(en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL #226 - Alternative: Neither protectionism or free trade: productive autonomy (fr)

As a revolutionary organization, Alternative libertarian had to offer an alternative to 
the false debate between protectionism and free trade that drives the political arena at a 
time when the global crisis deepens. This alternative is called "self-productive." ---- 
Faced with the crisis, the National Front talks about closing borders, the right and the 
Government of competitiveness (include lower wages). Montebourg, who advocated 
deglobalization before the elections has only false solutions to advance against the 
relocation. Part of the left of the left advocates protectionism. ---- Traditionally, 
organizations of the extreme left (Marxist or libertarian) remain on the analysis of the 
nineteenth century, thinking that free trade is better than protectionism because it 
develop more quickly contradictions of capitalism, leading it to ruin.

Hundred and thirty years after the death of Marx, free trade and capitalism are still 
alive. Recognizing this, Alternative libertarian think a new path must be traced: the 
"self-productive."

Food Sovereignty

The concept of autonomy productive relies on the concept of food sovereignty supported by 
the International Confederation Paysanne and Via Campesina. Their analysis has shown that 
free trade is protectionism led the Peasants in the wall. Thus, monoculture has led to the 
famine and ruin soon as commodity prices collapsed.

Similarly, protectionist measures, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in Europe and the 
farm bill in the United States have contributed to flooding in the South of imported 
products while practicing agriculture polluting and harmful to the farmers of the country 
North. The idea of ??food sovereignty is that every region of the world must be able to 
feed itself without placing itself under the control of multinational agribusiness and 
develop local production, under the control of farmers and peasant population.

Productive autonomy against capitalism

By introducing the idea of ??autonomy for industrial productive we are in the continuity 
of the analysis of food sovereignty. Due to the triple disaster social, ecological and 
democratic which leads free trade, we say that social movements in the West, in Asia or 
Africa can now converge in the productive logic of autonomy of each region . Relocation of 
production is a necessity. This does not mean spooky "autarky", but short circuits of 
exchange, and limiting long exchanges that can not be produced locally. Productive 
autonomy involves reducing production to the needs of the people and to break with 
productivism, resulting in the decrease of working time and out of the logic of profit. 
This is why the autonomy of each productive region of the world hinders the interests of 
capitalists. It can only come against them, under the pressure of the people and under the 
control of Workers.

Lulu (AL Nantes)