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Recent articles by Mitch
Κινέζοι αναρ ... 0 comments WSA Conference Upbeat and positive 0 comments W.S.A. New Years Greetings 1 comments Recent Articles about North America / Mexico Anarchist movementIn Support of “Turning the Tide” Aug 02 23 El movimiento Apr 25 23 A Companion to the English Translation of Social Anarchism and Organis... Oct 09 21 A Brief History of the Workers' Solidarity Alliance
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Sunday August 07, 2005 13:52 by Mitch - W.S.A. wsany at hotmail dot com 339 Lafayette Street - Room 202, NY NY 10012
I am submiting this in part, as historical backgound, to help understand the origins of a part of the US anarchist movement. Quite a few of us continue adhere to the traditional principles of anarcho-communism, while also adhering to the best traditions of anarcho-syndicalism as well. I am submiting this in part, as historical backgound, to help understand the origins of a part of the US anarchist movement. Quite a few of us continue adhere to the traditional principles of anarcho-communism, while also adhering to the best traditions of anarcho-syndicalism as well. |
HauptseiteSupport Sudanese anarchists in exile Joint Statement of European Anarchist Organizations International anarchist call for solidarity: Earthquake in Turkey, Syria and Kurdistan Elements of Anarchist Theory and Strategy 19 de Julio: Cuando el pueblo se levanta, escribe la historia International anarchist solidarity against Turkish state repression Declaración Anarquista Internacional por el Primero de Mayo, 2022 Le vieux monde opprime les femmes et les minorités de genre. Leur force le détruira ! Against Militarism and War: For self-organised struggle and social revolution Declaração anarquista internacional sobre a pandemia da Covid-19 Anarchist Theory and History in Global Perspective Capitalism, Anti-Capitalism and Popular Organisation [Booklet] Reflexiones sobre la situación de Afganistán South Africa: Historic rupture or warring brothers again? Death or Renewal: Is the Climate Crisis the Final Crisis? Gleichheit und Freiheit stehen nicht zur Debatte! Contre la guerre au Kurdistan irakien, contre la traîtrise du PDK Meurtre de Clément Méric : l’enjeu politique du procès en appel North America / Mexico | Anarchist movement | en Fri 29 Mar, 13:40 Press Advisory- N.Y. City Anarchist Bookfair Apr 16, 2016 06:42 Mon 04 Jan 1 comments NYC ANARCHIST BOOKFAIR - 10th anniversary Prairie Struggle is Dead and the Struggle Continues 15:47 Wed 03 Jun 1 comments As much as this pains those who have participated in the anarchist communist experience between 2011 and 2014 in the Canadian prairies, today, Prairie Struggle announces its official secession and subsequent disbandment. To this day, Prairie Struggle was the only specific platformist organization in the Canadians prairies. Though some may recall the existence of an anarchist communist group in Regina affiliated to the ACF (Anarchist Communist Federation of North America) in the 80s, organized anarchism in the prairies has had many difficulties, some of which the Prairie Struggle Project has failed to overcome. Despite its downfall, Prairie Struggle, for one last time, offers a look into the organization, its failures and its small victories. Communiqué of the Mexican Anarchist Black Cross following the declarations of the FD Govt. 00:15 Wed 19 Dec 0 comments In recent days, following the events of the demonstrations on December 1st for the presidential inauguration of Enrique Peña Nieto, during which the police forces, both of the Federal [national] and Federal District [Mexico City] forces, brutally repressed demonstrators - officials of the Federal District government, amongst whom were the head of government of the FD and the capital's attorney, have made statements declaring that those responsible for the clashes are anarchist groups.[Castellano] [Français] [Deutsch] New Atlanta Anarchist Blog 13:04 Tue 13 Nov 0 comments Announcing the Heat Index blog at www.heatindexatl.info Workers Solidarity Alliance Holds 2012 Continental Conference 01:42 Thu 23 Aug 0 comments A post-conference report from the Workers Solidarity Alliance's 2012 Gathering in St. Louis MO The creation of Prairie Struggle Organization, its politics and its goals 18:00 Tue 05 Jun 0 comments In the last 5 months, some anarchists from Regina have been engaged in the difficult process of creating a revolutionary anarchist organization and debating its political influences. As a result of these meetings and debates, we are proud to finally announce the existence of Prairie Struggle Organization based in Regina. To hopefully start a dialogue with anarchists in the west of Canada and beyond, we feel it important to let you know why anarchist politics in Regina are taking this direction. M1 Mayday Statement 23:54 Mon 30 Apr 0 comments Since May 1, 2006 we have seen a slow opening up of mass struggles on a scale not seen in recent memory, amplified by the silent economic crash in 2008. From the massive day without an immigrant to