,A ,P]SONAL ,9TRODUCTION ,PEOPLE 3 ,AU?OR 3 ,CON/ANCE ,BANTMAN ,AU?OR 3 ,JOHN ,QUAIL ,AU?OR 3 ,NICK ,HEA? ,TEXT 3 ,A ,P,],S,O,N,A,L ,9,T,R,O,D,U,C,T,I,O,N ,SOME YE>S AGO ,I WAS TALK+ TO A FRI5D ( M9E 9 ,LE$S :O WAS DO+ A !SIS ON ,BRITI% LABOR HI/ORY4 ,HE ASK$ ME IF ,I HAD EV] HE>D ( A GR\P ( PEOPLE :O HAD BE5 >RE/$ = A BOMB CONSPIRACY 9 #a#h#i#b1 A GR\P KN[N AS ! ,WALSALL AN>*I/S4 ,:AT8 ,BRITI% AN>*I/S8 ,I HAD NEV] HE>D ANY?+ LIKE IT4 ,I HAD CUT MY EYE TEE? AS AN AN>*I/ >GU+ ) ,TROTSKYI/S & COMMUNI/S OV] ,SPA9 & ,RUSSIA4 ,I HAD WOND]$ :Y LEFT-W+ POLITICS ALWAYS HAD TO DO ) =EIGN P>TS1 ?\< ,I HAD F\ND MU* DISPUTATIONAL MILEAGE 9 ! EV5TS 9 ,B>CELONA 9 #aicf 7'! CAPACITY ( ! PROLET>IAT = SPONTANE\S SELF-ACTIVITY'7 & ,KRON/ADT 9 #aiba 7'! ,BOL%EVIKS W]E NOT FITRIDGES' ,TROTSKY OV] MANY P9TS ( BE] LEFT MU* TO BE DESIR$4 ,!RE WAS TOO MU* DREAM+ 9 \R TRANSF]5CE ( ! HEADY DAYS ( PA/ REVOLUTIONS 9 O!R PLACES TO ! SOOTY BACK/REETS & ,>NDALE C5T]S ( ,LE$S4 ,IT WAS \R [N PLACE & TIME WE %\LD HAVE BE5 TALK+ AB\T4 ,HAD ,LE$S NO HI/ORY ( ITS [N :I* MADE S5SE ( ! PRES5T8 ,ITS PEOPLE W]E DESC5DANTS ( ,LUDDITES & ,*>TI/S1 MILLBURN]S & LOOM-WRECK]S4 ,!RE HAD BE5 NO REVOLUTIONS1 WE W]E SURE ( ?AT2 BUT P]HAPS !RE HAD BE5 REVOLUTION>IES :OSE SUCCESSES & FAILURES IT W\LD PAY US BETT] TO LE>N FROM4 ,SO :5 MY FRI5D ASK$ ME IF ,I HAD HE>D ( AN>*I/S 9 PROSAIC ,WALSALL MY M9D DID A SOM]SAULT :I* IT HAD BE5 PREP>$ =1 MORE OR LESS4 ,MY 9T5TION TO WRITE A BOOK ON ! ,BRITI% AN>*I/S WAS =M$ ?AT AFT]NOON 9 ,LE$S DUR+ A CIG>ETTE BREAK \TSIDE ! UNIV]SITY LIBR>Y4 ,A LOT ( ?+S GOT 9 ! WAY1 E>N+ A LIV+ = ONE ?+1 NOT TO M5TION V>I\S AGITATIONS4 ,EV5TUALLY ! BOOK WAS WRITT54 ,AS SO MANY AU?ORS HAVE REM>K$1 IF ,I HAD KN[N :AT WAS 9VOLV$ BE=E ,I />T$1 ! BOOK MI*I/ MOVEM5T )\T EXPLA9+ ! G5]AL PHILOSOPHY ON :I* IT WAS BAS$4 ,I ?