,FROM ',AN>*I/ ,AFF9ITY' TO ',COLLECTIVE ,ACTION' 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,COLLECTIVE ,ACTION 

,TEXT 3 

,OV] ! PA/ YE>1 ! MEMB]S ( ,AN>*I/ ,AFF9ITY HAVE DISCUSS$ *ANG+ \R NAME SO ?AT WE CAN ADOPT A LABEL ?AT BETT] REFLECTS \R UND]/&+ ( AN>*I/ COMMUNI/ POLITICS & VISION = SOCIAL *ANGE4 ,TO ?IS 5D1 WE'VE DECID$ TO CALL \RSELVES ',COLLECTIVE ,ACTION4' 

,AN>*I/ ,AFF9ITY EM]G$1 9 A V]Y BASIC =M1 FROM A READ+ GR\P 9 #b#a#b4 ,E>LY MEMB]S ( ! GR\P CAME TOGE!R \T ( A S5SE ( %>$ FRU/RATION ) ! LIMITATIONS ( AN>*I/ POLITICS 9 ,MELB\RNE4 ,AN>*I/S CAN BE 9W>D LOOK+ - IT'S EASY TO GET CAU<T UP 9 ! 9T]NAL ISSUES & CULTURE ( ! AN>*I/ SC5E1 & MISS \T ON 5GAG+ ) BROAD] SOCIAL MOVEM5TS4 ,WE (T5 LACK ! ORGANIZATION & POLITICAL CONFID5CE NE$$ TO MAKE AN>*I/ IDEAS RELEVANT TO CONTEMPOR>Y POLITICAL & SOCIAL /RUGGLES4 

,AN>*I/ POLITICS HAVE A LOT TO (F]4 ,\R IDEAS AB\T DIRECT ACTION1 ! DANG]S ( RE=MISM & ELECTORALISM1 & ! IMPORTANCE ( BOTTOM-UP DECISION MAK+ 9 MASS MOVEM5TS HAVE ! POT5TIAL TO HELP US BUILD /RONG]1 MORE RESILI5T SOCIAL MOVEM5TS4 ,BUT = AN>*I/ IDEAS TO HAVE ANY IMPACT1 WE MU/ PUT !M 9TO PRACTICE4 

,& TO DO ?IS1 WE NE$ POLITICAL /RUCTURES & ME?ODS ( ORGANIZ+ :I* WILL ALL[ US TO ?9K & ACT COLLECTIVELY4 ,AS IT IS1 TOO (T5 WE 5D UP RE9V5T+ ! :EEL4 ,\R POLITICAL MEMORY IS V]Y %ORT1 !RE IS LITTLE S5SE ( ! HI/ORY ( PREVI\S /RUGGLES1 & FEW OPPORTUNITIES TO LE>N FROM PA/ MI/AKES4 ,WE LACK A CLE> VISION ( :AT W9N+ W\LD LOOK LIKE4 ,! SKILLS WE NE$ TO DO NECESS>Y LONG-T]M ORGANIZ+ (T5 >5'T PRES5T OR NE$ TO BE %>$ MORE ?OR\<LY4 ,9 ,MELB\RNE1 MO/ PEOPLE GET 9VOLV$ 9 AN>*I/ POLITICS ?R\< FRI5D%IP NETWORKS & USE !SE NETWORKS AS ! BASIS = !IR ORGANIZ+4 ,BUT WE NE$ TO BE ABLE TO REA* ?OSE :O >E ALREADY )9 ! 'LEFT' & WORK TOGE!R ) PEOPLE :O MI<T NOT BE \R FRI5DS O!RWISE4 

,!SE >E SOME ( ! *ALL5GES WE FACE AS AN>*I/S 9 ,MELB\RNE 9 #b#a#g4 ,! NAME ,AN>*I/ ,AFF9ITY IS AN ODD ONE GIV5 \R POLITICS & ! COMMON ASSOCIATIONS ATTA*$ TO ! WORD 'AFF9ITY' AMONG AN>*I/S4 ,! T]M 'AFF9ITY GR\P' IS MO/ COMMONLY ASSOCIAT$ ) A MORE TEMPOR>Y GR\P+1 BR\<T TOGE!R = A SPECIFIC GOAL OR ACTION1 & USUALLY *>ACT]IZ$ BY A CLOS$ MEMB]%IP1 CONS5SUS DECISION MAK+1 & DECID$LY LESS =MAL /RUCTURES4 ,\R AIM HAS LONG BE5 TO BUILD SOME?+ O!R ?AN AN 'AFF9ITY GR\P' AS IT IS COMMONLY UND]/OOD4 ,WE AIM TO BUILD A POLITICAL ORGANIZATION ) %>$ POLITICS & /RATEGY1 ORGANIZ$ 9 LOCAL GR\PS 9 V>I\S WORKPLACES1 UNIV]SITIES1 NEI<BORHOODS1 & WID] CAMPAIGNS4 ,WE WANT TO BE P>T ( AN \TW>D FAC+ GR\P ?AT CAN CLE>LY COMMUNICATE & >TICULATE ITS POLITICS TO ANYONE :O IS 9T]E/$1 :E!R WE MEET !M AT WORK1 9 ! COMMUNITY OR AT A RALLY4 

