SUMMARY
PRESENTATION1. STUDIES ON "CONTEMPORARY ANARCHISM"
2. THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL REFERENCES
3. UNDERSTANDING THE CONTEXT IN QUESTION
4. GEOGRAPHICAL PRESENCE
5. MAJOR CURRENTS AND EXPRESSIONS
5.1 MASS TRADE UNION ORGANIZATIONS
5.2 SPECIFIC FLEXIBLE ORGANIZATIONS ("SYNTHETIC")
5.3 SPECIFIC PROGRAMMATIC ORGANIZATIONS ("PLATFORMIST" / "SPECIFIST")
5.4 INSURRECTIONALIST INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS
5.5 COLLECTIVES IN THEIR VARIOUS EXPRESSIONS
5.6 ANTI-AUTHORITARIAN AND Libertarians in General
6. Major Debates
7. Notable Achievements and Major Episodes
7.1 Transnational Efforts
7.1.1 Anarcho-syndicalist and Revolutionary Syndicalist
Networks, Organizations, and Meetings
7.1.2 Anarchist Networks, Organizations, and Meetings
7.1.3 Zapatismo, Global Resistance Movement, and Independent
Media Center
7.1.4 Antifa, Anarchist Black Cross, and Black Bloc
7.1.5 Urban Research and Subcultures
7.2 Western and Nordic Europe
7.2.1 Strength of Organizations Trade Unionists in Spain and
Sweden
7.2.2 Mobilizations and Strikes Against Imperialism,
Neoliberalism, and the Oppression of Women in the Spain-France-Italy
Triangle
7.2.3 Anarchist Propaganda in France, Italy, and Other
European Experiences
7.3 Eastern Europe
7.3.1 Anarcho-syndicalism in Russia and the Final Conflicts
of the Soviet Union
7.3.2 The 2008 Uprising and the Anti-Austerity Movement
(2010-2012) in Greece
7.4 North America
7.4.1 "Solidarity Trade Unionism" and Anarchist Propaganda in
the States UNITED STATES AND CANADA
7.4.2 OCTOBER REBELLION (2007) AND OCCUPY WALL STREET (2011)
IN THE UNITED STATES
7.5 LATIN AMERICA
7.5.1 SPECIFICITY AND ITS DEVELOPMENTS IN URUGUAY, BRAZIL AND
ARGENTINA
7.5.2 ARGENTINAZO (2001) AND PIQUETEIROS IN ARGENTINA,
PENGUIN REVOLT (2006), DEVELOPMENTS (2011-2012) AND 2019 REVOLTS IN CHILE
7.5.3 OAXACA COMMUNE (2006) IN MEXICO AND THE JUNE DAYS
(2013) IN BRAZIL
7.6 SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
7.6.1 ANARCHO-SYNDICALISM AND Revolutionary Syndicalism in
Nigeria and Sierra Leone
7.6.2 Platformism in South Africa and its Surroundings
7.7 North Africa
7.7.1 Arab Spring and Impacts in Tunisia and Egypt
7.8 Middle East
7.8.1 Rojava Revolution (2012 onwards) in Northern Syria
7.8.2 OTHER INITIATIVES IN ISRAEL, PALESTINE, TURKEY,
LEBANON, AFGHANISTAN AND IRAN
7.9 OCEANIA
7.9.1 TRAM DISPUTE (1990) IN AUSTRALIA AND INFLUENCE IN SOUTH
AND SOUTHEAST ASIA
7.10 SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST ASIA
7.10.1 ANARCHO-SYNDICALISM IN BANGLADESH, INDONESIA AND OTHER
ASIAN EXPERIENCES
8. HISTORY AND THEORY: CLASS, ECOLOGY, RACE/ETHNICITY, NATIONALITY,
GENDER AND SEXUALITY
8.1 RESUMPTION IN HISTORIOGRAPHY AND ACADEMIC PRESENCE AND IN
UNIVERSITIES
8.2 DATABASES, Research Institutes and Networks, Journals and
Periodicals, Academic Groups and Conferences
8.3 Theoretical Productions: Social Classes
8.4 Theoretical Productions: Ecology
8.5 Theoretical Productions: Race/Ethnicity and Nationality
8.6 Theoretical Productions: Gender and Sexuality
8.7 Practices Linked to These Theoretical Issues
9. Other Relevant Sources
PRESENTATION
This dossier was compiled from nearly two years of research, which aimed
to analyze the resurgence of anarchism, anarcho-syndicalism, and
revolutionary syndicalism that occurred worldwide between 1990 and 2019.
The research began thanks to an invitation from Marcel van der Linden -
a member of the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam
(IIHS) - for me to write a chapter on the subject for his book Global
History of Socialism , which will be published sometime soon by
Cambridge University Press in two volumes.
I then focused on this issue, facing enormous challenges: understanding
a vast object of study and condensing the research results into a
restricted space (and therefore, prioritizing very carefully what would
or would not be included in the text); analyzing a recent phenomenon,
which lacks previous studies (with this recent and global approach I
worked with), large data collections, and even texts or books on the
subject; researching information that was quite scattered and in various
languages.
Facing this challenge would not have been possible without the studies
and activism developed over more than two decades, as well as the help
of many comrades, to whom I extend my deepest gratitude. I especially
highlight: the members of the Institute of Anarchist Theory and History
(ITHA), both coordinators and associates; the volunteers of the group
"Contemporary Global Anarchism/Syndicalism" created on Facebook, who
significantly assisted in data collection; the countless people from
Brazil and abroad who suggested material and/or answered the dozens of
interviews I conducted. I also thank José Antonio Gutiérrez Danton for
translating my text into English and for the critical comments he made
on previous versions of the manuscript.
With this research, I arrived at some quite interesting results. A
synthesis of them will be published as a chapter in the aforementioned
book, under the title "The Global Revival of Anarchism and Syndicalism
(1990-2019)," and I will soon be offering a video course on these
results. Obviously, these are limited results, with enormous potential
for further exploration.
