Anarchism is dead

[The Feral Underclass]

Anarchism needs to be liberated from anarchists.

21st century anarchism descends ever more into the abyss of confusion and despondency. It has become an irrelevance, as well as an embarrassment. It has essentially turned into and become dominated by a parody of its worst cultural and political failures.

What is to be done?...Nothing.

[Remus Bleys]

Become a council communist.

[Paul Pott]

coool.

[Paul Pott]

Are you saying you're not anarchist anymore?

[Rafiq]

Anarchism needs to be liberated from anarchists.

21st century anarchism descends ever more into the abyss of confusion and despondency. It has become an irrelevance, as well as an embarrassment. It has essentially turned into and become dominated by a parody of its worst cultural and political failures.

What is to be done?...Nothing.

Fear not friend, the entirety of the Left has suffered the same fate. Unless we completely change and get our shit together, we will completely perish.

[The Feral Underclass]

Are you saying you're not anarchist anymore?

What is an anarchist? I am not an anarchist by modern standards for sure, and while anarchism remains an important and relevant methodology and critique of political power and hierarchy in an abstract theoretical sense (which I haven't abandoned), it no longer functions as a political movement, so what point is there to call oneself an anarchist?

[The Feral Underclass]

Fear not friend, the entirety of the Left has suffered the same fate. Unless we completely change and get our shit together, we will completely perish.

What a sorry state of affairs.

[Thirsty Crow]

What a sorry state of affairs.
Try living somewhere were any radical tradition had long since been petrified and broken to pieces. Though, and this is curious, this actually has a few positive sides to it. And that's if actually there had been such traditions

But still. Combine the above with a demoralized working class, almost pulverized during the course of war, the confusion and disarray in circles of people who do attempt to break from the bourgeois mainstream, and still living, rampant nationalism.

It fucking sucks.

[Paul Pott]

What is an anarchist?

An adherent of anarchism? Let's see:


I am not an anarchist by modern standards for sure, and while anarchism remains an important and relevant methodology and critique of political power and hierarchy in an abstract theoretical sense (which I haven't abandoned), it no longer functions as a political movement, so what point is there to call oneself an anarchist?

So you still hold that anarchism is basically correct.

It seems this is a political challenge within the anarchist movement that can be overcome in the future. What does it matter if you cease to call yourself an anarchist, if you still adhere to that theory and tradition? If anarchism as some kind of street presence ceased to exist altogether, why would that change what is correct? So why change the name?

I'm not a Marxist-Leninist by the standards of certain tendencies of inferior theory as well as still existing states that also claim that title. But you don't see any of us going around saying ML is dead.

[CyM]

Become a bolshevik!

[The Feral Underclass]

An adherent of anarchism?

So what's anarchism?


So you still hold that anarchism is basically correct.

I hold that the methodology and critique of political power and hierarchy is correct, yes.


It seems this is a political challenge within the anarchist movement that can be overcome in the future.

You sound like an anarchist.


What does it matter if you cease to call yourself an anarchist, if you still adhere to that theory and tradition?

It doesn't matter at all to anything or anyone other than myself...


If anarchism as some kind of street presence ceased to exist altogether, why would that change what is correct?

There are plenty of people "on the streets" who call themselves anarchists.


So why change the name?

I haven't suggested the name should be changed.


I'm not a Marxist-Leninist by the standards of certain tendencies of inferior theory as well as still existing states that also claim that title. But you don't see any of us going around saying ML is dead.

It's not a competition, is it? I'm not interested in what Marxist-Leninists do or do not do. That has nothing to do with me or anarchism or this thread.

Anarchism is dead because the ideas have been lost. The ideas of anarchism are no longer relevant to anarchists. They are no longer understood nor the priorities of anarchism considered priorities. There is no desire to understand them either. Anarchists have essentially rejected anarchism.

It is dead, not because the ideas are incorrect, but because the ideas no longer exist amongst those who call themselves anarchists...Certainly not in the UK.

I see no reason to continue flogging that corpse.

[The Feral Underclass]

Become a bolshevik!

You mean become a Bolshevik again?

Perhaps when you have updated your theories on the state.

[Remus Bleys]

You mean become a Bolshevik again?

Perhaps when you have updated your theories on the state.
Update your theory on class.

[The Feral Underclass]

Update your theory on class.

What? Has the definition of class changed or something?

[Remus Bleys]

What? Has the definition of class changed or something?
The traditional anarchist line is something like "the state creates class" and in realty. At least if your a Bakuninite. Which is wrong.

[Lensky]

Antonio Gramsci, "The challenge of modernity is to live without illusions and without becoming disillusioned."

[The Feral Underclass]

The traditional anarchist line is something like "the state creates class" and in realty. At least if your a Bakuninite.

That is not correct. Where are you getting this information from?

[Remus Bleys]

That is not correct. Where are you getting this information from?
Every anarchist meeting I've gone to has told me that this is there theory.
And they were all Bakunites.

[human strike]

Don't mourn - organise!

But in all seriousness, anarchism is dead, just as all leftist politics is. It's time we buried it:

Bring Out Your Dead, Endnotes #1: http://endnotes.org.uk/articles/8
From Politics to Life: Ridding anarchy of the leftist millstone, Wolfi Landstreicher: http://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/wolfi-landstreicher-from-politics-to-life-ridding-anarchy-of-the-leftist-millstone

Anarchism is dead, long live anarchy!

[The Feral Underclass]

Every anarchist meeting I've gone to has told me that this is there theory.
And they were all Bakunites.

I'm not really sure if I believe. But if you are telling the truth, this is precisely what I'm talking about. They have probably never read anything Bakunin said, ever. Don't listen to them, they're talking nonsense.

Bakunin openly accepted Marx's views on class. Bakunin never positioned an idea that class was based on the state. That's just stupid.

[ВАЛТЕР]

Curl up in a ball and cry...

I live in a hotbed of reaction, neo-monarchism (whatever the fuck that is), ultra-fundamentalism, and nationalism to the point that if it wasn't so sad it would be hilarious. :crying:

How many nationalist, nazi, clero-fascist, etc. stickers and posters I tear down or cover up with my own agitprop stickers on a daily basis is mind boggling....BUT...fuck it, the struggle will continue with or without me. Might as well make myself somewhat useful.

[Rafiq]

Become a bolshevik!


Which is irrelevant outside of post 20's Russia. Very well.

[Rafiq]

Anarchism was a moment exclusive to a historical era, I.e. the industrial revolution and it's intimate effects. And while Communism ceases, Marxism lives on.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

i've toyed with the idea of just not bothering calling myself a communist because it tends to just lead people to judgements before they actually know what my views are, and secondly because I just fucking despise most people who also call themselves communists.

But then I just think no, i'm gonna reclaim - at least in my mind - the word and what its meaning should be from these stalinoid fucks.

I think you should do the same with anarchism, tat. Spirit of haymarket square and all that.

[bcbm]

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