the historic Arab Spring; the Wisconsin workers uprising to the prisoners strikes in Georgia and California; Occupy Wall Street to the rallies for Justice for Trayvon Martin; General strikes of students in Chile and Quebec and of workers in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. People committed to real change cannot help but feel the wind in our sails. People are rising and refusing, struggles are igniting, common ground is revealing itself, we are beginning to feel and take back our power, everywhere. last call for NYC Anarchist Book Fair workshop Proposals 14:58 Thu 15 Mar 0 comments The 6th Annual NYC Anarchist Book Fair will be held on Saturday April 14th, 2012 @ Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square South, New York City with workshops continuing through April 15th Northeastern Anarchist #15 available now! 01:54 Fri 06 May 0 comments This issue is on Ecology, Industry, Crisis and Alternatives: bell hooks on Intersectionalism, Transit Organizing in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and New York City; Indoor Fish Farms, Solar Power, Green Building, "The Vegetarian Myth", Ecological & Economic Crisis, and more... Mayday Greetings from the First of May Anarchist Alliance 01:11 Tue 03 May 0 comments Mayday is not only a time to remember the sacrifices of so many before us who fought against all authority – capitalism and the state, patriarchy and white supremacy, empire and ecocide – but also a time to reflect on and celebrate the achievements of our movements today. In recent months the world has again been changed by the actions of masses of ordinary people. more >>In Support of “Turning the Tide” Aug 02 4 comments Like Black Rose/Rosa Negra, we also see new possibilities arising for the development of Popular Power by combining the organized forces of the exploited, dominated, and oppressed classes together. The I-5AF supports "Turning the Tide". El movimiento Apr 25 18 comments There is a difference between strategic divergence and ideological opposition. Nevertheless, even in tendencies that have relatively high ideological affinity, this misunderstanding can be found and has consistently led to splits in both anarchism and in popular movements. Some tendencies do not aim to organize on the political level, and in our current context, it makes sense to elaborate on the particular organizational and strategic problems with this kind of anarchist politics because, for us, part of our role as a small engine within a growing Popular Power is to keep generating and dissipating liberatory theory and practices. A Companion to the English Translation of Social Anarchism and Organisation Oct 09 0 comments This is a companion to Social Anarchism and Organisation by the Anarchist Federation of Rio de Janeiro. All of the references are to only that text which has become essential reading for social anarchists today. This article summarizes, paraphrases and interprets the original. It is meant to be an addition to the English language discourse on especifismo and social anarchism generally, as well as the FARJ text in particular. There is a link to an audio version with a slideshow presentation at the end. Are Anarchists Socialists? Feb 18 4 comments **Many people regard anarchism and socialism as contradictory programs. This is based on the conception of "socialism" as state ownership of the economy. Yet historically, anarchists have regarded this program as "state socialism" or "authoritarian socialism." They have rejected such views in favor of "anarchist-socialism" or "libertarian socialism." This concept of anarchism as a variety of socialism remains important today in opposition to pro-capitalist "libertarianism" and to "democratic socialism"--that is, reformist state socialism.** Some of My Past Political Mistakes Apr 15 2 comments In the 1980s I participated in a "dialogue" about anarchism and Marxism. Re-reading my writing now, when I am a revolutionary anarchist, I think that much of what I wrote then was wrong--with one exception. I went over certain key issues, such as the strengths and weaknesses of Marxism, the state, the revolutionary party, election participation, and national liberation--topics which are still important for anarchists and other radicals to consider and debate. more >>Press Advisory- N.Y. City Anarchist Bookfair Apr 16, 2016 Jan 04 NYC Anarchist Bookfair Collective 1 comments NYC ANARCHIST BOOKFAIR - 10th anniversary Prairie Struggle is Dead and the Struggle Continues Jun 03 Regina Collective 1 comments As much as this pains those who have participated in the anarchist communist experience between 2011 and 2014 in the Canadian prairies, today, Prairie Struggle announces its official secession and subsequent disbandment. To this day, Prairie Struggle was the only specific platformist organization in the Canadians prairies. Though some may recall the existence of an anarchist communist group in Regina affiliated to the ACF (Anarchist Communist Federation of North America) in the 80s, organized anarchism in the prairies has had many difficulties, some