,JO9+ ! ,W,S,M 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,*EKOV ,FE5EY 

,TEXT 3 

,JUNE1 #a#i#i#h4 ,I'M SITT+ ON MY [N 9 ! CORN] ( ! UP/AIRS L\NGE ( ! ,BA*ELORS ,9N1 FEEL+ SLI<TLY FOOLI%4 ,FIVE M9UTES AGO1 ,I HAD /OOD UP & ANN\NC$ TO A MEET+ ( A HALF-DOZ5 MEMB]S ( ! ,WORK]S ,SOLID>ITY ,MOVEM5T1 9 ! D>K & D+Y BACK ROOM ( ! PUB BEL[1 ?AT ,I WI%$ TO JO9 ! GR\P4 ,I DID NOT KN[ :AT RESPONSE ,I EXPECT$1 BUT :ATEV] IT WAS1 IT WAS SUB/ANTIALLY MORE R\S+ ?AN ! AWKW>D SIL5CE ?AT GREET$ MY DECL>ATION4 ,I /OOD !RE1 FEEL+ LIKE AN IDIOT1 AWAIT+ A RESPONSE1 = :AT SEEM$ LIKE AN AGE4 ,EV5TUALLY1 ONE ( ! GR\P1 ,CONOR ,MC,L\<L91 MUMBL$ ?AT ,I %\LD N[ LEAVE ! ROOM TO ALL[ ! MEET+ TO CONSID] MY APPLICATION4 ,I FUMBL$ MY WAY \T ! DOOR1 CRE/FALL51 9TO ! D>K /AIRWELL & UP TO ! L\NGE :]E ,I ORD]$ A P9T ( ,GU9NESS TO OCCUPY ME :ILE ,I WAIT$ N]V\SLY = ! GR\P'S RESPONSE4 

,FIVE M9UTES LAT]1 ! ,W,S,M MEMB]S 5T]$ ! L\NGE1 PAUS+ TO ORD] DR9KS AT ! B> BE=E TAK+ SEATS 9 ! CORN] NE> :]E ,I WAS SITT+4 ,TWO MEMB]S1 ,CONOR & ,&REW ,FLOOD1 SAT NEXT TO ME4 ,&REW TOLD ME ?AT !Y NE$$ TO GO ?R\< ! MEMB]%IP REQUIREM5TS ) ME4 ,I HAD 9DICAT$ TO ,&REW 9 ADVANCE ( ! MEET+ ?AT ,I WAS 9T]E/$ 9 JO9+ & HE HAD PREP>$ BY PR9T+ \T SEV]AL DOCUM5TS FROM ! ,W,S,M'S WEBSITE4 ,AID$ BY !SE PR9T-\TS1 HE L$ ME ME?ODICALLY ?R\< ! MEMB]%IP REQUIREM5TS1 DESCRIB$ 9 SEV5 NUMB]$ SECTIONS & FIFTE5 SUBSECTIONS ( ! ,W,S,M'S RECRUITM5T POLICY PAP]4 

0,SUBS0 

  

,! FIR/ REQUIREM5T WAS RELATIVELY SIMPLE & CAME FROM ! ORGANIZATION'S CON/ITUTION4 ,IT SPECIFI$ ?AT ,I W\LD BE REQUIR$ TO PAY AT LEA/ #e.0 ( MY GROSS 9COME AS A MEMB]%IP SUBSCRIPTION - KN[N AS 'SUBS' - TO ! ORGANIZATION EA* MON?4 ,?IS DID NOT PHASE ME & ,I READILY AGRE$4 ,I HAD READ ! CON/ITUTION ON ! ,W,S,M'S WEBSITE & HAD NOT$ ! MONET>Y REQUIREM5T4 ,FUR!RMORE1 ,I HAD JU/ GOT MY FIR/ PROP] COMPUT]-PROGRAMM+ JOB4 ,9 COMP>ISON TO :AT ,I HAD BE5 US$ TO AS A /UD5T1 ,I CONSID]$ MYSELF TO N[ BE FABUL\SLY WEAL?Y4 ,I WAS HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE ! SIXTY P\NDS OR SO P] MON? ?AT WAS ASK$ ( ME & WAS EV5 A LITTLE PR\D ?AT IT WAS A SUB/ANTIAL SUM COMP>$ TO MANY ( ! EXI/+ MEMB]S' CONTRIBUTIONS4 

