,VIVE ,LA ,COMMUNE6 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,AN>*I/ ,F$]ATION 

,TEXT 3 

,SEV5TY YE>S AGO ! ,COMMUNI/ GOV]NM5T L$ BY ,L59 & ,TROTSKY 9TRODUC$ !IR ,NEW ,ECONOMIC ,POLICY1 A MEASURE :I* />T$ ! FREE M>KET 9 AGRICULTURE & SECTIONS ( 9DU/RY4 ,TODAY1 ,GORBA*EV & HIS SUPPORT]S >E ONCE AGA9 TRY+ TO E/ABLI% A LATT] DAY V>IANT3 ! FREE M>KET IS CELEBRAT$ AFT] DECADES ( ! COMM& ECONOMY4 ,ALWAYS ANXI\S TO BASE NEW MOVES ON ! BASIS ( ,M>XI/-,L59I/ PREC$5CE1 WE CAN EXPECT ! ,KREML9 TO HI<LI<T ! ANNIV]S>Y ( ! ,N,E,P ) BANQUETS & O!R CELEBRATIONS4 

,:AT WILL NOT BE CELEBRAT$1 WE CAN BE SURE1 IS ! S+LE EV5T ?AT MADE ,L59'S ,N,E,P SO URG5T3 ! UPRIS+ BY SOLDI]S1 SAILORS & CIVILIANS AT ! ,SOVIET NAVAL BASE AT ,KRON/ADT4 #aiia IS ALSO ! ANNIV]S>Y ( ! ,P>IS ,COMMUNE :I* TOOK PLACE 9 #a#h#g#a1 FIFTY YE>S BE=E ,KRON/ADT4 ,?IS >TICLE WILL EXAM9E SOME ( ! ISSUES 9VOLV$ 9 !SE TWO COMMUNE MOVEM5TS & CON/RUCTION ( AN>*I/ COMMUNI/ SOCIETIES4 

,BO? ! ,KRON/ADT & ,P>IS ,COMMUNES %>E SOME 9T]E/+ FEATURES & TELL US A GREAT DEAL AB\T ! /ATES :I* DR[N$ !M BO? 9 BLOOD AFT] ONLY A FEW WEEKS ( EXI/5CE4 

,9SPIRATION 

  

,! ,P>IS ,COMMUNE PROVID$ REVOLUTION>IES ) AN EXAMPLE ( ! POSSIBILITIES 9H]5T 9 SPONTANE\S POPUL> SELF-ACTIVITY4 ,?\< DEFEAT$1 IT 9SPIR$ AN>*I/S1 9CLUD+ ,BAKUN91 :O CLAIM$ IT AS !IR [N4 ,EV5 ,M>X1 :O HAD HI!RTO EMPHASIZ$ ! NECESSITY ( 0POLITICAL0 I4E4 P>LIAM5T>Y /RUGGLE1 TEMPOR>ILY ADOPT$ AN ALMO/ LIB]T>IAN POSITION ON ! ,COMMUNE4 ,! ,COMMUN>DS1 HE DECL>$ LYRICALLY1 0HAVE /ORM$ HEAV50 &1 ?\< C>EFUL NOT TO AB&ON ! CONCEPT ( PROLET>IAN DICTATOR%IP1 ,M>X & ,5GELS ID5TIFI$ ?AT DICTATOR%IP ) ! SELF-ACTIVITY ( ! MASSES ?AT ! ,COMMUNE BR\<T AB\T4 

,L591 IRONICALLY1 WAS = A BRIEF P]IOD BE=E ! ,OCTOB] REVOLUTION 5?USIA/IC AB\T ! ,P>IS ,COMMUNE1 ADVOCAT+ ! CREATION 9 ,RUSSIA ( ! 0,COMMUNE ,/ATE04 ,H[EV]1 ,M>X'S1 ,L59'S & ,5GELS'S LIB]T>IANISM W]E EXTREMELY TEMPOR>Y4 ,L59 9 P>TICUL> SOON AB&ON$ ! SUP]FICIAL LIB]T>IANISM ( HIS 0,/ATE & ,REVOLUTION0 & IMPOS$ AN IRON DICTATOR%IP ( ! ,P>TY & ,*EKA 7SECRET POLICE74 ,HAV+ PRAIS$ ! ,P>IS ,COMMUNE = ITS LIB]T>IAN SELF-ACTIVITY1 HE SUBSEQU5TLY CRU%$ ,RUSSIA'S HOMEGR[N V>IANT3 ,KRON/ADT4 

