,A ,PRACTICAL ,UTOPIAN'S ,GUIDE TO ! ,COM+ ,COLLAPSE 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,DAVID ,GRAEB] 

,TEXT 3 

,:AT IS A REVOLUTION8 ,WE US$ TO ?9K WE KNEW4 ,REVOLUTIONS W]E SEIZURES ( P[] BY POPUL> =CES AIM+ TO TRANS=M ! V]Y NATURE ( ! POLITICAL1 SOCIAL1 & ECONOMIC SY/EM 9 ! C\NTRY 9 :I* ! REVOLUTION TOOK PLACE1 USUALLY ACCORD+ TO SOME VISION>Y DREAM ( A JU/ SOCIETY4 ,N[ADAYS1 WE LIVE 9 AN AGE :51 IF REBEL >MIES DO COME SWEEP+ 9TO A CITY1 OR MASS UPRIS+S OV]?R[ A DICTATOR1 IT'S UNLIKELY TO HAVE ANY SU* IMPLICATIONS2 :5 PR(\ND SOCIAL TRANS=MATION DOES OCCUR--AS )1 SAY1 ! RISE ( FEM9ISM--IT'S LIKELY TO TAKE AN 5TIRELY DIFF]5T =M4 ,IT'S NOT ?AT REVOLUTION>Y DREAMS >5'T \T !RE4 ,BUT CONTEMPOR>Y REVOLUTION>IES R>ELY ?9K !Y CAN BR+ !M 9TO BE+ BY SOME MOD]N-DAY EQUIVAL5T ( /ORM+ ! ,BA/ILLE4 

,AT MOM5TS LIKE ?IS1 IT G5]ALLY PAYS TO GO BACK TO ! HI/ORY ONE ALREADY KN[S & ASK3 ,W]E REVOLUTIONS EV] REALLY :AT WE ?\<T !M TO BE8 ,= ME1 ! P]SON :O HAS ASK$ ?IS MO/ EFFECTIVELY IS ! GREAT WORLD HI/ORIAN ,IMMANUEL ,WALL]/E94 ,HE >GUES ?AT = ! LA/ QU>T] MILL5NIUM OR SO1 REVOLUTIONS HAVE CONSI/$ ABOVE ALL ( PLANETWIDE TRANS=MATIONS ( POLITICAL COMMON S5SE4 

,ALREADY BY ! TIME ( ! ,FR5* ,REVOLUTION1 ,WALL]/E9 NOTES1 !RE WAS A S+LE WORLD M>KET1 & 9CREAS+LY A S+LE WORLD POLITICAL SY/EM AS WELL1 DOM9AT$ BY ! HUGE COLONIAL EMPIRES4 ,AS A RESULT1 ! /ORM+ ( ! ,BA/ILLE 9 ,P>IS C\LD WELL 5D UP HAV+ EFFECTS ON ,D5M>K1 OR EV5 ,EGYPT1 JU/ AS PR(\ND AS ON ,FRANCE ITSELF--9 SOME CASES1 EV5 MORE SO4 ,H5CE HE SPEAKS ( ! 0WORLD REVOLUTION ( #a#g#h#i10 FOLL[$ BY ! 0WORLD REVOLUTION ( #a#h#d#h10 :I* SAW REVOLUTIONS BREAK \T ALMO/ SIMULTANE\SLY 9 FIFTY C\NTRIES1 FROM ,WALLA*IA TO ,BRAZIL4 ,9 NO CASE DID ! REVOLUTION>IES SUCCE$ 9 TAK+ P[]1 BUT AFT]W>DS1 9/ITUTIONS 9SPIR$ BY ! ,FR5* ,REVOLUTION--NOTABLY1 UNIV]SAL SY/EMS ( PRIM>Y $UCATION--W]E PUT 9 PLACE PRETTY MU* EV]Y:]E4 ,SIMIL>LY1 ! ,RUSSIAN ,REVOLUTION ( #aiag WAS A WORLD REVOLUTION ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE = ! ,NEW ,DEAL & ,EUROPEAN WELF>E /ATES AS MU* AS = ,SOVIET COMMUNISM4 ,! LA/ 9 ! S]IES WAS ! WORLD REVOLUTION ( #a#i#f#h--:I*1 MU* LIKE #a#h#d#h1 BROKE \T ALMO/ EV]Y:]E1 FROM ,*9A TO ,MEXICO1 SEIZ$ P[] NO:]E1 BUT NONE!LESS *ANG$ EV]Y?+4 ,?IS WAS A REVOLUTION AGA9/ /ATE BUREAUCRACIES1 & = ! 9SEP>ABILITY ( P]SONAL & POLITICAL LIB]ATION1 :OSE MO/ LA/+ LEGACY WILL LIKELY BE ! BIR? ( MOD]N FEM9ISM4 