,WE NE$ TO DEVELOP AN>*I/ & O!R LEFT-W+ POLITICAL COLLECTIVES TO HELP US 5GAGE 9 POLITICAL /RUGGLES1 REFLECT1 LE>N & GR[ AS ACTIVI/S4 ,! P>TICUL> ORGANIZATIONAL =M ?AT A GR\P ADOPTS IS A LOT LESS IMPORTANT ?AN A COMMITM5T TO ORGANIZE & ACT COLLECTIVELY4 ,\R IDEAS AB\T AN>*I/ ORGANIZATION HAVE BE5 9FLU5C$ BY ! POLITICAL T5D5CIES KN[N AS PLAT=MISM & SPECIFISM4 ,PLAT=MI/S & SPECIFI/S >GUE = ! IMPORTANCE ( SPECIFICALLY AN>*I/ ORGANIZATIONS AS A MEANS ( L9K+ TOGE!R BROAD SOCIAL MOVEM5TS4 ,= \R PURPOSES1 PLAT=MISM IS NOT AN ALL-5COMPASS+ POLITICAL !ORY :I* \<T TO BE EMBRAC$ UNCRITICALLY4 ,IT IS A SET ( PR9CIPLES AB\T H[ WE1 AS AN>*I/S1 CAN PLAY A USEFUL ROLE 9 9CREAS+ ! CAPACITY ( ORD9>Y PEOPLE TO /RUGGLE = ! ISSUES :I* MATT] TO !M 7& US674 

,TO US1 ! PLAT=MI/ IDEA ( 'COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY' MEANS BE+ ACC\NTABLE TO EA* O!R1 '!ORETICAL UNITY' MEANS WORK+ TO >RIVE AT A %>$ POLITICAL UND]/&+1 'TACTICAL UNITY' IS A COMMITM5T TO PLAN & ACT TOGE!R1 ) ! AIM ( TE/+ & REF9+ \R POLITICAL IDEAS 9 PRACTICE1 & AN>*I/ 'F$]ALISM' (F]S A ME?OD BY :I* WE CAN IMPLEM5T A %>$ /RATEGY )\T RESORT+ TO ! HI]>*IES 9H]5T 9 SO-CALL$ 'DEMOCRATIC C5TRALISM4' ,! IDEA ( COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY IS P>TICUL>LY IMPORTANT TO US4 ,WE LIVE 9 A SOCIETY :]E ! ISOLAT$1 '9DEP5D5T1' 9DIVIDUAL IS HELD UP AS ! C5T] ( EV]Y?+4 

,MANY ( US HAVE LITTLE EXP]I5CE ( WORK+ ) O!RS 9 A CONTEXT NOT /RUCTUR$ BY OPPRESSION & EXPLOITATION4 ,\R WORKPLACES1 FAMILIES1 & FRI5D%IP GR\P+S DON'T PROVIDE US ) A GOOD MODEL = POLITICAL ORGANIZATION & ACTION4 ,P>T ( ! TASK ?AT FACES US AS AN>*I/S IS TO CREATE =MS ( ORGANIZATION :I* ALL[ US TO RELATE TO ONE ANO!R 9 NEW WAYS4 ,?IS REQUIRES WORK - WE CAN'T EXPECT TO UNLE>N ! LIMIT$ & OPPRESSIVE HABITS ( ?\<T WE HAVE ACCUMULAT$ ?R\< A LIFE TIME ( SOCIAL CONDITION+ 9 AN 9/ANT OR BY \RSELVES4 ,P>T ( COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY MEANS COMMITT+ TO LE>N+ AB\T =MS ( OPPRESSION1 LIKE SEXISM1 RACISM & PREJUDICE AGA9/ ,L,G,B,T,I,Q"4 PEOPLE1 & *ALL5G+ \R ROLE 9 MA9TA9+ !M4 ,?IS 9VOLVES UND]/&+ H[ DIFF]5T =MS ( OPPRESSION SUPPORT ONE ANO!R & H[ !Y RE9=CE1 BUT >E NOT R$UCIBLE TO1 CAPITALISM & ! /ATE4 ,COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY ALSO MEANS ?AT WE TAKE RESPONSIBILITY = ! POLITICAL DEVELOPM5T ( ! PEOPLE WE WORK )4 ,?IS MEANS BE+ PREP>$ TO BE CRITICAL ( ! ACTIONS ( O!RS & TO HELP EA* O!R RESPOND TO ANY CRITICISMS CON/RUCTIVELY4 ,WE >E ALL WORKS-9- PROGRESS1 & WE NE$ EA* O!R'S SUPPORT TO BECOME BETT] AN>*I/S4 

