(en) anarkismo.net: Britain, Libertarian Communist Group: An
Assessment And An Appeal by LCG/GGL - Libertarian Communist Group/Grwp
Gomiwnyddol LibertaraiddAbout ten months have now passed since the Libertarian Communist Group (Grwp Gomiwnyddol
Libertaraidd) was formed in Wales, in November 2014. The decision to launch a new
organisation last year was borne out of disappointment at the demise of both Collective
Action (CA) and its short-lived follow-up, the Libertarian Communist Initiative (LCI). Our
consequent frustration was compounded to some extent by the fact that one of our comrades
had also been a member of the previously defunct Liberty & Solidarity (L&S). In retrospect
we can discern that both of these erstwhile projects - CA/LCI and L&S - failed due to a
lack of ideological cohesion and a confusion of political direction. From our perspective
such failures can fairly be viewed as epic if one takes into account that these
organisations were, on separate occasions, the products of would-be "platformist" splits
from the Anarchist Federation (AF). Be that as it may, in the case of CA/LCI, having seen
various members and associates drift away, and with our remaining England-based cadre not
unreasonably opting to become involved in an accessible and potentially worthwhile
enterprise, the Welsh contingent was simply left with a fait accompli.
From the outset, the Libertarian Communist Group (LCG) was, for the most part, determined
to carry on from where CA had left off. As libertarian communists we identify with the
"platformist" tradition of social anarchism, its core concept being the need for a praxis
that seeks to develop: Theoretical Unity, Tactical Unity, Collective Responsibility and
Federalism. In contemporary terms we believe this tradition is best represented by the
especifist conception of anarchism, and so it is this particular conception that we
actively strive for. Especifism can be summarised as: (a) the need for specifically
anarchist organisation built around a unity of ideas and praxis, (b) the use of the
specifically anarchist organization to theorise and develop strategic political and
organisational work, and (c) active engagement in and building of autonomous and popular
social movements by way of involvement and influence (social insertion). In essence,
social insertion entails the building of a base for anarchist objectives through
participation at rank and file level over time in workplace and community organisations
and struggles.
For a fighting propaganda circle like the LCG, the actual application of these principles
can seem daunting. For instance, the notion of "recapturing the social vector of
anarchism," i.e. re-inserting anarchist communism as a current of popular organisation
within social struggles, is not as pertinent to working class political experience in
Britain as it is in other parts of the world. In spite of this, we concur with a statement
made by Collective Action on its foundation in 2012:
While the UK lacks an equivalent indigenous tradition of organisational anarchism to that
of continental Europe or Latin America, it is possible to identify organisations such as
the Anti-Parliamentary Communist Federation, the Industrial Syndicalist Education League,
the Shop Stewards Committees, even the Communist Party (British section of the Third
International) and other such organisations as evidence of a popular libertarian current
lost to the contemporary workers' movement. It is with knowledge of this that we seek the
"recapturing" of a social vector of libertarian organisation, in our case the anarchist
communist current of libertarianism, as a principle aim. (CA, About Us - May 1, 2012)
Overcoming seeming difficulties is facilitated by our own take on the idea of thinking
globally and acting locally. In this we are bolstered by our affiliation to the
Anarkismo.net project which is a continuing source of theoretical and practical
inspiration. For us local involvement is of paramount importance. At our inception we made
it clear that we would work alongside like-minded groups and individuals in order to
further the class struggle in Wales and beyond. And in our opinion, a key factor in
bringing about future victories for our class will be the successful development of a
myriad of diverse counter-hegemonic projects. As we outlined at the time:
The aim of the LCG is to focus on the key aspects of effective working class organisation
which ultimately lead towards a libertarian communist society. These include workers'
self-management of the economy, grass-roots control of our communities, and a genuine
commitment to internationalism. For such a society to arise out of the future ashes of
today's crisis-ridden system a fresh approach to theory and practice is required. As a
part of the burgeoning nexus of freedom, all our efforts will be concerned with building
proletarian counter-power. (LCG, Especifist organisation founded in Wales - November 8, 2014)
By working class we mean not only the vast array of regular wage-earners, but also
precarious informal workers, the unemployed, and all those who can be described as being
exploited, dispossessed, or otherwise excluded by capital. Nevertheless, we are cognisant
of the need for a general reappraisal of class composition and all that may imply for
future activities. Readers may be aware that, prior to its disintegration, CA/LCI pledged
to undertake an investigation into the question of class composition yet regrettably
failed to do so. In light of this, as far as we're concerned an enquiry of this kind still
remains to be carried out, though preferably by the anarchist movement as a whole.
