Wobblies and Zapatistas

Staughton Lynd, Andrej Grubačić

Description

Wobblies and Zapatistas offers the reader an encounter between two generations and two traditions. Andrej Grubačić is an anarchist from the Balkans. Staughton Lynd is a lifelong pacifist, influenced by Marxism. They meet in dialogue in an effort to bring together the anarchist and Marxist traditions, to discuss the writing of history by those who make it, and to remind us of the idea that “my country is the world.” Encompassing a Left-libertarian perspective and an emphatically activist standpoint, these conversations are meant to be read in the clubs and affinity groups of the new Movement.

The authors accompany us on a journey through modern revolutions, direct actions, antiglobalist counter-summits, Freedom Schools, Zapatista cooperatives, Haymarket and Petrograd, Hanoi and Belgrade, “intentional” communities, wildcat strikes, early Protestant communities, Native American democratic practices, the Workers’ Solidarity Club of Youngstown, occupied factories, self-organized councils and soviets, the lives of forgotten revolutionaries, Quaker meetings, antiwar movements, and prison rebellions. Neglected and forgotten moments of interracial self-activity are brought to light. The book invites the attention of readers who believe that a better world, on the other side of capitalism and state bureaucracy, may indeed be possible.

Sujets

• Zapatismo
• Working class
• Common Ground
• Accompaniment
• Direct action
• Conversation

Informations

• Publié par: PM Press
• Date de parution: 01 septembre 2008
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781604861853
• Langue: English

Extrait

Praise for Wobblies Zapatistas
There s no doubt that we ve lost much of our history. It s also very clear that those in power in this country like it that way. Here s a book that shows us why. It demonstrates not only that another world is possible, but that it already exists, has existed, and shows an endless potential to burst through the artificial walls and divisions that currently imprison us. An exquisite contribution to the literature of human freedom, and coming not a moment too soon.
- DAVID GRAEBER, Author of Fragments of an Anarchist Anthropology and Direct Action: an Ethnography
With the patient and intelligent prodding of Andrej Grubacic, Staughton Lynd, preeminent historian/scholar/revolutionary, takes us on a calm, leisurely walk through the annals of history and shows us what it means to be a human being. From the Zapatista movement in San Crist bal, Chiapas to the steel mills of rural Ohio, he reminds us that when it s all over, said and done, what truly matters the most is our willingness to reach out and love somebody.
- BOMANI SHAKUR A.K.A. KEITH LAMAR, Death Row, Ohio State Penitentiary
In these desperate, often tragic, times, we look backward, forward, even to our dreams to be able to keep imagining a world in which justice may be part of more people s lives. We look to lives lived before ours, to stories and their meanings, to strategies culled from the worlds of politics or ancient wisdoms. We look in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe, and here in the United States. We are willing to entertain any new idea or revamped strategy.
Staughton Lynd s life and work put him in a unique position to seek out someone like Grubacic, ask the pertinent questions, and tell the meaningful stories. Grubacic s experience perfectly compliments Lynd s. Here we have the best of a non-dogmatic Marxism listening to a most creative and humane anarchism. But this book is never weighted down by unforgiving theory. Just the opposite: it is a series of conversations where the reader feels fully present. It provides a marvelous framework for enriching the conversation that s never really stopped: about how we may make this world a better place.
Wobblies and Zapatistas: Marxism, Anarchism and Radical History is an absolute must read for anyone battered by the 1989-1990 defeat of what many called real socialism. Here is a new and vibrant starting point for thought and action-and a great read as well.
- MARGARET RANDALL, Author of Sandino s Daughters , When I Look Into the Mirror and See You , and Narrative of Power , among other books.
It is rare that words in a conversation approach the likeness of something truly new-such is the case of the friendly and productive dance of anarchist and socialist ideas in Andrej Gruba s new book: Wobblies and Zapatistas, book of conversations between Andrej Gruba and Staughton Lynd. It is a rich piece of literature, clearly benefiting from the lives and experiences of these two extraordinary human beings, and an important contribution to the continuing synthesis of revolutionary ideas. Exploring questions of participatory experiments, worker democracy, solidarity unionism, civil disobedience, organizing, and the role of theory and organic intellectuals, Wobblies and Zapatistas delves into the political questions of the twenty-first century with the utmost clarity, reflection, and insight. I d recommend Conversations to all young people interested in building a movement towards a better, more democratic world.
- BRIAN KELLY, Students for a Democratic Society Student Environmental Action Coalition
Young organizers today are faced with a rapidly changing, complex world. Many of us are building new political compasses with which to navigate such a turbulent landscape. Conversations between Lynd and Grubacic are a perfect medium to weave a narrative of social movements that roots us in history. Through rich storytelling, debate, and political analysis, this book is about more than Wobblies and Zapatistas. It is a window into wildcat strikes in Youngstown OH, the civil war in Spain, the streets of Seattle, mountains of Nicaragua, Israel and Palestine, and that s just the start. This is no romanticized history or mindless celebration of confrontation; this is a reflection on the lessons organizers can learn and carry with them to build a new world. It contains portraits of Ella Baker and Thomas Paine, thoughts on informal leadership from Saul Alinsky, and descriptions of the education of Myles Horton. The reader is treated to historical examples of interracial solidarity and movement building. We learn of songs sung in SNCC, of liberation theology and Anabaptists. We read stories of consensus decision-making in a Supermax prison, and Rosa Luxemburg s feelings on internationalism. Lynd calls for organizers who are long distance runners, not sprinters. This book is a tool to help us go the distance.
- JOSHUA KAHN RUSSELL, Climate Activist, Author, and National Organizer with Energy Action Coalition, Rainforest Action Network, and the new Students for a Democratic Society
Here, Staughton Lynd is a story teller, drawing from critical moments of popular movements over centuries and continents, as well as his own experiences as historian and activist. Together, he and Andrej Grubacic reflect on such key issues of perennial interest to those of us working to build a just, sustainable future as: Archbishop Romero s idea of accompaniment, evolving anarchist solutions to the challenges of democracy, the implications of global citizenship and the Zapatistas changing views of economic and political power, with the goal of helping us to prioritize to abandon unsuccessful experiments without condemning persons who undertook them on behalf of us all. I missed more than one subway stop whilst transported to Chiapas, the Youngstown steel mills, the fight for the 8-hour day in Chicago of the 1880 s, the Freedom Schools in Mississippi and Norman Morrison s powerful protest against the Vietnam war.
- CATHY WILKERSON, Author of the Weatherperson memoir Flying Close to the Sun
Wobblies Zapatistas
CONVERSATIONS ON ANARCHISM, MARXISM AND RADICAL HISTORY