\4 ,ON REFLECTION1 H[EV]1 ,I BEGAN TO FEEL ?AT !Y MI*ISM HAS BE5 REPRES5T$ TOO (T5 AS ! PHILOSOPHICAL CRE$ ( A BUN* ( BOMB-C>RY+ NUTT]S 9 BIG BLACK HATS & CLOAKS1 PROVID+ A G5]AL JU/IFICATION = CAUS+ *AOS = ! SAKE ( IT4 ,BUT IF ,I WAS TO TRY & CORRECT ?IS IMPRESSION H[ WAS ,I TO DO IT )\T BE+ BALLS-A*+LY BOR+8 ,= IT IS AN UN=TUNATE FACT ?AT POLITICAL !ORY1 NO MATT] H[ WOR?Y OR P]CEPTIVE1 IS CURI\SLY DISEMBODI$2 IT GIVES NO CLUES TO ! PASSIONS1 ! H]OISMS OR ! SQUALID CONFLICTS ?AT IT 9SPIR$4 ,I C\LD BEG9 BY SAY+ SOME?+ LIKE 'AN>*ISM IS A POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY :I* /ATES ?AT IT IS BO? POSSIBLE & DESIRABLE TO LIVE 9 A SOCIETY BAS$ ON COOP]ATION1 NOT CO]CION1 ORGANIZ$ )\T HI]>*Y ) NO ELEM5T ( ! PR9CIPLE ( AU?ORITY'4 ,I C\LD ADD ?AT AS A HUMAN ASPIRATION 9 V>I\S GUISES IT IS AS OLD AS AU?ORITY ITSELF1 ?\< AS A POLITICALLY SELF-CONSCI\S1 SELF-DEF9$ MOVEM5T IT EM]G$ 9 ! MIDDLE ( ! N9ETE5? C5TURY4 ,IT SEEMS TO HAVE BE5 ONE RESPONSE TO ! TREATM5T ( SOCIALI/S AT ! H&S ( B\RGEOIS REVOLUTION>IES 9 ! #a#h#c-#a#h#d#h P]IOD ( REVOLUTIONS4 ,MORE SPECIFICALLY IT M>KS A REJECTION ( ! POLITICAL /RUCTURE :I* ! B\RGEOISIE S\LIAM5T>Y DEMOCRACY4 ,FROM ! E>LIE/ TIMES :5 ! ODD SOCIALI/ MITIES1 ! AN>*I/S DEVELOP$ !IR CRITICISMS & !IR ALT]NATIVES 9 P>ALLEL3 FROM ! COOP]ATIVES & /AUN* >TISAN 9DIVIDUALISM ADVOCAT$ BY ,PR\DHON ?R\< ! DEC5TRALI/ REVOLUTION>Y ACTIVISM ( ,BAKUN9 & ! SIMULTANE\SLY 9T5SE IDEALISM & F9ELY DETAIL$ PRACTICALITY ( ,KROPOTK9 TO ! 5TW9+ ( ALL !SE /R&S ) 9SURG5T TRADES UNIONISM 9 AN>*OSYNDICALISM4 ,& IT H>DLY NE$S TO BE ADD$ ?AT AN EXPANSION ( ?IS !ME W\LD FILL -- & HAS FILL$ -- MANY VOLUMES4 ,!RE IS MU* 9 ! WRIT+S ( ! AN>*I/ SAGES WOR? READ+2 YET !Y WROTE = TIMES & TO CONC]NS :I* ONLY LOOSELY APPROXIMATE TO \R [N4 ,%\LD ANYONE WI% TO READ !ORETICAL WORKS ( MORE CONTEMPOR>Y RELEVANCE1 ! WORKS ( ,MURRAY ,BOOK*91 ,PAUL ,C>DAN & ! SITUATIONI/S >E RECOMM5D$4 ,BUT ONCE ALL ?IS IS SAID1 P]HAPS ! MO/ IMPORTANT P>T REMA9S UNSAID4 ,POLITICAL CONVICTIONS 9VOLVE AN ANALYSIS ( A SITUATION ) SUGGE/IONS = *ANGE2 YET !Y DIFF] QUALITATIVELY FROM ! EMOTIONALLY NEUTRAL ATTITUDES (1 SAY1 C> ME*ANICS4 ,POLITICAL ATTITUDES >E TO DO ) ! TOTALITY ( SOCIAL BE+ -- :I* CAN ONLY BE SE5 AS A S]IES ( M]E TE*NICAL PROBLEMS AT ! RISK ( MADNESS4 ,POLITICAL CONVICTIONS 9VOLVE MU* MORE ?AN ! LOGICAL FACULTIES2 !Y 9VOLVE A /RONG EMOTIONAL COMMITM5T4 ,P]HAPS ONE REASON :Y ,I HAVE WRITT5 A BOOK AB\T ! AN>*I/ MOVEM5T IS ?AT 9 ! LIVES ( ! PEOPLE :O MADE IT ,I F9D A S5SE ( COMMUNITY ( EMOTIONAL COMMITM5T ?AT ,I CANNOT F9D 9 A HI/ORY ( !ORETICAL DEVELOPM5T4 ,WE UND]/& !ORETICAL CONVICTIONS MORE EASILY1 IT SEEMS TO ME1 :5 !Y >E PRES5T$ AS A P>TICUL> P]SONAL COMMITM5T4 ,?US1 RA!R ?AN EXP& ! !MES ( ! PREVI\S P>AGRAPH1 IT MI*ISM 'FROM ! 9SIDE'1 AS IT W]E1 BY DESCRIB+ H[ ,I BECAME AN AN>*I/4 ,I HAVE NO WAY ( KN[+ H[ TYPICAL ,I AM1 ?\<1 & ,I APOLOGIZE TO ANYONE 9 ! MOVEM5T :O ?9KS MY [N CASE IS WILDLY UNTYPICAL4 ,SOME TIME AGO ,I WAS ?R[N \T ( ,LE$S ,UNIV]SITY = FAIL+ AN EXAM9ATION4 ,I WANT$ TO *ANGE SUBJECTS ANYWAY4 ,! RESULT WAS ?AT ,I SP5T TWO YE>S WORK+ 9 ASSORT$ JOBS & GO+ TO NIODY ( ! AU?ORIT>IAN TEA*]4 ,I BELL[$ AT ! KIDS1 ,I HIT !M1 ,I DEM&$ AN OB$I5CE ,I F\ND RIDICUL\S1 ,I PREA*$ VALUES ?AT W]E NOT MY [N4 ,I HAD />T$ ! JOB AN UN?9K+ SOCIALI/ ) A REBELLI\S /REAK & 5D$ UP S\ND+ & ACT+ LIKE A PRISON W>D] -- IF NOT A P>TICUL>LY EFFECTIVE ONE4 ,SO :5 ,I WAS READMITT$ TO ! ,UNIV]SITY & WAS SP5D+ ! SUMM] BE=EH& WORK+ AT ! F> MORE CONG5IAL JOB ( CLEAN+ RAILWAY C>RIAGES ,I HAD A LOT ( ?9K+ TO DO4 ,9 ! H\SE :]E ,I HAD A ROOM !RE W]E TWO AN>*I/S4 ,QUIET & FRI5DLY !MSELVES1 ?\< P]HAPS A LITTLE TOO UN-UPRO>I\S = MY TA/E1 !IR CONV]SATION & !IR BOOK%ELVES W]E A REVELATION4 ,= ! FIR/ TIME ,I BEGAN TO SEE :AT SY/EMS ( ORD]-GIV]S & ORD]-TAK]S DID TO PEOPLE1 H[ AU?ORIT>IAN ROLES W]E 5=C$ FROM ! \TSIDE & !N MORE READILY ACCEPT$ ?R\< *RONIC P]SONAL 9SECURITY4 ,I ALSO F\ND EXAMPLES ( M5 & WOM5 :O HAD NOT ONLY OPPOS$ >BITR>Y AU?ORITY BUT HAD =MULAT$ -- & LIV$ -- ALT]NATIVES TO IT4 ,ALMO/ IMM$IATELY ,I BEGAN TO CALL MYSELF AN AN>*I/1 ?\< IT IS PROBABLY TRUE TO SAY ?AT IT TAKES A LIFETIME TO BE ONE4 ,IT WAS C]TA9LY ! CASE ?AT SOME TIME PASS$ BE=E ! UNIQUE COMB9ATION ( P]SONAL MORALITY1 POLITICAL ANALYSIS1 /RATEGY & TACTICS FULLY CAME HOME TO ME4 ,9 ! YE>S ( AGITATION ?AT FOLL[$ ,I BEGAN TO PUT PRACTICAL FLE% ON ! SIMPLE BONES ( ! IDEA ?AT MANK9D CAN LIVE )\T AU?ORITY4 ,& ?