of which the Prairie Struggle Project has failed to overcome. Despite its downfall, Prairie Struggle, for one last time, offers a look into the organization, its failures and its small victories. New Atlanta Anarchist Blog Nov 13 Heat Index 0 comments Announcing the Heat Index blog at www.heatindexatl.info Workers Solidarity Alliance Holds 2012 Continental Conference Aug 23 Workers Solidarity Alliance 0 comments A post-conference report from the Workers Solidarity Alliance's 2012 Gathering in St. Louis MO M1 Mayday Statement Apr 30 First of May Anarchist Alliance 0 comments Since May 1, 2006 we have seen a slow opening up of mass struggles on a scale not seen in recent memory, amplified by the silent economic crash in 2008. From the massive day without an immigrant to the historic Arab Spring; the Wisconsin workers uprising to the prisoners strikes in Georgia and California; Occupy Wall Street to the rallies for Justice for Trayvon Martin; General strikes of students in Chile and Quebec and of workers in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. People committed to real change cannot help but feel the wind in our sails. People are rising and refusing, struggles are igniting, common ground is revealing itself, we are beginning to feel and take back our power, everywhere. |
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Kommentare (11 de 11)
Spring zu Komment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11Thanks for posting this - its important to record the history of the anarchist movement even or perhaps especially with projects whose outcome was mixed.
It would be very interesting to see a more fleshed out version of this that included a discussion of key initatives that must have been taken over the years and a critical evaluation of these. This could provide a useful starting point for those who are getting active now - and a way of avoiding the tendancy of each generation having to reinvent the wheel.
At some point I hope to do a few different in-depth articles. I'm in the process of tryiong to get it together (mainly time constraints and a lousy writing style) to write an article on the US & Canadian ACF. I've promised the NEFAC comradse I'd take a stab at it. It will get done!
In the meanwhile, if there are specific questions I might be able to answer, bot on thi list or off list, please feel free to email me. I'll be happy to share whatever thoughts or experiances with others.
What are the main differences between Nefac and the WSA? And any other of the organisations in your neck of the woods. Are the WSA more intent on promoting explictly anarchist-syndicalist unions? If so is that a sizable difference in the here and now? Would there be much practical contact between members of both organisations?
Practicaly, in the day to day class struggle, I dont think there is a big difference between NEFAC and the WSA. The main difference I see is that the WSA is an anarcho-syndicalist formation (used to be a member of the IWA) while NEFAC is an anarcho-communist group. There's also a difference in the fact that NEFAC is more ideologicaly orthodox while WSA people are looking at different traditions (see the debate over PARECON for exemple). Otherwise, there are generational and organisational differences (WSA folks are generaly older, are less numerous and more geographicaly widespread).
Yeah, honestly I don't think the differences in the day-to-day work or outlook of our respective groups is all that different. I am critical of orthodox anarcho-syndicalism as a viable strategy for anarchists, at least at this stage of class struggle (particularly in North America), but I think the general approach of the WSA to labor struggles, unions, etc. is fairly open and non-dogmatic, and pretty much in line with NEFAC in this area. Along with NAF, they are probably the group we are closest with these days.
That said, they are a group with their own identity and history, and have members throughout the United States (NEFAC is only based in the northeast, and we have members in US and Canada), so it is unlikely we would simply combine forces as one organization... at least not in the forseeable future.
Cheers,
----MaRK
Hi folks,
I'll be out of commission for a few days and would love to reply to the questions and comments concerning the WSA.
For a moment I'll say that WSA has never saw itself as a union. We've always acted as an anarcho-syndicalist (read class struggle anarchist) propaganda and solidarity organization.
WSA has always promoted a wide variety and range of tactics and strategies. We believe, as comrades in NEFAC do, that the class struggle will take a variety of forms and that we should be part of those forms and to help push and develop the libertarian content of those forms.
I would say that WSA has always been unique in a variety of ways. While the basic points of agrement, aside of the WSA "where We Stand", have been the IWA's "Principles of Revoutionary Syndicalism", we never closed closed our ears to what others had to say. So we really never have fit into any one box particularly very neatly.
