Teaching my little brother about Anarchism/Communism

[Stranger Than Paradise]

Does anyone know any good online resources I can use to teach my little brother, 12 years old, about Anarchism/Communism or a short summary of topics you can suggest.

[LOLseph Stalin]

It's hard to say, considering alot of the material tends to be higher level. I would probably have to suggest just explaining things a bit to start off. Once he understands that then I would say move onto the Communist Manifesto, or better yet, to some of Engels' articles. He tends to be easier to understand.

[Velkas]

Now_and_After:_The_ABC_of_Communist_Anarchism (http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Now_and_After:_The_ABC_of_Communist_Anarchism)

[gorillafuck]

I'd wait til' he's a little older than 12.

[Stranger Than Paradise]

I'd wait til' he's a little older than 12.

He's pretty smart. That's when I started getting into politics, my best friend was already a fully fledged commie then. First day of secondary school he introduced himself as a communist.

[LOLseph Stalin]

He's pretty smart. That's when I started getting into politics, my best friend was already a fully fledged commie then. First day of secondary school he introduced himself as a communist.

Wow, I didn't even really start getting into politics until I was 16. I became serious about Communism when I was 17 although I was exploring the ideas before then.

[Pogue]

Every night before bed read him a wee bit of Capital.

[scarletghoul]

Its easier to just explain it to him, the theory and history, and answer any questions.
or make him join revleft if hes interested

[Rjevan]

I'd try to explain him the basics, don't get too detailed but of course also don't go like "See, there a bad bad devils here, let's call them capitalists, who harm good people and want to take them everything in their greed (even their chocolate!) and make them cry bitterly at night..." ;)

But I agree with H&P, if he didn't ask for it himself and is really interested, I personally would wait till he's older and understands things better, this way I would be afraid (I know I'm a pessimist) that there's the chance of him developing an aversion against communism/anarchism in his puberty, just because the older brother likes it and therefore it must be shit.

[Stranger Than Paradise]

I'd try to explain him the basics, don't get too detailed but of course also don't go like "See, there a bad bad devils here, let's call them capitalists, who harm good people and want to take them everything in their greed (even their chocolate!) and make them cry bitterly at night..." ;)

But I agree with H&P, if he didn't ask for it himself and is really interested, I personally would wait till he's older and understands things better, this way I would be afraid (I know I'm a pessimist) that there's the chance of him developing an aversion against communism/anarchism in his puberty, just because the older brother likes it and therefore it must be shit.

I do see your point. I'll just try and ease him towards communism. Thanks for everyones help though.

[Nwoye]

I really wouldn't try to teach him anything about politics, for no other reason than it wouldn't be fair. If he's only twelve and you're his older brother, he probably admires you and holds you in high authority (even if he won't admit it). If you tried to tell him about communism or anarchism he would most likely just cling to whatever you told him, instead of developing his own opinions about the world. It's just not fair to do that to a kid, even if he ends up with an ideology which resembles your own. You've got to let him find stuff out on his own.

[Dervish]

You need to guide him in his own personal quest -- not to indoctrinate him.

Recommend various books to him, help him understand the 'key questions' (the answers he should find by himself), and perhaps most important -- help him question and challenge everything.

A few sources-

On anarchism:
Albert Meltzer's Anarchism: Arguements for and against (http://www.spunk.org/texts/writers/meltzer/sp001500.html)
Perhaps the introduction and opening pages of An Anarchist FAQ (http://www.geocities.com/capitolHill/1931/)

On economics:
The Labor Theory of Value: A FAQ (http://www.dreamscape.com/rvien/Economics/Essays/LTV-FAQ.html) (never read it, but it seems really nice)

[Manifesto]

Well do you live in a left-wing or right-wing town? If left-wing wait a little longer but if right-wing do it soon but just try to interest him.

[Rusty Shackleford]

use the analogy of toys. how if one kid had more toys than others, that kid could use it to leverage power over the others, and the hire other kids to beat other kids up that challenge him by letting them play with those many toys.

there was a video that used that analogy but i cant remember the name >.<

or just go into stuff like wage labour. but nothing too intense.

and like others have said. dont force it or be too hard about it. it may turn him away from it, and push him in the other direction.

[Dooga Aetrus Blackrazor]

I woudn't teach him anything unless he asks you about it. Otherwise, you're basically just feeding him information from a position of authority.

