,REFLECTIONS ON ,DEC5TRALISM #aifi ,PEOPLE 3 ,AU?OR 3 ,GEORGE ,WOODCOCK ,TEXT 3 ,PHOTO BY ,JESSICA1,C,C ,B,Y-,N,C-,N,D ,LIC5SE ,I WAS ASK$ TO WRITE ON DEC5TRALISM 9 HI/ORY1 & ,I F9D MYSELF LOOK+ 9TO %AD[S :]E SMALL LI LIKE ,AUD5'S MESSAGES ( ! JU/4 ,! HI/ORY ( DEC5TRALISM HAS TO BE WRITT5 L>GELY 9 NEGATIVE1 9 W9T]S & TWILIIAN BELIEFS 9 G5]AL1 IS NOT OBS]V$ 9 PROGRESSIVE T]MS4 ,IT IS NOT ! HI/ORY ( A MOVEM5T1 AN EVOLUTION4 ,IT IS ! HI/ORY ( SOME?+ ?AT1 LIKE GRASS1 HAS BE5 ) US FROM ! HUMAN BEG9N+1 SOME?+ ?AT MAY GO TO E>?1 LIKE BULBS 9 W9T]1 & YET BE !RE ALWAYS1 9 ! D>K SOIL ( HUMAN SOCIETY1 TO BREAK =? 9 UNEXPECT$ PLACES & AT UNDISCIPL9$ TIMES4 ,PALEOLI?IC MAN1 FOOD-GA!R] & HUNT]1 WAS A DEC5TRALI/ BY NECESSITY1 BECAUSE ! E>? DID NOT PROVIDE 5\< WILD FOOD TO ALL[ CR[D+1 & 9 MOD]N REMOT5ESSES ?AT W]E TOO WILD OR UNPRODUCTIVE = CIVILIZ$ M5 TO P5ETRATE1 M5 /ILL LIV$ UNTIL V]Y REC5TLY 9 PRIMITIVE DEC5TRALISM3 ,AU/RALIAN ABORIG9ES1 ,PAPUAN 9L& VILLAG]S1 ,ESKIMOS 9 NOR!RN ,CANADA4 ,SU* M5 DEVELOP$1 BE=E HI/ORY T\*$ !M1 !IR [N COMPLEX TE*NIQUES & CULTURES TO DEF5D A PRIMITIVE & PREC>I\S WAY ( LIFE2 !Y (T5 DEVELOP$ REM>KABLE >TI/IC TRADITIONS AS WELL1 SU* AS ?OSE ( ! ,9DIANS ( ! ,PACIFIC RA9 =E/S & SOME GR\PS ( ,ESKIMOS4 ,BUT1 S9CE !IR WORLD WAS ONE :]E CONC5TRATION MEANT SC>CITY & DEA?1 !Y DID NOT DEVELOP A POLITICAL LIFE ?AT ALL[$ ! =MATION ( AU?ORIT>IAN /RUCTURES NOR DID !Y MAKE AN 9/ITUTION \T ( W>4 ,!Y PRACTIC$ MUTUAL AID = SURVIVAL1 BUT ?IS DID NOT MAKE !M ANGELS2 !Y PRACTIC$ 9FANTICIDE & ! AB&ONM5T ( ELD]S = ! SAME REASON4 ,I ?9K ) FEEL+ ( ?OSE REC5TLY LIV+ DEC5TRALI/ SOCIETIES BECAUSE ,I HAVE JU/ RETURN$ FROM ! ,CANADIAN ,>CTIC :]E ! LA/ PHASE ( TRADITIONAL ,ESKIMO LIFE BEGAN AS REC5TLY AS A DECADE AGO4 ,N[1 ! OLD NOMADIC SOCIETY1 9 :I* PEOPLE MOV$ AB\T 9 EXT5D$ FAMILIES RA!R ?AN TRIBES1 IS AT AN 5D1 ) ALL ITS SKILLS AB&ON$1 ITS TRADITIONS1 SONGS & DANCES FAD+ 9 ! MEMORY4 ,LA/ YE> ! C>IBOO-HUNT+ ,ESKIMOS PROBABLY BUILT !IR LA/ IGLOO2 N[ !Y >E H]D$ TOGE!R 9TO COMMUNITIES RUL$ BY :ITE M51 :]E !Y LIVE 9 GR\PS ( F\R TO SIX HUNDR$ PEOPLE1 9 IMITATION ( :ITE M5'S H\SES & ) GU>ANTE$ WELF>E H&\TS :5 !Y CANNOT E>N MONEY BY SUMM] CON/RUCTION WORK4 ,!IR *ILDR5 >E BE+ TAUE LOS+ ! SKILLS ( ! HUNT2 P[] ELITES >E BEG9N+ TO APPE> 9 !IR CR[D$ LITTLE NOR!RN SLUMS1 AMONG A PEOPLE :O NEV] KNEW :AT P[] MEANT1 & ! DIM9I%+ DOG TEAMS 7N[ LESS ?AN ONE FAMILY 9 F\R [NS DOGS & ONLY AB\T ONE FAMILY 9 TW5TY GOES ON EXT5D$ HUNT+ OR TRAPP+ J\RNEYS7 >E SYMBOLIC ( ! LOSS ( FRE$OM AMONG A PEOPLE :O HAVE BECOME PHYSICALLY & M5TALLY DEP5D5T ON ! C5TRALIZ$1 BUREAUCRATIC-RIDD5 WORLD :I* ! ,CANADIAN ,GOV]NM5T HAS BUILT IT S9CE IT SET \T A FEW YE>S AGO TO RESCUE ! PEOPLE ( ! ,NOR? FROM 0B>B>ISM0 & 9SECURITY4 ,! FATE ( ! ,ESKIMOS1 & ?AT ( SO MANY O!R PRIMITIVE CULTURES DUR+ ! PA/ QU>T] ( A C5TURY1 %[S ?AT ! OLD1 PRIMAL DEC5TRALISM ( ,/ONE ,AGE MAN IS DOOM$ EV5 :5 IT HAS SURVIV$ 9TO ! MOD]N WORLD4 ,FROM N[ ON1 MAN WILL BE DEC5TRALI/ BY 9T5T & EXP]I5CE1 BECAUSE HE HAS KN[N ! EVILS ( C5TRALIZATION & REJECT$ !M4 ,C5TRALIZATION BEGAN :5 M5 SETTL$ ON ! L& & CULTIVAT$ IT4 ,F>M]S JO9$ TOGE!R TO PROTECT !IR H]DS & FIELD FROM O!R M5 :O /ILL REMA9$ NOMADIC W&]]S2 TO CONS]VE & %>E \T ! PRECI\S WAT]S2 TO PLACATE ! DEITIES :O HELD ! GIFTS ( F]TILITY1 ! PRIE/ :O S]V$ ! DEITIES1 & ! K+S :O LAT] USURP$ ! ROLES ( PRIE/ & GOD ALIKE4 ,! LITTLE REALMS ( LOCAL PRIE/-K+S GREW 9TO ! GREAT VALLEY EMPIRES ( ,EGYPT & ,MESOPOTAMIA1 & OV]T[]+ !SE EM]G$ ! FIR/ ATTEMPT AT A WORLD EMPIRE1 ?AT ( ! ,A*EM5IAN ,K+S ( ,P]SIA :O E/ABLI%$ AN ADM9I/RATIVE COLOSSUS :I* WAS ! PROTOTYPE ( ! C5TRALIZ$ /ATE1 IMITAT$ BY ! DESPOTS ( ,NOR!RN ,9DIA1 ! ,HELL5I/IC GOD-K+S1 & ! DIV9E ,CAES>S ( ,ROME4 ,WE HAVE LITTLE KN[L$GE H[ M5 CLUNG TO !IR LOCAL LOYALTIES & P]SONAL LIVES1 H[ SIMPLE PEOPLE TRI$ TO KEEP CONTROL ( ! AFFAIRS & ?