,REVOLUTIONS >E ?US PLANET>Y PH5OM5A4 ,BUT !RE IS MORE4 ,:AT !Y REALLY DO IS TRANS=M BASIC ASSUMPTIONS AB\T :AT POLITICS IS ULTIMATELY AB\T4 ,9 ! WAKE ( A REVOLUTION1 IDEAS ?AT HAD BE5 CONSID]$ V]ITABLY LUNATIC FR+E QUICKLY BECOME ! ACCEPT$ CURR5CY ( DEBATE4 ,BE=E ! ,FR5* ,REVOLUTION1 ! IDEAS ?AT *ANGE IS GOOD1 ?AT GOV]NM5T POLICY IS ! PROP] WAY TO MANAGE IT1 & ?AT GOV]NM5TS D]IVE !IR AU?ORITY FROM AN 5TITY CALL$ 0! PEOPLE0 W]E CONSID]$ ! SORTS ( ?+S ONE MI<T HE> FROM CRACKPOTS & DEMAGOGUES1 OR AT BE/ A H&FUL ( FREE?9K+ 9TELLECTUALS :O SP5D !IR TIME DEBAT+ 9 CAFES4 ,A G5]ATION LAT]1 EV5 ! /UFFIE/ MAGI/RATES1 PRIE/S1 & HEADMA/]S HAD TO AT LEA/ PAY LIP S]VICE TO !SE IDEAS4 ,BE=E LONG1 WE HAD REA*$ ! SITUATION WE >E 9 TODAY3 ?AT IT'S NECESS>Y TO LAY \T ! T]MS = ANYONE TO EV5 NOTICE !Y >E !RE4 ,!Y'VE BECOME COMMON S5SE1 ! V]Y GR\NDS ( POLITICAL DISCUSSION4 

,UNTIL #a#i#f#h1 MO/ WORLD REVOLUTIONS REALLY JU/ 9TRODUC$ PRACTICAL REF9EM5TS3 AN EXP&$ FRAN*ISE1 UNIV]SAL PRIM>Y $UCATION1 ! WELF>E /ATE4 ,! WORLD REVOLUTION ( #a#i#f#h1 9 CONTRA/--:E!R IT TOOK ! =M IT DID 9 ,*9A1 ( A REVOLT BY /UD5TS & Y\NG CADRES SUPPORT+ ,MAO'S CALL = A ,CULTURAL ,REVOLUTION2 OR 9 ,B]KELEY & ,NEW ,YORK1 :]E IT M>K$ AN ALLIANCE ( /UD5TS1 DROP\TS1 & CULTURAL REBELS2 OR EV5 9 ,P>IS1 :]E IT WAS AN ALLIANCE ( /UD5TS & WORK]S--WAS A REBELLION AGA9/ BUREAUCRACY1 CON=MITY1 OR ANY?+ ?AT FETT]$ ! HUMAN IMAG9ATION1 A PROJECT = ! REVOLUTIONIZ+ ( NOT JU/ POLITICAL OR ECONOMIC LIFE1 BUT EV]Y ASPECT ( HUMAN EXI/5CE4 ,AS A RESULT1 9 MO/ CASES1 ! REBELS DIDN'T EV5 TRY TO TAKE OV] ! APP>ATUS ( /ATE2 !Y SAW ?AT APP>ATUS AS ITSELF ! PROBLEM4 

,IT'S FA%IONABLE N[ADAYS TO VIEW ! SOCIAL MOVEM5TS ( ! LATE SIXTIES AS AN EMB>RASS+ FAILURE4 ,A CASE CAN BE MADE = ?AT VIEW4 ,IT'S C]TA9LY TRUE ?AT 9 ! POLITICAL SPH]E1 ! IMM$IATE B5EFICI>Y ( ANY WIDESPREAD *ANGE 9 POLITICAL COMMON S5SE--A PRIORITIZ+ ( IDEALS ( 9DIVIDUAL LIB]TY1 IMAG9ATION1 & DESIRE2 A HATR$ ( BUREAUCRACY2 & SUSPICIONS AB\T ! ROLE ( GOV]NM5T--WAS ! POLITICAL ,RI<T4 ,ABOVE ALL1 ! MOVEM5TS ( ! SIXTIES ALL[$ = ! MASS REVIVAL ( FREE M>KET DOCTR9ES ?AT HAD L>GELY BE5 AB&ON$ S9CE ! N9ETE5? C5TURY4 ,IT'S NO CO9CID5CE ?AT ! SAME G5]ATION :O1 AS TE5AG]S1 MADE ! ,CULTURAL ,REVOLUTION 9 ,*9A WAS ! ONE :O1 AS =TY-YE>-OLDS1 PRESID$ OV] ! 9TRODUCTION ( CAPITALISM4 ,S9CE ! EI<TIES1 0FRE$OM0 HAS COME TO MEAN 0! M>KET10 & 0! M>KET0 HAS COME TO BE SE5 AS ID5TICAL ) CAPITALISM--EV51 IRONICALLY1 9 PLACES LIKE ,*9A1 :I* HAD KN[N SOPHI/ICAT$ M>KETS = ?\S&S ( YE>S1 BUT R>ELY ANY?+ ?AT C\LD BE DESCRIB$ AS CAPITALISM4 