,BE+ P>T ( AN ORGANIZATION IS ONE IMPORTANT WAY WE CAN HELP BUILD A CULTURE ( SOLID>ITY ON ! LEFT4 ,WE WANT TO CREATE POLITICAL SPACES :]E WE HELP EA* O!R \T AS MU* AS WE CAN1 & WE GET HELP IF WE NE$ IT4 ,\R ACTIONS %\LD BE ORI5T$ >\ND IMPROV+ \R EV]YDAY LIVES1 WORK+ 9 ! H]E-&- N[ ) AN EYE TO ! FUTURE4 

,WE WANT TO BE UNIFI$ NOT JU/ BY AN AB/RACT SET ( IDEALS1 BUT A DAY TO DAY COMMITM5T TO 9CREAS+ \R CAPACITY TO LIVE & FI<T BACK AGA9/ ! BL[S ( CAPITALISM & O!R OPPRESSIVE SY/EMS4 ,TO ?AT 5D WE WI% TO TAKE P>T 9 & BUILD PROJECTS ?AT SUB/ANTIVELY ADDRESS PEOPLES' REAL NE$S1 %[+ ! EFFICACY ( AN>*I/ POLITICS 9 ! PROCESS4 ,WE NE$ A CLE> VISION SO ?AT WE >5'T JU/ /UCK TRY+ TO SURVIVE1 BUT >E ABLE *ANGE ! WORLD SO ?AT WE CAN LIVE 9 IT4 

,COLLECTIVE ,ACTION IS A NEW NAME1 NOT A NEW GR\P+4 ,! POLITICS1 AIMS1 POSITIONS1 & MEMB]%IP ( ! GR\P+ REMA9 ! SAME4 ,WE HOPE ?IS NAME BETT] REFLECTS \R UND]/&+ ( AN>*I/ POLITICS1 \R POSITION ON ! QUE/ION ( ORGANIZATION1 & :AT WE SEE AS ! TASK CONFRONT+ REVOLUTION>Y AN>*I/S & O!RS :O DREAM ( ! OV]?R[ ( ALL SY/EMS ( OPPRESSION & EXPLOITATION4 

,AN>*I/S MU/ DEVELOP ! CAPACITY TO ADVANCE \R IDEAS :IL/ SIMULTANE\SLY 5GAG+ ) & ADVANC+ WID] /RUGGLES4 ,POLITICAL =CES :I* DO NOT ORGANIZE WILL 9EVITABLY REMA9 M>G9AL4 ,WE WANT TO WORK ) PEOPLE :O %>E \R IDEAS & \TLOOK1 & WE WANT Y\ TO JO9 US4 ,! COLLECTIVE CAPACITY ( AN ORGANIZ$ GR\P IS GREAT] ?AN ! SUM ( ! 9DIVIDUAL EF=TS ( DISCONNECT$ ACTIVI/S4 ,AT ! SAME TIME1 !RE >E A RANGE ( DIFF]5T VIEWS ON H[ TO DO POLITICS AMONG ,AU/RALIAN AN>*I/S4 

,IT IS MORE IMPORTANT ?AT AN>*I/S ORGANIZE 9 G5]AL1 ?AN ?AT AN>*I/S JO9 ?IS OR ?AT GR\P+ 9 P>TICUL>4 ,= ?IS REASON1 WE 5C\RAGE ALL AN>*I/S TO ORGANIZE H[EV] !Y SEE FIT4 ,:E!R Y\ JO9 \R GR\P OR SEEK TO BUILD SOME?+ DIFF]5T1 LET'S COMMUNICATE1 COLLABORATE & COOP]ATE :]EV] POSSIBLE4 

,! /RUGGLE BE=E US IS ULTIMATELY ONE ( ! POLITICAL /ATUS QUO OR SURVIVAL4 ,WILL WE LET ! HI]>*IES ( \R PRES5T SOCIAL1 ECONOMIC & POLITICAL ORD] CONT9UE UNTIL ! PLANET IS DE/ROY$1 OR IS ANO!R WORLD POSSIBLE8 ,IF WE >E COMMITT$ AN>*I/S1 & IF WE BELIEVE ?AT \R IDEAS (F] SOME POSSIBILITY = REAL *ANGE 9 ! FACE ( !SE *ALL5GES1 !N LET'S WORK TOGE!R TO LE>N FROM ! LESSONS ( PA/ /RUGGLES & FI<T = A BETT] FUTURE4 

7,S\RCE3 ,RETRIEV$ ON ,M>* #a#a1 #bba FROM WEB4>*IVE4ORG47 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #a#g1 #bbb 3 ,FROM ',AN>*I/ ,AFF9ITY' TO ',COLLECTIVE ,ACTION' -- ,ADD$4 

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