Horizontal Organization

[anomaly]

I think this might appeal to some anarchists on the board. (indeed, RAAN already uses the principle I'm about to describe)

As you may know, I am, rightly or wrongly, a critic of vertically structured organizations. You know, the old type with a central committee, offical leadership and hierarchy, etc.

Well, in the past few days I've re-looked a manual I bought some time ago about anti-capitalism generally. In it, a horizontally-organized group is described, which is, essentially, a network.

Now, the logics of this idea are completely different from most of the past movements/parties/organizations.

The network is pretty much the most decentralized type of 'organization' feasible. There is no 'central committee', there is no 'official leadership', there is no 'official membership'. There are just a set of principles. If you agree with them, you autonomously work toward them, with a perhaps small, locally based group.

As the book (called anti-capitalism: a beginner's guide, in case you're curious) describes, "those who wish to speak can do so unmediated" by any 'leadership'. Also, "there is no 'membership' as such, just engagement. There is no brake...on joining in."

That means that anyone agreeing with the stated principles can 'join' the network.

Also, there is no need to have only 'one' 'official' network. Many can be created and they can work together. I also think this effectively takes away any 'individual power' to fuck things up, as if one person does 'fuck things up' (somehow), the network lives on.

Perhaps Nachie would be useful here. ;)

So, anybody interested, what do you think? (and by the way, I already know that Leninists oppose this, and I already know the reasons they oppose it, so, please, if you're a Leninist, don't bother 'refuting' this...I am primarily interested in the thoughts of libertarian Marxists and anarchists...)

[Nachie]

The major task of each participant in this process would be to ensure the continuation of a vibrant and publicly-accessible dialogue as to what is the existence of that network. For this reason, RAAN began the autonomous publication initiative to encourage regional collectives and other formations to produce their own DIY publications that could propagate RAANismo without centralized control.

Ironically enough, I really liked what CrimethInc. had to say about their own experiences in their recent Ten Year Report (http://www.crimethinc.com/features/11.html). A few of us in RAAN collaborate on CWC projects, but overall feel that the mass-propaganda approach is unable to produce results without serious grassroots organizing and consciousness-building in the places that propaganda reaches. In the 10 Year Report they did well as far as articulating those mistakes and others, some ideas on what a revolutionary association looks like, and as a bonus didn't even indulge in any dogmatic anti-Marxism!

The existence of the revolutionary (horizontal) network is an extremely complex dialogue that we have to construct and defend gradually in our everyday lives, much like anti-heterosexism, anti-racism, etc.


Originally posted by [email protected] 11 2006, 04:22 AM
(and by the way, I already know that Leninists oppose this, and I already know the reasons they oppose it, so, please, if you're a Leninist, don't bother 'refuting' this...I am primarily interested in the thoughts of libertarian Marxists and anarchists...)
This is the toughest thing. We have to realize that revleft is not that promising an environment in terms of being able to avoid Leninism. No matter how many times we explain that we're really not interested in their ideas, that we're really trying to do our own thing for once, the Leninists are going to keep on hasslin' us about everything in a manner that prevents even the tiniest bit of practical action from going down. If we are to do this, embark on the revolutionary project, we do it in a posture of offense to Leninism and all residual vanguardist organizations. We will create our own space, in the Left or outside of it. And if we're going to get off the message boards, it'll be at the expense of leaving the Leninists on them.

But seriously, whatever the acronym or no acronym at all, what we need is an excuse to drop the bullshit and get to earnest work to see what we can build just by multiplying our mutual aid (horizontally!). When that base is built, anything is possible. The time is ripe because more than ever, anarchists are exploring Marxism and Marxists are rejecting Lenin. There is a "credibility hurdle" that any group first has to surpass in order to reach that "critical mass/interest" necessary for sustainability and renewal. I would say that RAAN's opportunity is approaching fast, and I hope we don't miss it.

EDIT ADD: Shout out to the RMC for alerting me to the existence of this thread.

[anomaly]

Originally posted by Nachie
If we are to do this, embark on the revolutionary project, we do it in a posture of offense to Leninism and all residual vanguardist organizations.
I agree 100% with this. Indeed, if we were to have such networks abundant, they would inevitably be in a "posture of offense" to Leninists.


And if we're going to get off the message boards, it'll be at the expense of leaving the Leninists on them.
I don't much like this idea. Ignoring internet message boards, such as revleft, just because of the existence of Leninism, is not a good idea. The internet itself is a very good example of a 'form' or 'prototype' of a good horizontal organization. It has served as a haven for activists to communicate and discuss ideas.

The way forward is not ignoring this vital resource, but rather using it to the fullest capabilities. Because a network is autonomous, with no way of really 'counting' any of the 'members', the internet can serve as a great 'meet-up' place for revolutionaries. Besides, I think that Leninism is on its downward slope to death. I'm guessing that within 10 years, Leninist groups will either all be openly reformist, or be like the current MIM (I think it has like 100 members).

Don't let Leninists scare you. The libertarian Marxists and anarchists are the future.

Also, would you agree that we should not limit ourselves to a single 'official' network? Personally, I think that we should have many networks, and individuals may 'engage' in the name of two or three. I think this dogmatic thinking that there is only 'one official organization' must go.

[violencia.Proletariat]

How is this any different than crimethinc? :rolleyes: The best organization in my opinion is platformsim. :D

[anomaly]

Originally posted by nate
How is this any different than crimethinc?
Maybe it isn't. I'm really not into crimethinc. Don't know much about them besides that some anarchists I know like it. But, in any case, horizontal organization seems the way to go, in my opinion.


The best organization in my opinion is platformsim.
What's 'platformism'?

