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,! ,REVOLUTION>Y ,POLITICS ( ,LIB]T>IAN ,MUNICIPALISM 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,MURRAY ,BOOK*9 

,TEXT 3 

,! ,REVOLUTION>Y ,POLITICS ( ,LIB]T>IAN ,MUNICIPALISM 

  

,LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM IS A REVOLUTION>Y POLITICS1 & NOT A NEW V]SION ( ,PAUL ,BR\SSE'S RE=MI/ 0POSSIBILISM0 ( ! #a#h#iS4 ,LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM 9 NO WAY COMPROMISES ) P>LIAM5T>ISM1 RE=MI/ ATTEMPTS TO 0IMPROVE0 CAPITALISM1 OR ! P]PETUATION ( PRIVATE PROP]TY4 ,LIMIT$ EXCLUSIVELY TO ! MUNICIPALITY AS ! LOCUS = POLITICAL ACTIVITY1 AS DI/+UI%$ FROM PROV9CIAL & /ATE GOV]NM5TS1 NOT TO SPEAK ( NATIONAL & SUPRANATIONAL GOV]NM5TS1 LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM IS REVOLUTION>Y TO ! CORE1 9 ! V]Y IMPORTANT S5SE ?AT IT SEEKS TO EXAC]BATE ! LAT5T & (T5 V]Y REAL T5SION BETWE5 ! MUNICIPALITY & ! /ATE1 & TO 5L>GE ! DEMOCRATIC 9/ITUTIONS ( ! COMMUNE ?AT /ILL REMA91 AT ! EXP5SE ( /ATI/ 9/ITUTIONS4 ,IT C\NT]POSES ! CONF$]ATION TO ! NATION-/ATE1 & LIB]T>IAN COMMUNISM TO EXI/+ SY/EMS ( PRIVATE & NATIONALIZ$ PROP]TY4 ,LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM IS AN EXPLICIT ATTEMPT TO UPDATE ! TRADITIONAL AN>*I/-COMMUNI/ IDEAL ( ! F$]ATION ( COMMUNES OR 0,COMMUNE ( COMMUNES40 ,MORE SPECIFICALLY1 IT AIMS = ! CONF$]AL L9K+ ( LIB]T>IAN COMMUNI/ MUNICIPALITIES1 9 ! =M ( DIRECTLY DEMOCRATIC POPUL> ASSEMBLIES AS WELL AS ! COLLECTIVE CONTROL OR 0[N]%IP0 ( SOCIALLY IMPORTANT PROP]TY4 

,:]E AN>*I/-COMMUNI/S 9 ! PA/ HAVE REG>D$ ! F$]ATION ( COMMUNES AS AN IDEAL TO BE A*IEV$ AFT] AN 9SURRECTION1 LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALI/S1 ,I CONT5D1 REG>D ! F$]ATION - OR CONF$]ATION - ( COMMUNES AS A POLITICAL PRACTICE ?AT CAN BE DEVELOP$1 AT LEA/ P>TLY1 PRIOR TO AN \TRI<T REVOLUTION>Y CONFRONTATION ) ! /ATE - A CONFRONTATION :I*1 9 MY VIEW1 CANNOT BE AVOID$ &1 IF ANY?+1 %\LD BE 5C\RAG$ BY 9CREAS+ ! T5SION BETWE5 ! /ATE & CONF$]ATIONS ( MUNICIPALITIES4 ,9 FACT1 LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM IS A COMMUNALI/ PRACTICE = CREAT+ A REVOLUTION>Y CULTURE1 & = BR++ REVOLUTION>Y *ANGE 9TO COMPLETE CON=MITY ) \R SOCIAL GOALS4 

,9 ! LA/ CASE1 IT UNIFIES PRACTICE & IDEAL 9TO A S+LE & COH]5T MEANS-&-5DS APPROA* = 9ITIAT+ A LIB]T>IAN COMMUNI/ SOCIETY1 )\T ANY DISJUNCTION BETWE5 ! /RATEGY = A*IEV+ SU* A SOCIETY & ! SOCIETY ITSELF4 ,AT NO PO9T %\LD LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALI/S CULTIVATE ! ILLUSION ?AT ! /ATE & B\RGEOISIE WILL ALL[ SU* A CONT9UUM TO F9D FULFILLM5T )\T OP5 /RUGGLE4 

,! ,REVOLUTION>Y ,MUNICIPALITY 

  

,IT W\LD BE HELPFUL TO PLACE LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM 9 A BROAD HI/ORICAL P]SPECTIVE1 ALL ! MORE TO UND]/& ITS REVOLUTION>Y *>ACT] 9 HUMAN AFFAIRS G5]ALLY AS WELL AS ITS PLACE 9 ! REP]TOIRE ( ANTI-/ATI/ PRACTICES4 ,! T[N OR CITY1 OR1 MORE BROADLY1 ! MUNICIPALITY1 IS NOT M]ELY A 0SPACE0 CREAT$ BY A GIV5 D5SITY ( HUMAN HABITATIONS4 ,9 T]MS ( ITS HI/ORY AS A CIVILIZ+ T5D5CY 9 HUMANITY'S DEVELOPM5T1 ! MUNICIPALITY IS 9TEGRALLY P>T ( ! SWEEP+ PROCESS :]EBY HUMAN BE+S BEGAN TO DISSOLVE BIOLOGICALLY CONDITION$ SOCIAL RELATIONS BAS$ ON REAL OR FICTITI\S BLOOD TIES1 ) !IR PRIMORDIAL HO/ILITY TO 0/RANG]S10 & SL[LY REPLACE !M BY L>GELY SOCIAL & RATIONAL 9/ITUTIONS1 RI<TS1 & DUTIES ?AT 9CREAS+LY 5COMPASS$ ALL RESID5TS ( AN URBAN SPACE1 IRRESPECTIVE ( CONSANGU9ITY & BIOLOGICAL FACTS4 ,! T[N1 CITY1 MUNICIPALITY1 OR COMMUNE 7! EQUIVAL5T WORD1 9 ,LAT9 C\NTRIES1 = 0MUNICIPALITY07 WAS ! EM]G+ CIVIC SUB/ITUTE1 BAS$ ON RESID5CE & SOCIAL 9T]E/S1 = ! TRIBAL BLOOD GR\P1 :I* HAD BE5 BAS$ ON MY?S ( A COMMON ANCE/RY4 ,! MUNICIPALITY1 H[EV] SL[LY & 9COMPLETELY1 =M$ ! NECESS>Y CONDITION = HUMAN ASSOCIATION BAS$ ON RATIONAL DISC\RSE1 MAT]IAL 9T]E/1 & A SECUL> CULTURE1 IRRESPECTIVE ( & (T5 9 CONFLICT ) ANCE/RAL ROOTS & BLOOD TIES4 ,9DE$1 ! FACT ?AT PEOPLE CAN COME TOGE!R PEACEFULLY & %>E CREATIVELY 9 ! EX*ANGE ( IDEAS )\T HO/ILITY OR SUSPICION TODAY1 DESPITE \R DISP>ATE E?NIC1 L+UI/IC1 & NATIONAL BACKGR\NDS1 IS A GR& HI/ORIC A*IEVEM5T ( CIVILIZATION1 ONE ?AT IS ! WORK ( C5TURIES 9VOLV+ A PA9FUL DISC>D+ ( PRIMORDIAL DEF9ITIONS ( ANCE/RY1 & ! REPLACEM5T ( !SE >*AIC DEF9ITIONS BY REASON1 KN[L$GE1 & A GR[+ S5SE ( \R /ATUS AS MEMB]S ( A COMMON HUMANITY4 

,9 GREAT P>T1 ?IS HUMANIZ+ DEVELOPM5T WAS ! WORK ( ! MUNICIPALITY - ! 9CREAS+LY FREE SPACE 9 :I* PEOPLE1 AS PEOPLE1 BEGAN TO SEE EA* O!R REALI/ICALLY1 /EADILY UNFETT]$ BY >*AIC NOTIONS ( BIOLOGICAL CONSANGU9ITY1 TRIBAL AFFILIATIONS1 & A MY/ICAL1 TRADITION-LAD51 & P>O*IAL ID5TITY4 ,I DO NOT CONT5D ?AT ?IS PROCESS ( CIVILIZATION HAS BE5 COMPLETELY A*IEV$4 ,F> FROM IT4 ,)\T ! EXI/5CE ( A RATIONAL SOCIETY1 ! MUNICIPALITY CAN EASILY BECOME A MEGALOPOLIS1 9 :I* COMMUNITY1 H[EV] SECUL>1 IS REPLAC$ BY ATOMIZATION & AN 9HUMAN SOCIAL SCALE BEYOND ! COMPREH5SION ( ITS CITIZ5S - 9DE$1 BECOMES ! SPACE = CLASS1 RACIAL1 RELIGI\S1 & O!R IRRATIONAL CONFLICTS4 

,BUT BO? HI/ORICALLY & CONTEMPORANE\SLY1 CITIFICATION =MS ! NECESS>Y CONDITION - ALBEIT BY NO MEANS FULLY ACTUALIZ$ - = ! REALIZATION ( HUMANITY'S POT5TIALITY TO BECOME FULLY HUMAN1 RATIONAL1 & COLLECTIVI/IC1 !REBY %$D+ DIVISIVE1 ESS5TIALLY ANIMALI/IC DIVISIONS BAS$ ON PRESUM$ BLOOD AFFILIATIONS & DIFF]5CES1 M9DLESS CU/OM1 FE>FUL IMAG9>IES1 & A NON-RATIONAL1 (T5 9TUITIONAL1 NOTION ( RI<TS & DUTIES4 

,H5CE ! MUNICIPALITY IS ! POT5TIAL >5A = REALIZ+ ! GREAT GOAL ( TRANS=M+ P>O*IALIZ$ HUMAN BE+S 9TO TRULY UNIV]SAL HUMAN BE+S1 A G5U9E HUMANITAS1 DIVE/$ ( ! D>K] ANIMALI/IC ATTRIBUTES ( ! PRIMORDIAL WORLD4 ,! RATIONAL MUNICIPALITY 9 :I* ALL HUMAN BE+S CAN BE CITIZ5S - IRRESPECTIVE ( !IR E?NIC BACKGR\ND & IDEOLOGICAL CONVICTIONS - CON/ITUTES ! TRUE >5A ( A COMMUNALI/ SOCIETY4 ,METAPHORICALLY SPEAK+1 IT IS NOT ONLY A DESID]ATUM = RATIONAL HUMAN BE+S1 )\T :I* A FREE SOCIETY IS IMPOSSIBLE2 IT IS ALSO ! FUTURE ( A RATIONAL HUMANITY1 ! 9DISP5SABLE SPACE = ACTUALIZ+ HUMANITY'S POT5TIALITIES = FRE$OM & SELF-CONSCI\SNESS4 