,EXAMPLE 

  

,:AT DID ! ,P>IS ,COMMUNE A*IEVE8 ,FIR/LY IT CREAT$ A POPUL> >MY FROM ! RANKS ( DISAFFECT$ GOV]NM5T SOLDI]S & ! >M$ POPULACE ( ,P>IS4 ,?\< ULTIMATELY DEFEAT$ BY ! =CES ( ! /ATE1 IT F\<T VALIANTLY FROM /REET TO /REET UNTIL ! F9AL SURR5D]4 ,MILIT>ILY1 ! ,COMMUNE MADE ! /RATEGIC BLUND] ( AWAIT+ ! GOV]NM5T ATTACK ON ,P>IS4 ,HAD IT MET ! 9VAD+ >MY SOME WAY \TSIDE ,P>IS ! \TCOME MI<T HAVE BE5 V]Y DIFF]5T4 ,BUT1 AS A MODEL ( MILIT>Y ORGANIZATION1 ! ,COMMUNE GAVE US ! PEOPLE'S OR WORK]S' MILITIA AS AN ALT]NATIVE TO ! /&+ >MY :I* ACTS AS GU>DIANS ( \R OPPRESSORS4 

,ON ! SOCIAL LEVEL ! ,COMMUNE C>RI$ \T A NUMB] ( RE=MS4 ,IT WAS EXTREMELY EGALIT>IAN1 FIX+ A MODE/ UPP] LIMIT ON E>N+S = S]VANTS ( ! ,COMMUNE4 ,?OSE EMPLOY]S :O HAD FL$ ,P>IS W]E EXPROPRIAT$ & ! WORK%OPS W]E RUN BY ! WORK]S4 ,?IS LATT] DEVELOPM5T WAS ( CRUCIAL IMPORTANCE S9CE IT DEMON/RAT$ ! FEASIBILITY ( ORD9>Y WORK+ PEOPLE TAK+ CONTROL ( PRODUCTION !MSELVES4 ,SIMIL>LY1 ! QUE/ION ( DI/RIBUTION WAS PLAC$ 9 ! H&S ( ! ,P>IS MASSES4 ,9 ADDITION1 :]EAS B\RGEOIS 0DEMOCRACY0 EFFECTIVELY REMOVES ANY DECISION-MAK+ FROM ! PEOPLE1 ! ,COMMUNE DE/ROY$ POLITICAL HI]>*Y & 9ITIAT$ A SY/EM ( DELEGATE DEMOCRACY4 ,DELEGATE DEMOCRACY GAVE ! WORK]S A DIRECT SAY 9 ! ADM9I/RATION ( !IR EV]YDAY LIVES BY :I* ELECT$ DELEGATES W]E M&AT$ TO C>RY \T !IR WI%ES & W]E SUBJECT TO DISMISSAL %\LD !Y FAIL TO DO SO4 

,! ,COMMUNE 9 ITS DAY TO DAY ACTIVITY C>RI$ \T A NUMB] ( *ANGES :I* /EMM$ FROM !IR EV]YDAY OPPRESSION4 ,= EXAMPLE1 NI<T WORK WAS ABOLI%$ = ! BAK]S ( ,P>IS4 ,! ,P>ISIANS W\LD HAVE TO WAIT = !IR BREAD6 ,PAWN %OPS1 :I* W]E SE5 AS EXPLOITATIVE1 W]E CLOS$ D[N & ! *UR* :I* HAD PLAY$ ! ROLE ( IDEOLOGICAL OPPRESSOR ( ! MASSES WAS DISE/ABLI%$1 ITS PROP]TY SOCIALIZ$ & ITS 9VOLVEM5T 9 $UCATION T]M9AT$4 

