Local policy framework - Praxis

We do not agree with this programme, or think that it is possible or even desirable. However we include it for reference as an example of self-styled "pragmatic" anarchism, which is in fact anything but.

This programme was posted on libcom.org here in August 2007 where it was claimed "this is a programme designed to be fulfilled in the next three years in Glasgow and Edinburgh". So should be fulfilled by August 2010 at the latest. We would appreciate an update...

Edinburgh Interim Action Plan
1. Identify a body, which as a federal structure for community representative organisations which could be the focus of a future citizens power.

2. Unite this residents body with tenants and residents association organisers, particularly those who have no affinity with Edinburgh Tenants Federation.

3. Develop moral authority for the new residents body as the main community representative federation, and develop its power.

4. Identify how this residents body can push for meaningful gains from a dual power strategy.

5. Build the IWW as an highly focussed industrial organising outfit, and identify an interim strategy for building density in an industry. Get our people to get jobs in these industries, or have relations with those who do.

6. Where feasible push for the current objectives of some residents bodies (or those of a future residents body) of community land trusts as a possible vehicle for improving and taking over our (council) housing. Get residents bodies to push for the finances for this to be released from central government.

7. Establish a transport users union, to interface with debates about the future of Lothian buses and the new tram system and be prepared to fight, linking these efforts to residents bodies and to the unions.

8. Where possible push for funding for start-up grants for "social enterprises" (by which we mean worker controlled firms) through residents organisations and other bodies to interface with new tenant management co-ops and community land trusts.

Glasgow Interim Action Plan
---Municipalist programme---
1. Citizen Power - develop [a citywide residents body], and leverage this to build stronger citizens/civil society groups in a number of fields.

2. Transport - develop an organisation through the [citywide residents body] to push for subsidised off-peak bus travel for benefit claimants.

3. Young people – through the [citywide residents body] push for more youth sports centres and youth clubs, with no charge for young people.

4. Pensioners - through the [citywide residents body] fight for funding for pensioner clubs.

5. School meals - through the [citywide residents body] fight for free school meals, without means testing.

5. Decentralisation - through the [citywide residents body] push for powerful area committees for each 3-4 member ward, with delegates from residents bodies. Push for an extension of the power of LHO committees. Push for tenant management co-operatives and push for community land trusts to be developed as second stage transfers. Link these initiatives to the economic programme.

6. Local Media - assist the development of [community newspaper] in the North West.

7. Develop Counterpower - assist the development of a community tendency in Maryhill to pursue a distinct municipalist strategy developing residents associations and taking over Community Councils and LHO committees and leveraging this to extend strategic specific power in this area, to be used as a model for future organising efforts.

---Economic programme---
1. Build the IWW locally industrially, with an interim focus on developing power at [its current focus] which can then be leveraged, the IWW seen as a "real union", for future organising efforts, such as in postal service or in call centres.

2. Education and training - Apprenticeships, starting on a part-time basis as early as age 14, alongside school system, especially of plumbers, joiners, building trades. Training undertaken by City Council workplaces in partnership with Colleges.

3. Jobs and growth - Finance new start up firms that are worker owned or otherwise tied to the community. Assist in founding a new bank to raise and direct funds to these firms. Assist in providing centralised services for these firms.

4. Push for greater co-ordination across the public sector, linking this to other initiatives in the economic programme (eg IWW) and the municipalist programme (eg residents association backing for defence
of postal services).