,I DO NOT PRESUME TO CLAIM ?AT A CONF$]ATION ( LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALITIES - A ,COMMUNE ( COMMUNES - HAS EV] EXI/$ 9 ! PA/4 ,YET NO MATT] H[ FREQU5TLY ,I DISCLAIM ! EXI/5CE ( ANY HI/ORICAL 0MODELS0 & 0P>ADIGMS0 = LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALITIES1 MY CRITICS /ILL TRY TO SADDLE ME ) ! MANY SOCIAL DEFECTS ( ,A!NS1 REVOLUTION>Y ,NEW ,5GL& T[NS1 & ! LIKE1 AS IF !Y W]E SOMEH[ AN 9TEGRAL P>T ( MY 0IDEALS40 ,?IS CRITICISM IS CYNICAL DEMAGOGY & B5EA? CONTEMPT4 ,I PRIVILEGE NO S+LE CITY OR GR\P ( CITIES - BE !Y CLASSICAL ,A!NS1 ! FREE CITIES ( ! M$IEVAL WORLD1 ! T[N MEET+S ( ! ,AM]ICAN ,REVOLUTION1 ! SECTIONS ( ! ,GREAT ,FR5* ,REVOLUTION1 OR ! AN>*O-SYNDICALI/ COLLECTIVES ?AT EM]G$ 9 ! ,SPANI% ,REVOLUTION - AS ! FULL ACTUALIZATION1 /ILL LESS ! COMPREH5SIVE 0MODELS0 OR 0P>ADIGMS10 ( ! LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALI/ VISION4 

,YET SIGNIFICANT FEATURES - DESPITE V>I\S1 (T5 UNAVOIDABLE1 DI/ORTIONS - EXI/$ AMONG ALL ( !SE MUNICIPALITIES & ! F$]ATIONS ?AT !Y =M$4 ,!IR VALUE = US LIES 9 ! FACT ?AT WE CAN LE>N FROM ALL ( !M AB\T ! WAYS 9 :I* !Y PRACTIC$ ! DEMOCRATIC PRECEPTS BY :I* !Y W]E GUID$2 & WE CAN 9CORPORATE ! BE/ ( !IR 9/ITUTIONS = \R [N & FUTURE TIMES1 /UDY !IR DEFECTS1 & GA9 9SPIRATION FROM ! FACT ?AT !Y DID EXI/ & FUNCTION$ ) V>Y+ DEGREES ( SUCCESS = G5]ATIONS1 IF NOT C5TURIES4 

,AT PRES5T1 ,I ?9K IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE ?AT :5 WE ADVANCE A POLITICS ( LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM1 WE >E NOT 5GAG$ 9 DISCUSS+ A M]E TACTIC OR /RATEGY = CREAT+ A PUBLIC SPH]E2 RA!R1 WE >E TRY+ TO CREATE A NEW POLITICAL CULTURE ?AT IS NOT ONLY CONSI/5T ) \R COMMUNALI/ GOALS BUT ?AT 9CLUDES REAL EF=TS TO ACTUALIZE !SE GOALS1 FULLY COGNIZANT ( ALL ! DIFFICULTIES ?AT FACE US & ! REVOLUTION>Y IMPLICATIONS ?AT !Y HOLD = US 9 ! YE>S AHEAD4 

,LET ME NOTE H]E ?AT ! 0NEI<BORHOOD0 IS NOT M]ELY ! PLACE :]E PEOPLE MAKE !IR HOMES1 RE> !IR *ILDR51 & PUR*ASE MANY ( !IR GOODS4 ,UND] A MORE POLITICAL COLORATION1 SO TO SPEAK1 A NEI<BORHOOD MAY WELL 9CLUDE ?OSE VITAL SPACES :]E PEOPLE CONGREGATE TO DISCUSS POLITICAL AS WELL AS SOCIAL ISSUES4 ,9DE$1 IT IS ! EXT5T TO :I* PUBLIC ISSUES >E OP5LY DISCUSS$ 9 A CITY OR T[N ?AT TRULY DEF9ES ! NEI<BORHOOD AS AN IMPORTANT POLITICAL & P[] SPACE4 

,BY ?IS ,I DO NOT MEAN ONLY AN ASSEMBLY1 :]E CITIZ5S DISCUSS & GIRD !MSELVES TO FI<T = SPECIFIC POLICIES2 ,I ALSO MEAN ! NEI<BORHOOD AS ! C5T] ( A T[N1 :]E CITIZ5S MAY GA!R AS A L>GE GR\P TO %>E !IR VIEWS & GIVE PUBLIC EXPRESSION TO !IR POLICIES4 ,?IS WAS ! FUNCTION ( ! ,A!NIAN AGORA1 = EXAMPLE1 & ! T[N SQU>ES 9 ! ,MIDDLE ,AGES4 ,! SPACES = POLITICAL LIFE MAY BE MULTIPLE1 BUT !Y >E G5]ALLY HI<LY SPECIFIC & DEF9ABLE1 NOT R&OM OR AD HOC4 

,SU* ESS5TIALLY POLITICAL NEI<BORHOODS HAVE (T5 APPE>$ 9 TIMES ( UNRE/1 :5 SIZABLE NUMB]S ( 9DIVIDUALS SPONTANE\SLY OCCUPY SPACES = DISCUSSION1 AS 9 ! ,HELL5IC AGORA4 ,I RECALL !M DUR+ MY [N Y\? 9 ,NEW ,YORK ,CITY1 9 ,UNION ,SQU>E & ,CROTONA ,P>K1 :]E HUNDR$S & POSSIBLY ?\S&S ( M5 & WOM5 APPE>$ WEEKLY TO 9=MALLY DISCUSS ! ISSUES ( ! DAY4 ,HYDE ,P>K 9 ,LONDON CON/ITUT$ SU* A CIVIC SPACE1 AS DID ! ,PALAIS-,ROYAL 9 ,P>IS1 :I* WAS ! BRE$+ GR\ND ( ! ,GREAT ,FR5* ,REVOLUTION & ! REVOLUTION ( #a#h#c4 

,& DUR+ ! E>LY DAYS ( ! #ahdh REVOLUTION 9 ,P>IS1 SCORES 7POSSIBLY HUNDR$S7 ( NEI<BORHOOD ASSEMBLY HALLS EXI/$ AS CLUBS & =UMS & POT5TIALLY =M$ ! BASIS = A RE/ORATION ( ! OLD] NEI<BORHOOD SECTIONS ( #a#g#i#c4 ,! BE/ E/IMATES 9DICATE ?AT CLUB MEMB]%IP DID NOT EXCE$ #g1 \T ( A TOTAL POPULATION ( AB\T A MILLION RESID5TS4 ,YET HAD ?IS CLUB MOVEM5T BE5 COORD9AT$ BY AN ACTIVE & POLITICALLY COH]5T REVOLUTION>Y ORGANIZATION1 IT C\LD HAVE BECOME A =MIDABLE1 POSSIBLY A SUCCESSFUL1 =CE DUR+ ! WEEKS ( CRISIS ?AT L$ TO ! ,JUNE 9SURRECTION ( ! ,P>ISIAN WORK]S4 

,!RE IS NO REASON1 9 PR9CIPLE1 :Y SU* SPACES & ! PEOPLE :O REGUL>LY OCCUPY !M CANNOT BECOME CITIZ5S' ASSEMBLIES AS WELL4 ,9DE$1 LIKE C]TA9 SECTIONS 9 ! ,GREAT ,FR5* ,REVOLUTION1 !Y MAY WELL TAKE A LEAD+ ROLE 9 SP>K+ A REVOLUTION & PU%+ IT =W>D TO ITS LOGICAL CONCLUSION4 

,RECREAT+ A ,POLITICAL ,SPH]E 

  

,LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM SEEKS TO GO BEYOND ! PROBLEMS & LIMITATIONS 9 CLASSICAL AN>*I/-COMMUNI/ !ORY4 ,ABOVE ALL BY 9SI/+ ?AT A POLITICAL SPH]E1 DI/+UI%ABLE FROM ! /ATE & POT5TIALLY LIB]T>IAN 9 ITS POSSIBILITIES1 MU/ BE ACKN[L$G$1 & ITS POT5TIALITIES = A TRULY LIB]T>IAN POLITICS MU/ BE EXPLOR$4 ,WE CANNOT SIMPLY CONT5T \RSELVES ) SIMPLI/ICALLY DIVID+ CIVILIZATION 9TO A WORKADAY WORLD ( EV]YDAY LIFE ?AT IS PROP]LY SOCIAL1 AS ,I CALL IT1 9 :I* WE REPRODUCE ! CONDITIONS ( \R 9DIVIDUAL EXI/5CE AT WORK1 9 ! HOME1 & AMONG \R FRI5DS1 &1 ! WORLD ( ! /ATE1 :I* R$UCES US AT BE/ TO DOCILE OBS]V]S ( ! ACTIVITIES ( PR(ESSIONALS :O ADM9I/] \R CIVIC & NATIONAL AFFAIRS4 ,BETWE5 !SE TWO WORLDS IS /ILL ANO!R WORLD1 ! REALM ( ! POLITICAL1 :]E \R ANCE/ORS 9 ! PA/1 AT V>I\S TIMES & PLACES HI/ORICALLY1 EX]CIS$ V>Y+ DEGREES ( CONTROL OV] ! COMMUNE & ! CONF$]ATION TO :I* IT BELONG$4 

,IT HAS ALWAYS BE5 A LACUNA 9 AN>*I/-COMMUNI/ !ORY ?AT ! POLITICAL WAS CONFLAT$ ) ! /ATE1 !REBY EFFAC+ A MAJOR DI/9CTION BETWE5 A POLITICAL SPH]E 9 :I* PEOPLE 9 V>Y+ DEGREES EX]CIS$ P[]1 (T5 ?R\< DIRECT ASSEMBLIES1 OV] !IR CIVIC 5VIRONM5T1 & ! /ATE1 9 :I* PEOPLE HAD NO DIRECT CONTROL1 (T5 NO CONTROL AT ALL1 OV] ?AT 5VIRONM5T4 

,IF POLITICS IS D5ATUR$ TO MEAN LITTLE MORE ?AN /ATECRAFT & ! MANIPULATION ( PEOPLE BY !IR SO-CALL$ 0REPRES5TATIVES10 !N A CONDITION ?AT HAS ACQUIR$ V>Y+ =MS ( EXPRESSION 9 ! CLASSICAL ,A!NIAN ASSEMBLY1 POPUL> M$IEVAL CIVIC ASSEMBLIES1 T[N MEET+S1 & ! REVOLUTION>Y SECTIONAL ASSEMBLIES ( ,P>IS1 IS CONV5I5TLY ]AS$1 & ! MULTITUD9\S 9/ITUTIONS = MANAG+ A MUNICIPALITY BECOME R$UCIBLE TO ! BEHAVIOR ( CYNICAL P>LIAM5T>IANS1 OR WORSE4 ,YET1 IT IS A GROSS SIMPLIFICATION ( HI/ORICAL DEVELOPM5T & ! WORLD 9 :I* WE LIVE TO SEE ! POLITICAL SIMPLY AS ! PRACTICE ( /ATECRAFT4 ,JU/ AS ! TRIBE EM]G$ LONG BE=E ! CITY1 SO ! CITY EM]G$ LONG BE=E ! /ATE - 9DE$1 (T5 9 OPPOSITION TO IT4 ,MESOPOTAMIAN CITIES1 APPE>+ 9 ! L& BETWE5 ! ,TIGRIS & ,EUPHRATES RIV]S SOME #f1 YE>S AGO1 >E BELIEV$ TO HAVE BE5 MANAG$ BY POPUL> ASSEMBLIES LONG BE=E !Y W]E =C$ BY 9T]CITY CONFLICTS TO E/ABLI% /ATE-LIKE 9/ITUTIONS & ULTIMATELY DESPOTIC IMP]IAL 9/ITUTIONS4 ,IT WAS 9 !SE E>LY CITIES ?AT POLITICS - ?AT IS1 POPUL> WAYS ( MANAG+ ! CITY - W]E BORN & MAY V]Y WELL HAVE ?RIV$4 ,! /ATE FOLL[$ LAT] & ELABORAT$ ITSELF 9/ITUTIONALLY1 (T5 9 BITT] OPPOSITION TO T5D5CIES ?AT TRI$ TO RE/ORE POPUL> CONTROL OV] CIVIC AFFAIRS4 