PM PRESS
Wobblies Zapatistas
CONVERSATIONS ON ANARCHISM, MARXISM AND RADICAL HISTORY
STAUGHTON LYND ANDREJ GRUBACIC INTRODUCTION BY DENIS O HEARN
WOBBLIES Zapatistas: CONVERS ATIONS ON ANARC HISM , MARXISM AND RADICAL HISTORY By Staughton Lynd Andrej Grubacic
Copyright 2008 Staughton Lynd Andrej Grubacic This edition copyright 2008 PM Press All Rights Reserved
Cover illustration by Roderick Constance 2008 www.shadowshapes.com Designed by Courtney Utt Special thanks to Alice Lynd
Published by: PM Press PO Box 23912 Oakland, CA 94623 www.pmpress.org
ISBN: 978-1-60486-041-2 Library Of Congress Control Number: 2008931839
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed in the USA on recycled paper.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
Foreword, Forward! by Denis O Hearn
PART I, MARXISM, ANARCHISM AND ZAPATISMO
ZAPATISMO
What is Globalization?
What is the Zapatista Strategy for Change?
Does it Work?
A HAYMARKET SYNTHESIS
Zapatismo and Haymarket
THE WOBBLY EXPERIENCE
A Culture of Solidarity
The New Movement
LUXEMBURG, WEIL, AND E. P. THOMPSON
THE WORKING CLASS
Another Path
What I Learned
Solidarity Unionism
And So?
DIRECT ACTION AND ACCOMPANIMENT
Liberation Magazine and Studies on the Left
Theory and Practice in Marx
Is There Such a Thing as Theory Arising from Practice?
More Theory?
What About Anarchism?
HIGH AND LOW THEORY
Low Theory in Practice
Anarchists Need Marxism
BURNHAM S DILEMMA
ACCOMPANIMENT
Archbishop Oscar Romero
Father Uriel Molina
INTELLECTUALS AND ACCOMPANIMENT
On Being an Intellectual
I Am an Outsider
RADICAL INTELLECTUALS
The Role of Left Intellectuals in Zapatismo
Thompson, Zinn and Lynd
DUAL POWER
The Freedom School Convention
The Workers Solidarity Club of Youngstown
Solidarity USA
WATCH
PARALLEL INSTITUTIONS DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
OAXACA
SPONTANEITY AND ORGANIZATION
DIRECT DEMOCRACY AND REPRESENTATION
ARE WE WINNING?
OLD AND NEW MOVEMENTS: SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES
SEEDS AND SOIL
Marxism and Anarchism
Visions and Seeds
Seeds of Solidarity
A Seed Bank for Seeds of Solidarity?
HOW CAN WE REBUILD OUR MOVEMENT?
Why the 1960s Had it Easier
A False Start and an Incomplete Apocalypse
Seeds Beneath the Snow
Soldiers
Workers
Prisoners
Drawing the Threads Together and Behaving Like Comrades
PART II, GUERRILLA HISTORY
WHAT IS GUERRILLA HISTORY?
HISTORY FROM THE BOTTOM UP
British Marxist Historians
AMERICAN RADICAL HISTORIANS
ECONOMIC INTEREST AND IDEOLOGY
SONS OF LIBERTY
HISTORY BY PARTICIPANTS IN THE STRUGGLE
HISTORY AS ACOMPANIMENT
The U.S. Steel Case
The Supermax Prison and the Lucasville Rebellion
STAN, MARTY AND SOLIDARITY UNIONISM
Stan Weir
The S.S. Hanapepe
The Oakland General Strike
The Informal Work Group
Marty Glaberman
From Action to Ideas
The Grievance
PART III, MY COUNTRY IS THE WORLD
HOMELAND WITHOUT NATIONALITY
Going Too Far toward a False Internationalism
Finding One s Way toward an Internationalism of the Heart
A Synthesis
HUMANITARIAN ACTIVISM
Blacks and Whites Almost Together
White Skin Privilege and Offing the Pig
PEOPLE DIFFERENT FROM ONESELF
P