,READ+ ,LI/ 

  

,! SECOND REQUIREM5T WAS ?AT ,I %\LD COMPLETE A READ+ LI/1 CONTA9+ MAT]IAL ?AT 9TRODUC$ ! BASICS ( ! /R& ( AN>*ISM ) :I* ! ,W,S,M ALIGN$ ITSELF - 0PLAT=MISM04 ,! LI/ CONSI/$ ( F\R BOOKS1 ALL CLASSIC AN>*I/ & PLAT=MI/ TREATISES ?AT HAD BE5 FIR/ PUBLI%$ BETWE5 #aibf & #a#i#e#c2 TWO PAMPHLETS WRITT5 BY ,W,S,M MEMB]S 9 ! MID-#a#i#hS2 ONE >TICLE PUBLI%$ 9 ! ,W,S,M'S NEWSPAP]1 ,WORK]S ,SOLID>ITY1 9 #a#i#i#a2 & ! 5TIRE COLLECTION ( POSITION PAP]S & POLICY /ATEM5TS ( ! ,W,S,M1 SOME ?IRTY-FIVE DOCUM5TS 9 TOTAL1 EA* =MALLY LAID \T 9 NUMB]$ P>AGRAPHS4 ,?IS READ+ LI/ WAS NOT 5TIRELY M&ATORY - IT WAS DESCRIB$ AS A 0RECOMM5DATION0 ( :AT AN APPLICANT WAS 05C\RAG$0 TO READ BE=E BE+ ADMITT$ AS A MEMB]4 ,9 ! CASE ( ONE ( ! 'RECOMM5D$' BOOKS1 H[EV]1 ! APPLICANT C\LD *OOSE BETWE5 TWO DIFF]5T OPTIONS1 SUGGE/+ ?AT ! LI/ ITSELF WAS SOMEH[ LESS ?AN OPTIONAL4 

,9 ! YE> LEAD+ UP TO MY DECISION TO APPLY = MEMB]%IP1 ,I HAD SP5T A CONSID]ABLE AM\NT ( TIME BR[S+ ! ,W,S,M WEBSITE &1 :ILE DO+ SO1 ,I HAD COME ACROSS ! READ+ LI/4 ,H[EV]1 ,I HAD PAID LITTLE ATT5TION TO ITS CONT5TS1 AS ,I HAD BE5 VORACI\SLY READ+ AN>*I/ LIT]ATURE = ! PREVI\S ?REE YE>S & WAS BLI!LY CONFID5T ?AT ,I W\LD HAVE READ F> MORE ?AN :ATEV] BASIC MAT]IAL ! ,W,S,M REQUIR$ TO 5SURE ?AT !IR MEMB]S W]E REASONABLY WELL 9=M$ AB\T AN>*I/ POLITICS BE=E JO9+4 

,N[1 LOOK+ ?R\< ! LI/ 9 DETAIL = ! FIR/ TIME1 IT DAWN$ ON ME ?AT ,I HAD ACTUALLY READ ALMO/ NONE ( ! SPECIFI$ MAT]IAL4 ,I HAD READ ONE ( ! ,W,S,M PAMPHLETS & A FEW ( ! POSITION PAP]S1 BUT NONE ( ! BOOKS4 ,H[EV]1 ,I /ILL CONSID]$ MYSELF TO BE WELL-READ ON AN>*I/ !ORY & HI/ORY & FELT ?AT ,I REALLY DID NOT NE$ TO GO OV] ! BASICS AGA94 ,I WAS KE5 TO JO9 & DID NOT WANT TO HAVE TO FACE A DELAY ( SEV]AL WEEKS :ILE ,I READ MY WAY ?R\< ! PILE4 ,MOREOV]1 ! PROSPECT ( PL[+ MY WAY ?R\< !SE >*AIC TREATISES ( POLITICAL !ORY WAS S+UL>LY UNAPPEAL+ TO ME4 

