Murray Bookchin devotes this work to his communalist project. Let him do the
talking... by quoting him extensively. ---- "Will the 21st century be the mostrevolutionary century of all time or, on the contrary, the century of theaffirmation of the most reactionary tendencies that we have known - unless itopens an era morose of desolate mediocrity ? ---- For Murray Bookchin, there isno doubt: the answers provided can only be collective. He also submits to us aset of reflections aimed at regenerating radical thought, overcoming theachievements and shortcomings or wanderings of nineteenth-century socialistthought, in order to better face new challenges."Of the overtly anti-capitalist ideologies of the past[...]none has todayretained the relevance that they had in earlier phases of capitalist developmentand in bygone periods of technological progress. Nor can any of them hope toembrace the myriad of questions, options, problems, and issues that capitalismhas continually brought up over time.»We must create our world in full consciousnessHowever, he recognizes that "our debt to Marx is immense.[...]Marxism has beenthe most complete and coherent enterprise in the production of a systematic formof socialism..." But for the most part, the economic principles of Marxism datefrom the nascent industrial capitalism of the 19th century, this is why theyfailed to take into account phenomena that are more significant today such asecology, questions about progress and growth, or even questions about power anddemocracy. Anarchism, if it "represents in fact the most extreme expression ofthe idea of absolute autonomy" would have developed, according to him, wanderingslike "the anarchist myth of self-regulation, the radical affirmation of primacyof the individual over society,... the rejection of all individual responsibilityvis-à-vis the collective..." This criticism is aimed above all at certainindividualist declensions of anarchism and it is sometimes to be regrettedcertain shortcuts which encompass under one and the same name very differentorganizational realities.His questions nonetheless run through our militant daily lives. "As joyous asrevolutions can sometimes be, they are above all serious and even bloody; and ifthey are not carried out intelligently and skilfully, they invariably end incounter-revolution and terror.»His communalist project was built around the achievements of his predecessors."From Marxism, he retains the fundamental project of formulating a rational,systematic and coherent socialism which integrates philosophy, history, economicsand politics. From anarchism, he retains his commitment against the State and forconfederalism, as well as the awareness that hierarchy is an essentialproblem..." To do this, the communalist project "concentrates neither on thefactory as main social arena nor on the industrial proletariat as the mainhistorical agent.» . It implies a local political community federated withothers. This requires "engaging in a communalist politics associated with alibertarian municipalist praxis; that is to say, a movement and a program thatemerges on the local political scene to promote popular town and neighborhoodassemblies as well as the development of a municipalized economy. In this,"Communalism is a critique of hierarchical and capitalist society as a whole. Itaims to change not only the political life of society, but also its economic life.»A book of reflections that questions our theories and our social practices. Somany lines of thought to mature.Dominique Sureau (UCL Angers)Murray Bookchin, The Coming Revolution, Popular Assemblies and Promises of DirectDemocracy, Agone, 2022, 336 pages, 22 euros.https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?Lire-Murray-Bookchin-La-revolution-a-venir_________________________________________A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C EBy, For, and About AnarchistsSend news reports to A-infos-en mailing listA-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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