,! IRONIES >E 5DLESS4 ,:ILE ! NEW FREE M>KET IDEOLOGY HAS FRAM$ ITSELF ABOVE ALL AS A REJECTION ( BUREAUCRACY1 IT HAS1 9 FACT1 BE5 RESPONSIBLE = ! FIR/ ADM9I/RATIVE SY/EM ?AT HAS OP]AT$ ON A PLANET>Y SCALE1 ) ITS 5DLESS LAY]+ ( PUBLIC & PRIVATE BUREAUCRACIES3 ! ,I,M,F1 ,WORLD ,BANK1 ,W,T,O1 TRADE ORGANIZATIONS1 F9ANCIAL 9/ITUTIONS1 TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS1 ,N,G,OS4 ,?IS IS PRECISELY ! SY/EM ?AT HAS IMPOS$ FREE M>KET OR?ODOXY1 & OP5$ ! WORLD TO F9ANCIAL PILLAGE1 UND] ! WAT*FUL EGIS ( ,AM]ICAN >MS4 ,IT ONLY MADE S5SE ?AT ! FIR/ ATTEMPT TO RECREATE A GLOBAL REVOLUTION>Y MOVEM5T1 ! ,GLOBAL ,JU/ICE ,MOVEM5T ?AT PEAK$ BETWE5 #aiih & #b#c1 WAS EFFECTIVELY A REBELLION AGA9/ ! RULE ( ?AT V]Y PLANET>Y BUREAUCRACY4 

,FUTURE ,/OP 

,9 RETROSPECT1 ?\<1 ,I ?9K ?AT LAT] HI/ORIANS WILL CONCLUDE ?AT ! LEGACY ( ! SIXTIES REVOLUTION WAS DEEP] ?AN WE N[ IMAG9E1 & ?AT ! TRIUMPH ( CAPITALI/ M>KETS & !IR V>I\S PLANET>Y ADM9I/RATORS & 5=C]S--:I* SEEM$ SO EPO*AL & P]MAN5T 9 ! WAKE ( ! COLLAPSE ( ! ,SOVIET ,UNION 9 #a#i#i#a--WAS1 9 FACT1 F> %ALL[]4 

,I'LL TAKE AN OBVI\S EXAMPLE4 ,ONE (T5 HE>S ?AT ANTIW> PROTE/S 9 ! LATE SIXTIES & E>LY SEV5TIES W]E ULTIMATELY FAILURES1 S9CE !Y DID NOT APPRECIABLY SPE$ UP ! ,U4,S4 )DRAWAL FROM ,9DO*9A4 ,BUT AFT]W>DS1 ?OSE CONTROLL+ ,U4,S4 =EIGN POLICY W]E SO ANXI\S AB\T BE+ MET ) SIMIL> POPUL> UNRE/--& EV5 MORE1 ) UNRE/ )9 ! MILIT>Y ITSELF1 :I* WAS G5U9ELY FALL+ AP>T BY ! E>LY SEV5TIES--?AT !Y REFUS$ TO COMMIT ,U4,S4 =CES TO ANY MAJOR GR\ND CONFLICT = ALMO/ ?IRTY YE>S4 ,IT TOOK #i_/#a#a1 AN ATTACK ?AT L$ TO ?\S&S ( CIVILIAN DEA?S ON ,U4,S4 SOIL1 TO FULLY OV]COME ! NOTORI\S 0,VIETNAM SYNDROME0--& EV5 !N1 ! W> PLANN]S MADE AN ALMO/ OBSESSIVE EF=T TO 5SURE ! W>S W]E EFFECTIVELY PROTE/-PRO(4 ,PROPAG&A WAS 9CESSANT1 ! M$IA WAS BR\<T ON BO>D1 EXP]TS PROVID$ EXACT CALCULATIONS ON BODY BAG C\NTS 7H[ MANY ,U4,S4 CASUALTIES IT W\LD TAKE TO /IR MASS OPPOSITION71 & ! RULES ( 5GAGEM5T W]E C>EFULLY WRITT5 TO KEEP ! C\NT BEL[ ?AT4 

,! PROBLEM WAS ?AT S9CE ?OSE RULES ( 5GAGEM5T 5SUR$ ?AT ?\S&S ( WOM51 *ILDR51 & OLD PEOPLE W\LD 5D UP 0COLLAT]AL DAMAGE0 9 ORD] TO M9IMIZE DEA?S & 9JURIES TO ,U4,S4 SOLDI]S1 ?IS MEANT ?AT 9 ,IRAQ & ,AF<ANI/AN1 9T5SE HATR$ = ! OCCUPY+ =CES W\LD PRETTY MU* GU>ANTEE ?AT ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES C\LDN'T OBTA9 ITS MILIT>Y OBJECTIVES4 ,& REM>KABLY1 ! W> PLANN]S SEEM$ TO BE AW>E ( ?IS4 ,IT DIDN'T MATT]4 ,!Y CONSID]$ IT F> MORE IMPORTANT TO PREV5T EFFECTIVE OPPOSITION AT HOME ?AN TO ACTUALLY W9 ! W>4 ,IT'S AS IF ,AM]ICAN =CES 9 ,IRAQ W]E ULTIMATELY DEFEAT$ BY ! <O/ ( ,ABBIE ,H(FMAN4 

,CLE>LY1 AN ANTIW> MOVEM5T 9 ! SIXTIES ?AT IS /ILL TY+ ! H&S ( ,U4,S4 MILIT>Y PLANN]S 9 #bab CAN H>DLY BE CONSID]$ A FAILURE4 ,BUT IT RAISES AN 9TRIGU+ QUE/ION3 ,:AT HAPP5S :5 ! CREATION ( ?AT S5SE ( FAILURE1 ( ! COMPLETE 9EFFECTIV5ESS ( POLITICAL ACTION AGA9/ ! SY/EM1 BECOMES ! *IEF OBJECTIVE ( ?OSE 9 P[]8 