\< ! PROBLEMS 9 ! WAY ( PROGRESS T[>DS ?AT HAPPY SOCIETY HAVE PROV$ MORE DEEP-ROOT$ ?AN MY FIR/ 5?USIASM MI*I/1 9 ! PRES5T BOOK OR \T ( IT1 !RE HAS BE5 SOME PROCESS SIMIL> TO ?IS4 ,:E!R ?R\< P]SONAL EXP]I5CE OR P]SONAL OBS]VATION ( OPPRESSION OR EXPLOITATION SOMEONE JUMPS FROM CONSID]ATIONS ( DESPAIR OR PIECEMEAL DEF5SE TO ! CONCEPTION ?AT ! :OLE WORLD CAN BE MADE AGA94 ,& NOT ) 'A NEW BOSS SAME AS ! OLD BOSS' BUT A WORLD )\T ELITES1 HI]>*Y OR PRIVILEGE4 ,)\T SOME UND]/&+ ( ?IS ONE CANNOT UND]/& :AT MAKES AN>*I/S TICK & !IR WAYS WILL BE AS /RANGE TO ! UNPOLITICAL READ] AS ! WAYS ( ,M>TIANS4 ,9 ! PRES5T BOOK ,I HAVE TRI$ TO DESCRIBE ! ,BRITI% AN>*I/ MOVEM5T FROM ITS ORIG9S 9 #ahh OR !REAB\TS TO ITS MORE OR LESS TOTAL ECLIPSE BY AB\T #a#i#c4 7,?\< IT IS WOR? PO9T+ \T ?AT ! MOVEM5T DID PICK UP AGA9 RAPIDLY 9 ! LAT] #a#i#cS1 MA9LY ?R\< ! 9FLU5CE ( ! AN>*I/ CONTRIBUTION TO ! ,SPANI% ,CIVIL ,W> & ,REVOLUTION ( #a#i#c#f-#a#i#c#i4 ,?IS LAT] P]IOD IS /ILL A MATT] ( LIV+ REM9ISC5CE RA!R ?AN HI/ORY47 ,?AT ! ,BRITI% AN>*I/ MOVEM5T WAS A SMALL ONE COMP>$ TO ! MASS MOVEM5TS ( ,SPA9 OR ,FRANCE CANNOT BE D5I$4 ,YET ?\< NEV] A MASS MOVEM5T1 :5 IT WAS 9 TUNE ) ITS TIMES IT HAD P]IODS ( QUITE EXTRAORD9>Y GR[?4 ,!SE P]IODS ( GR[? RAISE SOME 9T]E/+ QU]IES AS TO H[ HI/ORIES ( ! 'COMMON PEOPLE' OR ! 'WORK+ CLASS' HAVE BE5 RELAT$4 ,= ! CONV5TIONAL WISDOM ( 'PEOPLE'S HI/ORY' OV] ! GREAT] P>T ( \R P]IOD HAS SE5 ! SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPM5TS 9 ! EM]G5CE ( 9/ITUTIONS1 MO/ P>TICUL>LY ! TRADES UNIONS & ! ,LABOR ,P>TY4 7,A SMALL] GR\P HAVE RA!R CONC5TRAT$ ON A SMALL] 9/ITUTION1 ! ,COMMUNI/ ,P>TY47 ,!RE IS NO PO9T 9 AN>*I/ HI/ORIANS TRY+ TO FABRICATE AN>*I/ 9/ITUTIONS 9 OPPOSITION TO !SE -- !RE IS NO EVID5CE ?AT ANY EXI/$4 ,AN>*ISM 9 ,BRITA9 HAD AS ITS HI< SPOTS ! TWO P]IODS ( GREAT WORK+-CLASS UNRE/ ?AT OCCURR$ 9 \R P]IOD -- #a#h#h#i-#a#h#i#d & #a#i#a-#a#i#a#i4 ,\TSIDE !SE P]IODS1 9/ITUTIONS =M$ & TRANS=M$ 9 !M REPRES5T A TIDEM>K R\ND ! BA? ( HI/ORY AFT] ! WAT]S ( REVOLT HAVE SUBSID$4 ,! AN>*I/S1 ON ! O!R H&1 W]E ( ! MOM5T1 A P>T ( ?AT REVOLT1 SU/A9$ BY IT1 FE$+ IDEAS 9TO IT1 GR[+ & SUBSID+ ) IT4 ,! =MS ( ! MOVEM5T W]E %IFT+ & DEC5TRALIZ$1 MAK+ IT RA!R DIFFICULT TO P9 D[N NUMB]S1 EV5TS & ! P>TICUL> ACTIVI/S 9VOLV$ & =C+ ! HI/ORIAN TO RELY ON MYRIAD SNIPPETS ( 9=MATION4 ,NEV]!LESS IT IS POSSIBLE TO SAY ?AT ! AN>*I/ MOVEM5T EM]GES 9 ITS MOM5TS ( /R5G? AS ( AT LEA/ EQUAL IMPORTANCE TO ?AT ( ! ,M>XI/ GR\P+S4 ,MORE IMPORTANTLY1 IT CALLS 9TO QUE/ION ! VALIDITY ( A HI/ORY :I* CONSID]S ONLY ! 9/ITUTIONAL SUP]/RUCTURE ( WORK+-CLASS ACTIVITY ) LITTLE OR NO ATT5TION GIV5 TO ! EBB & FL[ ( ?AT ACTIVITY ITSELF4 ,AN>*ISM1 SO (T5 CALL$ 'UTOPIAN' OR 'UNREALI/IC'1 W\LD SEEM TO EM]GE AS A PRACTICAL CRE$ :5 ! MASSES MOVE & SUDD5LY FEEL !IR P[]4 ,IT IS AS A MOVEM5T 9 RELATION TO ! EBB & FL[ ( POPUL> REVOLT ?AT ?IS BOOK CONC]NS ITSELF ) ! ,BRITI% AN>*I/S4 ,ONLY 9 RELATION TO ?IS DOES IT CONSID] AN>*I/ PHILOSOPHY & ITS PHILOSOPH]S4 ,IT CONC]NS ITSELF ) ! AN>*I/ IDEAS TAK5 UP BY PEOPLE TRY+ TO SEIZE SOME CONTROL OV] !IR [N LIVES4 ,REC5T YE>S HAVE SE5 ! REISSUE ( MANY ( ! AN>*I/ 'CLASSICS' ( \R P]IOD1 TOGE!R ) ASSORT$ ATTEMPTS TO ASSESS AN>*I/ IDEAS ( A RA!R PAT*Y QUALITY4 ,I HAVE NO WI% TO 5T] ?IS FIELD4 ,?IS BOOK IS CONC]N$ ) ! ACTIVE SPREAD+ ( AN>*I/ PROPAG&A & ! NATURE ( DAY-TO-DAY AN>*I/ ACTIVITY4 ,?US !RE IS LITTLE AB\T ,KROPOTK9 AFT] #a#h#i1 ?\< HIS MAJOR !ORETICAL \TPUT WAS AFT] ?IS DATE4 ,!RE IS B>ELY A M5TION ( LIT]ATI ( ! ,OSC> ,WILDE-TYPE :O HAVE CONNECT$ !MSELVES OR HAVE BE5 GRATUIT\SLY CONNECT$ ) ! MOVEM5T4 ,?IS WAS NOT MY 9T5TION :5 ,I />T$ ! BOOK2 YET AS ,I FOSSICK$ ?R\< ! LIT]ATURE & O!R MAT]IAL CONNECT$ ) ! MOVEM5T ,I F\ND LITTLE TO 5C\RAGE !IR 9CLUSION4 ,?IS IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE AS ,KROPOTK9 REM>KS3 ,SOCIALI/IC LIT]ATURE HAS NEV] BE5 RI* 9 BOOKS4 ,IT IS WRITT5 = WORK]S = :OM ONE P5NY IS