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Syndicalism : Its strengths &
weaknesses
The main organisational form in libertarian politics today is
syndicalism. Alan MacSimon, a delegate to Dublin Council of
Trade Unions who has also attended a European gathering of
revolutionary unions looks at the potential, and limits, of
syndicalism.
Interview: International
organisation
The I.W.A.was formed at the 1922 Berlin Congress of Revolutionary
Unionist organisations. This congress had been convoked by the CNT
and USI in response to the formation of the Red Trade Union
International
Bashing the Black Bloc?
In the wake of the G8 protests in Genoa, Ray Cunningham, who took
part in the demonstrations there, looks at the future for the Black
Bloc and the 'anti-globalisation' movement.
Platformism in action
The Workers Solidarity Movement was formed in 1984. Prior to this the
late 1970s and early 1980s had seen the first episodes of public
anarchist activity with the emergence of local anarchist groups, many
of them short-lived, in Belfast, Dublin, Dundalk and Limerick.
International Libertarian Solidarity
(S.I.L.)
At the last Workers Solidarity Movement conference we took the
decision to join a new international anarchist network, International
Libertarian Solidarity
Anarchist organisations meet
in Madrid [2001]
Report on the LibWeek 2001 meeting hosted by the CGT in Madrid and a
review of the declaration it issued
Rebels at Ruesta
In August 1995 an international gathering of libertarian communists
took place in Ruesta, Spain. A week of discussions took place and at
the end a declaration was drawn up. We present here extracts from the
WSM delegates' report on the week and the agreed
declaration.
The international
'Anarchist Platform'We invite you to look at the 'Anarchist Platform' points and if you agree with them to subscribe to this international anarchist mailing list
Read the 'Anarchist Platform'
From the Czech Republic: Why we
organise against the IMF
The Czech anarchist organisation Solidarita/Organisation of
Revolutionary Anarchists is working as part of INPEG, the Czech
alliance organising the protests in Prague this September. Vadim
Barek, Solidarita's international secretary explains what the IMF
means to workers in the Czech republic and why they are organising
against the summit.
Anarchism with a future -
The Czech Republic
Kevin Doyle talks to Vadim Barák of the
Solidarita organisation in the Czech Republic about the problems and
possibilities facing anarchists in the process of rebuilding a
revolutionary movement.
Irish eyewitness report on
S26 demonstration in Prague
I had chosen to march with the anarchist block that headed up (and
indeed comprised the majority of) the blue march. The front of this
was taken up by Czech anarchists followed by anarchist from the other
Eastern European countries numbering perhaps a thousand in all.
Holding the banners down one side of the march and taking position
behind the eastern Europeans were anarchists from all the western
European countries and a large number of automnen from Germany. This
anarchist block probably numbered at least 3,000
Czech Anarchists battle Fascists
Russian Anarchism: After the
fall
Although many classical anarchist theorists and figures came from
Russia, the advent of the Soviet State effectively crushed the
movement. Now anarchism is reborn in Russia. Laure Akai and
Mikhail Tsovma write from Moscow to tell us a little about the
trials and tribulations of the new Russian anarchist movement.
Coup in Russia; Anarchists
banned
As we go to press the 'coup' in Moscow has just ended, although the
question of whose coup it was still seems open. In any case it was no
more than an argument between two equally undemocratic wings of the
ruling class.
Anarchists in Russia's far east
World anarchisT News
Anarchist East-West Co-operation
Italian Anarchism...Get back
to where you once belonged
Italy is one of the historical strongholds of the anarchist movement.
Donato Romito, the international secretary of the Italian Federation
of Anarchist Communists (Fd.C.A), provides an overview of the
anarchist movement in Italy today, the organisations and publications
that comprise it and the direction it should take in the future.
Interview with Italian
anarchist
Italy seems all bad news these days with the new government
coalition's that is a mix of the neo-fascist party National Alliance,
the separatist Lega Nord and Forza Italia the party of the media
tycoon, Berlusconi. A member of the Florence affiliate of the Italian
Anarchist Federation tells us of some of the problems facing
progressives in Italy.
The Italian Job
Florence has to be one of the most beautiful cites in Italy. Thanks
to the hospitality of some friends in the Anarchist Movement of
Florence (MAF) three members of the Workers Solidarity Movement were
recently able to visit this city. During the week we spent there we
were able to be tourists by day and meet with anarchists by night.
Interview with the SAC
Kevin Doyle of the Workers Solidarity Movement interview's Lars
Hammarberg, an organiser with the Swedish syndicalist union the
Central Organisation of Swedish Workers (SAC)
This is not SIPTU
The Central Organisation of Swedish Workers (SAC) is a union which
describes itself as syndicalist and libertarian socialist.
Swedish trade union stays
Libertarian
A recent discussion in the SAC saw the union reaffirm its libertarian
politics
Swedish libertarian socialist
murdered by fascists
SWEDISH FASCISTS murdered a long time trade unionist last October.
Björn Söderberg was an activist of the 'libertarian
socialist' Swedish Workers Central Organisation (SAC) union
Anarchism in the Land of the Rising
Sun (and falling Yen)
In Japan anarchist ideas were first popularised by Kotoku Shusui and
the movement grew despite severe repression into the 1920's.
Spanish Anarcho-syndicalists
demonstrate in Madrid
A figure of twenty to twenty-five thousand demonstrated on December
2nd in what is the largest so far of a series of mainly
'black-and-red' demonstrations carried out in Madrid and other
Spanish towns over the last few years.
Review: The Spanish CNT and the
struggle in Puerto Real
This pamphlet is based on a talk by Pepe Gomez of the CNT's Puerto
Real/Cadiz section given in London in October 1993. It is based on
the long running battle between the CNT and the shipyard bosses.
