(en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL #229 - The anti-capitalist Dico: What is the "autonomy of the social movement"? (fr)

Each month, a word or vetted by Theo Rival expression. ---- August 1998, the daily 
newspaper Lib?ration published the first "Call for the autonomy of the social movement." 
Signed by unionists South (Air, Education, PTT, Rail), CGT and school tend emancipated 
from FSU, it is also by activists of the "new social movements" of the 1990s - Acting 
together against unemployment (AC!) Housing Rights, Rights to ... The call was responding 
to a slight economic confused:! in order to enhance their lists for the European elections 
of 1999 a "plus" syndicalo- associations, the Revolutionary Communist League and the 
Communist Party are then tempted by poaching leading figures of struggles. The appeal is 
against the foot of this process of manipulation of the social movement for politicians sadly.

What does he say? First, that social movements are in politics and are able to draw on 
their own, another future. Their struggles, though they may be defensive, are not bounded. 
Finally, the hierarchy between parties and social movements for the benefit of the first 
leads to a dead end for political emancipation worthy of the name. Statements that bully 
the "leading role of the party", so dear to the Leninists. Rediscovering the spirit of the 
Charter of Amiens, who in 1906 claimed that the unions were independent of political 
organizations and did not need them to get rid of capitalism, the principle of autonomy of 
the social movement, far from be a revolutionary concept in smoky room, draws a strategic 
demarcation very real struggles.

Assumed a position " ? on specific claims, actions on targeted goals, these wrestling 
moves confront public policy makers as well as economic powers and undermine the 
institutional political consensus [...]. What motivates us and unites us in the diversity 
of our work is the desire to participate in a project of social transformation? . " Much 
more than an electoral Skin - often very narrow and largely overwhelmed by the wealth of 
struggles. From them to change society is to be closer to a logic-power against the 
conquest of the state apparatus.

In October 1999, a second call - which rallied Pierre Bourdieu - broadens the spectrum of 
the signatories. Continuation and end? Not so sure ... Very recently union CGT, FSU, but 
also South / Partners have publicly made a para-union Appendix Left Front, Front 
struggles. Like what, reaffirm the necessary autonomy of the social movement is far from 
losing its relevance.