[Manifesto]

use the analogy of toys. how if one kid had more toys than others, that kid could use it to leverage power over the others, and the hire other kids to beat other kids up that challenge him by letting them play with those many toys.

there was a video that used that analogy but i cant remember the name >.<

or just go into stuff like wage labour. but nothing too intense.

and like others have said. dont force it or be too hard about it. it may turn him away from it, and push him in the other direction.
Is it "Capitalism and other kids stuff"? The guy should have but a background in though or something.

[Killfacer]

First explain how evil communists massacred everyone. Then tell him about how much nicer anarchists are.

After that make him read homage to catalonia.

[Misanthrope]

I don't know about you but when I was a youngster I would always make an effort to be on the other side of the political spectrum as my father or brother. I suggest teaching him about all ideologies without making your opinion too clear and let him decide and then have friendly discussions.

[ZeroNowhere]

The Labor Theory of Value: A FAQ (http://www.anonym.to/?http://www.dreamscape.com/rvien/Economics/Essays/LTV-FAQ.html) (never read it, but it seems really nice) It's rather shit. A far better (but equally accessible) work on the subject would be Kliman's book ('Reclaiming Marx's Capital'). It also serves to show why that FAQ is shit. Certainly, I'd say it would be readable for a 12 year old with an interest in the subject.


Is it "Capitalism and other kids stuff"?It did use something along those lines. It's rather simplified, but I suppose it could suffice, though only as a rough illustration.


I really wouldn't try to teach him anything about politics, for no other reason than it wouldn't be fair. If he's only twelve and you're his older brother, he probably admires you and holds you in high authority (even if he won't admit it). If you tried to tell him about communism or anarchism he would most likely just cling to whatever you told him, instead of developing his own opinions about the world. It's just not fair to do that to a kid, even if he ends up with an ideology which resembles your own. You've got to let him find stuff out on his own.While I would encourage critical thinking, schools don't, so I don't really have much problem with pointing out that communism is not state control of everything, debating on the human nature argument, etc, which could certainly fall under 'teaching about politics'.

[The Ungovernable Farce]

I don't think it's necessary to try and teach him any particularly complex political theories unless he's specifically asking you to. A lot (not all, but a lot) of anarchist communism comes down to the principles of mutual aid and solidarity, which are essentially just fancy names for not being a dick. So if you can get him to grasp those you should be doing fine. Also encourage him to ridicule and disrespect stupid or illegitimate authority figures, but any normal 12-year-old should be doing that anyway.

[x359594]

Give him a good piece of fiction to read. The Dispossesed by Ursula LaGuin is a very readable science fiction novel with an anarchist protagonist.

[Dervish]

Give him a good piece of fiction to read. The Dispossesed by Ursula LaGuin is a very readable science fiction novel with an anarchist protagonist.

You could also give him the V for Vendetta graphic novel, or at least the movie

[rosie]

Does anyone know any good online resources I can use to teach my little brother, 12 years old, about Anarchism/Communism or a short summary of topics you can suggest.
Marx for Beginners is a good one. It's done in a comic book style, so it's informative yet entertaining. I read it and it helped me get through ABC's of Communism and Das Kapital. Also, the more science he learns, the better understanding he'll have. Teach him some biology.

[The Essence Of Flame Is The Essence Of Change]

comes down to the principles of mutual aid and solidarity, which are essentially just fancy names for not being a dick
This more than anything else:cool:
Don't try to force him into anything and in fact don't even try to explain him politics,economics etc from now.Just teach him to be able to think and to act as he would like to be acted upon.Try to be like a ''mentor'' to him if you get me, maybe sitting with him when he watches a movie and explaining some deeper meanings behind the plot slowly slowly..;)etc etc.In short try to inspire the anarchist consciousness from him.Then when the time is prime he will start searching on his own.

[LeninKobaMao]

Well I myself teaching myself when I was 11/12years old I just borrowed books from the library on the subject really simple ones like Marx and Lenin For Beginners (Which are great books with NO capitalist lies in them) give you some links to them:

http://books.google.com/books?id=CDptAAAAIAAJ&q=marx+for+beginners&dq=marx+for+beginners

http://books.google.com/books?id=rnlyAAAACAAJ&dq=lenin+for+beginners

EDIT: And if you can't find them just borrow books by biased capitalist publishers and point out what are lies and what aren't lies.

[RedRise]

About a year ago (age 11:cool:) I became curious about communism and why everyone said it was bad. My first instinct was, of course, to ask my parents. I was given straightforward explanations with no right or left propaganda. That and internet access was all I needed. At 12 (same age as me) I reckon your little brother should be able to make his own choices.:rolleyes: All you have to do is give truthful information when he asks.