Anthony Gorman, 2010, "'Diverse In Race, Religion And Nationality . . . But United In Aspirations Of Civil Progress': The Anarchist Movement In Egypt 1860–1940," in Steve Hirsch and Lucien van der Walt (eds), "Anarchism and Syndicalism in the Colonial and Postcolonial World, 1870-1940: the praxis of national liberation, internationalism and social revolution," Leiden, Boston, Brill.

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All that was needed was a profound economic crisis and a little discontent among the people for Europe's democracies to abandon their liberal facade and show themselves for what they really are: the dictatorship of large Capital. It doesn't matter what the citizens think, the coup d'état in Greece, the nomination of technocrats to the government in Italy and the government in Ireland radio-controlled from Brussels, these are the best proof of the fact that not even in Europe will they hesitate to put aside their democratic formalism is the interests of the 1% are in danger. While the general discontent and popular mobilization grows, what will happen next? [Italiano] [Castellano] ... read full story / add a comment

This is the 7th chapter of my book, "Marx's Economics for Anarchists; An Anarchist's Introduction to Marx's Critique of Political Economiy." It discusses the trend toward state capitalism, as theoretically developed by Marx and, even more, by Engels. It covers the relationship between Engels and Marx. It looks at the actual development of state capitalism. Kropotkin's views on statification are contrasted to Engels'. ... read full story / add a comment

As we prepare to enter the 3rd month of the Occupy movement a commonly heard criticism targets both the lack of clear demands and the related complex and often drawn out decision making processes being used at Occupy General Assemblies. These criticisms however miss the point, against the traditional left with its package of pre-set answers (best before 1917) what makes Occupy different is that process of decision making through assembly. The assembly form is not just a way of making decisions but also a different form of doing politics.  The Assembly is in embryo the different world we seek to create. ... read full story / add a comment

Anyone who has been active on the left and broader labour movement will have faced the 'million dollar question from republicans on the 'national question'. The question of opposition or indifference to the partition of the island is often thrown by republicans like a dagger in the direction of the existing left. In responnse many become either wedded to the romantic idea of the flag removing all our sins or face the jibe of being a ‘gas and water socialist’ or at worst a sop to unionism. It’s the type of choice you get at Stormont every four years where you get to choose between Coca Cola and Pepsi. Equally it’s the type of approach of the PSNI press statement that presents every ’dissenter’ from the status-quo as being wedded to physical force republicanism. But of course its much more complicated than this….

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At the time of the writing of this article the ruling class is continuing to search for the "right" person who as "transitional" prime minister can guarantee implementation of the unpopular measures to be taken against the people of Greece, squeezing them once again and ensuring continuation of the most savage exploitation in recent history. [Ελληνικά] [Français] ... read full story / add a comment

This is a report written by two IWW organizers from out of state on the activities of the union during the height of the protests in Madison and Wisconsin. The version is slightly modified from a text sent to the 2011 Delegate Convention and reflects the opinion of the authors. ... read full story / add a comment

This eyewitness account of the build to and events of the 'Occupy' Oakland General Strike of Nov 2 describes how momentum developed in the aftermath of the violent eviction of Occupy Oakland, the events of November 2nd itself including the shut down of the port, the attempted occupation of the Traveler's Aid Society building and the black bloc's attack on bank buildings. The author looks at the controversy around these last two actions in the aftermath of November 2nd and warns that "If the Oakland Commune does not continue to accelerate the process of communization, it will fall back into either pure symbolism, or assume the counterrevolutionary form of reformism (two processes already in progress)" ... read full story / add a comment

This is chapter 6 of my new book, "Marx's Economics fo Anarchists; An Anarchist's Introduction to Marx's Critique of Political Economiy." This chapter discusses the prosperity which followed World War II, its causes and limitations, and whether it contradicts the concept of the epoch of capitalist decline. It particularly considers Marx's concept of "fictitious capital." ... read full story / add a comment

With the assassination of Cano, the Colombian government has closed the doors to dialogue. How will the insurgency react? It is difficult to predict, but whatever the exact form its response assumes, in all likelihood it will involve a period of deepening and intensification of conflict - standing idly by or reiterating calls for dialogue and peace that fall on deaf ears doesn't seem to be an option now for the FARC-EP. If the Colombian government demonstrates its willingness and intent to pursue the military option, then this is what will happen, and we know what it is that this route has to offer Colombia... ... read full story / add a comment

The Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Front, or ZACF – Zabalaza meaning ‘struggle’ in isiZulu and isiXhosa – is a specific anarchist political organisation based in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is a unitary organisation – or federation of individuals, as opposed to a federation of collectives – whereby membership is on an individual basis, by invitation only. This is because we have seen – through our own experience, as well as that of global anarchism historically – that we can accomplish more as an organisation, and be more effective, when our members share a certain level of theoretical and strategic unity, and collective responsibility.
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We are so inspired to be part of this new movement of people, struggling on behalf of the 99% against a system that allows corporations to run the world. We are thrilled about the wide use of direct democracy and popular assemblies, the participation of unions and community groups, and the honest efforts to include the voices of the most oppressed. We consider these the basic building blocks of a healthy society based on freedom and equality – which is what we're fighting for. [Italiano] [Français] ... read full story / add a comment

Kostas Avramidis of Irish Anarchist-platform WSM, piece, on current conditions in Greece gives a flavour of what is going on in one of the small number of countries in Europe where there is ongoing mass public action against the austerity agenda. He draws our attention to community campaigns against unwanted capitalist projects, where the traditional political system has been bypassed. Kostas sees this as a symptom of a rising political consciousness among ordinary Greeks, but he poses his own concerns if this will be enough to transform the plight of the Greek working class in a radical way. ... read full story / add a comment

It is sometimes said that while anti-capitalist and alternative globalization movements are clear on what we do not want, we are less clear on what we do want (socialism, anarchism, specifics). Certainly, recent movements have not been as effective as their predecessors (labor in the 1910s and ‘30s; the social movements of the ‘60s and ‘70s) in sustaining the sorts of practices – intellectual and material – that put into effect aspects of the alternative world we seek. My colleague Alan Sears attributes this current inability to a decline in what he calls “infrastructures of dissent” or what I prefer to call “infrastructures of resistance.” As anti-capitalist movements face possibilities of growth, as happened after Seattle in 1999, questions of organization and the relation of various activities to each other and to broader movements for social change can only become more urgent. Yet, the absence of durable organizations or institutions, formal or informal, rooted in working-class organizations and communities, makes for demoralization or a retreat into subculturalism, as has happened to many of the alternative globalization groups. We now face a pressing need to rebuild “infrastructures of resistance” that might sustain not only activists and organizers, but especially the poor and working-class people who are being disastrously impacted by the current crisis. ... read full story / add a comment

An Irish anarchist perspective on today's EU crisis summit decision to reduce Greek debt by 50%, in the face of the recent resistance by the Greek working class. Particularly as contrasted with the differing levels of resistence in Ireland and the corresponding dictat of making the people of Ireland pay 100% of the debts incurred in the Irish property boom casino by globalised finance. ... read full story / add a comment

A light-hearted look at today's Irish presidential election comparing it, unfavourably, to a reality TV programme popular in Ireland and Britain where viewers phone in to vote for their favourite entertainers. ... read full story / add a comment

This is the 5th chapter of my book, "Marx's Economics for Anarchists: An Anarchist's Introduction to Marx's Critique of Political Economy." This chapter discusses the nature of late capitalism, with the growth of semi-monopolies, imperialism, ecological looting, revival of primitive accumulation, and denial of bourgeois-democratic rights. ... read full story / add a comment

This is the 4th chapter of a work in progress: Marx's Economics for Anarchists; An Anarchist's Introduction to Marx's Critique of Political Economy. This chapter discusses "primitive accumulation", the oppression of women at the beginning of capitalism, the destruction of the environment, and the nature of the three epochs of capitalist history. ... read full story / add a comment

Steven Hirsch and Lucien Van Der Walt (eds), Anarchism and Syndicalism in the Colonial and Postcolonial World, 1870-1940 "The Praxis of National Liberation and Social Revolution", Foreword by Benedict Anderson

* This presentation published in “Rebel Worker” paper of the Anarcho-Syndicalist Network (Sydney, Australia), Vol.30/3 (issue 211) October-November 2011, p. 15-15. The Greek translation has been published here http://www.anarkismo.net/article/20557
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This is Chapter 3 of my Marx's Economics for Anarchists: An Anarchist's Introduction to Marx's Critique of Political Economy. This chapter foces on the business cycle, crashes, and the theory of the falling rate of profit. ... read full story / add a comment