Communalism and Syndicalism: Organizing the New Working Class

Posted on 09/04/2018 by communalism

from The New Municipal Agenda

There are important similarities and differences between communalism and syndicalism. Syndicalism proposes the means and the ends of radical trade unionism towards the creation of federated networks of self managed worker cooperatives that directly democratically manage the economy. Communalism proposes the means and ends of federated community assemblies with embedded workers’ councils that directly democratically manage the political economy. Both theories and practices advocate for the means and ends of participatory democracy through organization and struggle. They both have different focuses for the prefiguration of that democracy (syndicalism focusing on a general union of workers and the workforce and communalism focusing on the community) and different ideal formal structures of social relations (syndicalism focused on radical unionism and workers’ councils and communalism based on integrated communal councils with embedded workers’ councils). Continue reading →

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Good Morning – I am your Future

Posted on 06/04/2018 by communalism

from http://o500.org/invitation.html

You Do have a future.

Who would have thought so?

And that’s how it’s going to happen:

The planet you live on is not only great; it’s always morning somewhere. So there’s always a new beginning.

On your planet there’s enough food for everybody, enough energy to make life easy, enough resources to build machines, bridges and homes for everybody.

If you share this wealth, you’ll live comfortably, healthily and happily forever. What more could you wish for?
Continue reading →

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The Communalist Project

Posted on 06/04/2018 by communalism

By Murray Bookchin

Whether the twenty-first century will be the most radical of times or the most reactionary – or will simply lapse into a gray era of dismal mediocrity – will depend overwhelmingly upon the kind of social movement and program that social radicals create out of the theoretical, organizational, and political wealth that has accumulated during the past two centuries of the revolutionary era. Continue reading →

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2018 ISE Annual Gathering: Aug. 17-19 Marshfield, VT

Posted on 29/03/2018 by communalism

From the Institute for Social Ecology

The Institute for Social Ecology cordially invites you to our 2018 Annual Gathering for a weekend of engaging political discussion, great food, and socializing in the beautiful Vermont countryside. The gathering is a unique opportunity to renew the Social Ecology community in person, renew old friendships and make new ones, and connect with like-minded people from around the world.

This year’s theme is Building Muncipalist Movements, inspired by the exciting surge in explicitly muncipalist organizing worldwide. We will feature talks and panel discussions on topics like:

  • What is Communalism?
  • Urbanization, Right to the City, and the “Commons”
  • Social Eco-Feminism Revisited
  • Lessons from the Green Movement
  • Building Direct Democracy  while Challenging Oppression
  • The History of the ISE
  • Directions for the Future

These topics are only a starting point for our discussions – we are now accepting proposals for workshops, performances, paper presentations, and panel discussions broadly related to Social Ecology in theory and praxis.

Registration and Cost: To register or propose a workshop, performance, or panel, please email us at: social-ecology@mail.mayfirst.org. We provide great fresh meals over the course of the weekend, so we ask participants to pay a sliding scale fee of $70-200 dollars (we don’t turn anyone away for lack of funds). Please pay in advance here.

There is free on-site camping as well as a variety of local motels and a variety of other local housing options nearby.

We look forward to another wonderful weekend – mark your calendars and join us!

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Saturday, March 24th: Defend Afrin International Day of Action

Posted on 20/03/2018 by communalism

From It’s Going Down:

The following is a call from a variety of groups for a day of international solidarity with Afrin in the autonomous region of Rojava.

Demand Utopia, the North American Kurdish Alliance, Friends of Rojava North America, and the Institute for Social Ecology call for an international day of action in solidarity with Rojava and in defense of Afrin to occur on Saturday, March 24th, 2018. We are calling on all those who find common cause with the struggle of the people of Rojava to take a stand against these attacks against one of the region’s and the world’s most hopeful movements.

We Call for the Following Demands:

-Immediate condemnation of the Turkish and jihadist invasion of Afrin
-Demand for the immediate withdrawal and cessation of hostilities against Afrin and the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria, with economic sanctions imposed until the Turkish state complies.
-Immediate cessation of arms sales to Turkey.
-Immediate implementation of a no-fly zone over northern Syria and Afrin in particular.
-Arm the YPG/YPJ in Afrin with MANPADS to defend against Turkish bombings of civilians.

We stand together in solidarity, with the same message. The actions listed are consistent with the same demands outlined by the American Kurdish Association and other groups with direct ties to the struggle in Rojava.

What you Can Do:

-Organize a rally in your area to raise awareness or put pressure on a person in power to implement the demands listed above.
-Organize a letter writing or call in session to your congressional representative asking for the demands listed above.
-Host a fundraiser to assist with essential supplies needed in Afrin.
-Do a banner drop or hand out flyers to raise awareness about the situation in Afrin.
Host an educational event to build support for Afrin in your area.

Follow the link here and let us know if you will be hosting an action. Also you can find more information, action tips/help for the day of action.

Social Media Link: 

Facebook Event Here

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Grassroots Democracy: The Communalist Model

Posted on 12/03/2018 by communalism

By Eleanor Finley

Humanity stands at a crossroads. Now, more than ever, history calls for a grassroots democracy at a global scale. If we look carefully, all the tools are at hand. Continue reading →

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The Solidarity Economy

Posted on 12/03/2018 by communalism

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Communalism Aotearoa – a new project in the South Pacific

Posted on 03/03/2018 by communalism

Kia ora tātou,

Te Kaupapa Pāpori – Communalism Aotearoa – is a new political project in the South Pacific. Are you interested in Social Ecology, Communalism and libertarian municipalism? Do you want to be involved in establishing a new group in Aotearoa?

It’s very early days but a start has been made to set up a group dedicated to communalist thinking and action. If you are keen to participate, please email communalism(at)riseup.net

Some short term goals

Some medium term goals

  • Aotearoa wide speaking tour on communalism
  • writing and publishing
  • networking with communalists and social ecologists across the world

If this interests you, please get in touch. There is a website too – www.communalism.noblogs.org – with a little bit more information. Please email communalism(at)riseup.net

Ngā mihi

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Reason, creativity and freedom: the communalist model

Posted on 15/02/2018 by communalism

by Eleanor Finley (ROAR Magazine – February 2017)

Humanity stands at a crossroads. Now, more than ever, history calls for a grassroots democracy at a global scale. If we look carefully, all the tools are at hand.

Continue reading →

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Interview with Sam Buchanan about Anarchism in Aotearoa/New Zealand

Posted on 11/02/2018 by communalism

The interview was conducted in 2010 for the German book »Von Jakarta bis Johannesburg: Anarchismus weltweit«. This is the original English version.

Can you tell us about the history of anarchism in New Zealand?

Anarchism has been around New Zealand as long as there have been people here, which isn’t all that long. The earliest inhabitants arrived around 1200 years ago – Polynesian settlers from the Pacific Islands, who developed a culture that later became known as Maori. This society was based on a decentralised political unit known as a hapu and comprising a number of extended families. Hapu were federated into iwi – larger groups claiming common ancestry (often translated as ‘tribe’) and some iwi had looser links with other iwi.

There were elements of anarchism in Maori society, as is usual with cultures that lack the technology of repression that makes undemocratic, minority-ruled cultures easier to maintain. Participation in discussion and debate over group decisions was broad, and the hapu’s work was planned and carried out collectively. Land and other resources were collectively owned. Other elements of Maori culture – the practice of warfare, the enslavement of prisoners and the tendency of the hapu and iwi leadership (rangatira) to follow hereditary lines – were clearly not anarchist. Continue reading →

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