,NOR CAN WE AF=D TO IGNORE ! FACT ?AT ! SAME CONFLICT ALSO EM]G$ 9 E>LY ,A!NS & PROBABLY O!R ,GREEK POLEIS LONG BE=E ! DEVELOPM5T ( ! /ATE REA*$ A RELATIVELY HI< DEGREE ( COMPLETION4 ,ONE CAN SEE ! RECURR5CE ( SIMIL> CONFLICTS 9 ! /RUGGLE ( ! ,GRAC*I BRO!RS & POPUL> ASSEMBLIES 9 ,ROME AGA9/ ! ELITI/ ,S5ATE &1 REPEAT$LY1 9 ! M$IEVAL CITIES1 LONG BE=E ! RISE ( LATE M$IEVAL >I/OCRACIES & ! ,B>OQUE MON>*IES ( ! FIFTE5? & SIXTE5? C5TURIES4 ,KROPOTK9 DID NOT WRITE NONS5SE :5 HE PO9T$ TO ! FREE CITIES ( ,EUROPE1 M>K$ NOT BY ! EXI/5CE ( /ATES BUT BY !IR ABS5CE4 

,9DE$1 LET US ALSO ACKN[L$GE ?AT ! /ATE ITSELF UND]W5T A PROCESS ( DEVELOPM5T & DIFF]5TIATION1 AT TIMES DEVELOP+ NO FUR!R ?AN 9TO A LOOSE1 ALMO/ M9IMAL SY/EM ( CO]CION2 EXT5D+ FUR!R AT O!R TIMES 9TO AN EV]-GR[+ APP>ATUS2 F9ALLY1 9 ?IS C5TURY 9 P>TICUL>1 ACQUIR+ TOTALIT>IAN CONTROL OV] EV]Y ASPECT ( HUMAN EXI/5CE - AN APP>ATUS ?AT WAS ONLY TOO FAMILI> ?\S&S ( YE>S AGO 9 ,ASIA & EV5 9 ,9DIAN ,AM]ICA 9 PRE-,COLUMBIAN TIMES4 ,! CLASSICAL ,A!NIAN CITY-/ATE WAS ONLY P>TIALLY /ATI/2 IT CON/ITUT$ A FRAT]NITY1 (T5 RIV5 BY CLASS CONFLICTS1 ( SELECT CITIZ5S :O COLLECTIVELY OPPRESS$ SLAVES1 WOM51 & EV5 =EIGN RESID5TS4 ,! M$IEVAL /ATE WAS (T5 A MU* LOOS] /ATE =MATION ?AN1 SAY1 ! ,ROMAN IMP]IAL /ATE1 & AT V>I\S TIMES 9 HI/ORY 7ONE ?9KS ( ! COMUN]OS 9 ,SPA9 DUR+ ! SIXTE5? C5TURY & ! SECTIONS 9 ,FRANCE DUR+ ! EI<TE5?7 ! /ATE ALMO/ COMPLETELY COLLAPS$ & DIRECT DEMOCRACIES BAS$ ON :AT APPROXIMAT$ COMMUNALI/ POLITICAL PR9CIPLES PLAY$ A HEGEMONIC ROLE 9 SOCIAL AFFAIRS4 

,LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM IS CONC]N$ ) ?IS POLITICAL SPH]E1 9CLUD+ ASPECTS ( BASIC CIVIC IMPORTANCE1 SU* AS ECONOMIC ISSUES1 AS WELL AS ! MANY CULTURAL FACTORS ?AT MU/ PLAY A ROLE 9 ! =MATION ( TRUE CITIZ5S1 9DE$1 ( R\ND$ HUMAN BE+S4 7,9 ?IS RESPECT1 IT DOES NOT DRAW /RICT IMP5ETRABLE B>RI]S BETWE5 POLITICS & ECONOMICS TO ! PO9T :]E !Y >E IMPLACABLY SET AGA9/ EA* O!R3 LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM CALLS = ! MUNICIPALIZATION ( ! ECONOMY &1 :]E MAT]IAL 9T]E/S BETWE5 COMMUNITIES OV]LAP1 ! CONF$]ALIZATION ( ! ECONOMY47 ,9 A V]Y FUNDAM5TAL S5SE1 ! LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALI/ >5A MAY BE A S*OOL = $UCAT+ ITS Y\? & ITS MATURE CITIZ5S2 BUT :AT MAKES IT P>TICUL>LY SIGNIFICANT1 ESPECIALLY AT ?IS TIME1 IS ?AT IT IS A SPH]E ( P[] RELATIONS ?AT MU/ BE CRY/ALLIZ$ AGA9/ CAPITALISM1 ! M>KETPLACE1 ! =CES = ECOLOGICAL DE/RUCTION1 & ! /ATE4 ,9DE$1 )\T A MOVEM5T ?AT KEEPS ?IS NE$ COMPLETELY 9 M9D1 LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM MAY EASILY DEG5]ATE 9 ?IS AGE ( ACADEMIC CRET9ISM 9TO ANO!R SUBJECT 9 A CLASSROOM CURRICULUM4 

,LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM RE/S ITS POLITICS TODAY ON ! HI/ORICALLY PREEMPTIVE ROLE ( ! CITY 9 RELATION TO ! /ATE1 & ABOVE ALL ON ! FACT ?AT CIVIC 9/ITUTIONS /ILL EXI/1 H[EV] DI/ORT$ !Y MAY APPE> OR H[EV] CAPTIVE TO ! /ATE !Y MAY BE1 9/ITUTIONS ?AT CAN BE 5L>G$1 RADICALIZ$1 & EV5TUALLY AIM$ AT ! ELIM9ATION ( ! /ATE4 ,! CITY C\NCIL1 H[EV] FEEBLE ITS P[]S MAY BE1 /ILL EXI/S AS ! REMNANT ( ! COMMUNES ) :I* IT WAS ID5TIFI$ 9 ! PA/1 ESPECIALLY 9 ! ,GREAT ,FR5* ,REVOLUTION & ! ,P>IS ,COMMUNE ( #a#h#g#a4 ,! POSSIBILITY ( RECREAT+ A SECTIONAL DEMOCRACY /ILL REMA9S1 ASSUM+ EI!R A LEGAL OR EXTRALEGAL =M4 ,WE MU/ BE> 9 M9D ?AT ! ,FR5* REVOLUTION>Y SECTIONS DID NOT HAVE ANY PRIOR TRADITION ON :I* TO RE/ !IR CLAIMS TO LEGITIMACY - 9DE$1 !Y EV5 EM]G$ FROM ! ELITI/ ASSEMBLIES OR DI/RICTS ( #a#g#h#i1 :I* ! MON>*Y HAD CREAT$ TO ELECT ! ,P>ISIAN DEPUTIES TO ! ,E/ATES ,G5]AL - EXCEPT ?AT !Y REFUS$ TO DISB& AFT] !Y COMPLET$ !IR ELECTORAL ROLE & REMA9$ AS WAT*DOGS OV] ! BEHAVIOR ( ! ,E/ATES 9 ,V]SAILLES4 

,WE1 TOO1 >E FAC$ ) ! TASK ( RE/RUCTUR+ & EXP&+ ! CIVIC DEMOCRATIC 9/ITUTIONS ?AT /ILL EXI/1 H[EV] VE/IGIAL !IR =MS & P[]S MAY BE2 ( ATTEMPT+ TO BASE !M ON OLD OR NEW POPUL> ASSEMBLIES - &1 TO BE QUITE CATEGORICAL1 ( CREAT+ NEW LEGAL OR1 MO/ EMPHATICALLY1 EXTRALEGAL POPUL> DEMOCRATIC 9/ITUTIONS :]E VE/IGES ( CIVIC DEMOCRACY DO NOT EXI/4 ,9 DO+ SO1 WE >E DIRELY 9 NE$ ( A MOVEM5T - 9DE$1 A RESPONSIBLE1 WELL-/RUCTUR$1 & PROGRAMMATICALLY COH]5T ORGANIZATION - ?AT CAN PROVIDE ! $UCATIONAL RES\RCES1 MEANS ( MOBILIZATION1 & VITAL IDEAS = A*IEV+ \R LIB]T>IAN COMMUNI/ & MUNICIPALI/ GOALS4 

,\R PROGRAM %\LD BE FLEXIBLE 9 ! SPECIAL S5SE ?AT IT POSE M9IMUM DEM&S ?AT WE SEEK TO A*IEVE AT ONCE1 GIV5 ! POLITICAL SOPHI/ICATION ( ! COMMUNITY 9 :I* WE FUNCTION4 ,BUT SU* DEM&S W\LD EASILY DEG5]ATE 9TO RE=MISM & EV5 POSSIBILISM IF !Y DID NOT ESCALATE 9TO A BODY ( TRANSITIONAL DEM&S ?AT W\LD ULTIMATELY LEAD TO \R MAXIMUM DEM&S = A LIB]T>IAN & ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY4 

,NOR CAN WE GIVE UP \R SEEM+LY UTOPIAN VISION ?AT ! GREAT METROPOLITAN >EAS CAN BE /RUCTURALLY DEC5TRALIZ$4 ,CITIES ON ! SCALE ( ,NEW ,YORK1 ,LONDON1 & ,P>IS1 NOT TO SPEAK ( ,MEXICO ,CITY1 ,BU5OS ,AIRES1 ,BOMBAY1 & ! LIKE1 MU/ ULTIMATELY BE P>CEL$ 9TO SMALL] CITIES & DEC5TRALIZ$ TO A PO9T :]E !Y >E ONCE AGA9 HUMANLY SCAL$ COMMUNITIES1 NOT HUGE & 9COMPREH5SIBLE URBAN BELTS4 ,LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM TAKES ITS IMM$IATE PO9T ( DEP>TURE FROM ! EXI/+ FACTS ( URBAN LIFE1 MANY ( :I* >E BEYOND ! COMPREH5SION ( ITS RESID5TS4 ,BUT IT ALWAYS /RIVES TO PHYSICALLY AS WELL AS POLITICALLY FRAGM5T ! GREAT CITIES1 UNTIL IT A*IEVES ! GREAT AN>*I/-COMMUNI/ & EV5 ,M>XIAN GOAL ( SCAL+ ALL CITIES TO HUMAN DIM5SIONS4 

,CRITICISMS ( ,ASSEMBLY ,DEMOCRACY 

  

