Me, Anarchy and the State

[Pogue]

When to the Anarchist Bookfair in London, went in pretty sure I was more Anarchist than anything else (Trot, ML, etc) came out certain I'm an Anarchist. But I've got some questions still.

Firstly, as Anarchists, if there was a far left wing movement but it was vanguardist or something, it adovcated a party and a workers state and it was genuinely revolutionary, and it had mass support, would you get behind it? Critically support it? Or oppose it?

Do you vote? Do you abstain, spoil your vote, or do you vote for the 'Best of the worst?' I think I'll still vote, to keep the BNP/Tories out, probably for the Communist Party or some-such. Is this hypocritical? I mean, I don't agree completely with groups like the SWP but I respect them as comrades and would be pleased and supportive if they gained power because we have so much in common, and they're ten times better than LibLabConBNP etc.

[apathy maybe]

Remember, not all anarchists agree on all things. Indeed, many anarchists agree on very little! These answers are my answers, and you should make up your own mind.
Firstly, as Anarchists, if there was a far left wing movement but it was vanguardist or something, it adovcated a party and a workers state and it was genuinely revolutionary, and it had mass support, would you get behind it? Critically support it? Or oppose it?
I would have to say, it depends. If there was a genuine revolutionary mass movement, then I would probably support it. I would not support any sort of "dicatatorship of the party" or a "worker's state" (assuming the word state to be at the minimum "minority rule"). A worker's state is a oxymoron, in that as soon as you get people into power, they stop being workers.

I would suggest that most class war anarchists would also learn from the past and oppose any sort of "Bolshevik"-style uprising.


Do you vote? Do you abstain, spoil your vote, or do you vote for the 'Best of the worst?' I think I'll still vote, to keep the BNP/Tories out, probably for the Communist Party or some-such. Is this hypocritical? I mean, I don't agree completely with groups like the SWP but I respect them as comrades and would be pleased and supportive if they gained power because we have so much in common, and they're ten times better than LibLabConBNP etc.
I personally don't vote. Full stop. Even though where I come from it is theoretically compulsory, and you can get fined for not voting. If I did "vote", it would merely be to turn up to the voting booth and spoil the ballet, or else do a stunt (such as eat the ballot paper).

I have read one article by an "anarchist" who advocated voting Green, because at the least it would take money (public funding) away from the major parties. I'm not convinced.

[Incendiarism]

I would support a vanguard party, but not unconditionally. A coalition of far-left groups is needed, and considering that there still is bad blood between anarchists and marxists, the former must be very careful in their approach.

I do not vote either as I see voting as a form of legitimizing the current system, and no anarchist wishes to do that.

[Black Sheep]

Is this hypocritical?What do you mean hypocritical? Don't be so emotional about it, we have to do what is best for the working class, and judge while considering the balance of short-term gain versus the revolution itself.
All i m saying is that it depends on the circumstances

There is not a 'xxxxx'-ist dogma you must follow blindly.

[nuisance]

What did you get up to at the bookfair?