U.S. Revolutionary Strategy 2011

[ellipsis]

via The Revolution Script (http://therevolutionscript.blogspot.com/2011/03/us-revolutionary-strategy-2011.html) (meaning I wrote it)

With the year 2011 already in full swing, and given recent events and personal experiences, I felt inspired to write a post outlining what I believe to be a way forward in advancing the revolutionary anti-capitalist movement in the United States, although this does not exclude it from being applicable in other countries or regions.

There is no doubt in my mind that stand at a unique historical juncture and as Obama deceitfully told us "we are the people we have been waiting for!" In Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain, Libya, Nepal, the Philippines, India, Greece, Italy, and Madison, Wisconsin, we see manifestations of a growing revolutionary milieu on a global scale. Empire is in peril, losing its hegemonic control over its colonies, the most glaring example of which is the popular uprising which overthrew longtime U.S. supported dictator Hosni Mubarak in Egypt. Empire has become so worried that U.S. Secretary of State recently held a meeting of all of its diplomats and ambassadors, circling the proverbial wagons for a sustained assault on the interests of global capital and Empire. Domestically we see the economy in shambles, infrastructure crumbling, a polarization of society, an ever growing disparity in income, rising unemployment and homelessness, rising levels of fascism and other reactionary ideologies, and more.

And the stakes at the moment could not be higher, in deed the very survival for the human race is at stake. At the moment the crimes of global capital cause an untold amount of misery, death and environmental degradation.

Are we on the brink of global socialist revolution? No, but as a good comrade recently told me, "If its not the beginning of the end, then the beginning of the end is beginning."And the stakes at the moment could not be higher, in deed the very survival for the human race is at stake. At the moment the crimes of global capital cause an untold amount of misery, death and environmental degradation. If we do not act, our current level of "fucked" will continue to deteriorate until we are FUBAR.

It is clear, we must act and we must act now. Unfortunately the anti-capitalist movement in the United States today is but a shadow of its former, early-20th century glory. As such we are starting almost from scrap; there are many networks and groups in existence whom are doing very good work, but it is not enough. We need sustained, meaningful action, not just well written rhetoric.

There is no shortage of political organization and activity in the US, but either they are reactionary in nature or not sufficiently revolutionary, that is while their cause is one that most anti-capitalist would support, they do not recognize the root of the problem that they seek to mitigate, which, in almost all cases is capitalism. In the case of reactionary groups, we must oppose their agenda at all junctures.

The best way to build a viable anti-capitalist movement in the U.S. id by strengthening existing anti-capitalist groups, radicalizing existing organizations and bringing them together. In the short term this means connecting with other working class movements, especially the immigrants rights, anti-war, food justice, unemployed workers, homeless/foreclosed, student/youth (ones who's concerns are not limited to the college), and prison abolition; I feel that these are the strongest existing movements to work with. Additionally, the anti-war platform is a great position to build solidarity with international movements AND related immigrant communities domestically. For example, ANSWER coalition connects anti-capitalists with American Mulism/Arab communities on Egyptian solidarity actions. Solidarity and support take many forms, such as organizing a campaign in opposition to an Arizona-like immigration bill in your home state or holding a fund raising event to raise legal funds for comrades on trial.

The goal being that anti-capitalists develop a presence in a broader number of groups, networks and movements, we need to be seen as both allies and socialism as a viable alternative to the current economic system. In this regard, anti-capitalism must gain exposure and legitimacy among disenfranchised and exploited groups, which at this point is just about everybody with the goal of creating dual-power systems. In other words, we must start to build the infrastructure of a post-capital society and in doing so begin to replace to state and capital where they both have failed, providing material security such as abundant food and social services, economic security and protection from violent aggression. This process is made much easier due to the fact that the prevailing authorities have failed so miserably at each one of this tasks. However, this does not subtract from the enormity of the task ahead. You are not recruiting in this situation you are gaining popular support by supporting the people; new comrades are a secondary bonus.

It is also important to build solidarity with protests movements in Europe, North African, and the Middle East, and more militant groups like the Zapatistas in Mexico and the Naxalites in India. A global revolution is needed to destroy capitalism; we are all fighting the same war on multiple fronts and our actions and words must reflect that. Educate, raise funds, hold actions at embassy, whatever methods you choose to express this solidarity.

Potential ways to support and strengthen existing revolutionaries including establishing squats, even very temporaries ones for use as housing (including temporary housing for out of town comrades during protests or conferences), event space or for other "party business." The facilitation of the creation of a revolutionary community such as organizing conferences, skill shares, workshops, lectures, salons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salon_%28gathering%29), movies screenings, and anything else that brings comrades together, gets them talking and working together. Additionally individuals and groups should make a concerted effort to attend the meetings and actions of other anti-capitalist groups and tendencies, even if you can't come together on everything.

Our current tactics, while needed and useful are no longer enough as the stakes and the battle lines continue to grow. We must escalate the level of intensity, commitment and risk in our tactics. Occupations, squatting, public space creation/reclamation; the time has come to seize land, properties and means of production. No matter where you live, there are abandoned/unused properties, there are storefront, warehouses and factories closed down recently or in year past. Use occupied space to house people and create worker-controlled means of production and other publicly/socially useful spaces. Some areas off the country have been devastated by foreclosures of homes and/or closures of factories and as such are ripe for occupation. Occupied spaces can also be utilized to create the infrastructure of the revolutionary movement, as mentioned above.

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

One thing about bringing comrades together is that it's often easier when projects meet concrete needs in the process of revolutionary organization. Food/shelter/community/whatever. I think emphasizing this is useful.