,P]HAPS ! MO/ COMMON CRITICISM ?AT BO? ,M>XI/S & AN>*I/S HAVE PRES5T$ AGA9/ LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM IS ! CLAIM ?AT MOD]N CITIES >E TOO HUGE TO BE ORGANIZ$ >\ND WORKABLE POPUL> ASSEMBLIES4 ,SOME CRITICS ASSUME ?AT IF WE >E TO HAVE TRUE DEMOCRACY1 EV]YONE FROM AGE Z]O TO ONE HUNDR$1 IRRESPECTIVE ( HEAL?1 M5TAL CONDITION1 OR DISPOSITION1 MU/ BE 9CLUD$ 9 A POPUL> ASSEMBLY - & ?AT AN ASSEMBLY MU/ BE AS SMALL AS A T\*Y-FEELY ,AM]ICAN 5C\NT] GR\P 7SAY #c OR #d PEOPLE71 OR 0AFF9ITY GR\P10 AS ONE CRITIC CALLS IT4 ,BUT 9 L>GE WORLD CITIES1 !SE CRITICS SUGGE/1 :I* HAVE SEV]AL MILLION RESID5TS1 WE W\LD REQUIRE MANY ?\S&S ( ASSEMBLIES 9 ORD] TO A*IEVE TRUE DEMOCRACY4 ,9 SU* CITIES SU* A MULTIPLICITY ( SMALL ASSEMBLIES1 !Y >GUE1 W\LD BE JU/ TOO CUMB]SOME & UNWORKABLE4 

,BUT A L>GE URBAN POPULATION IS ITSELF NO OB/ACLE TO LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM4 ,9DE$1 BAS$ ON ?IS K9D ( CALCULATION - :I* W\LD C\NT ALL RESID5TS AS P>TICIPAT+ CITIZ5S - ! #dh ,P>ISIAN SECTIONS ( #agic W\LD HAVE BE5 COMPLETELY DYSFUNCTIONAL1 9 VIEW ( ! FACT ?AT REVOLUTION>Y ,P>IS HAD A TOTAL ( #e1 TO #f1 PEOPLE4 ,IF EV]Y MAN1 WOMAN1 & *ILD1 9DE$ EV]Y PA?OLOGICAL LUNATIC & TOTALLY DYSFUNCTIONAL P]SON1 HAD ATT5D$ SECTIONAL ASSEMBLIES1 & EA* ASSEMBLY HAD HAD NO MORE ?AN #d PEOPLE1 MY >I?METIC TELLS ME ?AT AB\T #a#e1 ASSEMBLIES W\LD HAVE BE5 NE$$ TO ACCOMMODATE ALL ! PEOPLE ( REVOLUTION>Y ,P>IS4 ,UND] SU* CIRCUM/ANCES ONE WOND]S H[ ! ,FR5* ,REVOLUTION C\LD EV] HAVE OCCURR$4 

,SU* CRITICS >E USUALLY NOT REVOLUTION>IES AT ALL1 & W\LD PROBABLY BELIEVE ?AT HI/ORY W\LD HAVE BE5 ALL ! BETT] IF ! SECTIONS HAD NEV] EXI/$ TO PU% ! ,FR5* ,REVOLUTION =W>D4 ,!IR OBJECTION REPRES5TS ! 9/RUM5TAL M9D QUA CALCULAT+ MA*9E AT ITS WOR/4 ,A POPUL> DEMOCRACY1 TO BEG9 )1 IS NOT PREMIS$ ON ! IDEA ?AT EV]YONE CAN1 WILL1 OR EV5 WANTS TO ATT5D POPUL> ASSEMBLIES4 ,NOR %\LD ANYONE MAKE P>TICIPATION COMPULSORY1 CO]C+ EV]YONE 9TO DO+ SO4 ,EV5 MORE SIGNIFICANTLY1 IT HAS R>ELY HAPP5$ - 9DE$1 TO MY KN[L$GE1 IT HAS NEV] HAPP5$ 9 REVOLUTION>Y HI/ORY - ?AT ! GREAT MAJORITY ( PEOPLE 9 A P>TICUL> PLACE1 /ILL LESS EV]YONE1 5GAGE 9 REVOLUTION4 ,9 ! FACE ( 9SURRECTION 9 A REVOLUTION>Y SITUATION1 :ILE UNKN[N MILITANTS AID$ BY A FAIRLY SMALL NUMB] ( SUPPORT]S RISE UP & OV]?R[ ! E/ABLI%$ ORD]1 MO/ PEOPLE T5D TO BE EI!R ACTIVE OR 9ACTIVE OBS]V]S4 

,HAV+ REVIEW$ C>EFULLY ! C\RSE ( ALMO/ EV]Y MAJOR REVOLUTION 9 ! ,EURO-,AM]ICAN WORLD1 ,I CAN SAY ) SOME KN[L$GE ?AT1 EV5 9 A COMPLETELY SUCCESSFUL REVOLUTION1 IT WAS ALWAYS A M9ORITY ( ! PEOPLE :O ATT5D$ MEET+S ( ASSEMBLIES ?AT MADE SIGNIFICANT DECISIONS AB\T ! FATE ( !IR SOCIETY4 ,! V]Y DIFF]5TIAT$ POLITICAL & SOCIAL CONSCI\SNESS1 9T]E/S1 $UCATION1 & BACKGR\NDS AMONG MASSES 9 A CAPITALI/ SOCIETY GU>ANTEE ?AT PEOPLE WILL BE DRAWN 9TO REVOLUTIONS 9 WAVES1 IF AT ALL4 ,! =EMO/1 MO/ MILITANT WAVE IS1 AT FIR/1 NUM]ICALLY SURPRIS+LY SMALL2 IT IS FOLL[$ BY SEEM+ BY/&]S :O1 IF AN UPRIS+ SEEMS TO BE CAPABLE ( SUCCESS1 M]GE ) ! =EMO/ WAVE1 & ONLY AFT] ! UPRIS+ IS LIKELY TO BE SUCCESSFUL DO ! POLITICALLY LESS DEVELOP$ WAVES1 9 V>Y+ DEGREES1 FOLL[ IT4 ,EV5 AFT] AN UPRIS+ IS SUCCESSFUL1 IT TAKES TIME = A SUB/ANTIAL MAJORITY ( ! PEOPLE TO FULLY P>TICIPATE 9 ! REVOLUTION>Y PROCESS1 COMMONLY AS CR[DS 9 DEMON/RATIONS1 MORE R>ELY AS P>TICIPANTS 9 REVOLUTION>Y 9/ITUTIONS4 

,9 ! ,5GLI% ,REVOLUTION ( ! #a#f#dS1 = EXAMPLE1 IT WAS PRIM>ILY ! ,PURITAN >MY ?AT RAIS$ ! MO/ DEMOCRATIC ISSUES1 ) ! SUPPORT ( ! ,LEVEL]S1 :O =M$ A V]Y SMALL FRACTION ( ! CIVILIAN POPULATION4 ,! ,AM]ICAN ,REVOLUTION WAS NOTORI\SLY SUPPORT$1 ALBEIT BY NO MEANS ACTIVELY1 BY ONLY ONE-?IRD ( ! COLONIAL POPULATION2 ! ,GREAT ,FR5* ,REVOLUTION F\ND ITS PR9CIPAL SUPPORT 9 ,P>IS & WAS C>RI$ =W>D BY #dh SECTIONS1 MO/ ( :I* W]E ROOT$ 9 ASSEMBLIES ?AT W]E POORLY ATT5D$1 EXCEPT AT TIMES :5 MOM5T\S DECISIONS >\S$ ! MO/ REVOLUTION>Y NEI<BORHOODS4 

,9DE$1 :AT DECID$ ! FATE ( MO/ REVOLUTIONS WAS LESS ! AM\NT ( SUPPORT !IR MILITANTS RECEIV$ ?AN ! DEGREE ( RESI/ANCE !Y 5C\NT]$4 ,:AT BR\<T ,L\IS ,X,V,I & HIS FAMILY BACK TO ,P>IS FROM ,V]SAILLES 9 ,OCTOB] #a<i WAS C]TA9LY NOT ALL ! WOM5 ( ,P>IS - 9DE$1 ONLY A FEW ?\S& MADE ! FAM\S M>* TO ,V]SAILLES - BUT ! K+'S [N 9ABILITY TO MOBILIZE A SUFFICI5TLY L>GE & RELIABLE =CE TO RESI/ !M4 ,! ,RUSSIAN ,REVOLUTION ( ,FEBRU>Y #aiag 9 ,PETROGRAD - = MANY HI/ORIANS ! 0MODEL0 ( A MASS SPONTANE\S REVOLUTION 7& AN UPRIS+ F> MORE NUANC$ ?AN MO/ ACC\NTS SUGGE/7 - SUCCE$$ BECAUSE NOT EV5 ! CZ>'S P]SONAL GU>D1 LET ALONE SU* =M]LY RELIABLE SUPPORTS ( ! AUTOCRACY AS ! ,COSSACKS1 WAS PREP>$ TO DEF5D ! MON>*Y4 ,9DE$1 9 REVOLUTION>Y ,B>CELONA 9 #a#i#c#f1 ! RESI/ANCE TO ,FRANCO'S =CES WAS 9ITIAT$ BY ONLY A FEW ?\S& AN>*O-SYNDICALI/S ) ! AID ( ! ,ASSAULT ,GU>DS1 :OSE DISCIPL9E1 WEAPONRY1 & TRA9+ W]E 9DISP5SABLE FACTORS 9 P9N+ D[N & ULTIMATELY DEFEAT+ ! REGUL> >MY'S UPRIS+4 

,IT IS SU* CON/ELLATIONS ( =CES1 9 FACT1 ?AT EXPLA9 H[ REVOLUTIONS ACTUALLY SUCCE$4 ,!Y DO NOT TRIUMPH BECAUSE 0EV]YONE10 OR EV5 A MAJORITY ( ! POPULATION1 ACTIVELY P>TICIPATES 9 OV]?R[+ AN OPPRESSIVE REGIME1 BUT BECAUSE ! >M$ =CES ( ! OLD ORD] & ! POPULATION AT L>GE >E NO LONG] WILL+ TO DEF5D IT AGA9/ A MILITANT & RESOLUTE M9ORITY4 

,NOR IT IS LIKELY1 H[EV] DESIRABLE IT MAY BE1 ?AT AFT] A SUCCESSFUL 9SURRECTION ! GREAT MAJORITY ( ! PEOPLE OR EV5 ( ! OPPRESS$ WILL P]SONALLY P>TICIPATE 9 REVOLUTIONIZ+ SOCIETY4 ,FOLL[+ ! SUCCESS ( A REVOLUTION1 ! MAJORITY ( PEOPLE T5D TO )DRAW 9TO ! LOCALITIES 9 :I* !Y LIVE1 H[EV] L>GE OR SMALL1 :]E ! PROBLEMS ( EV]YDAY LIFE HAVE !IR MO/ VISIBLE IMPACT ON ! MASSES4 ,!SE LOCALITIES MAY BE RESID5TIAL &_/OR OCCUPATIONAL NEI<BORHOODS 9 L>GE CITIES1 ! 5VIRONS ( VILLAGES & HAMLETS1 OR EV5 AT SOME DI/ANCE FROM ! C5T] ( A CITY OR REGION1 FAIRLY DISP]S$ LOCALITIES 9 :I* PEOPLE LIVE & WORK4 