The WSA's views have always been pretty pluarlistic and we have always seen ourselves as agaitating class struggle ideas, both on and off the job.
The WSA "Where We Stand" is slowly being rewritten, having been written only once in the 1980s. But folks should view the site: www.workersolidarity.org. to get a flavor for the WSA's starting point.
While we are not "platformists", we have always respected and liked the comrades from the WSM. And we hope that the feelings have been mutual.
While the WSA and WSM may not always agree on every point or even trace our traditions from every spoke on the anarchist wheel, we have never had any problems cooperating with the WSM on mutual campaigns (mainly around the Awareness League in Nigeria) or other worker solidarity campaigns. So we believe that comrades can have real and principled differences, yet still talk with each and cooperate in meaningful ways.
Until recent times, anarcho-syndicalism has been the "rallying point" for specifically class struggle anarchists. I would venture to say that up until the mid-1990s anarcho-syndicalism was "the pole" for worldwide of class struggle anarchists.This has changed quite a bit since the very late 1990s and early 2000s for a variety of reasons.
I think it's fair to say that WSA comrades are interested in cooperating and working with other militants.
I'll rejoin the conversation later. I just wanted to at least say hello and add a little something.
I will mention a couple of additional points from my
own perspective. Like Mitch, I was a founder of
WSA. The WSA's "Where We Stand" statement
never uses words like "anarchism", "sociialism" or
"communism". This was quite conscious. I think
these words are not useful for clear
communication of our ideas to ordinary folks these days in the U.S.
I think a hole in that statement, however, is that we
failed to explain our organizational self-conception.
I personally think that what we tried to do was to
form a revolutionary left-libertarian political
organization. Ideally it would be an organization of
rank and file activists and organizers, rooted in
actual struggles and working class communities.
Anarchists, in my observation, often fail to
appreciate the importance of helping to build a
social base for our ideas in working class
communities. I don't think we succeeded in
becoming quite the organization that I think is
needed, if only because we never had enough
people. But I also think we could have been
clearer at the outset about this organizational
self-concept. Some anarcho-syndicalists are
opposed to a political organization on the grounds
that its relationship to the mass of working people
must then be "vanguardist." We don't agree with
that. A non-vanguardist approach means that the
activists aim to develop capacity and control and
sharing of knowledge among the rank and file, to
develop their capacity to run their own movements,
not concentrate expertise and control into the
hands of the "vanguard."
WSA is organized on the basis of indidividual
membership. We adopted this because of the
many individuals we have had -- a dispersed
membership. I think we should have also required
that any individual who joins in an area where we
have a group must be approved by that gruop.
Failing to do this was one of the things that set us
up for the entryist maneuver of a group that tried to
capture WSA in the late '90s.
Where we ARE libertarian syndicalist is in our
strategic commitment. Our central strategy is the
development of self-managed mass organizations
rooted in struggles in working class communities.
Although our main focus has been on
organizations in workplace struggles, we also
recognize the importance of struggles outside the
workplace. My own main activity has been in transit
rider and housing/anti-gentrification struggles in
recent years.
We also believe that the struggle isn't just a class
struggle but that there are struggles against
non-class forms of oppression, racism and
patriarchy, and these can be an aspect of both
struggles in workplaces and in the community.
Although we have made efforts to develop rank
and file opposition movements in AFL-CIO unions,
we have also sometimes organized workers into
AFL unions, in situations where that was the most
viable tactic. There are some situations where
there really isn't any other practical alternative.
But we believe that we need to have tactics and
strategy to change the labor movement towards
rank and file self-management of its struggles &
organizations. In keeping with this, we have also
placed an emphasis on supporting more
grassroots and independent forms of worker
organization such as independent unions or
worker centers. Developing a mass movement
that is self-managing is part of the process of the
working class coming to have the capacity to
revolutionize society.
The WSA was never communist , that is, there are
individual members of WSA who consider
themselves to be anarchist-communists, but we
never had a consensus on that. I personaly
think a moneyless gift economy wouldn't work.
That's my personal opinion.
Unlike some anarchists, I think we generally
presuppose the three-class analysis of
capitalism, that in addition to labor and capital,
there is a third technocratic or managerial or
coordinator class (whatever you want to call it).
