Beyond Domination: On Conflict and Liberty

[blackwave]

Hello all, I haven't been on revleft in many months, in part because I've been rethinking my standpoint. These days I consider myself an autonomist, or neo-tribalist, though I would still like to practice communism as a separatist.
I'd like to share an essay that I wrote called 'Beyond Domination: On Conflict and Liberty'. I hope you find it stimulating, and I welcome criticism. Here's a little overview, taken from the final paragraph:

"...The most viable resolution to social conflict is found in transforming the essence of the problem into its solution. People have a natural tendency to group with those they can relate to, and these groups have a natural tendency to struggle against each other for the power to fully realise their ideology. Rather than trying to quell conflict by increasing compromise and ‘integration’, we should accept it as an unfortunate part of the natural order, and adapt accordingly, by separating into groups of individuals with complementary personalities, and giving each group self-rule, only demanding of them that they abstain from attempting to conquer territories outside of their own. Such a structure, I think, has the potential not only to bring about greater peace, but also to significantly further what I consider to be the supreme rational goal of politics: the most satisfying possible reconciliation between the individual and the group, between human freedom and human bondage."

Essay is attached as a pdf, but you can also watch a video of me reading it at - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBj3p5j-iDI

I've also set up a facebook group (Autonomy Network) which welcomes any whose interest is captured, though I imagine most of you here will dislike my ideas. Still, I'd be grateful if you would pass it on to anyone who you think might be interested.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_199935476713061


[Mods, if you judge that this should actually be in the 'opposing ideologies' forum, go ahead and move it.]

[Leftie]

Surely this is in itself a contradiction as you are in effect compelling all people to form municipalities. You criticize Anarchism for forcing people to be free but what you do is no different. At the end of the day, what you are doing is domination. What if I don't like separatism? What if I would prefer a united world? I will be forced to live in a segregated society.

How would the economic domination of some municipalities by others be dealt with?

Some places have more natural resources than others and municipalities with little or no resources will struggle to survive.

They may have to take loans from richer nations thereby enslaving themselves.

Eventually, many municipalities would be forced to unite for the purpose of mere survival.

And what if one of the municipalities decided to adopt Militarism as its ideology? What if said municipality began to arm itself massively. Such a nation would be able to create havoc, regardless of whether or not there is an 'international militia'.

I have more to say, but I'm a little busy atm. :(

[Tenka]

I would find myself falling within whichever municipality sought to combine with similar municipalities and overthrow whatever hypocritical central regulatory body kept us apart. Diversity is not really a problem to be solved; but in case it was, a more practicable solution than keeping the different separate would be to effectively integrate the different into the whole -- or alternatively, though generally considered less desirable, to eliminate difference. Anyway, your essay seems utopian to say the least.:(

[Leftie]

I would find myself falling within whichever municipality sought to combine with similar municipalities and overthrow whatever hypocritical central regulatory body kept us apart. Diversity is not really a problem to be solved; but in case it was, a more practicable solution than keeping the different separate would be to effectively integrate the different into the whole -- or alternatively, though generally considered less desirable, to eliminate difference. Anyway, your essay seems utopian to say the least.:(

I was going to mention that point about it being utopian.

What makes you believe that all people of different ideologies, be it communist, fascist or primitivist, will work together to create small municipalities which will practice their ideology?

Naturally, once their ideology is set up in one area, the people there will do everything they can to spread the ideology anyway.

For example, as revolutionary leftists, we will not stand and watch as the working class of capitalist municipalities are oppressed by capitalism just because their capitalist newspapers and schoolbooks will tell them that that is the best way. Obviously we will try to promote class consciousness and we would set up revolutionary movements in these municipalities.

What you are suggesting is ending domination by giving people the right to choose who will dominate them. Why should anyone be dominated by this ruling body. Authority, by definition, is domination.