,IS IT POSSIBLE ?AT ?IS PREEMPTIVE ATTITUDE T[>D SOCIAL MOVEM5TS1 ! DESIGN+ ( W>S & TRADE SUMMITS 9 SU* A WAY ?AT PREV5T+ EFFECTIVE OPPOSITION IS CONSID]$ MORE ( A PRIORITY ?AN ! SUCCESS ( ! W> OR SUMMIT ITSELF1 REALLY REFLECTS A MORE G5]AL PR9CIPLE8 ,:AT IF ?OSE CURR5TLY RUNN+ ! SY/EM1 MO/ ( :OM WITNESS$ ! UNRE/ ( ! SIXTIES FIR/H& AS IMPRESSIONABLE Y\NG/]S1 >E--CONSCI\SLY OR UNCONSCI\SLY 7& ,I SUSPECT IT'S MORE CONSCI\S ?AN NOT7--OBSESS$ BY ! PROSPECT ( REVOLUTION>Y SOCIAL MOVEM5TS ONCE AGA9 *ALL5G+ PREVAIL+ COMMON S5SE8,! ?\<T FIR/ OCCURR$ TO ME :5 P>TICIPAT+ 9 ! ,I,M,F ACTIONS 9 ,WA%+TON1 ,D4,C41 9 #b#b4 ,COM+ ON ! HEELS ( #i_/#a#a1 WE W]E RELATIVELY FEW & 9EFFECTIVE1 ! NUMB] ( POLICE OV]:ELM+4 ,!RE WAS NO S5SE ?AT WE C\LD SUCCE$ 9 %UTT+ D[N ! MEET+S4 ,MO/ ( US LEFT FEEL+ VAGUELY DEPRESS$4 ,IT WAS ONLY A FEW DAYS LAT]1 :5 ,I TALK$ TO SOMEONE :O HAD FRI5DS ATT5D+ ! MEET+S1 ?AT ,I LE>N$ WE HAD 9 FACT %UT !M D[N3 ! POLICE HAD 9TRODUC$ SU* /R+5T SECURITY MEASURES1 CANCEL+ HALF ! EV5TS1 ?AT MO/ ( ! ACTUAL MEET+S HAD BE5 C>RI$ \T ONL9E4 ,9 O!R WORDS1 ! GOV]NM5T HAD DECID$ IT WAS MORE IMPORTANT = PROTE/]S TO WALK AWAY FEEL+ LIKE FAILURES ?AN = ! ,I,M,F MEET+S TO TAKE PLACE4 ,IF Y\ ?9K AB\T IT1 !Y AF=D$ PROTE/]S EXTRAORD9>Y IMPORTANCE4 

,IT W\LD EXPLA9 A LOT4 ,9 MO/ ( ! WORLD1 ! LA/ ?IRTY YE>S HAS COME TO BE KN[N AS ! AGE ( NEOLIB]ALISM--ONE DOM9AT$ BY A REVIVAL ( ! LONG-S9CE-AB&ON$ N9ETE5?-C5TURY CRE$ ?AT HELD ?AT FREE M>KETS & HUMAN FRE$OM 9 G5]AL W]E ULTIMATELY ! SAME ?+4 ,NEOLIB]ALISM HAS ALWAYS BE5 WRACK$ BY A C5TRAL P>ADOX4 ,IT DECL>ES ?AT ECONOMIC IMP]ATIVES >E TO TAKE PRIORITY OV] ALL O!RS4 ,POLITICS ITSELF IS JU/ A MATT] ( CREAT+ ! CONDITIONS = GR[+ ! ECONOMY BY ALL[+ ! MAGIC ( ! M>KETPLACE TO DO ITS WORK4 ,ALL O!R HOPES & DREAMS--( EQUALITY1 ( SECURITY-->E TO BE SACRIFIC$ = ! PRIM>Y GOAL ( ECONOMIC PRODUCTIVITY4 ,BUT GLOBAL ECONOMIC P]=MANCE OV] ! LA/ ?IRTY YE>S HAS BE5 DECID$LY M$IOCRE4 ,) ONE OR TWO SPECTACUL> EXCEPTIONS 7NOTABLY ,*9A1 :I* SIGNIFICANTLY IGNOR$ MO/ NEOLIB]AL PRESCRIPTIONS71 GR[? RATES HAVE BE5 F> BEL[ :AT !Y W]E 9 ! DAYS ( ! OLD-FA%ION$1 /ATE-DIRECT$1 WELF>E-/ATE-ORI5T$ CAPITALISM ( ! FIFTIES1 SIXTIES1 & EV5 SEV5TIES4 ,BY ITS [N /&>DS1 !N1 ! PROJECT WAS ALREADY A COLOSSAL FAILURE EV5 BE=E ! #bh COLLAPSE4 

