Posted by Phil Dickens on 31/12/2010 · 3 Comments
The seventh and final part of a series exploring anarcho-syndicalism, its aims and principles, and the practicalities of enacting them in the real world. The basic foundation of anarcho-syndicalism is that ordinary people, through solidarity and direct action, have the power to improve our own lives. We do not need bosses, bureaucrats, or political parties … Read more
Filed under What is anarcho-syndicalism? · Tagged with activism, anarchist communism, anarcho-syndicalism, community organising, democratic centralism, dictatorship of the proletariat, from each according to his ability to each according to his need, Industrial Workers of the World, IWW, libertarian, mass participation, organisation, rank-and-file control, revolutionary leadership, revolutionary unionism, self-organisation, social centres, SolFed, solidarity, Solidarity Federation, solidarity networks, squatting, strike, trade unions, unions, vanguard of the proletariat, workers' assemblies, workers' self-organisation
Posted by Phil Dickens on 15/11/2010 · 3 Comments
A blog, though a useful outlet for thoughts and opinions, is never going to change the world. As I pointed out in Social network radicalism, it can be a useful tool to aid in such goals, but ultimately it can’t do the work for you on the ground. That is why, as well as venting … Read more
Filed under Debate and discourse · Tagged with activism, activists' families, Alexander Berkman, Anita Rodderick, apathy, burn out, demonstration, Emma Goldman, fund raising, inactivity, John McKinley, leafletting, Leon Czolgosz, organising, passive people, personal toll, rally, weight of responsiblity
Posted by Phil Dickens on 22/10/2010 · 4 Comments
As I write this, I’m on a train to Sheffield, playing with WordPress on my phone. Which, I think, shows how far we’ve moved from the days of bearded radicals hand-writing pamphlets in a candle-lit basement. (I exaggerate somewhat.) It also offers me the flimsiest of excuses to write about the use of social networks … Read more
Filed under Anarchism · Tagged with activism, blog, campaigning, email, face to face, facebook, grassroots, internet, life beyond the internet, medium for a message, organisation, phones, politics, social networks, taking over your life, Twitter
Posted by Phil Dickens on 28/06/2010 · 9 Comments
It has been my intention, for some time, to write a series of articles exploring various issues and ideas within anarcho-syndicalism. This is not a purely academic exercise. I am a member of the Solidarity Federation (SolFed) – the British section of the International Workers’ Association (IWA) – and its Liverpool local. Now, anarcho-syndicalism is … Read more
Filed under What is anarcho-syndicalism? · Tagged with activism, anarchist communism, anarcho-syndicalism, Brighton, CNT, from each according to his ability to each according to his need, IWA, libertarian, Liverpool, philosophy, practical, puerto real shipyard dispute, SolFed, Solidarity Federation, thoery, worker self-organisation, working class
Posted by Phil Dickens on 10/01/2010 · 3 Comments
One of the key components of anarchism is class struggle. This struggle has many forms, from picket lines, through anti-racist and anti-fascist movements, to the fight for migrants’ rights and armed insurrection against imperialism. However, the aim remains the same. Agitation, organisation, and education for the working class against their exploitation and repression by the … Read more
Filed under Capitalism · Tagged with activism, Anglo-Irish War, army mutinies, border agents, class struggle, class traitors, class war, coffeeehouse movement, Dahr Jamail, education, enforcing the state, Listowell Police Mutiny, Manilla, native policemen, organisation, police, prison officers, repression, Russian Revolution, soldiers, the military, working class