MONEY1 & ITS MA9 =CE LIES 9 ITS SMALL PAMPHLETS & ITS NEWSPAP]S4 ,MOREOV]1 HE :O SEEKS = 9=MATION AB\T SOCIALISM F9DS 9 BOOKS LITTLE ( :AT HE REQUIRES MO/4 ,!Y CONTA9 ! !ORIES OR ! SCI5TIFIC >GUM5TS 9 FAVOR ( SOCIALI/ ASPIRATIONS1 BUT !Y GIVE NO IDEA H[ ! WORK]S ACCEPT SOCIALI/ IDEALS & H[ !Y C\LD PUT !M 9TO PRACTICE4 ,!RE REMA9S NO?+ BUT TO TAKE COLLECTIONS ( PAP]S & READ !M ALL ?R\< -- ! NEWS AS WELL AS ! LEAD+ >TICLES -- ! =M]1 P]HAPS1 EV5 MORE ?AN ! LATT]4 ,QUITE A NEW WORLD ( SOCIAL RELATIONS & ME?ODS ( ?\E IMBU$ ) ! NEW !ORIES1 !IR READ9ESS TO C>RY !M \T 9 !IR DAILY LIFE & TO SUFF] = !M4.<#a.> ,MY EXP]I5CE 9 WRIT+ ?IS BOOK ABSOLUTELY CONFIRM$ ,KROPOTK9'S JUDGM5T4 ,9 ?IS 0NEW WORLD ( SOCIAL RELATIONS & ME?ODS ( ?\*I/ MOVEM5T >E EXTREMELY SCATT]$ NO C5TRAL COMMITTEE M9UTES EXI/ BECAUSE !RE WAS NEV] A C5TRAL COMMITTEE2 EV5 QUITE L>GE CIRCULATION PAP]S CAN ONLY BE READ 9 SEQU5CE BY FOLL[+ FUGITIVE ODD COPIES FROM LIBR>Y TO LIBR>Y4 ,! RESULT ( RESE>* IS A L>GE RAGG$ JIGSAW ) LOTS ( PIECES MISS+1 MO/ CONV9C+LY LIFELIKE 9 ITS CONFUSION4 ,9EVITABLY SELECTIONS HAVE TO BE MADE1 LOOSE 5DS IGNOR$ OR *OPP$ (F %ORT TO PRES5T SOME SEMBLANCE ( A R\ND$-\T /ORY4 ,IT IS TRUE ?AT !RE >E DANG]S TO AN OV]-CUT & DRI$ HI/ORY2 IT IS PROBABLY TRUE TO SAY TOO ?AT ANY HI/ORY ( ANY SOCIAL MOVEM5T SUFF]S FROM TOO MU* /RUCTURE4 ,YET :5 ! RAW DOCUM5T>Y /UFF ( HI/ORY IS CONFRONT$1 A WELT] ( FRAGM5TS1 /ORIES1 BIOGRAPHIES1 MOVEM5TS1 CONC]NS & EV5TS BUR/ OV] ! HI/ORIAN4 ,& ,I1 LIKE ALL ! RE/1 HAVE SELECT$ & /RUCTUR$ & = ALL MY ATTEMPT$ OBJECTIVITY HAVE D\BTLESS CON/RUCT$ A PIECE ( ! PA/ 9 MY [N IMAGE4 ,! ONLY WAY = 9T]E/$ READ]S TO CORRECT ?IS IS TO FOSSICK ?R\< ! LIBR>IES1 ETC41 9 ORD] TO CON/RUCT A V]SION ( !IR [N4 ,( ONE ?+1 H[EV]1 ,I AM C]TA93 !RE WILL NEV] BE A F9AL V]SION4 ,JOHN ,QUAIL ,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 ,*RONOLOGY 3 ,FEBRU>Y #a#b1 #bba 3 ,A ,P]SONAL ,9TRODUCTION -- ,ADD$4 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3 HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/