On this theme, our comrades from the Brazilian Federação Anarquista do Rio de Janeiro
(FARJ) previously opined:
Within our vision of social anarchism, as "a fundamental tool for the support of daily
struggles", we also need to clarify our definition of class. While considering the class
struggle as central and absolutely relevant in society today we understand that the
Marxists, by choosing the factory worker as the unique and historic subject of the
revolution, despise all other categories of the exploited classes, while also potentially
revolutionary subjects. The authoritarians' conception of the working class, which is
restricted only to the category of industrial workers, does not cover the reality of the
relations of domination and exploitation that have occurred throughout history and even
the relationships that occur in this society. Just as it does not cover the identification
of revolutionary subjects of the past and present. (FARJ, Social Anarchism and
Organisation, Part 2 - February 8, 2012)
The strategy now being promoted by the LCG encompasses a three-pronged approach. In short,
we argue that the only way forward for our class is to construct a new workers' movement -
socially, politically and industrially - and one that is revolutionary through and
through. Counter-power - including local, fully accountable forums or assemblies - must
become widespread and popular. Moreover, as a minimum requirement, the perfidious Labour
Party and its ilk have to make way for a dynamic anarchist and libertarian socialist
confederation, and the moribund and collaborationist unions for the Industrial Workers of
the World (IWW), or similar rank and file combination where apposite. In our view, all of
this is achievable with the application of sufficient will and determination.
To date our orientation has logically been to the anarchist milieu in North Wales,
consistently encouraging the growth of such counter-power initiatives. This effort has
already met with some success, with a grass-roots democratic assembly for Prestatyn and
Rhyl (Denbighshire) in the offing. Associates on our immediate periphery are enthusiastic
about this development and some have also joined the IWW in order to aid the struggle on
the industrial front. For us this is a significant starting point.
Wales is a country with a rich history of resistance to domination and exploitation.
Though perceived by many as a social and political backwater it has provided the setting
for many notable anti-capitalist upheavals. Britain as a whole, of course, has witnessed
some of the most momentous episodes in the annals of class war. The last great battle was
no doubt the miners' strike of 1984-85. Since that defeat the ongoing ruling class
onslaught has generally resulted in retreat and disarray. Lately, however, we've glimpsed
a few welcome signs of recovery. These 'green shoots' are exemplified by the likes of the
Focus E15 group's opposition to homelessness and social cleansing, and a growing
willingness to fight back as manifested by protests against London's notorious 'poor
doors' and despicable Jack the Ripper Museum, or in the combative actions of militant
anti-fascists.
Needless to say the euphoria surrounding the election of Jeremy Corbyn should be ignored.
It may well be that his ascent to the Labour leadership can be interpreted as part of a
wider renewal of socialist thinking and flourishing opposition to austerity, but it
signifies nothing more. For the LCG it is merely another diversion. That people are
fussing about Corbyn's victory is proof positive they've learned nothing from the abject
failure of SYRIZA. How many more defeats and disappointments must we endure until the
penny finally drops? The days of plenty are over. Capitalism, ably served by the state, is
now taking back every concession that it was ever forced to concede. The British Labour
Party is therefore dead for the purpose of meaningful social reform. Moreover, as Red and
Black Leeds explains:
It is not just that left-wing politicians are liars, cowards and sell-outs, although of
course they often are. Nor is it simply that forces outside of and beyond the reach of
national parliaments, from international bureaucracies like the EU to centres of financial
power like the City of London, make the aspirations of socialist governments impossible.
The real issue is more fundamental. Governments, of any political stripe, can act only by
wielding the power of the state. To maintain a powerful state, governments need a strong
economy, and that means managing capitalism and maintaining a capitalist social order.
Different governments can try to do this in different ways, but they're all bound by the
same basic logic, and none of them offer any real hope of a way out of the cycle of
capitalist domination and human misery. That's why left wing and socialist governments
routinely disappoint us. (RABL, This Is Not Our Victory - September 11, 2015)
The obvious lesson here is that another world is possible, but only if we fashion it
ourselves. To this end, the anarchist conviction that it will take an autonomous and
self-organising workers' movement - from the base up - to usher in authentic social and
economic change is historically delineated. However, as we see it, objective conditions
alone - exploitation, oppression, poverty, racism, war, and an apparently inexorable lurch
towards total chaos and barbarism - will not spontaneously lead a majority to realise the
vision of a libertarian communist society. So to those on the left who argue in favour of
a proletarian 'leadership' or vanguard party to show the way, social anarchists
counterpose a "leadership of ideas" and, as previously discussed, a process of
counter-hegemony leading to a situation of dual power as being the requisite components of
revolutionary transformation.
Notwithstanding all of the above, the task of building a new world within the shell of the
old will necessitate desire, initiative and passion in abundance. But as Collective Action
once correctly observed: Unfortunately, a lack of ambition is not just something endemic
within the traditional Marxist left. The anarchist movement has also failed to make a
significant mark on resistance to austerity, as well as building momentum towards a
general acceptance of anarchist ideas and methods. Historically the anarchist movement has
shown itself to be distinct from the left, but in recent years - throughout the UK - it
has failed to promote the richness of anarchist tradition and history or separate itself
from the inertia of the traditional left, becoming nothing more than an appendage to it,
content with fulfilling a propagandist role, or at times acting as the more militant wing
of the austerity movement when required. The building blocks of an autonomous
counter-power must consist first and foremost of an attack on the myths of austerity and
class compromise and the building of confidence in self-organisation and direct action.