In this dossier, I provide some sources from my research, including
books, texts, websites, videos, and interviews, in different languages;
I also offer some commentary to guide the reading. This is not a
complete list of everything that exists, but a collection of sources
through which I believe it is possible to understand contemporary
anarchism. This will allow not only a deeper understanding of the
subject, but also allow other researchers to use this material for new
investigations.
For any corrections or suggestions for important materials on the topics
discussed, please write to me at felipecorreapedro@gmail.com .
Enjoy your reading!
Felipe Corrêa, 2020
1. STUDIES ON "CONTEMPORARY ANARCHISM"
The topic of "contemporary anarchism" lacks extensive research,
especially when considering the historical and global approach that I
believe is most appropriate for this type of study. Most studies on this
topic have been produced by authors originating from or influenced by
the Global Resistance Movement (or "anti-globalization movement") and
some of its subsequent offshoots. While these studies undoubtedly
possess merit, they also have numerous limitations. Among these
limitations are the extremely broad and ahistorical definitions of
anarchism they employ, and the (Eurocentric) generalizations made based
on a very limited database. Below, I highlight some of these studies.
David Graeber, "The New Anarchists," New Left Review , 13 (2002).[To go
down]
Andrej Grubacic, "Towards Another Anarchism", ZNet (2003).[Download][In
Portuguese: Rumo a um Novo Anarquismo (São Paulo, 2006).]
Andrej Grubacic and David Graeber, "Anarchism, Or The Revolutionary
Movement Of The Twenty-first Century", ZNet (2004).[Download][In
Portuguese, "Anarquismo, ou O Movimento Revolucionário do Século 21",
David Graeber, O Anarquismo no Século 21 e outros ensaios].[Download]
Uri Gordon, Anarchy Alive! Anti-authoritarian Politics from Practice to
Theory (London, 2008).[Download][In Portuguese, Anarquia Viva!
Política Antiautoritária da Prática para a Teoria ( 2015).][Download]
Uri Gordon, "Anarchism Reloaded," Journal of Political Ideologies , 12
(2007).[To go down]
Tomás Ibáñez, Anarchism in Movement: anarchism, neo-anarchism and
post-anarchism (Buenos Aires, 2014).[Download][In Portuguese,
"Anarchism is Movement: anarchism, neo-anarchism and post-anarchism"
(Imaginário, 2016).]
Other texts on the subject, which work with different approaches, are:
Leonard Williams, "Anarchism Revived," New Political Science , 29
(2007).[To go down]
Dana M. Williams, "Contemporary Anarchist and Anarchistic
Movements," Sociology Compass , 12 (2018).[To go down]
From a historical and global perspective, which I believe to be the
most appropriate for the study of contemporary anarchism, I suggest some
texts that, in my view, are most interesting:
Lucien van der Walt, "Back to the Future: revival, relevance and route
of an anarchist/syndicalist approach for twenty-first-century left,
labor and national liberation movements", Journal of Contemporary
African Studies (2016).[Download][In Portuguese, with some
modifications: "Back to the Future: the revival and relevance of
anarchism, anarcho-syndicalism and revolutionary syndicalism for the
left and workers' movements of the 21st century", Institute of
Anarchist Theory and History (2019).][Access]
Steven Hirsch and Lucien van der Walt, "Final Reflections: the
vicissitudes of anarchist and syndicalist trajectories, 1940 to the
present," Anarchism and Syndicalism in the Colonial and Postcolonial
World , 1870-1940 (Leiden/Boston, 2010).[To go down]
Felipe Corrêa, "Emergence and Brief Historical Perspective of
Anarchism", Institute of Anarchist Theory and History (2013).[Access]
2. THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL REFERENCES
To understand contemporary anarchism, as presented, it seems fundamental
to me, first, to adopt a historical and global approach, to break with
ahistorical studies (based on theoretical/practical approximations,
self-definitions, etymologies, etc.) and with Eurocentrism
(extrapolating beyond Western Europe and the United States and
significantly expanding the territorial analytical scope). And, second,
to work with a precise conceptual definition of anarchism, based on a
global analysis of its 150-year history. I will indicate some references
for this approach below.
Felipe Corrêa, Black Flag: Rethinking Anarchism (Curitiba,
2015).[Download]
This content is also available as a video:
Presentation of "Black Flag"[Access]
" Anarchism Redefined"[Access]
" The Emergence of Anarchism, Major Debates and its Currents[Access]"
Lucien van der Walt, "Global Anarchism and Syndicalism: theory, history,
resistance", Anarchist Studies , 24 (2016).[Access][In Portuguese,
"Anarquismo Global e Sindicalismo de Intenção Revolucionária: teoria,
história, resistência", Instituto de Teoria e História Anarquista
(2016).][Access]
For other references we have developed along these same lines, see the
ITHA Thematic Axis: "Theory and Global History of Anarchism"[Access]
3. TO UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT IN QUESTION
In my view, there are three most relevant contextual elements for
understanding the period in question:
1.) The crisis of "progressive statism" and the left in general
(Keynesian welfare state and social democracy; "socialist" bloc and
Marxism-Leninism; import substitution industrialization and
anti-imperialist nationalism).
2.) The global expansion of neoliberalism, which became increasingly
financialized, allowed the ruling classes to reclaim their profits,
dramatically increasing the power of banks and international
multinational corporations.
3.) The emergence and strengthening of movements resisting neoliberalism
which, in many cases, even while remaining on the left of the political
spectrum, adopted a critical stance towards statism. Among them are the
Zapatista Movement, the Global Resistance Movement, and innovative forms
of trade unionism.
To understand these elements, I have listed below some references that I
believe are important.
Peter Taylor, "The Crisis of the Movements: the enabling state as
quisling", Antipode , 23 (1991).[To go down]
Lucien van der Walt, "Self-Managed Class-Struggle Alternatives to
Neo-liberalism, Nationalisation, Elections", Global Labor Column , 213
(2015).[To go down]
Lucien van der Walt, "Back to the Future: revival, relevance and route
of an anarchist/syndicalist approach for twenty-first-century left,
labor and national liberation movements", Journal of Contemporary
African Studies , 34 (2016).[Download][In Portuguese, with some
modifications: "Back to the Future: the revival and relevance of
anarchism, anarcho-syndicalism and revolutionary syndicalism for the
left and workers' movements of the 21st century", Institute of
Anarchist Theory and History (2019).][Access]
Noam Chomsky, Profit Over People: Neoliberalism and Global Order (New
York, 1999).[Access][In Portuguese: Profit or People? Neoliberalism and
Global Order (Rio de Janeiro, 2002).[Access]
Michel Chossudovsky, Globalization of Poverty and the New World Order
(Montreal/Quebec, 2003).[Access][In Portuguese, The Globalization of
Poverty: Impacts of IMF and World Bank Reforms (São Paulo, 1999).]
