bcbm
1st December 2005, 18:14
Earlier today I was reading a book about Basque youth movements. In it, they describe the tactic of Kale Borroka, which is more or less street fighting and involves violence against various political, economic and social symbols of Spanish and Basque authority (ie, banks, shops, etc). The general aim is, obviously, to destroy as much property as possible. In the media, this tactic is often described as originating in and being planned by ETA. Some also try to make Kale Borroka its own organization which one joins. In all cases, the youth are merely actors in an adult conspiracy, without their own grievances or political context.
Now, to those of us in the anarchist movement, all of this should be ringing some bells. This is very much what has happened with the Black Bloc tactic here in the United States. After Seattle, especially, the Black Bloc was described as being its own organization, not a tactic, and having originated with John Zerzan or Eugene anarchists, with everyone else who may have participated simply being manipulated. As mentioned in some CI publication (I think), even authorities in far off places would blame the violence on those anarchists from Seattle and the media perpetuated the notion of the Black Bloc as an actual organization.
What does this all mean? It suggests to me that there exists a pattern among authorities and their media friends to undermine youth radicalism and politics by deligitimating our actions as simply the manipulations of others. I think this is a serious threat and serves well to lump youth as mindless rebels without a cause, enforcing ageism. So lets use this area to discuss possible solutions, or other manifestations of this that weve seen.
Now, to those of us in the anarchist movement, all of this should be ringing some bells. This is very much what has happened with the Black Bloc tactic here in the United States. After Seattle, especially, the Black Bloc was described as being its own organization, not a tactic, and having originated with John Zerzan or Eugene anarchists, with everyone else who may have participated simply being manipulated. As mentioned in some CI publication (I think), even authorities in far off places would blame the violence on those anarchists from Seattle and the media perpetuated the notion of the Black Bloc as an actual organization.
What does this all mean? It suggests to me that there exists a pattern among authorities and their media friends to undermine youth radicalism and politics by deligitimating our actions as simply the manipulations of others. I think this is a serious threat and serves well to lump youth as mindless rebels without a cause, enforcing ageism. So lets use this area to discuss possible solutions, or other manifestations of this that weve seen.