,IF1 ON ! O!R H&1 WE /OP TAK+ WORLD LEAD]S AT !IR WORD & 9/EAD ?9K ( NEOLIB]ALISM AS A POLITICAL PROJECT1 IT SUDD5LY LOOKS SPECTACUL>LY EFFECTIVE4 ,! POLITICIANS1 ,C,E,OS1 TRADE BUREAUCRATS1 & SO =? :O REGUL>LY MEET AT SUMMITS LIKE ,DAVOS OR ! ,G#b MAY HAVE DONE A MIS]ABLE JOB 9 CREAT+ A WORLD CAPITALI/ ECONOMY ?AT MEETS ! NE$S ( A MAJORITY ( ! WORLD'S 9HABITANTS 7LET ALONE PRODUCES HOPE1 HAPP9ESS1 SECURITY1 OR MEAN+71 BUT !Y HAVE SUCCE$$ MAGNIFIC5TLY 9 CONV9C+ ! WORLD ?AT CAPITALISM--& NOT JU/ CAPITALISM1 BUT EXACTLY ! F9ANCIALIZ$1 SEMIFEUDAL CAPITALISM WE HAPP5 TO HAVE RI<T N[--IS ! ONLY VIABLE ECONOMIC SY/EM4 ,IF Y\ ?9K AB\T IT1 ?IS IS A REM>KABLE ACCOMPLI%M5T4 

,H[ DID !Y PULL IT (F8 ,! PREEMPTIVE ATTITUDE T[>D SOCIAL MOVEM5TS IS CLE>LY A P>T ( IT2 UND] NO CONDITIONS CAN ALT]NATIVES1 OR ANYONE PROPOS+ ALT]NATIVES1 BE SE5 TO EXP]I5CE SUCCESS4 ,?IS HELPS EXPLA9 ! ALMO/ UNIMAG9ABLE 9VE/M5T 9 0SECURITY SY/EMS0 ( ONE SORT OR ANO!R3 ! FACT ?AT ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES1 :I* LACKS ANY MAJOR RIVAL1 SP5DS MORE ON ITS MILIT>Y & 9TELLIG5CE ?AN IT DID DUR+ ! ,COLD ,W>1 ALONG ) ! ALMO/ DAZZL+ ACCUMULATION ( PRIVATE SECURITY AG5CIES1 9TELLIG5CE AG5CIES1 MILIT>IZ$ POLICE1 GU>DS1 & M]C5>IES4 ,!N !RE >E ! PROPAG&A ORGANS1 9CLUD+ A MASSIVE M$IA 9DU/RY ?AT DID NOT EV5 EXI/ BE=E ! SIXTIES1 CELEBRAT+ POLICE4 ,MO/LY !SE SY/EMS DO NOT SO MU* ATTACK DISSID5TS DIRECTLY AS CONTRIBUTE TO A P]VASIVE CLIMATE ( FE>1 J+OI/IC CON=MITY1 LIFE 9SECURITY1 & SIMPLE DESPAIR ?AT MAKES ANY ?\<T ( *ANG+ ! WORLD SEEM AN IDLE FANTASY4 ,YET !SE SECURITY SY/EMS >E ALSO EXTREMELY EXP5SIVE4 ,SOME ECONOMI/S E/IMATE ?AT A QU>T] ( ! ,AM]ICAN POPULATION IS N[ 5GAG$ 9 0GU>D LABOR0 ( ONE SORT OR ANO!R--DEF5D+ PROP]TY1 SUP]VIS+ WORK1 OR O!RWISE KEEP+ !IR FELL[ ,AM]ICANS 9 L9E4 ,ECONOMICALLY1 MO/ ( ?IS DISCIPL9>Y APP>ATUS IS PURE DEADWEI<T4 

,9 FACT1 MO/ ( ! ECONOMIC 9NOVATIONS ( ! LA/ ?IRTY YE>S MAKE MORE S5SE POLITICALLY ?AN ECONOMICALLY4 ,ELIM9AT+ GU>ANTE$ LIFE EMPLOYM5T = PREC>I\S CONTRACTS DOESN'T REALLY CREATE A MORE EFFECTIVE WORK=CE1 BUT IT IS EXTRAORD9>ILY EFFECTIVE 9 DE/ROY+ UNIONS & O!RWISE DEPOLITICIZ+ LABOR4 ,! SAME CAN BE SAID ( 5DLESSLY 9CREAS+ WORK+ H\RS4 ,NO ONE HAS MU* TIME = POLITICAL ACTIVITY IF !Y'RE WORK+ SIXTY-H\R WEEKS4 

,IT DOES (T5 SEEM ?AT1 :5EV] !RE IS A *OICE BETWE5 ONE OPTION ?AT MAKES CAPITALISM SEEM ! ONLY POSSIBLE ECONOMIC SY/EM1 & ANO!R ?AT W\LD ACTUALLY MAKE CAPITALISM A MORE VIABLE ECONOMIC SY/EM1 NEOLIB]ALISM MEANS ALWAYS *OOS+ ! =M]4 ,! COMB9$ RESULT IS A REL5TLESS CAMPAIGN AGA9/ ! HUMAN IMAG9ATION4 ,OR1 TO BE MORE PRECISE3 IMAG9ATION1 DESIRE1 9DIVIDUAL CREATIVITY1 ALL ?OSE ?+S ?AT W]E TO BE LIB]AT$ 9 ! LA/ GREAT WORLD REVOLUTION1 W]E TO BE CONTA9$ /RICTLY 9 ! DOMA9 ( CONSUM]ISM1 OR P]HAPS 9 ! VIRTUAL REALITIES ( ! ,9T]NET4 ,9 ALL O!R REALMS !Y W]E TO BE /RICTLY BANI%$4 ,WE >E TALK+ AB\T ! MURD]+ ( DREAMS1 ! IMPOSITION ( AN APP>ATUS ( HOPELESSNESS1 DESIGN$ TO SQUEL* ANY S5SE ( AN ALT]NATIVE FUTURE4 ,YET AS A RESULT ( PUTT+ VIRTUALLY ALL !IR EF=TS 9 ONE POLITICAL BASKET1 WE >E LEFT 9 ! BIZ>RE SITUATION ( WAT*+ ! CAPITALI/ SY/EM CRUMBL+ BE=E \R V]Y EYES1 AT JU/ ! MOM5T EV]YONE HAD F9ALLY CONCLUD$ NO O!R SY/EM W\LD BE POSSIBLE4 