David Harvey, A Brief History of Neoliberalism (Oxford, 2005).[In
Portuguese, Neoliberalism: history and implications (São Paulo,
2008).[Access]
Ladislau Dowbor, The Age of Unproductive Capital: New Architectures of
Power (Newcastle, 2019).[In Portuguese, A Era do Capital Improdutivo (
São Paulo, 2017).][Access]
José Arbex Jr., Revolution in Three Stages: USSR, Germany, China (São
Paulo, 1999).
Mark Bray, ANTIFA: The Anti-Fascist Handbook (New York/London,
2017).[Download][In Portuguese, Antifa: o manual antifascista (São
Paulo, 2017)].[Download]
Charles Tilly and Lesley Wood, Social Movements, 1768-2008
(Boulder/London, 2009).
Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional (EZLN), Ya Basta! Ten years
of the Zapatista Uprising (Oakland, 2004).
Uri Gordon, Anarchy Alive! Anti-authoritarian Politics from Practice to
Theory (London, 2008).[Download][In Portuguese, Anarquia Viva!
Política Antiautoritária da Prática para a Teoria ( 2015).][Download]
Immanuel Ness (ed), New Forms of Worker Organization: The syndicalist
and autonomist restoration of class-struggle unionism (Oakland,
2014).[To go down]
It is worth noting that, to properly understand the contemporary
resurgence of anarchism, it is necessary to combine structural and
conjunctural elements with the actions of anarchists,
anarcho-syndicalists, and revolutionary syndicalists, who played a
central role in this resurgence. Many of these initiatives will be
mentioned below.
Shape5
4. GEOGRAPHIC PRESENCE
After analyzing the presence and influence of anarchism,
anarcho-syndicalism, and revolutionary syndicalism in different
countries around the world between 1990 and 2019, I arrived at the
results that I have incorporated into the map below.
Map: "Presence and influence of anarchism, anarcho-syndicalism and
revolutionary syndicalism in different countries of the world (1990-2019)".
This map shows all the countries where I found the presence of
anarchist, anarcho-syndicalist, and revolutionary syndicalist
expressions. They are, by region: North America: United States and
Canada. Central America and the Caribbean: Mexico, Cuba, and Costa
Rica. South America: Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Bolivia, Peru,
Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and French Guiana. Northern Europe:
Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland. Western Europe: France, Italy,
Spain, Germany, Ireland, United Kingdom, Austria, Belgium, Netherlands,
Portugal, Switzerland, and Iceland. Eastern Europe: Greece, Russia,
Ukraine, Poland, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary,
Romania, Slovenia, and Slovakia. Middle East and Central Asia: Syria,
Israel and Palestine, Turkey, Lebanon, Iran, and Iraq. Far East: Japan,
South Korea, and China. Southeast and South Asia: Indonesia,
Bangladesh, Afghanistan, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, and
East Timor. North Africa: Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria. Sub-Saharan
Africa: South Africa, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Zimbabwe,
Zambia, and Uganda. Oceania: Australia and New Zealand.
I was also able to note the impact of these expressions, which was
measured using a set of variables: size, consistency, political and
social influence, level of national diffusion, theoretical elaborations,
and practical achievements.
However, it is important to bear in mind that, even in the places with
the greatest presence and influence, generally speaking, anarchism,
anarcho-syndicalism, and revolutionary syndicalism were, compared to
other sectors of the left, and even to other revolutionary sectors, a
minority force. A growing, relevant force that became better known,
respected, and significantly involved in global affairs; but still, a
minority force.
5. MAJOR CURRENTS AND EXPRESSIONS
During the period in question, the actions of anarchists,
anarcho-syndicalists, and revolutionary syndicalists, as well as the
positions they adopted in the major debates, allow us to speak of six
major currents and expressions, which are listed below: 1.) Mass
syndicalist organizations; 2.) Flexible specific organizations
("synthetists"); 3.) Programmatic specific organizations
("platformists"/"specificists"); 4.) Insurrectionary individuals and
groups; 5.) Collectives in their various expressions; 6.)
Anti-authoritarians and libertarians in general.
Here I present some characteristics of these currents and expressions,
their main networks and international organizations, and I indicate some
documents produced within these currents and expressions themselves for
a deeper understanding of their conceptions.
* It is worth noting that the absolute number of members of the currents
(resulting from surveys I conducted throughout the research) cannot be
compared without taking into account the type of organization in
question and its criteria for entry and participation. For example, a
trade union organization and a specific organization, each with 300
members, may have very different impacts on reality. Furthermore, it is
also very important to observe that most anarchists in the world are not
organized, so the total number of anarchists in the world far exceeds
the figures mentioned below.
5.1 Trade Union Mass Organizations
Characterization: Anarcho-syndicalist and revolutionary syndicalist
organizations that aim to be mass organizations. They are primarily
linked to the labor sector, seeking to unite workers on an economic
basis to wage struggles for immediate gains as well as revolutionary
struggle. Their members do not necessarily need to identify with
anarchism, which, depending on the case, may be more or less promoted by
the organizations themselves. They use consensus and voting (in
different forms) for decision-making and are organized into trade
unions, unions by branch of work, or even within larger central unions
or unions.
Historical references: Primarily the International Workingmen's
Association of 1922/3 (or "Syndicalist International").