[violencia.Proletariat]

The organizational Platform of the Libertarian Communist

http://libcom.org/library/organisational-p...ts-dielo-trouda (http://libcom.org/library/organisational-platform-libertarian-communists-dielo-trouda)

An American Platformist federation

http://nefac.net/

[anomaly]

Originally posted by site
The rights, responsibilities and practical tasks of the executive committee are fixed by the congress of the Union.
This sounds a lot like the Communist League.

Is this the exact model the NEFAC uses (an 'executive committee')?

Don't know about this. Maybe it would work, but I still prefer the horizontal model employed by the RAAN.

[Nachie]

"Platformism" encompasses NEFAC and pretty much all of historical anarchism from the last century, the best example being the CNT-FAI


How is this any different from crimethinc?
True, both RAAN and CrimethInc. are going for some sort of tricky fusion between the FNB and ELF.

CrimethInc. however has done much more to standardize itself into a particular subculture, even if they are now trying to reverse this. Many people call it "lifestylism". The other big difference is that CrimethInc. has primarily been a project for impressive amounts of literature distribution, and has only generated "action" or "organization" in rare instances as a result. Their mass-pamphletting is incapable of turning into a fighting association unless they go much slower, building collectives and networks at the local level and basing these projects on interpersonal, participative communication.

NEFAC is cool, I would have joined them back in the day had I not formed RAAN, but ultimately think this different kind of model was necessary in order to break down the barriers between red and black. I should be meeting with a member of the Nemesis Collective soon to discuss the mutual progression of our organizations and hopefully a commitment to solidarity and mutual aid in the future. Comrades of NEFAC have provided housing for RAANistas in the past.

NEFAC is also fundamentally commited to building a continent-wide anarchist federation, and SEEMS to TEND to look at RAAN as a potential ally in this long-term goal. This cooperation is mutual, but the network could not possibly support the creation of a singular federation with elected positons and representatives.

Anomaly:

I agree, we can't abandon the Internet entirely. Far from it, RAAN was born of the Internet and its capacity for facilitating discussion on forums almost exactly like the ones here. To this day we maintain a forum for coordination on the website. The thing is, part of discarding Leninism is discarding the endless debates that prevent us from creating practical sustaining unity where we can. The "No Bullshit Policy" of RAAN is actually a BBS culture applied to all realms of activism. Everybody tries to only bring up subjects or issues when there is a plausible proposal for action behind it. That Leninists are excluded from the get-go allows for this to happen. Everybody reads the Principles & Directions, says "shit, that sounds good" and just gets to work. Nobody in RAAN gets known for their forum debate skills, only for their organizing. We still have a policy of friendly engagement with individual Leninists, especially in such potential "gray areas" as the Red & Anarchist Skin Heads...

Also anti-Leninism is just a great rallying-cry for estranged Marxists (or Marx-friendly people) such as myself, who then as a tactical necessity end up forming a large part of the RAANista base.

For my opinions on if we should have an "official" network, see my comments about working with NEFAC above, or my opinions of the CL and IWPA in the other thread. Basically, the whole point is that there would at no time be anything to "officialize" the one network, or supress independent horizontal formations outside of its influence.

At the same time, uniting around an acronym or whatever gives a few advantages, assuming that acronym truly does represent this horizontal participatory model. Those advantages are mostly related to not having to reinvent the wheel, "feeling a part of something" and all the psychological rammifications of that, being able to implement new tactics rapidly, facilitating trust and mutual aid, and generally just serving as a credibility bank where everything you do becomes a part of something greater, and assumes all the power and influence of that entity in the process.

I'm down with RAAN. You call yours whatever you want.

[anomaly]

Originally posted by Nachie
I'm down with RAAN. You call yours whatever you want.
Well, one of the good things about a network (as opposed to a hierarchical organization) is that it can be expanded infinitely (as there is no official membership). So, whichever network it is, the movement is growing.

I don't have any 'network' of my own as of now (I'll be joining one in college).

If the NEFAC is open to working with RAAN, they would probably be open to working with other similar networks. This is a very good thing. A bit of unity amongst anarchists is good. :)

[Nachie]

I guess I should perhaps clarify that NEFAC/RAAN cooperation is done on an individual, non-"approved" basis. For RAAN that's how we do everything, but it's been the NEFACers as individuals rather than NEFAC as an organization that we have been dealing with.

Why wait until college to get active?

[anomaly]

Originally posted by Nachie
Why wait until college to get active?
No one at my high school (or even in my community, that I know of) is an anarchist or Marxist. :(

So there's not much of an opportunity to get active, unfortunately.

I've actually never spoken with a comrade face-to-face. The internet has proven especially vital for me.

[Nachie]

That is most unfortunate to hear, that "real life" bond can be essential.

Try some of the older activists in your community. If there are really no "radicals" look around for environmentalists or Amnesty International type folks. And anti-war/bush zealots.

Even if you remain alone, you probably still have some sort of skills or resources that can be utilized through the internet to benefit the movement. Or you could just embark on a one-person street art campaign with stickers and flyers and who knows what else. I think it's important that the network can be relevant to a single isolated affiliate AND large coordinated groups.

[anomaly]

Right now I'm primarily focused on joining the network next year.

Of course, I've been actively propagandizing in school, but to no avail.
----
A question to nate:

The organizational structure of NEFAC appears to be of the old variant. Is there any official hierarchy within the organization? And how much power does the 'executive committee' have?

[violencia.Proletariat]

The organizational structure of NEFAC appears to be of the old variant. Is there any official hierarchy within the organization? And how much power does the 'executive committee' have?

Speak with Rebel Worker, he's a member here and is in NEFAC. There is no hierarchy that I know of apart from how much your willing to put your viewpoint across, which is the same in any organization of any type. But this isn't hierarchy.