+S ?AT CONC]N$ !M MO/1 9 ?AT AGE :5 WRIT+ RECORD$ ! DE$S ( K+S & PRIE/S & HAD LITTLE TO SAY AB\T COMMON M54 ,BUT IF WE CAN JUDGE FROM ! HITLY AUTONOM\S VILLAGE SOCIETIES :I* /ILL EXI/$ 9 ,9DIA :5 ! ,MORIV$1 & :I* HAD PROBABLY SURVIV$ ! C5TURIES ( POLITICAL *AOS & /RIFE ?AT LAY BETWE5 ,MO!R M5 9 ?OSE AGES LIV$ AWAY FROM ! C5T]S ( P[]1 ! MORE !Y E/ABLI%$ & DEF5D$ RIK ,AGES AFT] ! ,ROMAN ,EMPIRE W]E REG>D$ BY ,VICTORIAN HI/ORIANS AS A HI/ORICAL WA/E L& RAVAG$ BY B>B>IAN HORDES & B>ONIAL B&ITS4 ,BUT !SE AGES W]E ALSO 9 FACT AN 9T]LUDE DUR+ :I*1 9 ! ABS5CE ( P[]FUL C5TRALIZ$ AU?ORITIES1 ! DEC5TRALI/ URGE APPE>$ AGA91 & VILLAGE COMMUNES E/ABLI%$ =MS ( AUTONOMY :I* 9 REMOT] >EAS1 LIKE ! ,PYR5EES1 ! ,ALPS & ! ,APP5N9ES1 HAVE SURVIV$ 9TO ! PRES5T4 ,TO ! SAME 0,D>K0 ,AGES BELONG ! E>LIE/ FREE CITY REPUBLICS ( M$IEVAL ,EUROPE1 :I* >OSE AT FIR/ = MUTUAL PROTECTION 9 ! AGES ( DISORD]1 & :I* 9 ,ITALY & ,G]MANY REMA9$ = C5TURIES ! HOMES ( ,EUROPEAN LE>N+ & >T & ( SU* FRE$OM AS EXI/$ 9 ! WORLD ( !IR TIME4 ,\T ( SU* VILLAGE COMMUNES & SU* CITIES >OSE1 9 ,SWITZ]L&1 ! WORLD'S FIR/ POLITICAL F$]ATION1 BAS$ ON ! %>$ PROTECTION ( LOCAL FRE$OMS AGA9/ FEUDAL MON>*S & R5AISSANCE DESPOTS4 ,SOME ( !SE ANCI5T COMMUNES EXI/ TO ?IS DAY2 ! ,SWISS ,CANTON ( ,APP5ZELL /ILL ACTS AS A DIRECT DEMOCRACY 9 :I* EV]Y CITIZ5 TAKES P>T 9 ! ANNUAL VOT+ ON LAWS2 ! ,ITALIAN CITY /ATE ( ,SAN ,M>9O /ILL RETA9S ITS M\NTA9 9DEP5D5CE 9 A WORLD ( GREAT /ATES4 ,BUT !SE >E R>E SURVIVALS1 DUE MA9LY TO GEOGRAPHIC 9ACCESSIBILITY 9 DAYS BE=E MOD]N TRANSPORT4 ,AS NATIONAL /ATES BEGAN TO =M AT ! 5D ( ! ,MIDDLE ,AGES1 ! ATTACK ON DEC5TRALISM WAS L$ NOT M]ELY BY ! MON>*S & DICTATORS :O E/ABLI%$ HITICUL>LY BY ! L>G] MONA/IC ORD]S :O 9 !IR H\SE E/ABLI%$ RULES ( UNI=M BEHAVIOR & RIGID TIMEKEEP+ ?AT ANTICIPAT$ ! NEXT GREAT ASSAULT ON LOCAL & 9DEP5D5T FRE$OM & ON ! PRACTICE ( MUTUAL AID2 ?IS HAPP5$ :5 ! VILLAGES ( ,BRITA9 & LAT] ( O!R ,EUROPEAN C\NTRIES W]E DEPOPULAT$ 9 ! ,AGRICULTURAL ,REVOLUTION ( ! EITICIPATION 9 COMMON WORKS ?AT BELONG$ TO ! M$IEVAL VILLAGES BECAME IRRELEVANT4 ,IT WAS !SE DEVELOPM5TS1 ! E/ABLI%M5T ( ! C5TRALIZ$ /ATE 9 ! SEV5TE5? C5TURY & ( 