Rethinking class: from recomposition to counterpower - Paul Bowman
In this article Paul Bowman draws a line between revolutionary class analysis and universalist utopianism and goes on to explore the history of different ideas of class and the elusive revolutionary subject. After exploring the intersecting lines of class and identity, he poses the challenge that we as libertarian communists face as we strive to create “cultural and organisational forms of class power [that] do not unconsciously recreate the... hierarchies of identity and exclusion” that are the hallmark of the present society.
Against universalism, against utopianism
The term class divides people into two camps. One which seems to uphold its validity with an almost cult-like intensity, and a much larger camp that is at best undecided, but mostly turned off entirely by it – and especially so by the apparently religious fervour of the small minority in the first camp.
On working class fiction
In this essay from 2011, novelist DD Johnston presents a communist analysis of the definition and purpose of working class fiction.
Last week, for the second time in my life, I found myself agreeing with Margaret Thatcher. The first time was many years ago, in the mid-1980s, when Thatcher was briefly my hero. I was a timid child, who suffered from a speech impediment, and it had never occurred to me that free school milk was in any way optional.
Insurrections at the intersections: feminism, intersectionality and anarchism - Abbey Volcano and J Rogue
A critique of liberal conceptions of 'intersectionality' and an outline of an anarchist, class struggle approach.
We need to understand the body not as bound to the private or to the self—the western idea of the autonomous individual—but as being linked integrally to material expressions of community and public space.
Zionism and its Oriental subjects: the Oriental Jews in Zionism's dialectical contradictions
Article looking at the position of 'Oriental Jews' (i.e. those from other countries in the Middle-East) within Israel and the zionist project historically.
I shall try to describe, in three parts, several aspects of the relationship between zionism and the Oriental Jews. First, I shall discuss those ideological contradictions which have determined zionism's conception of its Oriental subjects.
When we say "class", what are we talking about?
Submitted by Django on Dec 8 2012 11:51
Two parallel definitions of the word are used in political discussion. It's a perennial problem that radicals don't define what they're talking about when discussing class, or worse, making sweeping statements about it.
There were plenty of things wrong with last weekend’s Up the Anti conference.
White Supremacy - Joel Olson
Joel Olson's Lexicon pamphlet outlining the history and practice of white supremacy in the United States.
Biologically speaking,there’s no such thing as race. As hard as they’ve tried, scientists have never been able to come up with an adequate definition of it. Yet the social and political effects of race are very real. Race is like a dollar bill—a human creation rather than a fact of nature that has value only because people say it does.
Workers of the world unite! - Some notes on class unity and identity politics
Submitted by Joseph Kay on May 18 2012 18:30
There's been several articles posted lately critical of identity politics from a class struggle perspective. This blog addresses some of the pitfalls of the class unity v identity politics debate.
I've been meaning to write something on this for a long time, but I've hesitated as class struggle critiques of identity politics are often clumsy and serve to gloss over very real oppressions and violence.
The making of an Atlantic ruling class - Kees van der Pijl
Kees van der Pijl traces the formation of a transatlantic ruling class from the early 20th century through to the Cold War era.
Down with the Bosses!
Work by the perhaps founder of anarcho-communism; Joseph Déjacque.
Joseph Déjacque
Down with the Bosses!
Lumpenization: A critical error of The Black Panther Party
An essay by Chris Booker arguing that the Black Panther's fetishisation of the lumpen class and their failure to try to reform the more criminal/ anti-social elements, as the Nation of Islam did, contributed to the party's demise.
As seen in Chapter Fourteen of Charles E. Jones' book The Black Panther Party Reconsidered, pages 337 - 362.
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