Potemkin
29th November 2008, 05:40
Greetings everyone,
I'm currently in the Phoenix metropolitan area in Arizona, USA.
I identify with anarchism as rooted in the socialist tradition. I support specifically the non-Platformist anarchist-communist tendency (a rarity, seemingly) as outlined by Peter Kropotkin and others.
It's good to find this site and get perspectives from others on the revolutionary left. I'm only interested in respectful debate and disagreement -- I can fight with others in the real world.
I am in opposition to the association of "capitalist" and/or "free market" anything with anarchism, as I believe that capitalism cannot exist without state protection (as we're seeing right now in this economic downturn).
Additionally, I am in opposition to primitivist and anti-civilization irrationality and anti-intellectualism -- quite the fad in many US anarchist circles at the moment. Instead, I believe in education for all, access to and decentralization of technology, and science by and for the people. While I believe in the potential of liberatory science and technology, it must be understood that science and technology developed under capitalism is undoubtedly designed to benefit capitalists.
That's about it, in a nutshell. All that being said, I try to transcend traditional labels and dogmas, and see a wide variety of people as comrades in struggle. I believe in a diversity of tactics, and that when we work together to overthrow capitalism and the state, it only makes sense that we will then come together on the basis of affinity and organize our neighborhoods and communities the way we see fit, allowing for a plurality of social organizational types post-revolution.
As said above, I enjoy the works of Peter Kropotkin, and feel the movement could benefit from a resurgence in his thought, though some contemporary writers seem to be carrying it on (some of Bookchin's stuff, Graham Purchase, and others).
To that end, I started an archive of anarchist-communist thought, though really it's just Kropotkin at the moment. However, I think you'll find stuff there that you can't find anywhere else.
I'm also interested in the work of Joseph Dejacque -- an early and obscure (at least in the States) anarchist-communist. Most of his writings seem to have never been translated to English and I'd love to be able to introduce his work to English audiences. There is a letter that he wrote on the archive site, as well -- probably it's first English translation ever. I can't translate from French, so if anyone could help me out with that, I would be forever grateful. The site is linked to in my profile, I think.
Well, I guess that's all. Feel free to ask about any of the above. I hope to have some fruitful discussions with many of you.
I'm currently in the Phoenix metropolitan area in Arizona, USA.
I identify with anarchism as rooted in the socialist tradition. I support specifically the non-Platformist anarchist-communist tendency (a rarity, seemingly) as outlined by Peter Kropotkin and others.
It's good to find this site and get perspectives from others on the revolutionary left. I'm only interested in respectful debate and disagreement -- I can fight with others in the real world.
I am in opposition to the association of "capitalist" and/or "free market" anything with anarchism, as I believe that capitalism cannot exist without state protection (as we're seeing right now in this economic downturn).
Additionally, I am in opposition to primitivist and anti-civilization irrationality and anti-intellectualism -- quite the fad in many US anarchist circles at the moment. Instead, I believe in education for all, access to and decentralization of technology, and science by and for the people. While I believe in the potential of liberatory science and technology, it must be understood that science and technology developed under capitalism is undoubtedly designed to benefit capitalists.
That's about it, in a nutshell. All that being said, I try to transcend traditional labels and dogmas, and see a wide variety of people as comrades in struggle. I believe in a diversity of tactics, and that when we work together to overthrow capitalism and the state, it only makes sense that we will then come together on the basis of affinity and organize our neighborhoods and communities the way we see fit, allowing for a plurality of social organizational types post-revolution.
As said above, I enjoy the works of Peter Kropotkin, and feel the movement could benefit from a resurgence in his thought, though some contemporary writers seem to be carrying it on (some of Bookchin's stuff, Graham Purchase, and others).
To that end, I started an archive of anarchist-communist thought, though really it's just Kropotkin at the moment. However, I think you'll find stuff there that you can't find anywhere else.
I'm also interested in the work of Joseph Dejacque -- an early and obscure (at least in the States) anarchist-communist. Most of his writings seem to have never been translated to English and I'd love to be able to introduce his work to English audiences. There is a letter that he wrote on the archive site, as well -- probably it's first English translation ever. I can't translate from French, so if anyone could help me out with that, I would be forever grateful. The site is linked to in my profile, I think.
Well, I guess that's all. Feel free to ask about any of the above. I hope to have some fruitful discussions with many of you.