International representations:
International Workingmen's Association (IWA-AIT) . Historically, it is
the most important organization in this field; founded in 1922/23 and
going through a crisis with the Second World War, it has grown again
since the 1970s. However, with a huge split in 2016 (which meant the
loss of 80% or 90% of its membership base), its strength has greatly
diminished. In 2019 it had around 1,000 members, divided into 13
national organizations and 6 "friend" organizations, mainly in Europe
and Oceania, with more modest connections in the Americas and
Asia.[https://iwa-ait.org/]
Some members (2019): Solidarity Federation (SF,
England)[http://www.solfed.org.uk/], Zwiazek Syndykalistów Polski[Union
of Trade Unionists of Poland](ZSP, Poland)[http://zsp.net.pl]and
Anarcho-Syndicalist Federation (ASF, Australia)[http://asf-iwa.org.au/].
Red and Black Coordination (RBC). It was formed in the 2010s, bringing
together dissident organizations and/or those that were not part of the
IWA-AIT. In 2019 it comprised seven trade union organizations from
Europe, totaling around 100,000 members (most of them from the Spanish
CGT).[http://www.redblack.org/]
Some members (2019): Confederación General de Trabajadores (CGT,
Spain)[https://cgt.org.es/], Confederación Nacional del Trabajadores
(CNT-F, France)[http://www.cnt-f.org/]and Eleftheriaki Sindikalistiki
Enosi[Union of Libertarian Trade Unionists](ESE,
Greece)[https://ese.espiv.net/].
International Confederation of Labour (ICL-CIT). Founded in 2018 by
organizations that split from the IWA-AIT, in conjunction with other RBC
organizations. In 2019, it had around 10,000 members, divided among
seven organizations, mainly from Europe, North America, and to a lesser
extent, South America.[https://www.icl-cit.org/]
Some members (2019): National Confederation of Labour (CNT,
Spain)[http://www.cnt.es], Italian Trade Union (USI,
Italy)[http://www.usi-cit.org]and Freie Arbeiterinnen- und
Arbeiter-Union[Free Workers' Union](FAU, Germany)[http://www.fau.org].
The International Trade Union Network of Solidarity and Struggle (RSISL)
was founded in 2013 as a broader proposal for articulation. It brings
together both revolutionary and anarcho-syndicalist trade union
organizations, as well as others that, even within the field of
class-based and combative trade unionism, do not have self-management
and federalist practices, nor independence from political
parties.[http://www.laboursolidarity.org/]
Some members (2019): National Confederation of Labour - Solidarité
Ouvrière (CNT-SO, France)[http://www.cnt-so.org/], Union Trade Union
Solidaires (Solidaires, France)[https://solidaires.org/]and
Intercategorial Union COBAS (SI COBAS, Italy)[www.sicobas.org].
To better understand their concepts:
International Workers Association (IWA-AIT), "The Statutes of
Revolutionary Unionism (IWA)" (2020).[Access][In Portuguese, "Estatutos
da Associação Internacional dos Trabalhadores".][Access]
International Confederation of Labor (ICL-CIT), "Statutes of the
International Confederation of Labor" (2018).[Access]
5.2 SPECIFIC FLEXIBLE ORGANIZATIONS ("SYNTHETIC ORGANIZATIONS")
Characterization: Specifically anarchist organizations (i.e., their
members identify as anarchists) dedicated to different types of work,
especially propaganda, but also participation in social struggles. They
allow for a plurality of ideas and tendencies, as well as diversity in
the conception of anarchism, theories, strategies, and tactics, so that
their groups and members have full autonomy (including the right to
accept or reject congressional decisions and those of other bodies).
Historical references: In addition to the classics in general (Mikhail
Bakunin, Piotr Kropotkin, Pierre-Joseph Proudhon), initiatives such as
the Anti-Authoritarian International of 1872, the Bologna Congress of
1920, and the contributions of Errico Malatesta, Sébastien Faure, and Volin.
International representations:
International Federation of Anarchists (IFA). Founded in 1968, it
played a significant role from the 1990s onwards, reaching nine national
organizations in 2019 with possibly 2,000 members. It is concentrated
almost exclusively in Europe and has a modest presence in Latin
America.[http://ifa.org]
Some members (2019): Italian Anarchist Federation (FAI,
Italy)[http://www.federazioneanarchica.org/], Francophone Anarchist
Federation (FAF, France)[https://federation-anarchiste.org/], Iberian
Anarchist Federation (FAI,
Spain)[https://federacionanarquistaiberica.wordpress.com/]and Argentine
Libertarian Federation (FLA,
Argentina)[http://www.federacionlibertariaargentina.org/].
To better understand their concepts:
Anarchist Federation[Francophone](FAF), "Principles of the Association
of the Anarchist Federation" (2016).[Access][In Portuguese, "Principles
of the French Anarchist Federation".][Access]
Federazione Anarchica Italiana (FAI), "Patto Associativo della
Federazione Anarchica Italiana - FAI" (s/d).[Access]
5.3 Specific Programmatic Organizations ("Platform-based"/"Specific")
Characterization: Specifically anarchist organizations dedicated to
building and participating in mass movements (trade union, community,
student, etc.) and propaganda. They work with organization on two levels
(anarchist and mass) and, at the anarchist level, defend theoretical
unity, tactical, strategic, and programmatic unity, and collective
responsibility. They have common lines, mandatory for their groups,
nuclei, and members. They seek consensus, but, when this is impossible,
they work with different forms of voting.
Historical references: Bakunin and the Alliance, the first anarchist
political organization in history; Dielo Truda and the "Organizational
Platform" of 1926; classics such as Malatesta, Luigi Fabbri, Kropotkin,
among others.
International representations:
Anarchism.net Network. A multilingual internet portal created in 2005,
which began to bring together organizations mainly from Europe and South
America (with a more modest presence in southern Africa and Oceania). In
2019, it had 14 organizations totaling possibly 1,000 members.
Some members (2019): Alternative Libertaire (AL), now Union Communiste
Libertaire (UCL, France)[https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/];
Federation of Anarchist Communists (FdCA), now Alternativa Libertária
(AL, Italy)[http://alternativalibertaria.fdca.it/wpAL/]; Workers
Solidarity Movement (WSM, Ireland)[http://www.wsm.ie/]; Uruguayan
Anarchist Federation (FAU,
Uruguay)[http://federacionanarquistauruguaya.uy/]; Brazilian Anarchist
Coordination (CAB, Brazil)[http://cabanarquista.org/]and Zabalaza
Anarchist Communist Front (ZACF, South Africa)[https://zabalaza.net/].