This is important in understanding the nature of
the "Communist" countries. They aren't capitalist
but a technocratic or managerialist mode of
production. We need a program to ensure that a
technocratic ruling class does not get
consolidated in a revolution.
I personally think WSA's affiliation to the IWA was a
mistake. I think I didn't appreciate back in the '80s
how main IWA groups were committed to the
conception of a highly ideologized union -- an
approach that the WSA rejects.
Tom Wetzel
W.S.A. Celebrates 30 years of struggle!
Intro. note: This is a personal posting. So I am responsible for content and use of lyrics.
On November 24th the Workers Solidarity Alliance will celebrate it's 30th Anniversary.
The road to freedom is never easy, often times filled with obstacles. Keep on traveling, keep on struggling. Freedom will always be the goal.
Remembering the good, the bad and sometimes the ugly.
Happy Birthday W.S.A.
From this ole anarcho-syndicalist and anarchist-communist salt
http://ideasandaction.info/
http://workersolidarity.org/
" It seems like yesterday
But it was long ago
….
We were young and strong, we were runnin'
Against the wind
The years rolled slowly past
….
There were oh so many roads
….
Still runnin'
… still runnin' against the wind
….. still runnin'
I'm still runnin' against the wind
Still runnin'
…..
Let the cowboys ride
They'll be ridin' against the wind
Against the wind ... "
From “Against the Wind” by Bob Seeger
November 2014, W.S.A. Celebrates 30 years!
30 years on, a bit battered and weathered, the same spirit still exists....
Join us the carrying on the intent and spirit of building a specific anarcho-syndicalist organization here in the United States.....
"A new organization, the Workers Solidarity Alliance, emerged from the conference with two principle goals. Although it is not itself a union, the primary purpose of the new group will be to promote and contribute to autonomous workers’ struggle founded on the Anarchist principles of direct democracy and direct action. ..., the new organization will work towards solidarity with other sections of the Anarchist workers movement. Workers Solidarity differs from previous attempts at a U.S. libertarian workers’ organization in being a formation in which individuals may belong and participate, rather than a federation of local groups. Given that working class Anarchist militants are numerically few and geographically scattered, it is expected that this new form will help overcome the isolation that has lately characterize our efforts."
STRIKE!, February 1985, Page 4
“WSA holds founding conference in NYC: The Return of the Anarcho-Syndicalists”
http://libcom.org/forums/north-america/1984-wsa-confere...52011
Slowly thumbing thought WSA papers, jotting notes, thinking about how to organize these and write a small history of WSA. In doing so I reread my opening comments to the WSA founding November 1984 Conference.
Win, lose or draw, I found these comments to be as true today as they were near 30 years ago:
Quote:
"In closing, let me just say that we are at an exciting crossroad. We are taking on a project that has not been taken on in recent memory. Whether we succeed or fail only time will tell. Let us not, however, be afraid of taking chances. Let us show that we can be a viable place for libertarian working class politics within revolutionary movements. And, finally, let us find warmth, friendship and solidarity in the organization we choose to build..."
How nice that the authors go to such length to call attention to the 30-plus year long existence of the Workers Solidarity Alliance -- but give no evidence that this group has done anything in the 30-plus year period to justify its existence. If the politics on display here were a going concern, we would see:
1. Accounts in some detail of actual working class social struggles the W.S.A. has been involved in -- and more importantly, what their particular version of anti-capitalist politics brought to this that isn't already found in sufficient form with other leftists,
2. And what distinguishes their involvement from the same thing as done by Trotskyists, other fans of Lenin, or plain and simple trade union-oriented left-liberals.
Instead we get:
1. We've existed for more than 30 years,
2. These are the nebulous niceties that we stalwartly believe in.
Like the empty organizational shell of Ye Olde IWW, it appears that after 30 years the main struggle of the W.S.A. is a struggle to find a reason to exist. In practice their politics don't seem to have gone anywhere outside of a very small number of ever more venerable anachro-syndicalist role playing guys, and their response to this is to make it clear that they are more afraid of surprises than anything else. Mass collective working class direct action against capitalist exploitation is more necessary than ever, and in the United States the conditions that give rise to this grow more promising by the day. For obvious reasons, the partisans of the W.S.A. are unable to even begin to make a case for their role in this.
Against wage labor and the market,
Alex Selkirk