,WORK ,IT ,\T1 ,SL[ ,IT ,D[N 

,NORMALLY1 :5 Y\ *ALL5GE ! CONV5TIONAL WISDOM--?AT ! CURR5T ECONOMIC & POLITICAL SY/EM IS ! ONLY POSSIBLE ONE--! FIR/ REACTION Y\ >E LIKELY TO GET IS A DEM& = A DETAIL$ >*ITECTURAL BLUEPR9T ( H[ AN ALT]NATIVE SY/EM W\LD WORK1 D[N TO ! NATURE ( ITS F9ANCIAL 9/RUM5TS1 5]GY SUPPLIES1 & POLICIES ( SEW] MA9T5ANCE4 ,NEXT1 Y\ >E LIKELY TO BE ASK$ = A DETAIL$ PROGRAM ( H[ ?IS SY/EM WILL BE BR\<T 9TO EXI/5CE4 ,HI/ORICALLY1 ?IS IS RIDICUL\S4 ,:5 HAS SOCIAL *ANGE EV] HAPP5$ ACCORD+ TO SOMEONE'S BLUEPR9T8 ,IT'S NOT AS IF A SMALL CIRCLE ( VISION>IES 9 ,R5AISSANCE ,FLOR5CE CONCEIV$ ( SOME?+ !Y CALL$ 0CAPITALISM10 FIGUR$ \T ! DETAILS ( H[ ! /OCK EX*ANGE & FACTORIES W\LD SOM$AY WORK1 & !N PUT 9 PLACE A PROGRAM TO BR+ !IR VISIONS 9TO REALITY4 ,9 FACT1 ! IDEA IS SO ABSURD WE MI<T WELL ASK \RSELVES H[ IT EV] OCCURR$ TO US TO IMAG9E ?IS IS H[ *ANGE HAPP5S TO BEG94 

,?IS IS NOT TO SAY !RE'S ANY?+ WRONG ) UTOPIAN VISIONS4 ,OR EV5 BLUEPR9TS4 ,!Y JU/ NE$ TO BE KEPT 9 !IR PLACE4 ,! !ORI/ ,MI*AEL ,ALB]T HAS WORK$ \T A DETAIL$ PLAN = H[ A MOD]N ECONOMY C\LD RUN )\T MONEY ON A DEMOCRATIC1 P>TICIPATORY BASIS4 ,I ?9K ?IS IS AN IMPORTANT A*IEVEM5T--NOT BECAUSE ,I ?9K ?AT EXACT MODEL C\LD EV] BE 9/ITUT$1 9 EXACTLY ! =M 9 :I* HE DESCRIBES IT1 BUT BECAUSE IT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY ?AT SU* A ?+ IS 9CONCEIVABLE4 ,/ILL1 SU* MODELS CAN BE ONLY ?\<T EXP]IM5TS4 ,WE CANNOT REALLY CONCEIVE ( ! PROBLEMS ?AT WILL >ISE :5 WE />T TRY+ TO BUILD A FREE SOCIETY4 ,:AT N[ SEEM LIKELY TO BE ! ?ORNIE/ PROBLEMS MI<T NOT BE PROBLEMS AT ALL2 O!RS ?AT NEV] EV5 OCCURR$ TO US MI<T PROVE DEVILI%LY DIFFICULT4 ,!RE >E 9NUM]ABLE ,X-FACTORS4 

,! MO/ OBVI\S IS TE*NOLOGY4 ,?IS IS ! REASON IT'S SO ABSURD TO IMAG9E ACTIVI/S 9 ,R5AISSANCE ,ITALY COM+ UP ) A MODEL = A /OCK EX*ANGE & FACTORIES--:AT HAPP5$ WAS BAS$ ON ALL SORTS ( TE*NOLOGIES ?AT !Y C\LDN'T HAVE ANTICIPAT$1 BUT :I* 9 P>T ONLY EM]G$ BECAUSE SOCIETY BEGAN TO MOVE 9 ! DIRECTION ?AT IT DID4 ,?IS MI<T EXPLA91 = 9/ANCE1 :Y SO MANY ( ! MORE COMPELL+ VISIONS ( AN AN>*I/ SOCIETY HAVE BE5 PRODUC$ BY SCI5CE FICTION WRIT]S 7,URSULA ,K4 ,LE ,GU91 ,/>HAWK1 ,KIM ,/ANLEY ,ROB9SON74 ,9 FICTION1 Y\ >E AT LEA/ ADMITT+ ! TE*NOLOGICAL ASPECT IS GUESSWORK4 