,9 %ORT1 ,I FAIL TO SEE :Y ! L>GE SIZE ( MOD]N CITIES %\LD CON/ITUTE AN 9SUP]ABLE OB/ACLE TO ! =MATION ( A NEI<BORHOOD ASSEMBLY MOVEM5T4 ,! DOORS ( ! NEI<BORHOOD ASSEMBLIES %\LD ALWAYS BE OP5 TO :OEV] LIVES 9 ! NEI<BORHOOD4 ,POLITICALLY LESS AW>E 9DIVIDUALS MAY *OOSE NOT TO ATT5D !IR NEI<BORHOOD ASSEMBLY1 & !Y %\LD NOT BE OBLIG$ TO ATT5D4 ,! ASSEMBLIES1 REG>DLESS ( !IR SIZE1 WILL HAVE PROBLEMS 5\<1 )\T HAV+ TO DEAL ) 9DIFF]5T BY/&]S & PASS]SBY4 ,:AT C\NTS IS ?AT ! DOORS ( ! ASSEMBLIES REMA9 OP5 = ALL :O WI% TO ATT5D & P>TICIPATE1 = !RE9 LIES ! TRUE DEMOCRATIC NATURE ( NEI<BORHOOD ASSEMBLIES4 

,ANO!R CRITICISM ,I HAVE HE>D AGA9/ LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM IS ?AT A =CEFUL SPEAK] OR FACTION MAY MANIPULATE A L>GE CR[D1 SU* AS NUM]\S CITIZ5S AT AN ASSEMBLY MEET+4 ,?IS PHILI/9E CRITICISM C\LD BE DIRECT$ AGA9/ ANY DEMOCRATIC 9/ITUTION1 BE IT A L>GE ASSEMBLY1 A SMALL COMMITTEE1 AN AD HOC CONF]5CE OR MEET+1 OR EV5 AN 0AFF9ITY0 GR\P4 ,9 MY VIEW1 SU* A TRANSP>5T EF=T TO 9FLICT BRUISES ON ANY ATTEMPT TO CREATE A POPUL> ORGANIZATION H>DLY DES]VES DISCUSSION4 ,! SIZE ( ! GR\P IS NOT A FACTOR H]E - SOME V]Y ABUSIVE TYRANNIES APPE> 9 V]Y SMALL GR\PS1 :]E ONE OR TWO 9TIMIDAT+ FIGURES CAN COMPLETELY DOM9ATE EV]YONE ELSE4 

,:AT ! CRITICS MI<T WELL ASK - BUT SELDOM DO - IS H[ WE >E TO PREV5T P]SUASIVE 9DIVIDUALS FROM MAK+ DEMAGOGIC ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL ANY POPUL> ASSEMBLY1 REG>DLESS ( SIZE4 ,9 MY VIEW ! ONLY OB/ACLE TO SU* ATTEMPTS IS ! EXI/5CE ( AN ORGANIZ$ BODY ( REVOLUTION>IES - YES1 EV5 A FACTION - ?AT IS COMMITT$ TO SEEK+ TRU?1 EX]CIS+ RATIONALITY1 & ADVANC+ AN E?ICS ( PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY4 ,SU* A FACTION OR ORGANIZATION WILL BE NE$$1 9 MY VIEW1 NOT ONLY BE=E & DUR+ A REVOLUTION BUT ALSO AFT] ONE1 :5 ! CON/RUCTIVE PROBLEM ( CREAT+ /ABLE1 5DUR+1 & $UCATIONAL DEMOCRATIC 9/ITUTIONS BECOMES ! ORD] ( ! DAY4 

,SU* AN ORGANIZATION WILL BE P>TICUL>LY NE$$ DUR+ ! P]IOD ( SOCIAL RECON/RUCTION1 :5 ATTEMPTS >E MADE TO PUT LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM 9TO PRACTICE4 ,WE CANNOT EXPECT ?AT1 JU/ BECAUSE WE PROPOSE ! E/ABLI%M5T ( NEI<BORHOOD ASSEMBLIES1 WE WILL ALWAYS - OR P]HAPS EV5 (T5 - BE ! MAJORITY 9 ! V]Y 9/ITUTIONS ?AT WE HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY HELP$ TO E/ABLI%4 ,WE MU/ ALWAYS BE PREP>$1 9 FACT1 TO BE 9 ! M9ORITY1 UNTIL SU* TIME AS CIRCUM/ANCES & SOCIAL 9/ABILITY MAKE \R OV]ALL MESSAGES PLAUSIBLE TO ASSEMBLY MAJORITIES4 

,CLASS ,& ,TRANS-,CLASS ,ISSUES 

  

,9DE$1 :]EV] WE E/ABLI% A POPUL> ASSEMBLY1 ) OR )\T LEGAL LEGITIMACY1 IT WILL EV5TUALLY BE 9VAD$ BY COMPET+ CLASS 9T]E/S4 ,LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM1 ,I %\LD EMPHASIZE H]E1 IS NOT AN ATTEMPT TO OV]LOOK OR EVADE ! REALITY ( CLASS CONFLICT2 ON ! CONTR>Y1 IT ATTEMPTS1 AMONG O!R ?+S1 TO GIVE DUE RECOGNITION TO ! CLASS /RUGGLE'S CIVIC DIM5SION4 ,MOD]N CONFLICTS BETWE5 CLASSES HAVE NEV] BE5 CONF9$ SIMPLY TO ! FACTORY OR WORKPLACE2 !Y HAVE ALSO TAK5 A DI/9CTLY URBAN =M1 AS 9 0,REVOLUTION>Y ,P>IS10 0,R$ ,PETROGRAD10 & 0,AN>*O-SYNDICALI/ ,B>CELONA40 ,AS ANY /UDY ( ! GREAT REVOLUTIONS VIVIDLY REVEALS1 ! BATTLE BETWE5 CLASSES HAS ALWAYS BE5 A BATTLE NOT ONLY BETWE5 DIFF]5T ECONOMIC /RATA 9 SOCIETY BUT ALSO )9 & BETWE5 NEI<BORHOODS4 

,MOREOV]1 ! NEI<BORHOOD1 T[N1 & VILLAGE ALSO G5]ATES SE>+ ISSUES ?AT CUT ACROSS CLASS L9ES3 BETWE5 WORK+ PEOPLE 7! TRADITIONAL 9DU/RIAL PROLET>IAT1 :I* IS N[ DW9DL+ 9 NUMB]S 9 ,EUROPE & ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES & IS FI<T+ A RE>GU>D BATTLE ) CAPITAL71 MIDDLE-CLASS /RATA 7:I* LACK ANY CONSCI\SNESS ( !MSELVES AS WORK+ PEOPLE71 ! VA/ >MY ( GOV]NM5T EMPLOYES1 A HUGE PR(ESSIONAL & TE*NICAL /RATUM ?AT IS NOT LIKELY TO REG>D ITSELF AS A PROLET>IAT1 & AN UND]CLASS ?AT IS ESS5TIALLY DEMORALIZ$ & HELPLESS4 

,WE CANNOT IGNORE ! COMPELL+ FACT ?AT CAPITALISM HAS *ANG$ S9CE ! 5D ( ! ,WORLD ,W> ,TWO2 ?AT IT HAS TRANS=M$ ! V]Y SOCIAL FIB] ( ! GREAT MAJORITY ( PEOPLE1 BO? ATTITUD9ALLY & OCCUPATIONALLY1 9 ,WE/]N ,EUROPE & ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES2 ?AT IT WILL WREAK EV5 FUR!R *ANGES 9 ! DECADES ?AT LIE AHEAD1 ) DAZZL+ RAPIDITY1 ESPECIALLY AS AUTOMATION IS FUR!R DEVELOP$ & AS NEW RES\RCES1 TE*NIQUES1 & PRODUCTS REPLACE ?OSE ?AT SEEM SO DOM9ANT TODAY4 

,NO REVOLUTION>Y MOVEM5T CAN IGNORE ! PROBLEMS ?AT CAPITALISM IS LIKELY TO G5]ATE 9 ! YE>S ?AT LIE AHEAD1 ESPECIALLY 9 T]MS ( CAPITAL'S PR(\ND EFFECTS ON BO? SOCIETY & ! 5VIRONM5T4 ,! FUTILITY ( SYNDICALISM TODAY LIES 9 ! FACT ?AT IT IS /ILL TRY+ TO ADDRESS ! PROBLEMS G5]AT$ BY ! OLD ,9DU/RIAL ,REVOLUTION1 & 9 ! CONTEXT ( ! SOCIAL SETT+ ?AT GAVE !SE PROBLEMS MEAN+ 9 ! FIR/ HALF ( ! TW5TIE? C5TURY4 ,IF WE HAVE HI/ORICALLY EXHAU/$ ! SYNDICALI/ ALT]NATIVE1 IT IS BECAUSE ! 9DU/RIAL PROLET>IAT IS EV]Y:]E DE/9$1 BY VIRTUE ( TE*NOLOGICAL 9NOVATION1 TO BECOME A SMALL M9ORITY ( ! POPULATION4 ,IT WILL NOT DO TO TRY TO !ORETICALLY FABRICATE A 0PROLET>IAT0 \T ( CL]ICAL1 S]VICE1 & PR(ESSIONAL 0WORK]S0 :O1 9 MANY IF NOT MO/ CASES1 WILL NOT ACQUIRE ! CLASS CONSCI\SNESS ?AT ID5TIFI$ & GAVE A HI/ORICAL /&+ TO ! AU!NTIC PROLET>IAN4 

,BUT !SE /RATA1 (T5 AMONG ! MO/ EXPLOIT$ & OPPRESS$1 CAN BE 5LI/$ TO SUPPORT \R COMMUNALI/ IDEALS ON ! BASIS ( ! L>G] 5VIRONM5T 9 :I* !Y LIVE & ! L>G] ISSUES ( !IR SOV]EIGNTY 9 A WORLD ?AT IS RAC+ \T ( CONTROL3 NAMELY !IR NEI<BORHOODS1 CITIES1 & T[NS1 & ! EXPANSION ( !IR DEMOCRATIC RI<TS AS FREE CITIZ5S 9 A WORLD ?AT HAS R$UC$ !M TO M]E ELECTORAL CON/ITU5TS4 ,!Y CAN BE MOBILIZ$ TO SUPPORT \R COMMUNALI/ IDEALS BECAUSE !Y FEEL !IR P[] TO CONTROL !IR [N LIVES IS DIM9I%+ 9 ! FACE ( C5TRALIZ$ /ATE & CORPORATE P[]4 ,NE$LESS TO SAY1 ,I AM NOT D5Y+ ?AT WORK+ PEOPLE HAVE GRIM ECONOMIC PROBLEMS ?AT MAY PIT !M AGA9/ CAPITAL1 BUT !IR QUASI-MIDDLE-CLASS \TLOOK IF NOT /ATUS DIM9I%ES !IR ABILITY TO SEE ! ILLS ( CAPITALISM EXCLUSIVELY AS AN ECONOMIC SY/EM4 

