP[] !SE ASSEMBLIES ) ! AU?ORITY TO MAKE F>-REA*+ DECISIONS AB\T !IR IMM$IATE CONC]NS1 &--YES6--EV5 RUN C&IDATES = LOCAL T[N & CITY C\NCILS ) A VIEW T[>D CREAT+ OR LEGALLY EMP[]+ CITIZ5S' ASSEMBLIES ) ! /RUCTURAL AU?ORITY TO REGULATE ! MUNICIPALITY'S AFFAIRS4 

,I DO NOT EXPECT = A S+LE MOM5T ?AT !SE ACTIVITIES WILL BE RECOGNIZ$ BY EXI/+ CITY GOV]NM5TS1 MANY ( :I* HAVE FUNCTIONS ?AT >E DI/9CTLY /ATI/ OR ?AT RELY ON /ATE SUPPORT4 ,NOR DO ,I BELIEVE ?AT SOCIAL AN>*I/S :O 9ITIATE SU* ASSEMBLIES WILL BE MORE ?AN A M9ORITY AMONG ! CITIZ5S :O P>TICIPATE 9 !M4 ,BUT A SPH]E ( POT5TIAL POLITICAL P[]1 DISCUSSION1 & $UCATION WILL HAVE BE5 CREAT$ 9 :I*1 OV] TIME & ) MU* EF=T1 A C\NT]P[] C\LD DEVELOP 9 OPPOSITION TO ! /ATE &1 ) 5\< SUPPORT 9 ! ECONOMIC REALM1 ! CORPORATIONS4 ,?IS DUAL P[]1 ONCE IT GA9$ ! SUPPORT ( A L>GE NUMB] ( PEOPLE1 C\LD ULTIMATELY CON/ITUTE A =CE TO CONFRONT ! /ATE & ! CAPITALI/ SY/EM & REPLACE !M ) A LIB]T>IAN COMMUNI/ SOCIETY4 

,! PRACTICE ?AT ,I AM SUGGE/+ IS CONSI/5T ) ! SOCIAL AN>*I/ IDEAL ( ! 0,COMMUNE ( COMMUNES40 ,9DE$1 ,I F9D IT DIFFICULT TO CONCEIVE ( ANY O!R PUBLIC PRACTICE ?AT POT5TIALLY *ALL5GES ! /ATE MA*9]Y & CAPITALI/ SY/EM 9 A LIB]T>IAN FA%ION4 ,AFT] MANY DECADES 9 LABOR UNIONS & DIRECT-ACTION ORGANIZATIONS SU* AS ! CIVIL RI<TS MOVEM5T1 ! ,CLAM%ELL ,ALLIANCE 7A MASS ANT9UCLE> ORGANIZATION71 & ! ,NEW ,LEFT1 & AS A P>TICIPANT 9 ! =MATION ( ! ,AM]ICAN ,GRE5S 7BE=E !Y DECID$ TO 5GAGE 9 NATIONAL POLITICS71 ,I %>E ! SOCIAL AN>*I/ CONVICTION ?AT P>LIAM5T>Y POLITICS IS 9H]5TLY CORRUPTIVE4 
,TO CONF9E ANTI/ATISM TO ! REALM ( IDEALS )\T SEE+ ITS IMM$IATE RELEVANCE TO PRACTICE RISKS MAK+ A MOCK]Y ( BO? IDEALS & PRACTICE4 ,*OOS+ A RE=MI/ P>LIAM5T>ISM & A /ATI/ =M ( 0POLITICAL0 ACTIVITY1 9CLUD+ P>TICIPATION 9 P>TIES1 AM\NTS TO SAY+ ! CAPITALISM & ! /ATE >E H]E TO /AY1 & ?AT WE >E ESS5TIALLY COMPELL$ TO SUBMIT \RSELVES TO AU?ORIT>IAN 9/ITUTIONS--ALL[+ = A MODICUM ( ROOM TO MANEUV] )9 LIMITATIONS ?AT >E TOL]ABLE TO ! MOD]N B\RGEOIS SOCIAL ORD]4 

,A PRACTICE ?AT IS 9 ACCORDANCE ) SOCIAL AN>*I/ IDEALS IS ! ONLY WAY ( MAK+ GIV+ \R IDEALS RELEVANCE TO PEOPLE :O >E UNFAMILI> ) !M4 ,IDEALS EASILY TURN 9TO DAYDREAMS--OR WORSE--:5 !Y /& 9 FLAT CONTRADICTION TO ! REALITIES ( ONE'S PRACTICE4 ,BY SEP>AT+ IDEALS FROM PRACTICE1 CRUSAD+ MOVEM5TS ) ]/:ILE HI< IDEALS1 LIKE ,*RI/IANITY & EV5 V>I\S SOCIALISMS1 HAVE HI/ORICALLY WR\<T 5ORM\S SOCIAL H>M4 ,)\T A PRACTICE ?AT CAN EMBODY \R IDEALS1 ?OSE IDEALS EASILY BECOME M]E CREATURES ( ! IMAG9ATION & CAN BE ADOPT$ OR CA/ (F AT WILL--OR1 WORSE1 BE US$ TO ADD SPICE TO COMMONPLACE POLITICAL BEHAVIOR ?AT HAS NO?+ 9 COMMON ) SOCIAL AN>*ISM4 

  

--,M>* #b#e1 #aiig 

7,S\RCE3 ,PUBLI%$ 9 ,LEFT ,GRE5 ,P]SPECTIVES3 ,NEWSLETT] ( ! ,GRE5 ,PROGRAM ,PROJECT1 ,NO4 #* 7,APRIL #a#i#i#h74 ,ORIG9ALLY PUBLI%$ 9 #aiig 9 ! ,G]MAN P]IODICAL ,S*W>Z] ,FAD5 7,NR4 #f#a1 #b_/#i#g1 P4 #b#a-#b#i747 

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

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,OCTOB] #b#b1 #bba 3 ,! ,UNITY ( ,IDEALS & ,PRACTICE -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #i1 #bbb 3 ,! ,UNITY ( ,IDEALS & ,PRACTICE -- ,UPDAT$4 

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