,!SE MEASURES1 ?\< 9ADEQUATE FROM AN AN>*I/ COMMUNI/ P]SPECTIVE1 W]E ALL P>T ( A ?OR\<LY PROGRESSIVE & ANTICAPITALI/ POPUL> SOCIAL EXP]IM5T4 ,AN>*I/S W\LD TODAY P]HAPS PO9T \T ! LIMITATIONS ( ! ,COMMUNE1 = EXAMPLE ! CONT9UATION ( ! WAGES SY/EM & ! 9TRODUCTION ( ! COOP]ATIVE AS AN ALT]NATIVE TO PRIVATE CAPITALISM4 ,H[EV]1 HAD ! ,COMMUNE NOT FALL5 & HAD ! MODEL BE5 ADOPT$ ELSE:]E 9 ,FRANCE 7& ABROAD71 A MORE ?OR\<-GO+ F$]ATION ( COMMUNES MI<T HAVE >IS5 TO REPLACE ! NATION-/ATE4 

,LA/ ,GASP 

  

,! ,P>IS ,COMMUNE >OSE 9 RESPONSE TO A CONS]VATIVE B\RGEOIS CAPITALI/ /ATE1 DET]M9$ TO MA9TA9 ITS P[] 9 A P]IOD ( W>4 ,! ,KRON/ADT ,COMMUNE1 9 CONTRA/1 >OSE AT ! 5D ( A P]IOD ( CIVIL W>4 ,BUT AGA91 IT WAS ! LIB]T>IAN EXPRESSION ( REVOLUTION>IES EXASP]AT$ BY ! ACTIVITIES ( A DICTATORIAL /ATE4 ,! ,BOL%EVIK SEIZURE ( P[] 9 ,OCTOB] #aiag HAD BE5 C>RI$ \T 9 ! NAME ( ! SOVIETS OR WORK]S C\NCILS :I* HAD SPRUNG UP SPONTANE\SLY E>LI] 9 ! YE>4 ,! ,BOL%EVIKS V]Y QUICKLY CREAT$ A HI<LY AU?ORIT>IAN POLICE /ATE :I* BY E>LY #aiba HAD ABOLI%$ VIRTUALLY ALL POLITICAL ACTIVITY EXCEPT ?AT ( !MSELVES4 

,! P]IOD FROM ,OCTOB] #aiag TO #aiba HAD BE5 ONE ( CONT9UAL CIVIL W> :I* HAD SAPP$ ! MORALE ( EV5 ! /ATE'S MO/ 5?USIA/IC SUPPORT]S4 ,H[EV]1 RA!R ?AN H>NESS POPUL> ANTI-CAPITALI/ FEEL+1 ! GOV]NM5T /ROVE TO H>NESS IT )9 ITS [N IDEOLOGICAL & ORGANIZATIONAL /RAI<T-JACKET4 ,IT WAS AGA9/ ?IS SY/EM ?AT ! ,KRON/ADT SAILORS 70! FL[] ( ! REVOLUTION01 ACCORD+ TO ,TROTSKY7 ROSE UP4 ,! ,BOL%EVIKS BR\<T 9TO BE+ A DICTATOR%IP :I* EXTORT$ PRODUCE FROM ! PEASANTS AT GUNPO9T1 :I* 5SLAV$ WORK]S UND] A HI]>*Y ( POLITICAL COMMIS>S & :I* GRANT$ PRIVILEGES ( EXTRA FOOD RATIONS & ACCOMMODATION TO ,COMMUNI/ ,P>TY MEMB]S4 ,! :OLE P]V]T$ SY/EM ( RE/RICTIONS & /ATE CORRUPTION 7!RE W]E OV] #e LEVELS ( FOOD ALLOCATION1 DEP5D+ ON RANK7 WAS DOCUM5T$ BY ,EMMA ,GOLDMAN 9 VOLUME TWO ( H] AUTOBIOGRAPHY4 ,9CID5TALLY1 ?IS IS N[ *EAPLY AVAILABLE FROM ,FRE$OM ,BOOKS & %\LD BE READ BY ANYONE 9T]E/$ 9 ! 0COMMUNISM0 ( ! P]IOD4 