,TODAY WE LIVE 9 AN ]A ( P]MAN5T 9DU/RIAL REVOLUTION 9 :I* PEOPLE T5D TO RESPOND TO ! EXTREME RAPIDITY & VA/ SCOPE ( *ANGE ) A MY/ICISM ?AT EXPRESSES !IR DISEMP[]M5T & A PRIVATISM ?AT EXPRESSES !IR 9ABILITY TO CONT5D ) *ANGE4 ,9DE$1 CAPITALISM1 F> FROM BE+ 0ADVANC$10 /ILL LESS 0MORIBUND10 CONT9UES TO MATURE & EXT5D ITS SCOPE4 ,:AT IT WILL LOOK LIKE HALF A C5TURY OR A C5TURY FROM N[ IS OP5 TO ! BOLDE/ ( SPECULATIONS4 

,H5CE1 MORE ?AN EV]1 ANY REVOLUTION>Y LEFT LIB]T>IAN MOVEM5T MU/1 9 MY VIEW1 RECOGNIZE ! IMPORTANCE ( ! MUNICIPALITY AS ! LOCUS ( NEW1 9DE$ (T5 TRANS-CLASS PROBLEMS ?AT CANNOT SIMPLY BE R$UC$ TO ! /RUGGLE BETWE5 WAGE LABOR & CAPITAL4 ,REAL PROBLEMS ( 5VIRONM5TAL DET]IORATION AFFECT EV]YONE 9 A COMMUNITY2 REAL PROBLEMS ( SOCIAL & ECONOMIC 9EQUITIES AFFECT EV]YONE 9 A COMMUNITY2 REAL PROBLEMS ( HEAL?1 $UCATION1 SANIT>Y CONDITIONS1 & ! NI<TM>E1 AS ,PAUL ,GOODMAN PUT IT1 ( 0GR[+ UP ABSURD0 PLAGUE EV]YONE 9 A COMMUNITY - PROBLEMS ?AT >E EV5 MORE S]I\S TODAY ?AN !Y W]E 9 ! ALI5AT$ #a#i#fS DECADE4 ,!SE TRANS-CLASS ISSUES CAN BR+ PEOPLE TOGE!R ) WORK]S ( ALL K9DS 9 A COMMON EF=T TO SEEK !IR SELF-EMP[]M5T1 AN ISSUE ?AT CANNOT BE RESOLV$ 9TO ! CONFLICT ( WAGE LABOR AGA9/ CAPITAL ALONE4 

,NOR >E WORK]S M]E 0AG5TS0 ( HI/ORY1 AS VULG> ,M>XI/S 7& IMPLICITLY1 SYNDICALI/S7 W\LD HAVE US BELIEVE4 ,WORK]S LIVE 9 CITIES1 T[NS1 & VILLAGES - NOT ONLY AS CLASS BE+S BUT ALSO AS CIVIC BE+S4 ,!Y >E FA!RS & MO!RS1 BRO!RS & SI/]S1 FRI5DS & COMRADES1 & NO LESS ?AN !IR ECOLOGICAL C\NT]P>TS AMONG ! PETTY B\RGEOISIE1 !Y >E CONC]N$ ) 5VIRONM5TAL ISSUES4 ,AS P>5TS & Y\NG PEOPLE1 !Y >E CONC]N$ ) ! PROBLEMS ( ACQUIR+ AN $UCATION1 5T]+ A PR(ESSION1 & ! LIKE4 ,!Y >E DEEPLY DI/URB$ BY ! DECAY ( URBAN 9FRA/RUCTURES1 ! DIM9UTION ( 9EXP5SIVE H\S+1 & ISSUES ( URBAN SAFETY & ES!TICS4 ,!IR HORIZON EXT5DS F> BEYOND ! REALM ( ! FACTORY OR EV5 ! (FICE TO ! RESID5TIAL URBAN WORLD 9 :I* !Y & !IR FAMILIES LIVE4 ,AFT] ,I HAD SP5T YE>S WORK+ 9 FACTORIES1 ,I WAS NOT SURPRIS$ TO F9D ?AT ,I C\LD REA* WORK]S1 MIDDLE-CLASS PEOPLE1 & EV5 RELATIVELY AFFLU5T 9DIVIDUALS MORE EASILY BY DISCUSS+ ISSUES RELAT+ TO !IR LIV$ 5VIRONM5TS - !IR NEI<BORHOODS & CITIES - RA!R ?AN TO !IR WORKPLACES4 

,TODAY1 9 P>TICUL>1 ! GLOBALIZATION ( CAPITAL RAISES ! QUE/ION ( H[ LOCALITIES CAN KEEP PRODUCTIVE RES\RCES )9 !IR [N CONF9ES )\T IMPAIR+ ! OPPORTUNITIES ( PEOPLES 9 ! SO-CALL$ 0,?IRD ,WORLD0 OR ,S\? TO FREELY DEVELOP TE*NOLOGICALLY ACCORD+ TO !IR [N NE$S4 ,?IS CONUNDRUM CANNOT BE RESOLV$ BY LEGISLATION & ECONOMIC RE=MS4 ,CAPITALISM IS A COMPULSIVELY EXPANSIVE SY/EM4 ,A MOD]N M>KET ECONOMY DICTATES ?AT AN 5T]PRISE MU/ GR[ OR DIE1 & NO?+ WILL PREV5T CAPITALISM FROM 9DU/RIALIZ+ - MORE ACCURATELY1 EXP&+ - 5DLESSLY OV] ! 5TIRE FACE ( ! PLANET :5EV] IT IS PREP>$ TO DO SO4 ,ONLY ! COMPLETE RECON/RUCTION ( SOCIETY & ! ECONOMY CAN 5D ! DILEMMAS ?AT GLOBALIZATION RAISES1 9CLUD+ ! ONE-SID$ ECONOMIC DEVELOPM5T ( ! ,S\?1 (T5 AT ! EXP5SE ( WORK]S 9 ! ,NOR?1 & ! 5HANCEM5T ( CORPORATE P[] TO ! PO9T ( ?REAT5+ ! /ABILITY1 9DE$ ! V]Y SAFETY1 ( ! PLANET4 

,H]E AGA91 ,I W\LD CONT5D ?AT ONLY A GRASSROOTS ECONOMIC POLICY1 BAS$ ON A LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALI/ AG5DA & MOVEM5T1 CAN (F] A MAJOR ALT]NATIVE - & IT IS PRECISELY AN ALT]NATIVE ?AT MANY PEOPLE SEEK TODAY - CAPABLE ( >RE/+ ! IMPACT ( GLOBALIZATION4 ,= ! PROBLEM ( GLOBALIZATION1 !RE IS NO GLOBAL SOLUTION4 ,GLOBAL CAPITAL1 PRECISELY BECAUSE ( ITS V]Y HUG5ESS1 CAN ONLY BE EAT5 AWAY AT ITS ROOTS1 SPECIFICALLY BY MEANS ( A LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALI/ RESI/ANCE AT ! BASE ( SOCIETY4 ,IT MU/ BE ]OD$ BY ! MYRIAD MILLIONS :O1 MOBILIZ$ BY A GRASSROOTS MOVEM5T1 *ALL5GE GLOBAL CAPITAL'S SOV]EIGNTY OV] !IR LIVES & TRY TO DEVELOP LOCAL & REGIONAL ECONOMIC ALT]NATIVES TO ITS 9DU/RIAL OP]ATIONS4 ,DEVELOP+ ?IS RESI/ANCE W\LD 9VOLVE SUBSIDIZ+ MUNICIPALLY CONTROLL$ 9DU/RIES & RETAIL \TLETS1 & TAK+ REC\RSE TO REGIONAL RES\RCES ?AT CAPITAL DOES NOT F9D IT PR(ITABLE TO USE4 ,A MUNICIPALIZ$ ECONOMY1 SL[ AS IT MAY BE 9 ! MAK+1 WILL BE A MORAL ECONOMY1 ONE ?AT - CONC]N$ PRIM>ILY ) ! QUALITY ( ITS PRODUCTS & !IR PRODUCTION AT ! L[E/ POSSIBLE CO/ - CAN HOPE TO ULTIMATELY SUBV]T A CORPORATE ECONOMY1 :OSE SUCCESS IS MEASUR$ 5TIRELY BY ITS PR(ITS RA!R ?AN BY ! QUALITY ( ITS COMMODITIES4 

,LET ME /RESS ?AT :5 ,I SPEAK ( A MORAL ECONOMY1 ,I AM NOT ADVOCAT+ A COMMUNIT>IAN OR COOP]ATIVE ECONOMY 9 :I* SMALL PR(ITE]S1 H[EV] WELL-MEAN+ !IR 9T5TIONS MAY BE1 SIMPLY BECOME LITTLE 0SELF-MANAG$0 CAPITALI/S 9 !IR [N RI<T4 ,9 MY [N COMMUNITY ,I HAVE SE5 A SELF-/YL$ 0MORAL0 5T]PRISE1 ,B5 & ,J]RY'S ,ICE ,CREAM1 GR[ 9 TYPICAL CAPITALI/ FA%ION FROM A SMALL1 PRESUMABLY 0C>+10 & 9TIMATE 5T]PRISE 9TO A GLOBAL CORPORATION1 9T5T ON MAK+ PR(IT & FO/]+ ! MY? ?AT 0CAPITALISM CAN BE GOOD40 ,COOP]ATIVES ?AT PR(ESS TO BE MORAL 9 !IR 9T5TIONS HAVE YET TO MAKE ANY HEADWAY 9 REPLAC+ BIG CAPITALI/ CONC]NS OR EV5 9 SURVIV+ )\T !MSELVES BECOM+ CAPITALI/IC 9 !IR ME?ODS & PR(IT-ORI5T$ 9 !IR GOALS4 

,! ,PR\DHONI/ MY? ?AT SMALL ASSOCIATIONS ( PRODUC]S - AS OPPOS$ TO A G5U9ELY SOCIALI/IC OR LIB]T>IAN COMMUNI/IC 5DEAVOR - CAN SL[LY EAT AWAY AT CAPITALISM1 %\LD F9ALLY BE DISPELL$4 ,SADLY1 !SE G5]ALLY FAIL$ ILLUSIONS >E /ILL PROMOT$ BY LIB]ALS SU* AS ,H>RY ,BOYTE & BY NAIVE LIFE/YLE AN>*I/S SU* AS ! J\RNALI/IC RUFFIANS AT ,AN>*Y3 ,A ,J\RNAL ( ,DESIRE ,>M$1 & PURE ACADEMICS SU* AS ,JOHN ,CL>K & HIS ASSOCIATES4 ,EI!R MUNICIPALIZ$ 5T]PRISES CONTROLL$ BY CITIZ5S' ASSEMBLIES WILL TRY TO TAKE OV] ! ECONOMY1 OR CAPITALISM WILL PREVAIL 9 ?IS SPH]E ( LIFE ) A =CEFULNESS ?AT NO M]E RHETORIC CAN DIM9I%4 

,CAPITALI/ SOCIETY HAS EFFECTS NOT ONLY ON ECONOMIC & SOCIAL RELATIONS BUT ON IDEAS & 9TELLECTUAL TRADITIONS AS WELL1 9DE$1 ON ALL ( HI/ORY1 FRAGM5T+ !M UNTIL KN[L$GE1 DISC\RSE1 & EV5 REALITY BECOME BLURR$1 DIVE/$ ( ANY DI/9CTIONS1 SPECIFICITY1 & >TICULATION4 ,! CULTURE ?AT PROMOTES ?IS CELEBRATION ( DIFFUS5ESS & FRAGM5TATION - A CULTURE ?AT IS EPIDEMIC 9 ,AM]ICAN COLLEGES & UNIV]SITIES - GOES UND] ! NAME ( PO//RUCTURALISM OR1 MORE COMMONLY1 PO/MOD]NISM4 ,GIV5 ITS CORROSIVE PRECEPTS1 ! PO/MOD]NI/ WORLDVIEW IS ABLE TO LEVEL OR HOMOG5IZE EV]Y?+ ?AT IS UNIQUE OR DI/9CTIVE1 DISSOLV+ IT 9TO A L[ COMMON D5OM9ATOR ( IDEAS4 