9DU/RIAL C5TRALIZATION 9 ! EIE ( ! NECESSITY ( DEC5TRALISM TO SAVE !M FROM ! S\LLESS WORLD ?AT WAS DEVELOP+ >\ND !M4 ,AGA9/ ,CROMWELL'S MILIT>Y /ATE1 ,G]R>D ,W9/ANLEY & ! ORIG9AL ,DIGG]S OPPOS$ !IR IDEA & PRACTICE ( E/ABLI%+ NEW COMMUNES ( L&WORK]S ON ! WA/E L&S ( ,5GL&1 COMMUNES :I* W\LD R5\NCE OV]LORDS & EXT5D$ P>TICIPATION & EQUALITY TO M51 WOM51 & EV5 *ILDR54 ,:5 ! ,FR5* ,REVOLUTION TOOK ! WAY ( C5TRALISM1 E/ABLI%+ A MORE RIGIDLY BUREAUCRATIC /ATE ?AN ! ,B\RBONS & 9TRODUC+ UNIV]SAL CONSCRIPTION = ! FIR/ TIME1 M5 LIKE ,JACQUES ,R\X & HIS FELL[S 5RAGES PROTE/$ 9 ! NAME ( ! LOCAL COMMUNES ( ,P>IS1 :I* !Y REG>D$ AS ! BASES ( DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION1 & AT ! SAME TIME 9 ,5GL& ,WILLIAM ,GODW91 ! FIR/ ( ! PHILOSOPHIC AN>*I/S1 RECOGNIZ$ ! P]ILS ( =MS ( GOV]NM5T :I* LEFT DECISION MAK+ 9 ! H&S ( M5 GA!R$ AT ! TOP & C5T] ( SOCIETY4 ,9 HIS ,POLITICAL ,JU/ICE ,GODW9 5VISAG$ C\NTRIES 9 :I* ASSEMBLIES ( DELEGATES W\LD MEET -- SELDOM -- TO DISCUSS MATT]S ( URG5T COMMON CONC]N1 9 :I* NO P]MAN5T ORGANS ( C5TRAL GOV]NM5T W\LD BE ALL[$ TO CONT9UE1 & 9 :I* EA* LOCAL P>I% W\LD DECIDE ITS [N AFFAIRS BY FREE AGREEM5T 7& NOT BY MAJORITY VOTE7 & MATT]S ( DISPUTE W\LD BE SETTL$ BY AD HOC JURIES ( >BITRATION4 ,! ,BRITI% & ,FR5* ,UTOPIAN SOCIALI/S ( ! E>LY N9ETE5? C5TURY1 AS DI/9CT FROM ! ,M>XI/S & ! REVOLUTION>Y SOCIALI/S L$ BY ,AUGU/E ,BLANQUI1 W]E 9SPIR$ BY !IR REVULSION AGA9/ MONOLI?IC 9DU/RIAL & POLITICAL ORGANIZATION TO BASE ! REALIZATION ( !IR !ORIES ON SMALL COMMUNAL UNITS :I* !Y BELIEV$ C\LD BE E/ABLI%$ EV5 BE=E ! EXI/+ SOCIETY HAD BE5 DE/ROY$4 ,AT ?AT P]IOD ! ,AM]ICAN FRONTI] LAY /ILL 9 ! VALLEY ( ! ,MISSISSIPPI1 & !RE WAS A T5D5CY -- :I* EXI/$ UNTIL ! 