Everyone knows the 'game in which one child has to find a thing hidden by the rest whilst he was out of the room. He guesses the whereabouts of the concealed article by the shouts of the others, who cry "Cold," "Warm," "Hot," "Very hot," as be draws nearer and nearer to the hiding-place. If the workers keep a close watch on the fears of their masters they may gain some such clue for their own guidance in their search for the true cause of their degradation and wretchedness.
They may observe, for instance, that the Powers that be take demands for extension of the franchise with much calmness. Reform of municipalities, of the pension list, of the civil service, three acres and a cow, leasehold enfranchisement, employer's liability, even a... (From: AnarchyArchives.)
Source: web.infinito.it/utenti/c/communism/classici/bordigen.htm; Translation: in Communist Program, No.5, June 1979; HTML Markup: Andy Blunden 2003.
I
1. Communism is the doctrine of the social and historical
preconditions for the emancipation of the proletariat.
The elaboration of this doctrine began in the period of the
first proletarian movements against the effects of the bourgeois system of
production. It took shape in the Marxist critique of the capitalist economy,
the method of historical materialism, the theory of class struggle and the
conception of the development which will take place in the historical process
of the fall of the capitalist regime and the proletarian revolution.
2. It is on the basis of this doct... (From: Marxists.org.)
Source: “Tasks of Trade Unions.” Pravda January 25, 1921; Translated: for marxists.org in 2004 by Barbara C. Allen; HTML Markup: by Andy Blunden.
General Tenets
1. The role and tasks of trade unions in the transitional period have been precisely and clearly defined by recommendations of the All-Russian congresses of trade unions. The first All-Russian congress of trade unions in January 1918 defined the tasks of trade unions thus: “the center of gravity of unions’ work at the present time must be in the area of economic organization. [Trade unions] must assume the main work of the organization of production and reformation of the undermined productive forces of the country.”
The second congress in Februa... (From: Marxists.org.)
Anarchism, n. 1. The doctrine that a stateless society is possible and desirable. Obsolete. 2. Rule by anarchists.
Anarchism, properly understood, has nothing to do with standards and values in a moral sense. Morality is to the mind what the state is to society: an alien and alienating limitation on liberty, and an inversion of ends and means. For anarchists, standards and values are best understood — that is, they are most useful — as approximations, shortcuts, conveniences. They may summarize a certain practical wisdom won by social experience. Then again, they may be the self-serving dictates of authority, or once-useful formulations which, in changed circumstances, no longer serve any anarchist purpose, or any goo... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.)
Source: Alexandra Kollontai, Selected Writings, Allison & Busby, 1977; Translated: by Alix Holt, 1972; First published: Kommunistka, No.s 12-12, 1921;
Family and marriage are historical categories. phenomena which develop in accordance with the economic relations that exist at the given level of production. The form of marriage and of the family is thus determined by the economic system of the given epoch, and it changes as the economic base of society changes. The family. in the same way. as government, religion. science, morals. law and customs, is part of the. superstructure which derives from the economic system of society.
Where economic functions are performed by the family rather than by society as a whole, family and marital ... (From: Marxists.org.)
Groucho Marxism, the theory of comedic revolution is much more than a blueprint for crass struggle: like a red light in a window, it illuminates humanity’s inevitable destiny, the declasse society. G-Marxism is the theory of permanent revelry. (Down boy! There, that’s a good dogma.)
The example of the Marx Brothers themselves shows the unity of Marxist theory and practice (for instance, when Groucho insults somebody while Harpo picks his pocket). Moreover, Marxism is dialectical (isn’t Chico the classic dialect comedian?). Comedians who fail to synthesize theory and practice (to say nothing of those who fail to sin at all) are un-Marxist. Subsequent comedians, failing to grasp that separation is “the discret... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.)
(This article coauthored with Murray Bookchin)
When “Realism” Becomes Capitulation Action from principle, the perception and the performance of right, changes things and relations; it is essentially revolutionary, and does not consist wholly with anything which was. — Thoreau Ever since the debate between social ecology and deep ecology broke out in the summer of 1987, various individuals have taken it upon themselves to attempt to reconcile the two approaches and produce what they feel is a higher synthesis. Social ecology and deep ecology, however, are incommensurable, for several basic reasons. Deep ecologists differ among themselves as to the content of their approach, which often renders deep ecology itsel... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.)
Publication: Southern Advocate for Workers' Councils, No. 33, May 1947, p. 2-3; Transcribed: by David Walters/Greg Adargo, December, 2001.
I. Capitalism in one century of growth has enormously
increased its power, not only through expansion over the entire earth, but also
through development into new forms. With it the working class has
increased in power, in numbers, in massal concentration, in organization. Its
fight against capitalist exploitation, for mastery over the means of production,
also is continually developing and has to develop into new forms.
The development of capitalism led to the concentration of power over the
chief branches of production in the hands of big monopolistic concerns. They are
intimately connect... (From: Marxists.org.)
Submitted to the 1902 Convention of the Société Française de
Philosophie,
by Georges Sorel
1) For investigating a period (of history) it is of great advantage to find out how
society is divided in classes; the latter are distinguished by the essential legal
concepts connected with the way in which incomes are formed in each group.
2) It is advisable to dismiss all atomistic explanations; it is not worthwhile to
inquire how the links between individual psychologies are formed. What can be observed
directly are those links themselves, that which refers to the masses. The thoughts and
activities of individuals are fully understandable only by their connection with the
movements of the masses.
3) M... (From: Marxists.org.)
Theses, October 2000, and Discussion
These “theses” were written in October, 2000, shortly after the beginning of the new Palestinian uprising, or Intifada, and were posted on The Utopian website. Along with the theses, we are reprinting a comment by Wayne Price and my response, which were also posted on the site.
Since the theses were written, a good deal has changed. Hundreds more have died. The Barak government in Israel was voted out and a coalition headed by Ariel Sharon took office—strengthening what I see as Sharon’s strategy of blocking agreement on the establishment of a truncated Palestinian state. The Bush Administration in the U.S. backed Israeli positions somewhat more than the Clinton Administration... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.)