General strike in Spain
Spain was closed down by a general strike in January. An Irish worker
in Barcelona, and activist in the anarchist National Confederation of
Labour (CNT-AIT) union, sent us this report.
Statement by Israeli anarchists on the occupation
Pogroms in Palestine
An Israeli anarchist on Jewish resistance to the Israeli state
News from the land of the
Cedars
An article by a Lebanese anarchist on the struggle in Lebanon
"Anarchism" in Russian and
Arabic
Daniel Guerin's book "Anarchism" has been translated in Russian and
Arabic for the first time.
Anarchism in Arabic
Daniel Guerins book Anarchism has been published in Arabic but
your help is needed with its distribution.
Workers Without Bosses -
Workers' Self-Management in Argentina
The original battle cry of Argentinean people "Que se vayan todos" -
We want all of them out - that expressed the will to break with the
corrupt bureaucracies, with the political class, turned out with all
of them staying in the end. These experiences also highlight many of
the problems anarchists elsewhere face in the wake of popular risings
and they show us that the building of a libertarian society is not a
matter of repeating clichés and slogans.
The
anarchist struggle in South America [In
French]
Anarchists are once again on the march, their voices are being heard
in mass social movements after many years of silence, and their
message of self-organisation against capitalism is being listened to
by an ever growing number of workers.
Review: Cuban Anarchism -
The History of a Movement
Frank Fernández first gives a detailed and well documented
account of how libertarian ideas first took hold in Cuba.
Mexican Anarchism
A report on a recent anarchist conference in Mexico
Feb 2001 - What
is it that is different about the Zapatistas?
In an article written for the Irish Mexico Group's magazine
'Chiapas Revealed' Andrew Flood takes a personal look at why the
Zapatistas have attracted international support and why many
activists see them as an example of a different way of organising
May 2002 - An Irish
Anarchist in the Northeast - Reflections on the North American
Anarchist Movement
In May Chekov Feeney of the WSM went on a speaking tour of the NE US
and SE Canada for the North East Federation of Anarchist Communists
(NEFAC). These are his reflections on the tour as published in their
magazine.
Anarchist
ex-Black Panther to speak in Ireland
Lorenzo Komboa Ervin speaking tour, US political prisoner and
ex-Black Panther was speaking in Ireland in May of 1997. This article
explains who he is.
Anarchists raided in Canada
The Canadian state has raided anarchists in Quebec in response to
growing social unrest.
Africa, anarchism &
neo-liberalism
Many African countries are chronically broke. They must regularly
borrow money to finance the public sector and to service their
existing debt. The IMF is willing to provide loans as long as the
government will carry out a neo-liberal reform package, known as a
Structural Adjustment Program (SAP)
.Review: African Anarchism: The
history of a movement
This book is written by two members of the Awareness League, a
1000-strong anarcho-syndicalist organisation in Nigeria
Jan 2001 - An Irish
anarchist in Africa
The previous international secretary of the WSM, Chekov Feeney, spent
2000 travelling over land through Africa. His personal diary accounts
of each country and now online
South African Anarchists
Organise
In 1989 one of the first anarchist organisations in modern African
history came into existence. This was the Awareness League of
Nigeria.Now a further organisation has begun to work for the
objective of anarchism in Africa - this is the Workers Solidarity
Federation (WSF) of South Africa.
After Apartheid: Anarchism and
the 'new' South Africa
Just three years after the famous elections that ended apartheid in
April 1994, South Africa's reforms are in crisis and dissatisfaction
is rising. In a wide ranging interview we ask the Workers Solidarity
Federation for their views on what has happened since the end of
apartheid. Interview by Kevin Doyle.
Internet Review
urban75.com
Urban75 is a great example of how the net has facilitated the
creation of new communities of interest and culture
Bengali workers fight 7-day
week
The National Garment Workers Federation which has links with
anarcho-syndicalists unions is fighting against a 7 day week.
Revolutionary Veteran speaks at
Bulgarian anarchist conference
Report on the 8th Congress of the Bulgarian anarchist federation
World anarchist news
CGT Doubles vote in Union Elections - Australian Anarchism
If the cops don't like
you
Class War meeting banned in Dublin
Class war
is over: Long live the Class War
The British Class War Federation has dissolved itself and published a
final issue of its paper. We look at why they took this
decision.
The fight
against fascism...yesterday and
tomorrow
On February 15th, the 'Plume Noire' anarchist bookstore was
plastered with fascist stickers. At around 5am the bookshop was
completely destroyed in an obviously well orchestrated incendiary
attack.
World anarchist news
Four short pieces from Germany, Spain, Belorussia and Poland about
anarchist activities in those countries.
513 Anarchists arrested in
Greece
On November 18th this year after an overnight battle with police and
fascist gangs on one side and Greek anarchists on the other riot
police stormed Athens Polytechnic and arrested 513 of the 2000 mostly
anarchist occupiers.
Anarchist students win in Australian NUS elections
World Anarchist News
Anarchism in France
International shorts
- Nigeria: Raids on anarchist meetings - Asian unions check out
anarchism - Moldova: Anarchists allowed to leave
New history of anarchist
organisation
Review of Alexandre Skirdas: Facing the Enemy: A History of Anarchist
Organisation from Proudhon to May 1968.
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Whatever happened to the AWG
Our welcoming of the AWG was mainly based on a number of reasons.
Their experience within DAM had led them to reject Syndicalism They
also accepted the basis of the Platform of the Libertarian
Communists, On Ireland they took a firm anti-imperialist line, and
actually took place in activity around this. Now just over two years
later the AWG no longer exists.