,CONSID]1 = EXAMPLE1 ! OBSCURANTI/ T]M 0E>? CITIZ5%IP10 :I* DISSOLVES ! V]Y COMPLEX NOTION ( 0CITIZ5%IP10 ) ITS PRESUPPOSITIONS ( PAIDEIA - ?AT IS1 ! LIFELONG $UCATION ( ! CITIZ5 = ! PRACTICE ( CIVIC SELF-MANAGEM5T - 9TO A DIFFUSE CATEGORY1 BY EXT5D+ 7& *EAP5+7 ! NOTION ( CITIZ5%IP TO 9CLUDE ANIMALS1 PLANTS1 ROCKS1 M\NTA9S1 ! PLANET1 9DE$ ! V]Y COSMOS ITSELF4 ,) A PURELY METAPHORICAL LABEL = ALL RELATION%IPS AS AN 0E>? COMMUNITY10 ! HI/ORICAL & CONTEMPOR>Y UNIQU5ESS ( ! CITY DISAPPE>S4 ,IT PRESUMABLY PREEMPTS EV]Y O!R COMMUNITY BECAUSE ( ITS WID] SCOPE & BREAD?4 ,SU* METAPHORS ULTIMATELY FLATT5 EV]Y?+1 9 EFFECT1 9TO A UNIV]SAL 0,ON5ESS0 ?AT1 9 ! NAME ( 0ECOLOGICAL WISDOM10 D5IES DEF9ITION TO VITAL CONCEPTS & REALITIES BY ! V]Y UBIQUITY ( ! 0,ONE40 

,IF ! WORD 0CITIZ50 APPLIES TO EV]Y EXI/+ ?+1 & IF ! WORD 0COMMUNITY0 EMBRACES ALL RELATION%IPS 9 ?IS SEEM+LY 0GRE50 WORLD1 !N NO?+1 9 FACT1 IS A CITIZ5 OR A COMMUNITY4 ,JU/ AS ! LOGICAL CATEGORY 0,BE+0 IS R5D]$ AS M]E EXI/5CE1 ,BE+ CAN ONLY BE REG>D$ AS 9T]*ANGEABLE ) 0,NO?+40 ,SO1 TOO1 0CITIZ50 & 0COMMUNITY0 BECOME A UNIV]SAL PASSPORT TO VACUITY1 NOT TO UNIQUELY CIVIC CONDITIONS ?AT HAVE BE5 =M+ & DIFF]5TIAT+ DIALECTICALLY = ?\S&S ( YE>S1 ?R\< ! ANCI5T1 M$IEVAL1 & MOD]N WORLDS4 ,TO R$UCE !M TO AN AB/RACT 0COMMUNITY0 IS TO ULTIMATELY NEGATE !IR WEAL? ( EVOLUTION>Y =MS & P>TICUL>LY !IR DIFF]5TIATION AS SOPHI/ICAT$ ASPECTS ( HUMAN FRE$OM4 

,*ALL5GES = ,\R ,MOVEM5TS 

  

,AS A REVOLUTION>Y POLITICS1 LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM MU/ NONE!LESS BE CONCEIV$ AS A PROCESS1 A PATI5T PRACTICE ?AT WILL PROBABLY HAVE ONLY LIMIT$ SUCCESS AT ! PRES5T TIME1 & EV5 !N ONLY 9 SELECT >EAS ?AT CAN AT BE/ PROVIDE EXAMPLES ( ! POSSIBILITIES IT C\LD HOLD IF & :5 IT IS ADOPT$ ON A L>GE SCALE4 ,WE WILL NOT CREATE A LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALI/ SOCIETY OV]NI<T1 & 9 ?IS ]A ( C\NT]-REVOLUTION WE MU/ BE PREP>$ TO 5DURE MORE FAILURES ?AN SUCCESSES4 ,PATI5CE & COMMITM5T >E TRAITS ?AT REVOLUTION>IES ( ! PA/ CULTIVAT$ ASSIDU\SLY2 ALAS TODAY1 9 \R FA/ CONSUM]I/ SOCIETY1 ! DEM& = IMM$IATE GRATIFICATION1 = FA/ FOOD & FA/ LIV+1 9CULCATES A DEM& = FA/ POLITICS4 ,9DIVIDUALS :O >E PRONE TO ADOPT A FA/ LIFE/YLE OV] ONE ?AT ACKN[L$GES ! NE$ = SL[ GR[?1 ) ALL ITS DISAPPO9TM5TS1 W\LD DO WELL TO LE>N ! >T ( ?R[+ BRICKS & PA9T+ GRAFFITI RA!R ?AN COMMIT !MSELVES TO ! $UCATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES REQUIR$ BY A LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALI/ MOVEM5T4 ,:AT %\LD C\NT = US IS :E!R LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM IS A RATIONAL MEANS = A*IEV+ ! RATIONAL CULM9ATION ( HUMAN DEVELOPM5T1 NOT :E!R IT IS SUITABLE AS A QUICK FIX = PRES5T SOCIAL PROBLEMS4 

,WE MU/ LE>N TO BE FLEXIBLE )\T ALL[+ \R BASIC PR9CIPLES TO BE REPLAC$ BY A PO/MOD]NI/ QUAGMIRE ( AD HOC1 EV]-*ANGEABLE OP9IONS4 ,= EXAMPLE1 IF WE HAVE NO *OICE BUT TO USE ELECTRONIC MEANS1 SU* AS TO E/ABLI% POPUL> P>TICIPATION 9 RELATIVELY L>GE CITIZ5S' ASSEMBLIES1 !N SO BE IT4 ,BUT WE %\LD1 ,I W\LD >GUE1 DO SO ONLY :5 IT IS UNAVOIDABLE & = ONLY AS LONG AS IS NECESS>Y4 ,BY ! SAME TOK51 IF C]TA9 DESIRABLE MEASURES REQUIRE A DEGREE ( C5TRALIZATION1 !N WE %\LD ACCEPT ?AT - )\T SACRIFIC+1 LET ME 9SI/1 ! RI<T TO IMM$IATE RECALL4 ,BUT H]E1 TOO1 WE %\LD 5DURE SU* ORGANIZATIONAL MEASURES = ONLY AS LONG AS !Y >E NECESS>Y & NO LONG]4 ,\R BASIC PR9CIPLES 9 SU* CASES MU/ ALWAYS BE \R GUIDE3 WE REMA9 COMMITT$ TO A DIRECT FACE-TO-FACE DEMOCRACY & A WELL-COORD9AT$1 CONF$]AL1 BUT DEC5TRALIZ$ SOCIETY4 

,NOR %\LD WE FETI%IZE CONS5SUS OV] DEMOCRACY 9 \R DECISION-MAK+ PROCESSES4 ,CONS5SUS1 AS ,I HAVE >GU$1 IS PRACTICABLE ) V]Y SMALL GR\PS 9 :I* PEOPLE KN[ EA* O!R 9TIMATELY4 ,BUT 9 L>G] GR\PS IT BECOMES TYRANNICAL BECAUSE IT ALL[S A SMALL M9ORITY TO DECIDE :AT WILL BE ! PRACTICE ( A L>GE OR EV5 SIZABLE MAJORITY2 & IT FO/]S HOMOG5EITY & /AGNATION 9 IDEAS & POLICIES4 ,M9ORITIES & !IR FACTIONS >E ! 9DISP5SABLE YEA/ = MATUR+ NEW IDEAS - & NE>LY ALL NEW IDEAS />T \T AS ! VIEWS ( M9ORITIES4 ,9 A LIB]T>IAN GR\P1 ! 0RULE0 ( ! MAJORITY OV] A M9ORITY IS A MY?2 NO ONE EXPECTS A M9ORITY TO GIVE UP ITS UNPOPUL> BELIEFS OR TO YIELD ITS RI<T TO >GUE ITS VIEWS - BUT ! M9ORITY MU/ HAVE PATI5CE & ALL[ A MAJORITY DECISION TO BE PUT 9TO PRACTICE4 ,?IS EXP]I5CE & ! DISCUSSION IT G5]ATES %\LD BE ! MO/ DECISIVE ELEM5T 9 IMPELL+ A GR\P OR ASSEMBLY TO RECONSID] ITS DECISION & ADOPT ! M9ORITY'S VIEWPO9T1 SPURR+ ON ! FUR!R 9NOVATION ( PRACTICES & IDEAS AS O!R M9ORITIES EM]GE4 ,CONS5SUS DECISION-MAK+ CAN EASILY PRODUCE 9TELLECTUAL & PRACTICAL /AGNATION IF IT ESS5TIALLY COMPELS A MAJORITY TO =GO A SPECIFIC POLICY 9 ORD] TO PLEASE A M9ORITY4 

,I WILL NOT 5T] H]E 9TO MY DI/9CTION BETWE5 POLICY DECISIONS & !IR 5ACTM5T 9 PRACTICE BY ?OSE QUALIFI$ TO ADM9I/] !M4 ,I WILL ONLY NOTE SOME?+ ?AT MY FRI5D ,G>Y ,SISCO HAS PO9T$ \T3 ?AT IF ! ,U,S ,CONGRESS - A GA!R+1 = ! MO/ P>T1 ( LAWY]S - CAN MAKE BASIC POLICY DECISIONS ON ! RECON/RUCTION ( ! ,AM]ICAN 9FRA/RUCTURE1 ON W> & PEACE1 ON $UCATION & =EIGN POLICY1 ETC41 )\T HAV+ FULL KN[L$GE ( ALL ASPECTS ( !SE FIELDS1 LEAV+ ! ADM9I/RATION ( !IR DECISIONS TO O!RS1 !N IT IS DIFFICULT TO UND]/& :Y A CITIZ5S' ASSEMBLY CANNOT MAKE POLICY DECISIONS ON USUALLY MORE MODE/ ISSUES & LEAVE !IR ADM9I/RATION1 UND] CLOSE SUP]VISION1 TO EXP]TS 9 ! FIELDS 9VOLV$4 

,AMONG ! O!R ISSUES WE MU/ AT SOME PO9T CONSID] >E ! PLACE ( LAW OR NOMOS 9 A LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALI/ SOCIETY1 AS WELL AS CON/ITUTIONS ?AT LAY D[N IMPORTANT PR9CIPLES ( RI<T OR JU/ICE & FRE$OM4 ,>E WE TO VE/ ! P]PETUATION ( \R GUID+ PR9CIPLES SIMPLY 9 BL9D CU/OM1 OR 9 ! GOOD NATURE ( \R FELL[ HUMANS - :I* ALL[S = A GREAT DEAL ( >BITR>9ESS8 ,= C5TURIES OPPRESS$ PEOPLES DEM&$ WRITT5 F\ND+ CON/ITUTIONAL PROVISIONS TO PROTECT !M FROM >BITR>Y OPPRESSION BY ! NOBILITY4 ,) ! EM]G5CE ( A LIB]T>IAN COMMUNI/ SOCIETY1 ?IS PROBLEM DOES NOT DISAPPE>4 ,= US1 ,I BELIEVE1 ! QUE/ION CAN NEV] BE :E!R LAW & CON/ITUTIONS >E 9H]5TLY 0AU?ORIT>IAN10 BUT :E!R !Y >E RATIONAL1 MUTABLE1 SECUL>1 & RE/RICTIVE ONLY 9 ! S5SE ?AT !Y PROHIBIT ! ABUSE ( P[]4 