To better understand their concepts:
Federación Anarquista Uruguaya (FAU), "Declaración de Principios de FAU"
(1993).[Access]
Zabalaza Communist Anarchist Front (ZACF), "Constitution of the ZACF"
(2013).[Access]
Federazione dei Comunisti Anarchici (FdCA), "The Political Organization"
(1985).[Access]
5.4 Insurrectionist Individuals and Groups
Characterization: Individuals, affinity groups, and informal
associations critical of structured mass and specific organizations, who
see violent actions (based on the notion of constant, permanent attack
and the refusal of any waiting, mediation, or compromise) as potential
triggers for generating immediate insurrections and revolutionary
movements. They lack formal decision-making bodies and frequently engage
in dialogue without knowing each other; they possess complete autonomy
to pursue their objectives.
Historical references: More fluid than the others, they are linked to
the classic contributions of anarchists such as Luigi Galleani,
Ravachol, Severino Di Giovanni and others - generally associated with
the notion of "propaganda by deed", anarchist illegalism and the Black
International of 1881 - and also to more recent contributions (Alfredo
Bonanno, for example).
International representations:
Informal Anarchist Federation / International Revolutionary Front
(FAI/FRI). An informal network focused on the Mediterranean region
(mainly Greece and Italy) that developed from 2002/3. In 2011 it brought
together several groups, not only in the region in question, but also in
other European and Latin American countries. As they often operate
clandestinely, it is more difficult to estimate their size, but it is
possible to say that those with some articulation are probably less
numerous than the flexible and programmatic organizations.
Some members (2011): Conspiracy of Fire Cells (CCF, Greece), Artigiana
Cooperative... (Italy), July 20th Brigade (Italy).
To better understand their concepts:
Federazione Anarchica Informale (FAI), "Premier Communiqué de la FAI",
Agence de Presse Associative, APA (2004).[Access]
Killing King Abacus (KKA), Some Notes on Insurrectionary Anarchism
(Santa Cruz, 2006).[Access]
Do or Die, "Insurrectionary Anarchy!", Do or Die , 10 (2003).[Access]
5.5 Collectives in their various expressions
Characterization: Groups (political collectives, propaganda groups,
urban occupations, social centers, infoshops, publishing houses,
newspapers, libraries, research groups, cooperatives, communities, etc.)
that, in some cases, are composed exclusively of anarchists and, in
others, also bring together militants from other anti-authoritarian
currents. They are present in all regions with an anarchist presence;
depending on the case, they constitute local, regional, or even national
references. There are several hundred, probably thousands, worldwide.
Historical references: Varied, ranging from classical and contemporary
anarchism to the theoretical and practical contributions of other
libertarian currents.
5.6 Anti-authoritarians and libertarians in general
Characterization: Movements, groups, and individuals that can be called
anti-authoritarian or libertarian in a broad sense. Like collectives,
they may be more or less close to anarchism, may or may not include
anarchists, and may be linked to the conceptions of libertarian Marxism,
autonomism, certain indigenist movements, specific religious
expressions, etc.
6. GREAT DEBATES
These currents and expressions are explained by the similarities and
differences in the responses to a set of questions that, in those years,
constituted the core of the great debates between anarchists,
anarcho-syndicalists, and revolutionary syndicalists. These questions
are as follows:
Do you believe it is necessary to collaborate with others? If so, are
you willing to collaborate with non-anarchists? If so, how and in what form?
In the case of defending the organization, how should one organize? Mass
and/or specific organizations? Or informal "organizations"? In the case
of mass organizations, how does one relate workplace and residence?
Are you willing to adapt to national trade union legislation? Do you
participate in elections for union councils and representatives (in
countries that have this type of representation)? Are you willing to
receive any resources from the State, directly or indirectly? Do you
agree to participate in trade union, popular or social organizations of
a reformist type or linked to other ideological conceptions?
In the case of specific organizations, is a flexible or programmatic
model adopted? What level of autonomy and unity is permitted or required
of activists, groups, and local organizations?
What is the main focus of the activity? To build and participate in mass
movements, promote propaganda and education, carry out armed attacks, etc.?
How is the dynamic of the struggle understood? Is it always an attack,
or is it understood that the conditions for advance and retreat depend
on historical conditions?
How are decisions made? Is voting accepted?
Do activists, groups, and centers know each other?
Is the delegation accepted? If so, on what grounds?
Is the fight for reforms and short-term gains acceptable? If so, under
what circumstances?
Does he/she advocate for a balance between a minimum and a maximum
program? Is he/she willing to engage in any kind of negotiation,
conciliation, or mediation in the struggles? Does he/she care about
public opinion?
How do you understand the role of revolutionary violence and its
relationship to mass struggles and movements?
How does he mediate between principlism (complete political immobility,
thanks to the "imperfection of reality") and pragmatism (anything goes
to intervene in reality, including betraying one's own principles), what
initiatives does he participate in, and what kind of alliances does he seek?
7. Notable Achievements and Great Episodes
Below is a list of notable achievements and major events in which
anarchists, anarcho-syndicalists, and revolutionary syndicalists were
involved, with varying degrees of presence/impact depending on the case.
The achievements are presented by continent and theme; bibliography and
sources for further study are provided throughout the text.