,I HAVE ALWAYS F\ND BOOKS ( AN>*I/ POLITICAL !ORY FROM ! E>LY #b? C5TURY TO BE 9SUFF]ABLY BOR+ &1 EV5 AFT] MANY YE>S )9 ! ,W,S,M1 ,I NEV] DID GET >\ND TO READ+ MORE ?AN ONE ( ! BOOKS ON ?AT LI/1 & EV5 ?AT WAS FRAGM5T>Y4 ,9 LAT] YE>S1 O!R LONG-/&+ MEMB]S ( ! ,W,S,M ADMITT$ TO ME ?AT !Y HAD ALSO FAIL$ TO READ ANY ( ?AT MAT]IAL1 DUE TO ITS UNAPPEAL+ NATURE4 ,I ?US >GU$ =CEFULLY ?AT1 AL?\< ,I HAD ONLY P>TIALLY READ ! MAT]IAL ON ! LI/1 ,I WAS FAMILI> ) ALL ( ! BASIC IDEAS PRES5T$ 9 IT4 ,9 DO+ SO1 ,I CONFESS TO HAV+ CREAT$ A GREATLY EXAGG]AT$ IMPRESSION ( ! PROPORTION ( ! MAT]IAL ?AT ,I HAD READ4 

,HAPPILY1 ,&REW'S EXAM9ATION ( MY UND]/&+ ( ! CONT5TS ( ! LIT]ATURE WAS F> FROM 9QUISITORIAL4 ,I KNEW 5\< TO BE ABLE TO MAKE REASONABLE GUESSES AT ! CONT5TS ( ! V>I\S BOOKS & PAMPHLETS &1 :]E ,I C\LDN'T1 IT WAS EASY 5\< TO PUT IT D[N TO A FAIL+ ( MEMORY4 ,MO/ IMPORTANTLY1 IT WAS PROBABLY EM95TLY CLE> TO ,&REW ?AT ,I UND]/OOD ! BASIC POLITICAL IDEAS & ?AT WAS :AT HE WAS MO/LY 9T]E/$ 94 ,)9 T5 OR FIFTE5 M9UTES1 ! SCRUT9Y WAS COMPLET$1 ,I PROMIS$ TO FILL MYSELF 9 ON SOME ( ! FRAGM5TS ?AT ,I HAD MISS$4 ,IT SEEM$ ?AT ,I HAD PASS$ ! TE/4 

,P>TICIPATION 9 ,W,S,M ACTIVITY 

  

,! ?IRD REQUIREM5T WAS ?AT ! APPLICANT W\LD BE 05C\RAG$0 TO P>TICIPATE 9 0ALL ,W,S,M ACTIVITIES .<444.> = A P]IOD ( SIX MON?S 7OR LESS :]E POSSIBLE70 AT :I* PO9T ! ASPIR+ MEMB] W\LD 0\TL9E ANY DIFF]5CES %E_/HE HAS ) .<! ,W,S,M.> POLICY DOCUM5TS0 AT A NATIONAL MEET+ ( ! ,W,S,M4 ,! APPLICATION W\LD !N BE CONSID]$ 9 A SESSION FROM :I* ! APPLICANT WAS SPECIFICALLY EXCLUD$4 ,9 MY CASE1 AS ,I HAD BE5 9 CONTACT ) ! ,W,S,M = SEV]AL MON?S & WAS 9 BROAD AGREEM5T ) ! ORGANIZATION'S POLITICS1 MY APPLICATION WAS FA/-TRACK$ TO ! NEXT NATIONAL MEET+1 DUE TO TAKE PLACE 9 A C\PLE ( MON?S4 ,AL?\< ,I HAD BE5 ACTIVE )9 ! AN>*I/ MOVEM5T = ! PREVI\S ?REE YE>S1 ,I HAD G5]ALLY CONSID]$ MYSELF TO HAVE BE5 LITTLE MORE ?AN A DILETTANTE OBS]V] ( A CULTURAL SC5E RA!R ?AN A POLITICAL P>TICIPANT1 :I* ,I WANT$ TO BECOME4 ,F9ALLY ,I WAS ON TRACK TO BECOM+ A REAL AN>*I/ MILITANT4 ,ALL ?AT ,I NE$$ TO DO WAS TO TAKE P>T 9 ! ORGANIZATION'S ACTIVITIES = A FEW MON?S & ,I W\LD BE ACCEPT$ AS A FULLY SIGN$ UP MEMB] ( ! ,W,S,M4 