,MYSELF1 ,I AM LESS 9T]E/$ 9 DECID+ :AT SORT ( ECONOMIC SY/EM WE %\LD HAVE 9 A FREE SOCIETY ?AN 9 CREAT+ ! MEANS BY :I* PEOPLE CAN MAKE SU* DECISIONS = !MSELVES4 ,:AT MI<T A REVOLUTION 9 COMMON S5SE ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE8 ,I DON'T KN[1 BUT ,I CAN ?9K ( ANY NUMB] ( PIECES ( CONV5TIONAL WISDOM ?AT SURELY NE$ *ALL5G+ IF WE >E TO CREATE ANY SORT ( VIABLE FREE SOCIETY4 ,I'VE ALREADY EXPLOR$ ONE--! NATURE ( MONEY & DEBT--9 SOME DETAIL 9 A REC5T BOOK4 ,I EV5 SUGGE/$ A DEBT JUBILEE1 A G5]AL CANCELLATION1 9 P>T JU/ TO BR+ HOME ?AT MONEY IS REALLY JU/ A HUMAN PRODUCT1 A SET ( PROMISES1 ?AT BY ITS NATURE CAN ALWAYS BE R5EGOTIAT$4 

,:AT W\LD REMA9 IS ! K9D ( WORK ONLY HUMAN BE+S WILL EV] BE ABLE TO DO3 ?OSE =MS ( C>+ & HELP+ LABOR ?AT >E AT ! V]Y C5T] ( ! CRISIS ?AT BR\<T AB\T ,OCCUPY ,WALL ,/REET TO BEG9 )4 ,:AT W\LD HAPP5 IF WE /OPP$ ACT+ AS IF ! PRIMORDIAL =M ( WORK IS LABOR+ AT A PRODUCTION L9E1 OR :EAT FIELD1 OR IRON F\NDRY1 OR EV5 9 AN (FICE CUBICLE1 & 9/EAD />T$ FROM A MO!R1 A TEA*]1 OR A C>EGIV]8 ,WE MI<T BE =C$ TO CONCLUDE ?AT ! REAL BUS9ESS ( HUMAN LIFE IS NOT CONTRIBUT+ T[>D SOME?+ CALL$ 0! ECONOMY0 7A CONCEPT ?AT DIDN'T EV5 EXI/ ?REE HUNDR$ YE>S AGO71 BUT ! FACT ?AT WE >E ALL1 & HAVE ALWAYS BE51 PROJECTS ( MUTUAL CREATION4,LABOR1 SIMIL>LY1 %\LD BE R5EGOTIAT$4 ,SUBMITT+ ONESELF TO LABOR DISCIPL9E--SUP]VISION1 CONTROL1 EV5 ! SELF-CONTROL ( ! AMBITI\S SELF-EMPLOY$--DOES NOT MAKE ONE A BETT] P]SON4 ,9 MO/ REALLY IMPORTANT WAYS1 IT PROBABLY MAKES ONE WORSE4 ,TO UND]GO IT IS A MIS=TUNE ?AT AT BE/ IS SOMETIMES NECESS>Y4 ,YET IT'S ONLY :5 WE REJECT ! IDEA ?AT SU* LABOR IS VIRTU\S 9 ITSELF ?AT WE CAN />T TO ASK :AT IS VIRTU\S AB\T LABOR4 ,TO :I* ! ANSW] IS OBVI\S4 ,LABOR IS VIRTU\S IF IT HELPS O!RS4 ,A R5EGOTIAT$ DEF9ITION ( PRODUCTIVITY %\LD MAKE IT EASI] TO REIMAG9E ! V]Y NATURE ( :AT WORK IS1 S9CE1 AMONG O!R ?+S1 IT WILL MEAN ?AT TE*NOLOGICAL DEVELOPM5T WILL BE R$IRECT$ LESS T[>D CREAT+ EV] MORE CONSUM] PRODUCTS & EV] MORE DISCIPL9$ LABOR1 & MORE T[>D ELIM9AT+ ?OSE =MS ( LABOR 5TIRELY4 