7.1 Transnational Efforts
7.1.1 Networks, Organizations and Meetings of Anarcho-syndicalists and
Revolutionary Syndicalists
Here, it is worth highlighting the important experiences already
mentioned: the International Workingmen's Association (IWA-AIT), the
Red and Black Coordination (RBC), the International Confederation of
Labour (ICL-CIT), and the International Trade Union Network of
Solidarity and Struggles (RSISL) . Some sources for further study of
these networks and organizations-as well as the split from the IWA-AIT,
the formation of the RBC and the ICL-CIT-in addition to the websites
already cited, are:
Vadim Damier, Anarcho-Syndicalism in the 20th Century ( Edmonton,
2009).[To go down]
Laure Akai, "Why do We Need a Third International?", The Anarchist
Library (2016).[To go down]
Confederación Nacional del Trabajo - Secretariat of Foreign Affairs
(CNT-SE), "Más Allá de la AIT (2 parts)", Amor y Rabia (2016).[Access
Part I][Access Part II][In English, "Beyond the IWA: an interview with
the CNT's International Secretary (2 parts)" (2017).][Access Parts I and II]
Rabioso, "La Crisis de la AIT desde la Perspectiva de la CNT (2
partes)", Amor y Rabia (2016).[Access Part I][Access Part II][In
English, "The CNT and the IWA (2 parts)" (2016).][Access Part I][Access
Part II]
Website: Lifelong Wobbly[Access]
Furthermore, there is the prominent case of the Industrial Workers of
the World (IWW) , which, at least before joining the ICL-CIT, developed
as an international network during the period in question. Between 1990
and 2019, in addition to its more prominent presence in the United
States and Canada, it had a less significant existence in: Great
Britain, Germany, Finland, Iceland, Russia, Poland, Sierra Leone,
Uganda, Australia, and New Zealand.[https://iww.org/]The most
interesting historiographical reference addressing the period studied is
the following.
Fred Thompson and Jon Bekken, The Industrial Workers of the World: It's
First 100 Years (Cincinnati, 2006).
Furthermore, from an international perspective, another highlight was
the International Trade Union Meetings , with the participation of
various organizations of this current to discuss the international
situation and stimulate internationalism. These meetings were held in
the United States in 1999 (i99), in Germany in 2002 (i02), and in France
in 2007 (i07). This last meeting, convened by the CNT-F (Vignoles),
brought together dozens of central unions and trade unions from around
the world; African unions were the largest participants. Regarding i07,
there are some interesting references on the internet.
Confédération Nationale du Travail - France (CNT-F), "Conférences
Internationales Syndicales - i07ŽŽ[different materials](2007).[Access]
7.1.2 Anarchist Networks, Organizations and Meetings
It is also worth revisiting the prominent experiences mentioned: the
International Federation of Anarchists (IFA) , the Anarkismo.net
Network , and the Informal Anarchist Federation / International
Revolutionary Front (FAI/FRI) . Below, I indicate some sources for
further study of these networks and organizations.
IFA AND FLEXIBLE ORGANIZATIONS ("SYNTHETICIANS")
IFA, Histoire de l'Internationale des Fédérations Anarchistes (IFA), 3
volumes (undated).
IFA, IFA: The Magazine of the International of Anarchist Federations ,
1 (2018?).[To go down]
IFA, Anarkiista Debato: Magazine of IAF (2006?).[To go down]
Fédération Anarchiste[Francophone](FAF), "Pour un Anarchisme du XXIe
Siècle" (no date).[Access]
ANARCHISM.NET AND PROGRAMMATIC ORGANIZATIONS ("PLATFORMIST"/"SPECIFIST")
Felipe Corrêa, "About Anarkismo.net: interview with Jose Antonio
Gutierrez Danton, one of the founders" (2020).[Download]
Anarchism and the Platformist Tradition, "Recent Writings."[Access]
Anarchism and the Platformist Tradition, "The Global Influence of
Platformism Today: Interviews."[Access]
Anarchism and the Platformist Tradition, "Anarchist Specificism".[Access]
Informal Anarchist Federation / International Revolutionary Front and
Insurrectionist Initiatives
Act for Freedom Now, "Our Lives of Burning Vision" (2011).[To go down]
Conspiracy of Cells of Fire (CCF), "Mapping the Fire: International
Words of Solidarity with the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire" (2012).[To go
down]
Alfredo Cospito (Conspiracy of Cells of Fire), "'A Few Words of
"Freedom': Interview by CCF - Imprisoned Members Cell with Alfredo
Cospito', The Anarchist Library (2014).[To go down]
Federazione Anarchica Informale (FAI), "Quattro Anni... Documento
Incontro FAI a 4 Anni dalla Nascita", Sebben che siamo donne
(2006).[Access]
Federazione Anarchica Informale / Fronte Rivoluzionario Internazionale
(FAI/FRI), "Non Dite che Siamo Pochi", Informa-Azione (2011).[Access]
Anarcopedia, "Federazione Anarchica Informale".[Access]
Act for Freedom Now, "Revolutionary Struggle: a Collection of Letters,
Texts and Communiques from an Armed Groupe in Greece and Their Accused"
(2011?).[To go down]
In addition to meetings and congresses of the networks and organizations
in question, on various occasions there have been other International
Anarchist Meetings , more or less global depending on the context, with
theoretical and practical purposes. Examples include: the International
Libertarian Meeting (Spain, 1995), the meeting of the Anti-Authoritarian
Insurrectionist International (Italy, 2000), the Anarchist Days (Brazil,
2002), the International Anarcho-feminist Conferences (England, 2014),
and the Meetings of Mediterranean Anarchists (Tunisia, 2015). In 2012,
the International Anarchist Meetings, held in St. Imier, Switzerland,
brought together thousands of people from all over the world for five
days of activity. Below, I have selected materials about some of these
meetings.
" Internationale Antiautoritaire Insurrectionaliste - Première
rencontre" (2000).[Access]
Federación Anarquista Uruguaya, "Final declaration of the Jornadas
Anarquistas de Porto Alegre in 2002" (2002).[Access]
Anarchist-Feminist Conference (AFem2014).[Access]
Romina Akemi and Bree Busk, "Breaking the Waves: Challenging the Liberal
Tendency within Anarchist Feminism," Institute for Anarchist Studies
(2016).[Access]
Le Commun Libertaire, International of Anarchist Federations and French
Anarchist Federation, "Tunisie, Appel à une Première Rencontre
Anarchiste Méditerranéenne! Mars 2015" (2014).[Access]
Le Monde Libertaire (ed), Saint Imier 1872-2012: Rencontres
Internationales Anarchistes.... Le Monde Libertaire Hors-series n° 46
(2012).