,IT WAS 9 ! ,BALTIC FLEET ?AT ! ORIG9AL IDEALS ( ! CLOS+ MON?S ( #aiag W]E RETA9$ 9 !IR /RONGE/ =M4 ,DESPITE ATTEMPTS TO CONDEMN ! ,KRON/ADT]S AS ,:ITES OR BACKW>D PEASANTS OR WORSE1 ALL ( :I* HAVE S9CE BE5 %[N TO BE FALSE1 !RE IS NO D\BT ?AT !Y WANT$ A LIB]T>IAN SOCIETY CONTROLL$ BY ! WORK+ CLASS ?R\< !IR [N ASSEMBLIES4 ,AT ! NAVAL BASE & ON ! %IPS ! SAILORS HELD MASS MEET+S TO =MULATE !IR DEM&S4 ,!SE W]E SUMM$ UP MO/ CLE>LY 9 ! 0,PETROPAVLOVSK REVOLUTION04 

,SOVIETS 

  

,F> FROM BE+ C\NT]REVOLUTION>Y1 ! DEM&S ( ! ,KRON/ADT ,COMMUNE CONT9U$ A TRADITION ?AT W5T BACK AT LEA/ TO #aie :5 ,RUSSIAN WORK]S FIR/ BR\<T AB\T ! REALITY ( ! SOVIET4 ,9 FACT1 ! FIR/ DEM& CALL$ = 0IMM$IATE NEW ELECTIONS TO ! SOVIETS0 :I* HAD BY !N BECOME M]E RUBB] /AMPS ( ! GOV]NM5T BUREAUCRACY1 BE+ TOTALLY DEVOID ( ANY 9DEP5D5T LIFE :ATSOEV]4 

,! ,KRON/ADT]S ALSO WANT$ TO SEE A RE/ITUTION ( PROLET>IAN FRE$OM :I* HAD BE5 SY/EMATICALLY ELIM9AT$ BY ! ,BOL%EVIKS S9CE #a#i#a#h4 ,! COMMUN>DS HAD ABSOLUTELY NO DESIRE = ANY RE/ORATION ( P[] TO ! EXPLOIT]S1 BUT FRE$OM ( SPEE* & ASSEMBLY = ! PEASANTS1 WORK]S & !IR POLITICAL ALLIES WAS AN IMPORTANT DEM&4 ,?IS ATTEMPT TO RE/ORE ! FRE$OM ( ! PRE-,OCTOB] DAYS WAS ( SOME URG5CY S9CE IT WAS NOT ONLY ! B\RGEOISIE :O W]E TO BE F\ND 9 ! PRISONS3 VIRTUALLY ! :OLE ( ! NON-,BOL%EVIK LEFT HAD BE5 9C>C]AT$4 

,9 REALITY1 A :OLE DICTATORIAL1 OPPRESSIVE /ATE SY/EM HAD BE5 BR\<T 9TO BE+ BY ,L59 & HIS P>TY4 ,!IR KNEE-J]K RESPONSE TO ANY DIFFICULTY :I* >OSE AFT] !IR SEIZURE ( P[] WAS TO TI<T5 ! SCREW FUR!R3 REPRESSION1 BUREAUCRACY & CONTROL W]E ! ME?ODS US$4 ,A PLEASANT IRONY 9 ALL ( ?IS IS ?AT ,L59 DI$ A DEEPLY UNHAPPY MAN ONCE HE BELAT$LY REALIZ$ ! REALITY ( HIS ,FRANK5/E9 SOCIETY4 ,NOT ONLY WAS ,L59'S ,RUSSIA A DICTATOR%IP BUT IT WAS ALSO AN EXTREMELY HI]>*ICAL ONE4 ,B\RGEOIS PRIVILEGE HAD GIV5 WAY TO ! PRIVILEGES ( ! 0COMMIS>OCRACY04 ,NOT SURPRIS+LY1 ! SAILORS ( ,KRON/ADT DEM&$ ! 0EQUALIZATION ( RATIONS0 = ALL WORK]S EXCEPT ?OSE 5GAG$ 9 DANG]\S OR UNHEAL?Y JOBS4 