,AT ! MOM5T1 PROBABLY ! MO/ PRESS+ NE$ IS SIMPLY TO SL[ D[N ! 5G9ES ( PRODUCTIVITY4 ,?IS MI<T SEEM A /RANGE ?+ TO SAY--\R KNEE-J]K REACTION TO EV]Y CRISIS IS TO ASSUME ! SOLUTION IS = EV]YONE TO WORK EV5 MORE1 ?\< ( C\RSE1 ?IS K9D ( REACTION IS REALLY PRECISELY ! PROBLEM--BUT IF Y\ CONSID] ! OV]ALL /ATE ( ! WORLD1 ! CONCLUSION BECOMES OBVI\S4 ,WE SEEM TO BE FAC+ TWO 9SOLUBLE PROBLEMS4 ,ON ! ONE H&1 WE HAVE WITNESS$ AN 5DLESS S]IES ( GLOBAL DEBT CRISES1 :I* HAVE GR[N ONLY MORE & MORE SEV]E S9CE ! SEV5TIES1 TO ! PO9T :]E ! OV]ALL BURD5 ( DEBT--SOV]EIGN1 MUNICIPAL1 CORPORATE1 P]SONAL--IS OBVI\SLY UNSU/A9ABLE4 ,ON ! O!R1 WE HAVE AN ECOLOGICAL CRISIS1 A GALLOP+ PROCESS ( CLIMATE *ANGE ?AT IS ?REAT5+ TO ?R[ ! 5TIRE PLANET 9TO DR\<T1 FLOODS1 *AOS1 />VATION1 & W>4 ,! TWO MI<T SEEM UNRELAT$4 ,BUT ULTIMATELY !Y >E ! SAME4 ,:AT IS DEBT1 AFT] ALL1 BUT ! PROMISE ( FUTURE PRODUCTIVITY8 ,SAY+ ?AT GLOBAL DEBT LEVELS KEEP RIS+ IS SIMPLY ANO!R WAY ( SAY+ ?AT1 AS A COLLECTIVITY1 HUMAN BE+S >E PROMIS+ EA* O!R TO PRODUCE AN EV5 GREAT] VOLUME ( GOODS & S]VICES 9 ! FUTURE ?AN !Y >E CREAT+ N[4 ,BUT EV5 CURR5T LEVELS >E CLE>LY UNSU/A9ABLE4 ,!Y >E PRECISELY :AT'S DE/ROY+ ! PLANET1 AT AN EV]-9CREAS+ PACE4 

,EV5 ?OSE RUNN+ ! SY/EM >E RELUCTANTLY BEG9N+ TO CONCLUDE ?AT SOME K9D ( MASS DEBT CANCELLATION--SOME K9D ( JUBILEE--IS 9EVITABLE4 ,! REAL POLITICAL /RUGGLE IS GO+ TO BE OV] ! =M ?AT IT TAKES4 ,WELL1 ISN'T ! OBVI\S ?+ TO ADDRESS BO? PROBLEMS SIMULTANE\SLY8 ,:Y NOT A PLANET>Y DEBT CANCELLATION1 AS BROAD AS PRACTICALLY POSSIBLE1 FOLL[$ BY A MASS R$UCTION 9 WORK+ H\RS3 A F\R-H\R DAY1 P]HAPS1 OR A GU>ANTE$ FIVE-MON? VACATION8 ,?IS MI<T NOT ONLY SAVE ! PLANET BUT ALSO 7S9CE IT'S NOT LIKE EV]YONE W\LD JU/ BE SITT+ >\ND 9 !IR NEWF\ND H\RS ( FRE$OM7 BEG9 TO *ANGE \R BASIC CONCEPTIONS ( :AT VALUE-CREAT+ LABOR MI<T ACTUALLY BE4 

,OCCUPY WAS SURELY RI<T NOT TO MAKE DEM&S1 BUT IF ,I W]E TO HAVE TO =MULATE ONE1 ?AT W\LD BE IT4 ,AFT] ALL1 ?IS W\LD BE AN ATTACK ON ! DOM9ANT IDEOLOGY AT ITS V]Y /RONGE/ PO9TS4 ,! MORALITY ( DEBT & ! MORALITY ( WORK >E ! MO/ P[]FUL IDEOLOGICAL WEAPONS 9 ! H&S ( ?OSE RUNN+ ! CURR5T SY/EM4 ,?AT'S :Y !Y CL+ TO !M EV5 AS !Y >E EFFECTIVELY DE/ROY+ EV]Y?+ ELSE4 ,IT'S ALSO :Y DEBT CANCELLATION W\LD MAKE ! P]FECT REVOLUTION>Y DEM&4 

,ALL ?IS MI<T /ILL SEEM V]Y DI/ANT4 ,AT ! MOM5T1 ! PLANET MI<T SEEM POIS$ MORE = A S]IES ( UNPREC$5T$ CATA/ROPHES ?AN = ! K9D ( BROAD MORAL & POLITICAL TRANS=MATION ?AT W\LD OP5 ! WAY TO SU* A WORLD4 ,BUT IF WE >E GO+ TO HAVE ANY *ANCE ( HEAD+ (F ?OSE CATA/ROPHES1 WE'RE GO+ TO HAVE TO *ANGE \R ACCU/OM$ WAYS ( ?9K+4 ,& AS ! EV5TS ( #baa REVEAL1 ! AGE ( REVOLUTIONS IS BY NO MEANS OV]4 ,! HUMAN IMAG9ATION /UBBORNLY REFUSES TO DIE4 ,& ! MOM5T ANY SIGNIFICANT NUMB] ( PEOPLE SIMULTANE\SLY %AKE (F ! %ACKLES ?AT HAVE BE5 PLAC$ ON ?AT COLLECTIVE IMAG9ATION1 EV5 \R MO/ DEEPLY 9CULCAT$ ASSUMPTIONS AB\T :AT IS & IS NOT POLITICALLY POSSIBLE HAVE BE5 KN[N TO CRUMBLE OV]NI<T4 

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,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #g1 #bba 3 ,A ,PRACTICAL ,UTOPIAN'S ,GUIDE TO ! ,COM+ ,COLLAPSE -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #d1 #bbb 3 ,A ,PRACTICAL ,UTOPIAN'S ,GUIDE TO ! ,COM+ ,COLLAPSE -- ,UPDAT$4 

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