Some Videos (International Anarchist Meetings, 2012).[Access]
7.1.3 Zapatismo, Global Resistance Movement and Independent Media Center
As I mentioned, large anti-authoritarian and libertarian movements
formed between 1990 and 2019. The most influential of these is the armed
indigenous movement in Mexico-the Zapatista Movement -led by the
Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN). This movement became
public in 1994 in the fight against neoliberalism and rose to the status
of a global reference in this struggle. At the same time, it developed a
very interesting practice in the collective administration of 55
municipalities in the Chiapas region, where 300,000 people live. Even
though it is not an anarchist movement, Zapatismo greatly influenced
anarchists. There were, albeit marginally, contributions from
anarchists, anarcho-syndicalists, and revolutionary syndicalists, both
from Mexico (the Libertarian Self-Management Unity and the Revolutionary
Federation of Love and Rage, for example), and from other countries
(such as the Spanish CGT, for example) in this experience. I include
some references about the Zapatista movement below. Regarding the
participation of anarchists, all I have obtained is from interviews that
will not be made public.
Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional (EZLN), Ya Basta! Ten years
of the Zapatista Uprising (Oakland, 2004).
Zapatista Link.[Access]
Emilio Gennari, "EZLN: steps of a rebellion", Pegada , 5 (2004).[Access]
The Zapatistas are among the signatories who founded, in 1998, the
People's Global Action (AGP), a coordination of social movements that
spearheaded the Global Resistance Movement (called the
"anti-globalization movement") and the articulation of the Global Days
of Action against neoliberalism. Another influential movement of this
wave, it proposed to be a global instrument for communication and
coordination of those who fight against the destruction of humanity and
the environment by capitalist globalization, and who build local
alternatives and popular powers. Enormous global mobilizations were
carried out from 1999 onwards, with the Seattle demonstration in
November of that year giving worldwide visibility to the movement,
extending with greater intensity until 2002. Although the main focus of
these mobilizations was in the United States and Europe, they also had
repercussions on other continents, and anarchists constituted a
fundamental part of this movement, decisively influencing it.
Peoples' Global Action (PGA), "PGA Bulletin, no. 0", Archive of Global
Protests (1997).[Access][In Portuguese, for this and other sources,
consult the Peoples' Global Action website.][Access]
Bruno Fiuza and Márcio Bustamante, "An Oral History of the Global Action
of Peoples: activist research in service of social struggles",
Proceedings of the XIV National Meeting of Oral History (2018).[Download]
Ned Ludd, Urgency of the Streets: Black Bloc, Reclaim the Streets and
the Global Days of Action (São Paulo, 2002).[Access]
Barbara Epstein, "Anarchism and the Anti-Globalization Movement,"
Monthly Review , 53 (2001).[Access]
Uri Gordon, Anarchy Alive! Anti-authoritarian Politics from Practice to
Theory (London, 2008).[Download][In Portuguese, Anarquia Viva!
Política Antiautoritária da Prática para a Teoria ( 2015).][Download]
Ross Wolfe, "The Movement as an End-in-itself? An interview with David
Graeber," Platypus Review, 43 (2012).[Access]
As a global communication network linked to the "anti-globalization
movement," and also counting on the important contribution of
anarchists, the Independent Media Center (CMI, or Indymedia) emerged
in 1999. Among other projects, it managed websites worldwide (in 2002,
there were 90; in 2006, there were 150), whose open publication, the
possibility of reader comments, and different technological tools
developed - at a time when social networks did not exist - not only
broke with the hegemony of the mainstream press discourse and gave voice
to social movements, but also proved to be profoundly innovative,
announcing the technological path that would be followed from then on.
Eva Giraud, "Has Radical Participatory Online Media Really 'Failed'?
Indymedia and its legacies," Convergence: The International Journal of
Research into New Media Technologies , 20 (2014).[To go down]
Dorothy Kidd, "Indymedia.org: a New Communication Commons," M. McCaughey
and M. Ayers, Cyberactivism: Online Activism in Theory and Practice
(New York/London, 2003).[To go down]
Adilson Cabral, "Social Sharing Communities in the Independent Media
Center", Intercom , 31 (2008).[Download]
7.1.4 ANTIFA, ANARCHIST BLACK CROSS AND BLACK BLOC
Also during this period, hundreds (perhaps thousands) of collectives
were formed, which often built transnational networks, forming networks
or even maintaining contact and influencing one another.
Among the most significant cases are the various Antifa collectives
around the world, some specifically anarchist, others with a broader
composition. The growing internationalization of the Antifa militant
model was central in the years in question, with anarchists playing a
decisive role.
M. Testa, Militant Antifascism: a hundred years of resistance (Oakland,
2015).[To go down]
Mark Bray, ANTIFA: The Anti-Fascist Handbook (New York/London,
2017).[Download][In Portuguese, Antifa: o manual antifascista (São
Paulo, 2017)].[Download]
There are also the numerous groups of the Anarchist Black Cross (ANC) ,
whose focus was on supporting political prisoners. With an abolitionist
perspective, they communicated with the incarcerated, visited them,
provided political literature, raised funds, and organized solidarity
demonstrations.
Matthew Hart, "Yalensky's Fable: A History of the Anarchist Black
Cross," The Anarchist Library (2003).[To go down]
Anarchist Black Cross (ABC), "Starting an Anarchist Black Cross Group: A
guide", The Anarchist Library (2018).[To go down]
A Las Barricadas, "'We must never limit our fight to legal questions':
Interview about the Cruz Negra Anarquista Latinoamerica", A Las
Barricadas (2008).[Access]
It is also worth mentioning the so-called Black Bloc , a tactic used in
street demonstrations, which centers on the use of a common visual
identity (masks and black clothing) and combative forms of protest,
including property destruction and confrontation with the police. It
originated in Europe in the 1980s, spread transnationally in the wake of
the global resistance movement throughout the 1990s and 2000s, and could
be seen in locations as diverse as Brazil and Egypt in 2013. Anarchists
were not the only participants, but they were certainly central to this
entire process.
Francis Dupuis-Déri. Who's Afraid of the Black Blocs?: Anarchy in
Action around the World (Oakland, 2014).[In Portuguese, Black Blocs
(São Paulo, 2014)].