Where anarchists have been successful in the past they have been vibrant and integrated
parts of working class communities. This means abandoning the terrain of both activism and
the left, and finding ways to speak to the experiences of, and more importantly finding
ways of organising within those sections of our community who have, in many cases, already
made the critical step of seeing through the illusions of representative democracy but
still remain disconnected from politics. (CA, Where We Stand: Formation of a new anarchist
communist project in the UK - May 1, 2012)
For us this remains the key challenge. Sadly we're still in a situation in Britain where
the popularity of basic anarchist ideas, especially among youth, easily outstrips the
capacity of extant libertarian groupings to take full advantage of such interest and
latent support. The vital need for cohesive organisation, with a concomitant strategic and
tactical co-ordination across the entire anarchist milieu, is plain for all to see.
Consequently, and as a matter of urgency, a more dynamic, cutting-edge movement is required.
It is against this backdrop that the LCG calls for an all-Britain, class struggle
anarchist conference in 2016, or as soon as one can be convened. The last conference, held
in London in 2009, though moderately successful, ultimately failed to answer the searching
questions it raised. This is undeniable if one reads anew its bold extended blurb in full:
As the world economy heads deeper into an unprecedented recession, the spectre of social
unrest is again spreading across Europe and the World. In the UK we have experienced an
extended holiday from wide-spread class struggle as social democracy and capitalism worked
hand in hand to maintain social peace. But as the guarantees of the banks have gone, so
too have the guarantees that the state can manage the emerging social conflict, which
could potentially turn into social rebellion unseen in the UK for decades.
So, where does that leave the Anarchist Movement? Are we relevant? Do we exist in a form
coherent enough to actually be called a movement? Are we progressing? The Anarchist
Movement Conference is a chance to put our ideas on the table and rebuild ourselves. The
barriers that exist need to be broken down, the experiences and ideas of those involved in
anarchist politics need to be shared, discussed, critiqued and debated. The task is
urgent, practical and necessary - are we as a movement mature enough to face the challenge?
How and where should we organise? Who are we are speaking to? How do we relate to the
wider world as anarchists? These are some of the discussions that might happen during the
course of the weekend. We want this conference to be a historical turning point, a point
where we manage collectively to come together to look at the problems and work towards the
solutions. Anarchists from every federation, network and local group, those involved in
diverse struggles from environmental direct-action to community work, trade unionism to
DIY projects - we invite you and encourage you: Claim your place at the table and help
make a movement!
If we truly aim to be part of making history we need to remake ourselves as an organised,
pragmatic movement to become an effective part of revolutionary change. If we do not learn
from the mistakes of the past we are doomed to repeat them. The anarchist ideals of mutual
aid, solidarity and the desire to live as equals have been echoed throughout our history,
in every country, by women and men, regardless of race or ethnicity. We have a proud
history; this conference is both about recognizing where we have come from and organizing
where we want to go. Be a part of it! (Anarchist Movement Conference, London - 6/7 June, 2009)
To be fair, the aforementioned failure could be attributed to the fact that for most of
the time attendees of the two-day event were divided into twenty discussion groups with
the relatively brief finale proving to be inadequate and inconclusive. On the other hand,
it may just be that an anticipated follow up conference in 2010 never transpired. Either
way, we believe it was a lost opportunity.
For anyone who feels that our call for a fresh conference is in some way an attempt to
demean or denigrate the campaigns and ventures they are presently working on, nothing
could be further from the truth. We have the utmost respect for all of the positive
contributions made by our sororal organisations. For example, we are aware of the sterling
efforts being carried out locally by the likes of Glasgow Anarchists, North East
Anarchists, Red and Black Leeds, South Wales Anarchists, Bristol Anarchist Federation,
London's Circled A Radio Show and others, while on a Britain-wide basis a mention must be
made with reference to both Class War and the Anarchist Federation; the former because of
its appetite for gutsy, high-profile actions, and the latter for the exemplary role it has
played since the 1980s in consistently propagandising and agitating for anarchist communism.
At the end of the day, regardless of whether our arguments for a more congruous and
effective nexus are accepted or not, it is certain that a long overdue coalescence of
libertarian communist forces for the purpose of a reappraisal of our common strategies and
activities can only be to the good. Therefore it is with this objective in mind that we
make our appeal. Hopefully, anarchists - as well as libertarian socialists in general -
will consider and discuss the possibility of endorsing and supporting our goal.
Related Link: http://www.libertariancommunist.org/
http://www.anarkismo.net/article/28556
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