,!RE IS NO D\BT ?AT ! 9SURRECTION>IES HAD HAD A GUTFUL ( ! ,BOL%EVIKS & !IR ME?ODS4 ,ONLY ! OV]?R[ ( ! ,BOL%EVIKS & !IR REPLACEM5T BY ORGANS ( SELF-ORGANIZ$ PRODUCTION TOGE!R ) ! GRANT+ ( FRE$OM TO >TISANS & PEASANTS 7AS LONG AS !Y DIDN'T HIRE LABOR7 C\LD RETRIEVE ! SITUATION1 >GU$ ! ,KRON/&T]S4 ,BUT ! ,KRON/ADT DEM&S1 EV5 ?\< !Y HAD BE5 M\!D BY ! ,BOL%EVIKS !MSELVES1 W]E MET UNSURPRIS+LY ) REPRESSION & SL&]4 ,LIKE ! COMMUN>DS ( ,P>IS1 ?OSE ( ,KRON/ADT PUT UP BITT] RESI/ANCE TO ! /ATE'S BULLY+ & MILIT>Y ASSAULT4 ,) ! DE/RUCTION ( ?IS LA/ BREA? ( #aiag DI$ ! LA/ HOPE ( ,RUSSIA'S OPPRESS$4 ,ONLY N[ IS !RE ANY SIGN ( A REBIR? ( LIB]T>IAN IDEALS4 

,SELF-,ORGANIZATION 

  

,! ,P>IS & ,KRON/ADT ,COMMUNES W]E EXPRESSIONS ( WORK+ CLASS SELF-ACTIVITY :I* CONT9UE TO PROVIDE 9SPIRATION4 ,M>XI/-,L59I/-,TROTSKYI/ GR\PS WILL CYNICALLY 9VOKE ! =M] :5 IT SUITS !M :IL/1 9CONSI/5TLY1 CONDEMN+ ,KRON/ADT AS C\NT]REVOLUTION>Y4 ,IF !Y >E P>TICUL>LY HYPOCRITICAL !Y WILL CRY CROCODILE TE>S OV] ! DE/RUCTION ( ,KRON/ADT1 PO9T+ TO ! 0TRAGIC NECESSITY0 ( IT ALL4 

,BUT WE AN>*I/ COMMUNI/S SEE 9 ! COMMUNE A SKET* ( H[ SOCIETY C\LD BE ORGANIZ$4 ,! COMMUNE MODEL PROVIDES AN ORGANIZATIONAL BASIS = CREAT+ SELF-DIRECT+1 9TEGRAT$ UNITS :I* :5 F$]AT$ ) SIMIL> BODIES C\LD HAVE A NATIONAL & EV5 9T]NATIONAL *>ACT]4 ,! ,P>IS & ,KRON/ADT ,COMMUNES W]E BO? BR\<T AB\T UND] EXTREMELY DIFFICULT CIRCUM/ANCES & LA/$ ONLY = A MATT] ( WEEKS4 ,DESPITE !IR PREOCCUPATION ( SURVIVAL1 !Y DEMON/RAT$ ! PRACTICABILITY ( ! COMMUNE AS AN ORGANIZATIONAL =M :I* G5]AT$ ! MAXIMUM LEVEL ( FRE$OM1 SOLID>ITY & EQUALITY4 ,! COMMUNE AS A GEOGRAPHICAL 5TITY CAN ACCOMMODATE BO? COMMUNITY & WORKPLACE AN>*Y4 ,IT IS A MODEL = ! FUTURE4 

7,S\RCE3 ,RETRIEV$ ON ,APRIL #b#f1 #bac FROM WEB4>*IVE4ORG47 

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

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #a#f1 #bbb 3 ,VIVE ,LA ,COMMUNE6 -- ,ADD$4 

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