David Van Deusen and Xavier Massot (eds), The Black Bloc Papers: An
Anthology of Primary Texts From The North American Anarchist Black Bloc,
1988-2005 (Shawnee Mission, 2010).[To go down]
Francis Dupuis-Déri, "Black Blocs: Down with the Masks!", Verve , 30
(2016).[Download]
7.1.5 RESEARCH AND URBAN SUBCULTURES
At the same time, there were transnational initiatives in the academic
and research field, through the establishment of networks and institutes
such as the North American Anarchist Studies Network (NAASN)
[http://naasn.org/], Anarchist Studies Network (ASN)
[https://anarchiststudiesnetwork.org/]and the Institute for Anarchist
Theory and History (ITHA-IATH) [https://ithanarquista.wordpress.com/].
In a more diffuse way, but also very relevant to the growth of anarchism
in different countries around the world, are the subcultural
experiences linked to punk (anarcho-punk, especially), and, to a lesser
extent, to alternative rock, hardcore, straight edge, skinhead, hip-hop
and organized fan groups.
CrimethInc, "Music as a Weapon: The Contentious Symbiosis of Punk Rock
and Anarchism," CrimethInc (2018).[Access]
Jim Donaghey, "Bakunin Brand Vodka: An Exploration into Anarchist-punk
and Punk-anarchism," Anarchist Developments in Cultural Studies , 1
(2013).[To go down]
Jim Donaghey, Punk and Anarchism: UK, Poland, Indonesia (Loughborough,
2016).[Access]
Eduardo Ribeiro, An Oral History of the Anarcho-punk Movement in São
Paulo , 1988-2001 (Rio de Janeiro, 2019).[For a summary available
online, see: "Anarcopunk SP - a journey of creativity, resistance and
struggle" (2019).][Access]
7.2 Western and Northern Europe
7.2.1 Strength of Trade Union Organizations in Spain and Sweden
In Western and Nordic Europe, two cases stand out for their national
dimensions. First, the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) in Spain.
It is the largest revolutionary trade union organization in the world
and the third largest in Spain. In 2004, it had 60,000 members, more
than 5,000 union delegates, and represented more than 2 million Spanish
workers. In the private sector, its greatest representation was among
bank employees, metalworkers, telecommunications workers, and cleaning
staff; in the public sector, it was among railway workers, postal
workers, territorial collectives, and regional television stations.
After that, it continued to grow, currently reaching an impressive
100,000 members; in addition to the sectors mentioned, it expanded its
presence among telemarketing workers and precarious immigrants. In 2001,
it articulated the Libertarian International Solidarity (SIL), with
European and Latin American anarchist and trade union organizations.
Confederación General del Trabajo (CGT), 25 Aniversario del Congreso de
Unificación, 1984-2009 (2009).[To go down]
CJ, "Espagne: La CGT s'affirme comme la troisième organization
syndicale", Alternative Libertaire , 134 (2004).[To go down]
José Manuel Muñoz Póliz (CGT), "Interview: 'The working class is the one
that is making efforts once more'", Cuartopoder.es (2020).[Access]
Wikiwand, "Confederación General del Trabajo" (Spain).[Access]
Lucha Libertaria, "Jornadas Libertarias[y SIL]" (2001).[Access]
CGT website: https://cgt.org.es/.
Secondly, the Sveriges Arbetares Centralorganisation[Swedish Central
Workers' Organization](SAC) , which, despite declining in membership
(from about 7,000 in 2001 to 3,000 in 2016), is still the second largest
revolutionary trade union organization in Europe, proportionally to the
population of Sweden. In addition to more traditional trade union
struggles and campaigns, they organized undocumented workers, fair trade
campaigns, clandestine railway workers' organizations, and youth
mobilization.
Gabriel Kuhn, "Syndicalism in Sweden: A hundred years of the SAC",
Immanuel Ness (ed), New Forms of Worker Organization: The syndicalist
and autonomist restoration of class-struggle unionism (Oakland,
2014).[To go down]
SAC website: https://www.sac.se/.
It is also worth remembering that individuals and groups with anarchist,
anarcho-syndicalist, and revolutionary syndicalist perspectives also
participated in broader unions: an interesting case is that of the
Italians, who contributed to the construction of COBAS (Confederation of
Base Committees), founded in 1999 and organized into four federations,
representing hundreds of thousands of workers.
Donato Romito, "Anarchist Communists and the Italian Base Union
Movement", Libcom (2008).[Access]
COBAS website: http://www.cobas.it/.
7.2.2 Mobilizations and Strikes Against Imperialism, Neoliberalism, and
the Oppression of Women in the Spain-France-Italy Triangle
During the years analyzed, significant mobilizations took place in the
Spain-France-Italy triangle , with the participation of organizations
from these countries. Beyond those linked to the "anti-globalization"
movement, there were major struggles and strikes. Of particular note are
those that opposed American imperialism: in Italy, the numerous protests
in the 1990s and 2000s against the installation of US military bases on
its own soil, and the 1991 strike against the Gulf War; in Spain, a
general strike in 2003 against participation in the Iraq War was important.
Also noteworthy are those aimed at combating the effects of neoliberal
austerity measures, with their consequences of loss of rights,
precarious work, and increased cost of living. In Spain, the following
are worthy of mention: a strike in 1994 against precarious work; the
Indignados Movement (15M) in 2011, which synthesized the dissatisfaction
of Spanish society with this socioeconomic context and contemporary
forms of political representation; and the mobilizations and women's
strike in 2018 (8M), which placed feminism and the gender issue on the
agenda.
In France, it is worth noting the following mobilizations and strikes:
in 1995, against pension reforms; in 2006 and 2009-2010, against
measures to make labor more flexible, precarious, and the loss of rights
- with protests involving millions of people in the streets; and in
2018-2019, against the increase in fuel prices, the cost of living, and
austerity measures (Yellow Vests), as well as against the loss of
pension rights.
Anarcho-syndicalist and revolutionary syndicalist organizations
participated in these episodes, and their influence varied depending on
the context. Anti-authoritarian/libertarian groups, numerous
collectives, individuals, insurrectionary groups, and specific anarchist
organizations, both programmatic and flexible, also participated.
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