Also - fuck socialism. The state, everywhere, is discredited, and "socialist" parties are justly dismissed as every bit as corrupt as "liberal" and "conservative" parties. The projects you described above facilitate autonomy - emphasizing autonomous anticapitalist possibilities is going to resonate. Pretending it's 1930 won't.

[ellipsis]

There are these common issue that it is easy to unite on, projects that address basic needs AND build revolutionary organization/networks are one of them. EVERYBODY references the BPP's breakfast program...

In reference to working with socialists, a comrade said to me the other night, that of course these coalitions are going to be messy and have uncomfortable moments, but you have to believe that these people are going to be involved in the revolution.

[Summerspeaker]

Not a bad revolutionary program of action. I'm almost inspired. If only these things worked out as well in theory as in practice. :)

[MarxSchmarx]

I think your most useful insight is the point about getting the long, myriad list of basically single-issue groups together. Although you raise a valid point that change won't happen without these groups, there are serious and quite possible insurmountable roadblocks to seeing this strategy through.

Perhaps the biggest problem is that these groups, especially at the leadership level, have insanely entrenched interests - on one extreme you get something like the hereditary fiefdom that is the united farm workers, but on a more prosaic level, it is all the dedication a person who oversees something like a homeless-rights center could do just to prevent them from going belly up and serving their clients. Moreover, they risk alienating their financial support bases - for example, a homeless advocacy group could receive considerable donations from anti-immigrant types. Immigration groups by contrast need to spread the impresion that they are "patriotic" etc... as part of their messaging, and demanding that they get involved with something like ANSWER just reinforces the fifth column fear, and so on. And sometimes their interests are diametrically opposed, as for example the prison abolition group and those who believe people who organize dogfights should be thrown in jail.

One institution that has managed to somewhat herd all these different groups together in America are the mainstream religious organizations - in fact, if we can be as effective as the Catholic church, for example, in linking the homeless advocates with the immigration advocates and so on it would seem very promising.But if we look at their track record, or the record of methodists or jews or whatever, they are decidedly mixed. A possible exception are the "black churches". It goes without saying that the left has no where near the organizational and infrastructural resources , much less community connections and social chache these admittedly pitiful religious groups have.

Indeed, unfortunately the very survival of most of these groups either financially or in their communities is predicated on the idea that they are perceived by the conformists and their middle class donors as devoted to a very very specific reformist cause. Although the example of some religious groups in America may suggest that these divisions can be overcome, the sad fact is that we do not have the credibility, wherewithal, and frankly even unified vision and sense of purpose that are a necessary, but far from sufficient, basis for even considering to bridge the inherent divisions among the myriad of special interest groups.

[ellipsis]

I think your most useful insight is the point about getting the long, myriad list of basically single-issue groups together. Although you raise a valid point that change won't happen without these groups, there are serious and quite possible insurmountable roadblocks to seeing this strategy through.

Perhaps the biggest problem is that these groups, especially at the leadership level, have insanely entrenched interests - on one extreme you get something like the hereditary fiefdom that is the united farm workers, but on a more prosaic level, it is all the dedication a person who oversees something like a homeless-rights center could do just to prevent them from going belly up and serving their clients. Moreover, they risk alienating their financial support bases - for example, a homeless advocacy group could receive considerable donations from anti-immigrant types. Immigration groups by contrast need to spread the impresion that they are "patriotic" etc... as part of their messaging, and demanding that they get involved with something like ANSWER just reinforces the fifth column fear, and so on. And sometimes their interests are diametrically opposed, as for example the prison abolition group and those who believe people who organize dogfights should be thrown in jail.

One institution that has managed to somewhat herd all these different groups together in America are the mainstream religious organizations - in fact, if we can be as effective as the Catholic church, for example, in linking the homeless advocates with the immigration advocates and so on it would seem very promising.But if we look at their track record, or the record of methodists or jews or whatever, they are decidedly mixed. A possible exception are the "black churches". It goes without saying that the left has no where near the organizational and infrastructural resources , much less community connections and social chache these admittedly pitiful religious groups have.

Indeed, unfortunately the very survival of most of these groups either financially or in their communities is predicated on the idea that they are perceived by the conformists and their middle class donors as devoted to a very very specific reformist cause. Although the example of some religious groups in America may suggest that these divisions can be overcome, the sad fact is that we do not have the credibility, wherewithal, and frankly even unified vision and sense of purpose that are a necessary, but far from sufficient, basis for even considering to bridge the inherent divisions among the myriad of special interest groups.

Wow, way to be a Debbie downer...

No seriously I appreciate the critique. Writing this document for me was useful in getting my bearings and having a point of reference going forward. I suppose I just outlined the ideal situation, which gives us a point of aspiration, even if we only get %10 there or less.

Building coalitions and gaining credibility/influence within the broader left is no easy task. But in these single issue groups, there are sometime very radical and receptive elements to be found, particularly, in my experience in the chicano/latino/immigrants' right community.

And immigrant rights group often ally with Latin American solidarity groups, like anti-SOA and pro-zapatista groups, who often ally themselves with anti-war/anti-imperialism groups.

To give you an example: I was recently talking about a direct action, the owner of the property uses non-union staff, ergo we can probably count on the support of the SEIU, who hates the owner in question.

[Wolfshadow]

Comrades forgive me if it's already been said but why not get together some grass roots down in the trenches recruitment campaigns going on.

Another of my thoughts for the spring was to go out and plant some guerrilla style urban gardens,free for the people to use.Strategic placement with the right message could work wonders imho

[ellipsis]

Bump/Necro. How'd did I do in terms of prediction?