,I HAD NEV] BE=E JO9$ A POLITICAL ORGANIZATION1 OR 9DE$1 ) ! EXCEPTION ( COLLEGE SOCIETIES1 A =MAL GR\P OR CLUB ( ANY K9D1 & ,I HAD NO REAL IDEA ( :AT !IR MEMB]%IP PROC$URES T5D$ TO BE4 ,CONSUM$ AS ,I WAS ) ! DESIRE TO BECOME A REAL MILITANT1 ,I B>ELY REFLECT$ ON ! MEMB]%IP PROC$URE4 ,9 RETROSPECT1 H[EV]1 IT IS CLE> ?AT IT WAS AN EXTREMELY UNUSUAL PROCESS = RECRUITM5T4 

,TO ! 9DIVIDUAL APPLICANT1 ! BASIC PROPOSITION LOOK$ LIKE ?IS3 FIR/ Y\ WILL BE EXAM9$ ON POLITICAL !ORY BY A WORLD-EXP]T4 ,IF Y\ PASS ?AT TE/1 Y\ MU/ GO ?R\< A SIX MON? PROBATION>Y P]IOD DUR+ :I* Y\ WILL BE EXPECT$ TO DEVOTE L>GE QUANTITIES ( TIME & 5]GY TO ! ORGANIZATION1 AT LEA/ AS MU* AS IF Y\ W]E A MEMB]4 ,AT ! 5D ( ?IS P]IOD1 Y\ WILL BE EXPECT$ TO DELIV] A CRITIQUE ( ! ORGANIZATION'S POLITICAL !ORY TO ! 5TIRE ORGANIZATION4 ,!N Y\R *>ACT] WILL BE OP5LY CRITIQU$ AT A L>GE MEET+ FROM :I* Y\ >E EXCLUD$4 ,IF Y\ >E DEEM$ TO HAVE PASS$ ?IS REVIEW1 Y\ WILL BE ACCEPT$ = MEMB]%IP & #e.0 ( Y\R GROSS 9COME WILL BE TAK5 FROM Y\4 

,TO A V]Y L>GE MAJORITY ( PEOPLE1 ?IS PROCESS CONTA9S SEV]AL ELEM5TS ?AT W\LD MAKE IT A /RESSFUL ORDEAL4 ,EXAM9ATIONS /RIKE T]ROR 9TO MANY PEOPLE1 AS DOES ! IDEA ( !IR POT5TIAL %ORT-COM+S BE+ OP5LY DISCUSS$ 9 A GR\P1 ESPECIALLY :5 POLITICAL !ORY IS ! FOCUS4 ,MOREOV]1 SUBMITT+ ONESELF TO A P]IOD ( SCRUT9IZ$ PROBATION IS SOME?+ ?AT FEW PEOPLE W\LD *OOSE4 0ONE MI<T DESIGN SU* A PROCESS IF ONE WANT$ TO 5SURE ?AT ! MEMB]%IP WAS EXCLUSIVELY MADE UP ( EXTREMELY COMMITT$1 9TELLECTUALLY CAPABLE1 HI<LY IDEOLOGICAL AN>*I/S0 

