[STUDY GROUP] Left Communism

[Leo]

I was thinking that it would be a good idea to start a left communism & council communism reading and discussion group as there has been several threads about the subject recently. I hope people here will be interested.

I will start with nominating Herman Gorter's Open Letter to Comrade Lenin (http://www.left-dis.nl/uk/open0.htm)

[Issaiah1332]

Great idea, because I really don't understand either. :D

[Ander]

I would love to do this as I have been flirting with some ideas of left communism lately.

Will we be studying Luxemburg?

[More Fire for the People]

World Revolution and Communist Tactics (http://marxists.org/archive/pannekoe/tactics/index.htm) by Anton Pannekoek

[Die Neue Zeit]

Not before discussing Lenin's Left-Wing Communism: An Infantile Disorder :P ;)

[Seriously, because Gorter's letter is a response to that pamphlet - maybe they can be studied simultaneously?]

[Leo]

Will we be studying Luxemburg?

Why not? Maybe you'd like to nominate something from her?


Not before discussing Lenin's Left-Wing Communism: An Infantile Disorder. Seriously, because Gorter's letter is a response to that pamphlet - maybe they can be studied simultaneously?

I don't think it is necessary, Gorter's letter does give a clear grasp of what Lenin defended in his pamphlet.

[Boriznov]

I will participate in this no matter what we'll be studying:)

also Leo, about national libertation in my pm. I believe the worker has no country so it wouldn't matter under wich nation the worker lives in, we still need to organize internationally.

[Ander]

Originally posted by Leo [email protected] 17, 2007 01:10 am

Will we be studying Luxemburg?

Why not? Maybe you'd like to nominate something from her?
How about Reform or Revolution? Or perhaps The National Question?

[Leo]

I think The Junius Pamphlet or The Russian Revolution might also work out well. I think we should make a poll at some point, when we have enough nominations.

[Ander]

In my opinion it's better to keep these groups relatively small or at least very well organised. With my Principles of Communism study I don't even know who's involved, who's paying attention, and if anyone cares anymore.

Very frustrating.

[Boriznov]

Ok is this still going on ?

[Leo]

Yeah, I've just been out of town for a while.


In my opinion it's better to keep these groups relatively small or at least very well organised. With my Principles of Communism study I don't even know who's involved, who's paying attention, and if anyone cares anymore.


Well, I'm afraid that's not even gonna be an issue for this study group.

[Kropotkin Has a Posse]

We could take the key sections of Pannekoek's Workers Councils.

[Devrim]

I think that Gorter's open letter is the best option as it clearly lays out the differences between lenin, and the communist left.


Originally posted by Hammer
Not before discussing Lenin's Left-Wing Communism: An Infantile Disorder :P ;)

[Seriously, because Gorter's letter is a response to that pamphlet - maybe they can be studied simultaneously?]

I think you are wrong. Of course Gorter's reply makes much more sense having read Lenin's pamphlet, but it does stand alone quite well. I think that 'an infantile disorder is very valuable background reading to this discussion. The problem with background reading is where do you stop. What about, for example 'Left wing childishness and the petty borgeoise menatlity' also by Lenin.

I think that to discuss left/council communism, Gorter's work is a good place to start. After all, this is not a Lenin discussion group.

Devrim

[Leo]

We could take the key sections of Pannekoek's Workers Councils.

I think that if we will do Pannekoek, "World Revolution and Communist Tactics" might be better. Workers Councils is just an article, well, two articles to be fair but the point is still valid.

[Boriznov]

I think he meant the book Workers Councils

[Leo]

Oh, you mean this one: http://libcom.org/library/workers-councils-book-pannekoek

[Kropotkin Has a Posse]

Correct, the book. He covers a lot of ground, and it could be considered as being a book with all the main points of left communism represented within.

[Djehuti]

I nominate "Workers' Councils and the Economics of a Self-Managed Society" by Cornelius Castoriadis (a.k.a. Paul Cardan). I believe that this is the very best text on the subject.

Link (http://www.point-of-departure.org/Lust-For-Life/WorkersCouncilsAndEconomics/WorkersCouncilsAndEconomics.htm)

[Leo]

Isn't Castoriadis more of an anarchist then a left communist?

[Goatse]

Can someone explain to me what a reading group is? Do we just read nominated books and discuss them?

[Leo]

Pretty much, basically.

[Rawthentic]

Y'all know I'm down for this, left-communism has always interested me. Maybe we should start with the basics?

[Black Dagger]

Originally posted by Leo [email protected] 27, 2007 10:00 pm
Oh, you mean this one: http://libcom.org/library/workers-councils-book-pannekoek
I'd second doing something from this book.... coz ive got a hard copy of it :D

[Kropotkin Has a Posse]

Mine is the paperback with all of the tools on the cover.

[Boriznov]

Just to say i'm still interested :)

[Leo]

Yeah I guess we can start a poll if there aren't any nominations.

[Ander]

Yeah I think it's time to start a poll.

[Devrim]

So what happened to this, Leo?
Devrim

[Leo]

I am starting the poll right now.