[LAF] notes from Saturday discussion

[Bailey,DJ (pgr)]

hi,
 
this looks like a really interesting discussion, and a shame I couldn't join.
 
the conclusions sound rather pessimistic, though.
 
The general drift of the discussion seems to fit pretty well with some stuff I've been reading lately by Deleuze and Guattari.
 
They basically argue that the aim of revolutionary activity should be the pursuit of desire, which in its myriad forms will be unsustainable within a grand system.  Thus, it is the dissolution of the system, through the divergent, muliple and disparate pursuits of desire, that will overcome the existing forms of oppression and control that exist in our current grand structures.
 
This sounds pretty reasonable, and overcomes many of the problems identified in the discussion (especially the reproduction of structures of domination through acts of resistance, the inability to completely remove oneself from the present, and the restriction of revolutionary activity to those within the revolutionary sect).
 
what this means in practice, of course, is not entirely clear...
 
whilst it is unable to prescribe particular actions, it is able to provide us with a perspective according to which we can assess whether we are acting to support, sustain or challenge the existing structures of control.  i think this must be of some use
 
 

	-----Original Message----- 
	From: steve ash [mailto:steveash_2001 at yahoo.co.uk] 
	Sent: Mon 27/06/2005 01:36 
	To: laf at lists.aktivix.org 
	Cc: 
	Subject: [LAF] notes from Saturday discussion
	
	

	Here's my memory of some of the points after my talk,
	can anyone remember any more, or  correct any mistakes
	in my memory?
	
	I'll post with transcript to Indymedia on Wednesday.
	
	
	
	Point 1 The System is not closed in the sense it never
	changes but continues to evolve in response to
	changing conditions and opposition to it.
	
	Point 2 The system absorbs everything and turns it to
	its own advantage.
	
	Point 3 It contains contradictions already and can
	only absorb so much before these become untenable.
	
	Point 4 Activism does have small successes and we can
	build on these with each successive action.
	
	Point 5 Are these real successes?
	
	Point 6 Successful activism is often that with a
	specific goal, and one that doesn’t challenge the
	system (i.e. pressure in legal cases etc) rather than
	in general radical demonstrations like anti-globalist
	events.
	
	Point 7 This works because it reinforces the illusion
	of democracy, without changing very much, so it is not
	seriously opposed by the establishment, in fact they
	need it to happen. We can work with non-anarchists on
	this level.
	
	Point 8 But should anarchists put all their efforts
	into such reformist campaigns?
	
	Point 9 Small local issues can be shown to be part of
	a bigger picture, namely the
	politico-economic-ideological culture that shapes
	everything.
	
	Point 10 We need counter events that inspire and show
	alternative ways of existence not ‘demos’ or
	‘blockades’.
	
	Point 11 We already have these and they are part of
	the G8 demos.
	
	Point 12 Yes, but are they open to all are just the
	‘activist clique’
	
	Point 13 We are over intellectualising and should just
	act
	
	Point 14 That’s the problem we act with out thought to
	what we are doing.
	
	Point 15 Free Will is overrated we are all largely
	just automatons pre-programmed by the system, we need
	to break away.
	
	Point 16 The Ruling Class, Middle Class and Working
	Class are all part of Capitalist Society and are the
	three pillars that support it, we need to step otside
	of society and pull down all three pillars, both
	externally and within ourselves.
	
	Point 17 This going outside of society is not easy, it
	is akin to debrainwashing ourselves. 
	
	Point 18 It can happen in ‘revolutionary’ situations.
	
	Point 19 We can rationally decide on a strategy to
	derationalise and make the revolution entirely
	subjective in the moment.
	
	Point 20 We represent no one but ourselves in this.
	
	Point 21 The revolution will not happen yet we have to
	work on other issues first
	
	Point 22 That’s the problem, if we think that we never
	will, the revolution is now and has no end.
	
	
	
	       
	       
	               
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