,IT WAS ALMO/ AS IF ! PROCESS WAS DESIGN$ TO DISC\RAGE ANYBODY :O WAS VAGUELY CONSID]+ JO9+4 ,ONLY SOMEBODY :O WAS EXTREMELY COMMITT$ TO ! IDEA ( BECOM+ A MEMB] ( AN AN>*I/ ORGANIZATION W\LD PUT !MSELVES VOLUNT>ILY ?R\< SU* AN ORDEAL4 ,FUR!RMORE1 ?OSE :O W]E LESS WELL $UCAT$1 OR LESS 9TELLECTUALLY CONFID5T1 W\LD BE MU* MORE LIKELY TO BE 9TIMIDAT$ BY ! EMPHASIS ON POLITICAL !ORY 9 ! PROCESS4 ,ONE MI<T DESIGN SU* A PROCESS IF ONE WANT$ TO 5SURE ?AT ! MEMB]%IP WAS EXCLUSIVELY MADE UP ( EXTREMELY COMMITT$1 9TELLECTUALLY CAPABLE1 HI<LY IDEOLOGICAL AN>*I/S1 & SURE 5\<1 ?AT IS :AT ! PROCESS PRODUC$ 9 ! ,W,S,M4 

,! ,W,S,M'S RATIONALE = ! >DU\S RECRUITM5T J\RNEY EMPHASIZ$ ! DEMOCRATIC NATURE ( ! ORGANIZATION4 ,! PROCESS WAS DESIGN$ TO 5SURE ?AT ALL MEMB]S PROP]LY UND]/OOD ! ORGANIZATION'S POLITICS1 :ILE ALSO PROVID+ !M ) AN EXPLICIT OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS !IR POLITICAL DIFF]5CES BE=E JO9+1 TO 5ABLE !M TO FULLY P>TICIPATE 9 ! ORGANIZATION ONCE !Y BECAME MEMB]S4 ,H[EV]1 :ATEV] ! ORGANIZATION'S EXPLICIT RATIONALE WAS1 !RE W]E DEEP] REASONS1 ROOT$ 9 ! ORGANIZATION'S TRAUMATIC E>LY HI/ORY1 :I* MADE ! ,W,S,M EXCESSIVELY CAUTI\S AB\T RECRUITM5T & CONT5T TO DET] ?OSE :O W]E LESS ?AN COMMITT$ IDEOLOGUES1 BUT IT TOOK ME SOME TIME BE=E ,I UND]/OOD ?IS HI/ORY PROP]LY4 ,9 ! MEANTIME1 H[EV]1 ! PROCESS TURN$ \T TO BE MU* MORE /R+5T ON PAP] ?AN 9 PRACTICE4 ,! ORGANIZATION W5T ?R\< ! MOTIONS ( OBEY+ ! RIGOR\S PROCESS1 BUT ! 9DIVIDUAL MEMB]S :O OV]SAW IT W]E UNI=MLY WILL+ & EAG] TO GIVE ! APPLICANT ! B5EFIT ( ! D\BT & 9T]PRET ! REGULATIONS 9 AS FLEXIBLE A MANN] AS POSSIBLE4 ,NEV]!LESS1 ,I WAS DET]M9$ TO DEMON/RATE MY D$ICATION TO ! CAUSE BY ?R[+ MYSELF 9TO ACTIVITY 9 ADVANCE ( ! NATIONAL MEET+ ?AT W\LD RULE ON MY MEMB]%IP4 ,?IS MEANT /EPP+ F> \TSIDE MY COM=T-ZONE & EMBRAC+ MY NEW ROLE AS A FOOT-SOLDI] 9 ! MOVEM5T4 ,ALONG ! WAY1 ,I LE>N$ AN AWFUL LOT AB\T H[ POLITICAL ACTION WORKS 9 PRACTICE1 :I* TURN$ \T TO BE F> REMOV$ FROM ! 9TELLECTUAL WORLD ( POLITICAL !ORY4 

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