Gandhi on exploitation

[Milk Sheikh]

In fact, according to Mahatma Gandhi, those who are exploited they are their own enemies; exploitation is based on cooperation, willing or forced, of the exploited. So, there would be no exploitation if exploited refuses to obey the exploiter.
Source: http://www.mkgandhi.org/articles/relevance3.htm

Is it possible that the working class could follow a policy of noncooperation? Would that be more practical and effective than dreaming about a revolution, a revolution that presently has neither a plan nor a leader?

[Ele'ill]

Gandhi's non-violent struggle gave colonial forces the opportunity to negotiate a walk-away from engagement with Indian militants while ruling from a position of non-occupation.

There is no present revolution, only organizing towards it. If I work I am obeying the exploiter's policies that exploit me and there is no manner in which to survive but to engage in the current system- without of course dropping to depths below the poverty line.


Noncooperation can mean a lot of different things- perhaps elaborate.

[RGacky3]

Is it possible that the working class could follow a policy of noncooperation? Would that be more practical and effective than dreaming about a revolution, a revolution that presently has neither a plan nor a leader?


You just invented the union :)

[hatzel]

This is an idea much older than him, of course. If you're interested in all this stuff (as I am), then you can check out a couple of the texts that built towards this whole idea, such as:

Discourse on Voluntary Servitude (http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Discourse_on_Voluntary_Servitude) (Étienne de la Boétie)
Civil Disobedience (http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Civil_Disobedience) (Henry David Thoreau)
The Slavery of Our Times (http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Slavery_of_Our_Times) (Leo Tolstoy) – of direct interest are the last two chapters, 'How can governments be abolished?' and 'What should each man do?', but the rest is interesting in setting the scene for anarchism :)

There are, of course, more texts, some of which are online, some of which are on my bookshelf. I'm always willing to help out, though, so if you want any more info, just ask!