Pedlars of reformism and the Occupy movement
A brief look at three of the ideologists pushing reformist ideas within the Occupy movement
Among the ideologists peddling the idea that capitalism can be reformed into a nice kind capitalism (rather like trying to persuade piranhas to be vegetarian) both inside and outside the Occupy movement perhaps three names stand out. Their influence can be seen in both the USA and Britain, with an article by Rifkin appearing in the September 2012 issue of Occupied Times of London.
The lessons of 2011: Three theses on organisation
Rodrigo Nunes looks at the social movements of 2011 and their implications for organising, rejecting the opposite conceptions of the vanguardist party and the loose virtual network.
2011 was an exceptional year, one which could – hopefully – come to be remembered in the same breath as 1968 and 1848. That being so will depend on whether the coming years will fulfil its promise, making it appear retrospectively as the start of something. Understanding the nature of that promise, and the means by which it can be fulfilled, therefore, are part and parcel of making that happen.
Another World - Michelle Kuo talks with David Graeber
David Graeber talks with the Editor-in-Chief of Artforum about philosophy, totalities, insurrectionism, baseline communism, and his book Debt.
MICHELLE KUO: Many artists and critics have been reading your work on everything from the long history of debt, to anarchism, to culture as “creative refusal.” That interest seems to be a reflection of how the art world, at this moment, sees itself in parallel to politics and economics.
Direct action makes history
Submitted by Recomposition on May 15 2012 22:34
A central part of our organising practice at Recomposition is direct action. In this piece our comrade Marianne addresses criticisms of Occupy Wall Street and the importance placed in that movement on a direct action strategy.
The following is not a commentary on, much less a defense of, David Graeber – with whom I disagree. It is a critique of key facets of the ideology of Andrew Kliman.
The make-believe world of David Graeber: reflections on the ideology underlying the failed occupation of Zuccotti Park - Andrew Kliman
Andrew Kliman of the Marxist-Humanist initiative criticises the arguments of David Graeber, which have been widely influential within the US Occupy movement.
pre•fig•u•ra•tion n.
1. The act of representing, suggesting, or imagining in advance.
2. Something that prefigures; a foreshadowing.
make–be•lieve adj.
Imaginary, pretended.
Noam Chomsky: What next for Occupy?
Noam Chomsky discusses the future of the Occupy Movement.
This is the transcript of a discussion that took place earlier this year between Noam Chomsky and Occupy supporters Mikal Kamil and Ian Escuela for InterOccupy, an organisation that provides links between supporters of the Occupy movement around the world.
Successful Fare Strike on New York Subways
Submitted by Hieronymous on Mar 29 2012 05:16
This morning tens of thousands rode the New York City subways for free in a Fare Strike organized by Occupy Wall Street in coordination with rank-and-file transit workers.
Fare Strikes are one of the most effective ways for transit system employees to fight in solidarity with working class riders without stranding them in heavily transit-dependent cities like New York. And it hits the bosses where it hurts the most, at the fare box.
Occupy Wall Street meets the million hoodie march
Submitted by Schwarz on Mar 22 2012 04:23
On March 21st in New York City, a large, raucous march from Union Square set out to confront police harassment and the murder of black youth at the hands of cops and racist thugs. Max Schwarz points to the possibility that this could be an opening where the activism of Occupied Wall Street combines with the militancy and anger of the city's working class black community.
The weather in New York City has been unseasonably nice this past week. The cherry blossoms are blooming, the breezes have been warm and New Yorkers are exiting (as much as they ever do) their surly winter funk.
Privilege politics is reformism
A critique of privilege politics, which the author sees as a demobilizing force that boils down issues of oppression into what happens between individuals.
This piece was written by Will, a close comrade to many members of Black Orchid Collective.
Notes on Privilege Theory
Introduction: White Supremacy Lives on
It is crystal clear that white supremacy exists. It seeps through every pore in our society. It infects every social relationship. It obviously affects Occupy Wall Street.
Notes on the Fly
SS's notes on N17 and the relationship between the left and other protesters.
November 17th was an amazing day. A few things happened in NYC which my eyes could hardly behold. Hopefully, more of that will happen in the upcoming years of struggle.
Can comment on articles and discussions