Beating Fascism - New Pamphlet
Submitted by PaulMarsh on Oct 24 2005 08:01
This is a new Kate Sharpley library pamphlet, available from London Class War for £2.50. The KSL press release is below:
"Beating Fascism" is a new compilation dealing with the anarchist critique
of fascist ideas and the practical ways their deadly authoritarian project
has been challenged. It goes from the 'People's commandos' who fought
against Mussolini's bootboys, through the Spanish Civil War, to the
anti-fascist activists of the eighties, nineties and beyond who took up
the challenge from a new crop of boneheads. Out Now:
Beating Fascism: Anarchist anti-fascism in theory and practice edited by
Anna Key
Anarchists have never hung back in the fight against fascism. This
pamphlet covers the physical and ideological battles that anarchists have
waged against fascism and its authoritarian dream. It starts with the
Arditi del Popolo (Peoples Commandos) against Mussolini's Blackshirts,
goes via German anarcho-syndicalists to the Spanish Revolution of 1936.
This much can be found (usually well buried!) in the history books. But
this pamphlet also uncovers the history of anarchist anti-fascism in
fighting against the National Front in Britain in the seventies and the
'No Platform' activities of Anti-Fascist Action & Anti-Racist Action in
the eighties, nineties and beyond. Documents from Russia and Australia and an interview with current activists from Britain and North America fill
out a comprehensive look at the ideas and practice of anarchist
anti-fascism.
Read it and you'll know we don't fight fascism out of loyalty to the
current set-up: we want a world without bosses! This reader will give you
an insight into the anarchist critique of fascist ideas – and our history
of practical opposition to them.
"Know the sort of world you want. Know your enemy and remember this – we
have to beat the fascists every time, they only have to beat us once. If
they come into power, we are dead and buried. Literally."
– from the 'Anti-fascism now' interview.
52 pages. Contributions from around the world, including: Errico
Malatesta, Rudolf Rocker, Buenaventura Durruti, "Fighting Talk" and
Anti-Racist Action plus a new interview on "Anti-fascism now" and
suggestions for further reading.
Anarchist Sources Series #6 ISSN 1479-9065
ISBN 1-873605-88-9 Price £2.50 + 30p postage / $4
Available now from good book shops or straight from the publisher:
Kate Sharpley Library, BM Hurricane, London WC1N 3XX, UK or
Kate Sharpley Library, PMB 820, 2425 Channing Way, Berkeley CA 94704, USA
From the people who brought you the bestselling "Bash the Fash:
Anti-Fascist Recollections 1984-1993" ISBN 1-873605-87-0
Apr 10 2006 09:12
#2
and a review below:
BOOK REVIEW
'BEATING FASCISM Anarchist Anti-Fascism in Theory & Practise'
Edited by Anna KEY, Kate Sharpley Library 2006, ISBN 1 873605 88 9.
This handy 52-page booklet examines how anarchists have tackled the
problem of fascism within their communities. The working definition of
fascism in this booklet is that 'fascism is the violent repression of the
working class and all its organisations, and the takeover of the State
and society by a party who want to sacrifice everything to their idea
of the nation'.
Although the definition is a little wobbly, the introduction in
'Beating Fascism' is spot on when they state 'Fascism differs from other
dictatorships in not just relying on the violence of the police and the
army, but in creating its own force to permeate and terrorise society'. The
nub of the problem is very simple; how do anarchists tackle the growth
of a third movement in society outside the State apparatus that is
willing to use violence to destroy any organisations that exists that
stands in its way of seizing power?
The editor Anna Key has divided the pamphlet into both historical and
contemporary accounts of how anarchists have reacted to fascist
violence. Anarchists have traditionally reacted to fascist violence with
retaliatory violence. Fascist violence is tolerated and encouraged by any
ruling class that believes it is under threat; the greater the resistance,
the greater the possibility that a fascist movement will develop. The
booklet jumps from a historical analysis of anti fascist resistance in
Mussolini's Italy and Hitler's Germany, to an account of how anarchists
tackled and defeated the nascent fascist movement in Britain in the
1970's and 1980's.
If you're looking for a scholarly account of the anti fascist movement,
don't bother opening up this pamphlet; if you want some practical
advice about how to deal with fascists in your part of the world, then
having a look through 'Beating Fascism' is sure to give you access to a few
ideas that you haven't thought about before.
'Beating Fascism' edited by Anna Key 2006 is available from the KATE
SHARPLEY LIBRARY, BM Hurricane, London WCIN 3XX, UK
www.katesharpleylibrary.net This pamphlet is a worthwhile addition to the collection of any
activist who wants a little bit of advice on how to tackle the threat
posed by a fascist movement that is gaining a foothold in their
community.
AAWR
Number 669 21st November 27th November 2005
There's an extract from the pamphlet here:
http://www.anarkismo.net/newswire.php?story_id=1583