5D ( ! PIONE]+ DAYS -- = ! SMALL PIONE]S SOCIETIES ( TRAPP]S & TRAD]S1 M9]S & F>M]S1 TO ORGANIZE !MSELVES 9 L>GELY AUTONOM\S COMMUNITIES1 ?AT MANAG$ !IR [N AFFAIRS & 9 MANY S5SES ( ! WORD TOOK ! LAW 9TO !IR [N H&S4 ,9 ?IS SOCIETY1 :]E M5 RESPOND$ TO FRONTI] CONDITIONS BY AD HOC P>TICIPATORY & DEC5TRALI/ ORGANIZATION1 ! ,EUROPEAN & ,AM]ICAN ,UTOPIAN SOCIALI/S1 AS WELL AS V>I\S GR\PS ( ,*RI/IAN COMMUNITIES1 TRI$ TO SET UP SELF-GOV]N+ COMMUNES :I* W\LD BE ! CELLS ( ! NEW FRAT]NAL WORLD4 ,! FOLL[]S ( ,CABET & ,F\RI]1 ( ,ROB]T ,[5 & ,JOSIAH ,W>R51 ALL PLAY$ !IR P>T 9 A MOVEM5T :I* PRODUC$ HUNDR$S ( COMMUNITIES & LA/$ ALMO/ A C5TURY2 ITS LA/ WAVE EBB$ ON ! ,PACIFIC COA/ 9 ! ,$W>DIAN ]A1 :5 A L>GE ,F9NI% SOCIALI/ COMMUNITY WAS E/ABLI%$ ON ! REMOTE ISL& ( ,SO9TULA (F ! COA/ ( ,BRITI% ,COLUMBIA4 ,ONLY ! RELIGI\S COMMUNITIES ( ?IS ]A1 :I* HAD A PURPOSE \TSIDE M]E SOCIAL !ORY1 SURVIV$2 EV5 TODAY SOME ( ! ,M5NONITE COMMUNITIES ( ,CANADA KEEP SO CLOSELY TO !IR IDEALS ( COMMUNIT>IAN AUTONOMY ?AT !Y >E LEAV+ ! C\NTRY TO F9D 9 ,S\? ,AM]ICA A REGION :]E !Y CAN BE FREE TO $UCATE !IR *ILDR5 AS !Y WI%4 ,! SECUL> COMMUNITIES ALL VANI%$2 ! MA9 LESSON !IR FAILURE TAUTICIPATE1 & NOT UPW>D 9TO ! COLLAPS+ DREAM /RUCTURES ( A ,UTOPIAN FUTURE4 ,O!R GREAT CRISES 9 ! HUMAN SITUATION HAVE FOLL[$ ! 9DU/RIAL REVOLUTION1 & EV]Y ONE HAS PRODUC$ ITS DEC5TRALI/ MOVEM5TS 9 :I* M5 & WOM5 HAVE TURN$ AWAY FROM ! NIES ( MEGAPOLITICS TO ! RADICAL REALITIES ( HUMAN RELATION%IPS1 ,! CRISIS ( ! ,9DIAN /RUGGLE = 9DEP5D5CE CAUS$ ,G&HI TO PREA* ! NE$ TO BUILD SOCIETY UPON ! F\NDATION ( ! VILLAGE4 ,! BITT] REPRESSIONS ( ,CZ>I/ ,RUSSIA L$ ,PET] ,KROPOTK9 TO DEVELOP HIS !ORIES ( A DEC5TRALIZ$ SOCIETY 9TEGRAT+ 9DU/RY & AGRICULTURE1 MANUAL & M5TAL SKILLS4 ,WORLD ,W> ,I,I L$ TO CONSID]ABLE COMMUNITY MOVEM5T AMONG BO? ,BRITI% & ,AM]ICAN PACIFI/S1 SEEK+ TO CREATE CELLS ( SANE LIV+ 9 ! 9T]/ICES ( A BELLIG]5T WORLD1 & AN EV5 L>G] MOVEM5T ( DEC5TRALIZATION & COMMUNIT>IANISM HAS >IS5 9 ,NOR? ,AM]ICA 9 CONTRADICTION TO ! SOCIETY ?AT CAN WAGE A W> LIKE ?AT 9 ,VIETNAM4 ,TODAY IT IS LIKELY ?AT MORE PEOPLE ?AN EV] BE=E >E CONSCI\SLY 5GAG$ 9 SOME K9D ( DEC5TRALI/ V5TURE :I* EXPRESSES NOT M]ELY REBELLION AGA9/ MONOLI?IC AU?ORIT>IANISM1 BUT ALSO FAI? 9 ! POSSIBILITY ( A NEW1 CELLUL> K9D ( SOCIETY 9 :I* AT EV]Y LEVEL ! P>TICIPATION 9 DECISION-MAK+ 5VISAG$ BY N9ETE5?