,ADMITT$LY1 ! PRES5T TIME IS NOT ONE ?AT IS FAVORABLE = ! SPREAD ( REVOLUTION>Y & LIB]T>IAN ANTI-CAPITALI/ IDEAS & MOVEM5TS4 ,UNLESS WE >E TO LET ! CAPITALI/ CANC] SPREAD OV] ! 5TIRE PLANET1 H[EV]1 ABSORB+ EV5 ! NATURAL WORLD 9TO ! WORLD ECONOMY1 WE MU/ DEVELOP A !ORY & PRACTICE ?AT PROVIDES US ) AN 5TRY 9TO ! PUBLIC SPH]E - A !ORY & PRACTICE1 ,I %\LD EMPHASIZE1 ?AT IS CONSI/5T ) ! GOAL ( A RATIONAL LIB]T>IAN COMMUNI/ SOCIETY4 

,F9ALLY1 WE MU/ ASS]T ! HI/ORIC RI<T ( SPECULATIVE REASON - RE/+ ON ! REAL POT5TIALITIES ( HUMAN BE+S AS WE KN[ !M FROM ! PA/ AS WELL AS ! PRES5T - TO PROJECT ITSELF BEYOND ! IMM$IATE 5VIRONM5T 9 :I* WE LIVE1 9DE$1 TO CLAIM ?AT ! PRES5T IRRATIONAL SOCIETY IS NOT ! ACTUAL - OR 0REAL0 - ?AT IS WOR?Y ( ! HUMAN CONDITION4 ,DESPITE ITS PREVAL5CE - &1 TO MANY PEOPLE1 ITS P]MAN5CE - ! PRES5T SOCIETY IS UNTRUE TO ! PROJECT ( FULFILL+ HUMANITY'S POT5TIALITY = FRE$OM & SELF-CONSCI\SNESS1 & H5CE IT IS UNREAL 9 ! S5SE ?AT IT IS A BETRAYAL ( ! CLAIMS ( HUMANITY'S GREATE/ QUALITIES1 ! CAPACITY = REASON & 9NOVATION4 

,IF \R ATTEMPTS TO ?9K1 FI<T =1 $UCATE PEOPLE AB\T1 & RISE 9 BATTLE =1 A LIB]T>IAN COMMUNI/ SOCIETY BAS$ ON ! ,COMMUNE ( COMMUNES1 >E EVID5CE ( 0,BAKUN9I/ WILL10 = :I* PRES5T-DAY MY/ICS SU* AS ,JOHN ,CL>K 7AKA 0,MAX ,CAF>D0 OR 0,C07 HAVE CRITICIZ$ ME1 !N ,I CAN ONLY REPLY ?AT ,I F9D ALL ! MORE FLATT]+ ?IS ASSOCIATION ) ,BAKUN91 :O W\LD HAVE D5\NC$ ,CL>K'S ,TAOI/ NOTIONS ( PASSIVITY & 0GO+ ) ! FL[0 AS A FUNDAM5TAL ACCOMMODATION TO ! /ATUS QUO4 ,LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALI/S MU/ DI/+UI% !MSELVES FROM ?OSE :O1 9 ! NAME ( ORGANIC ?\<T1 R$UCE !MSELVES TO BY/&]S1 !IR BEHAVIOR GUID$ BY ! ,TAOI/ DOCTR9E ( 0WU-WEI10 ?AT IS1 ! 0VIRTUES0 ( NON-ACTION4 

,BY ! SAME TOK51 ?AT BROAD S*OOL ( IDEAS WE CALL 0AN>*ISM0 IS FAC$ ) A P>T+ ( ! WAYS BETWE5 ?OSE :O G5U9ELY WI% TO FOCUS !IR EF=TS ON ! REVOLUTION>Y ELIM9ATION ( HI]>*ICAL & CLASS SOCIETY1 & SELF-9DULG5T LIFE/YLE AN>*I/S :O1 IF !Y BELIEVE 9 ANY?+ BEYOND M]E ADV5TURES 7SAY1 ?R[+ BRICKS AT POLICE71 SEE SOCIAL *ANGE ONLY 9 T]MS ( !IR P]SONAL SELF-EXPRESSION & ! REPLACEM5T ( S]I\S IDEAS ) MY/ICAL FANTASIES4 

,LEFT LIB]T>IAN REVOLUTION>IES CANNOT HAVE ANY HOPES ( CREAT+ A PUBLIC MOVEM5T UNLESS !Y =MULATE A POLITICS ?AT OP5S IT TO SOCIAL 9T]V5TION1 9DE$ ?AT IS BR\<T 9TO ! PUBLIC SPH]E AS AN ORGANIZ$ MOVEM5T ?AT CAN GR[1 ?9K RATIONALLY1 MOBILIZE PEOPLE1 & ACTIVELY SEEK TO *ANGE ! WORLD4 ,! SOCIAL DEMOCRATS HAVE (F]$ US P>LIAM5T>Y RE=MS AS A PRACTICE1 & ! RESULTS !Y HAVE PRODUC$ HAVE BE5 DEBILITAT+ - MO/ NOTABLY1 A RADICAL DECL9E 9 PUBLIC LIFE & A DISA/R\S GR[? 9 CONSUM]I/ SELF-9DULG5CE & PRIVATISM4 ,AL?\< ! ,/AL9I/S AS >*ITECTS ( ! TOTALIT>IAN /ATE HAVE MO/LY PASS$ FROM ! PUBLIC SC5E1 A FEW P]SI/ AS P>ASITES ON :ATEV] RADICAL MOVEM5T MAY EM]GE AMONG OPPRESS$ PEOPLES4 ,& FASCISM1 9 ITS V>I\S MUTATIONS1 HAS ATTEMPT$ TO FILL ! VOID CREAT$ BY DISEMP[]M5T & A LACK ( HUMAN SCALE 9 POLITICS AS WELL AS COMMUNITY1 ) TRAGIC RESULTS4 

,AS LEFT LIB]T>IANS WE MU/ ASK \RSELVES :AT MODE ( 5TRY 9TO ! PUBLIC SPH]E IS CONSI/5T ) \R VISION ( EMP[]M5T4 ,IF \R IDEAL IS ! ,COMMUNE ( COMMUNES1 !N ,I SUBMIT ?AT ! ONLY MEANS ( 5TRY & SOCIAL FULFILLM5T IS A POLITICS - ?AT IS1 A MOVEM5T & PROGRAM ?AT F9ALLY EM]GES ON ! LOCAL ELECTORAL SC5E AS ! UNCOMPROMIS+ ADVOCATE ( POPUL> NEI<BORHOOD & T[N ASSEMBLIES & ! DEVELOPM5T ( A MUNICIPALIZ$ ECONOMY4 ,I KN[ ( NO O!R ALT]NATIVE TO CAPITULATION TO ! EXI/+ SOCIETY - UNLESS SOME AMONG US WI% TO ?R[ ROCKS AT POLICE1 DEFACE WALLS ) GRAFFITI1 OR 5GAGE 9 AD HOC 0ACTIONS0 ?AT DISAPPE> )\T ANY TRACE LIKE A PEBBLE ?R[N 9TO A LAKE4 

,I HAVE NO D\BT ?AT LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM1 IF IT MEETS ) A MEASURE ( SUCCESS1 WILL FACE MANY OB/ACLES & ! POSSIBILITY ( BE+ CO-OPT$ OR DEG5]AT$2 ?AT IT WILL FACE NOT ONLY A CIVIC REALM ( IDEOLOGICAL DISCORD BUT 9T]NAL DISCORD )9 ITS [N ORGANIZATIONAL FRAMEWORK2 & ?AT IT OP5S A BROAD FIELD ( POLITICAL CONFLICT1 ) ALL ITS RISKS & UNC]TA9TIES4 ,AT A TIME :5 SOCIAL LIFE HAS BE5 TRIVIALIZ$ BEYOND DESCRIPTION1 :5 ACCOMMODATION TO CAPITALI/ VALUES & LIFE-WAYS HAS REA*$ UNPREC$5T$ LEVELS1 :5 AN>*ISM & SOCIALISM >E SE5 AS ! 0LO/ CAUSES0 ( ! N9ETE5? & E>LY TW5TIE? C5TURIES - ONE CAN ONLY HOPE ?AT SU* DISCORD BECOMES A G5U9E PUBLIC REALITY4 ,AT NO TIME HAS M$IOCRITY BE5 MORE TRIUMPHANT ?AN IT IS TODAY1 & AT NO TIME HAS 9DIFF]5CE TO SOCIAL & POLITICAL ISSUES BE5 AS WIDESPREAD4 

,I DO NOT BELIEVE ?AT SOCIAL *ANGE CAN BE A*IEV$ )\T TAK+ RISKS1 ALL[+ = UNC]TA9TIES1 & RECOGNIZ+ ! POSSIBILITY ( FAILURE4 ,IF WE >E TO HAVE ANY EFFECT ON ! FOSSILIZATION ( PUBLIC LIFE - TO ! EXT5T ?AT ! PRES5T P]IOD IS M>K$ 9 ANY S5SE BY A G5U9E PUBLIC LIFE - HI/ORY TOO MU/ MOVE ) US4 ,ON ?IS SCORE1 ,I AM MU* TOO OLD TO MAKE WOR?:ILE PR$ICTIONS AB\T H[ ! C\RSE ( EV5TS WILL UNFOLD1 EXCEPT TO SAY ?AT ! PRES5T1 :E!R = GOOD OR ILL1 WILL H>DLY BE RECOGNIZABLE TO ! G5]ATION ?AT WILL COME ( AGE #e YE>S FROM N[1 SO RAPIDLY >E ?+S LIKELY TO *ANGE 9 ! PRES5T C5TURY4 

,BUT :]E *ANGE EXI/S1 SO TOO DO POSSIBILITIES4 ,! TIMES CANNOT REMA9 AS !Y >E - ANY MORE ?AN ! WORLD CAN BE FROZ5 9TO IMMOBILITY4 ,:AT WE CAN HOPE TO DO IS TO PRES]VE ! ?READ ( RATIONALITY ?AT DI/+UI%ES TRUE CIVILIZATION FROM B>B>ISM - & B>B>ISM W\LD 9DE$ BE ! \TCOME ( A WORLD ?AT IS P]MITT$ TO TUMBLE 9TO A FUTURE )\T RATIONAL ACTIVITY OR GUIDANCE4 ,= ?OSE :O WILL A WORLD ( FRE$OM & SELF-CONSCI\SNESS1 !RE CAN BE NO ACCOMMODATION ) ! /ATUS QUO4 

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

,*RONOLOGY 3 
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