-C5TURY AN>*I/S LIKE ,PR\DHON & ,KROPOTK9 WILL BE DEVELOP$4 ,AS ! MON/R\S & FATAL FLAWS ( MOD]N ECONOMIC & POLITICAL C5TRALISM BECOME MORE EVID5T1 AS ! ,/ATE IS REVEAL$ EV] MORE CONV9C+LY AS ! 5EMY ( ALL HUMAN LOVE1 ! ADVOCACY & PRACTICE ( DEC5TRALISM WILL SPREAD MORE WIDELY1 IF ONLY BECAUSE ! NECESSITY = IT WILL BECOME CON/ANTLY MORE URG5T4 ,! LESS DEC5TRALI/ ACTION IS TI$ TO RIGID SOCIAL & POLITICAL !ORIES1 & ESPECIALLY TO ANT$ILUVIAN ONES LIKE ?OSE ( ! ,M>XI/S1 ! MORE P5ETRAT+ & DURABLE ITS EFFECTS WILL BE4 ,! SOILS MO/ FAVORABLE TO ! SPREAD ( DEC5TRALISM >E PROBABLY C\NTRIES LIKE ,9DIA1 :]E RURAL LIV+ /ILL PR$OM9ATES1 C\NTRIES LIKE ,JAPAN :]E ! DEC5TRALIZATION ( FACTORIES & ! 9TEGRATION ( AGRICULTURAL & 9DU/RIAL ECONOMIES HAS ALREADY BE5 RECOGNIZ$ AS A NECESSITY = SURVIVAL1 & ! PLACES 9 \R WE/]N WORLD :]E ! SOCIAL ROT HAS RUN DEEPE/ & ! DEC5TRALI/S CAN P5ETRATE LIKE :ITE ANTS4 ,! MORIBUND C5T]S ( ! CITIES2 ! DECAY+ M>G9AL F>ML&S2 !SE >E ! PLACES :I* C5TRALI/ GOV]NM5TS US+ BANK]S' CRIT]IA ( EFFICI5CY CANNOT POSSIBLY REVIVIFY1 BECAUSE ! PR(IT W\LD NOT BE F9ANCIAL BUT HUMAN4 ,9 SU* >EAS ! SMALL & FLEXIBLE CELL ( WORK]S1 S]V+ ! NE$S ( LOCAL PEOPLE1 CAN SURVIVE & CONT9UE SIMULTANE\SLY ! TASKS ( QUIET DE/RUCTION & CELLUL> BUILD+4 ,BUT NOT ALL ! WORK CAN BE DONE 9 ! %AD[S4 ,!RE WILL /ILL BE ! NE$ = !ORETICIANS TO C>RY ON ! WORK :I* ,KROPOTK9 & ,G$DES & ,MUM=D BEGAN 9 ! PA/1 ( DEMON/RAT+ ! ULTIMATELY SELF-DE/RUCTIVE *>ACT] ( POLITICAL & 9DU/RIAL C5TRALISM1 & %[+ H[ SOCIETY AS A :OLE1 & NOT M]ELY ! LO/ CORN]S ( IT1 CAN BE BR\*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 ,*RONOLOGY 3 ,NOVEMB] #c1 #aifh 3 ,REFLECTIONS ON ,DEC5TRALISM -- ,PUBLICATION4 ,JULY #b#c1 #bai 3 ,REFLECTIONS ON ,DEC5TRALISM -- ,ADD$4 ,JANU>Y #c1 #bbb 3 ,REFLECTIONS ON ,DEC5TRALISM -- ,UPDAT$4 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3 HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/