A nationwide anarchist-communist organization

Submitted by bobok_the_menacingly_weak in Canada (edited )

Now, this might be a really naive suggestion (not to mention impossible rn given the pandemic) but I think we should be trying to organize groups in our localities and then connect with others in nearby localities, federate, and start trying to do things like sending delegates to regional and national congresses to discuss what we want, the different social issues facing our regions, canada, and the world more generally, what we can do to tackle them, how to organize in a way that empowers the people in our localities, etcetcetc.

I live in a place that's pretty safe from the pandemic, so I've been able to organize a study group over the last few months and our plan is to read about things like Seasol and the Greater Toronto Workers' Assembly to get ideas, then to start organizing folks.

I know a lot of us can't really manage something like that right now, but I'd like to see us take whatever steps we can to not just empower our communities and coworkers, but to baby-step towards a national organization. We could get some stuff on the go like anarchist periodicals that discuss canadian-specific and local shit (for example: the pulp mill in the town nearby me closing and what that means for the indigenous ppl whose land it was built on and poisoned, the workers, how to understand such a complicated intersection of issues, etc).

If anybody's interested message me and maybe we can start a slack chat or something to discuss how to move forward with a goal like this. Maybe we can buy a web-domain (I could put up the cash for that or whatever) and use it to publish regular articles essays, and interviews on shit.

5

Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

Bezotcovschina wrote

What a fresh idea!

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

3

bobok_the_menacingly_weak OP wrote

Lol not fresh, but it doesn't seem like there's anything like it around here rn and it seems like it's necessary.

3

Bezotcovschina wrote

Well, maybe there is a reason why there is no anything like that.

2

bobok_the_menacingly_weak OP wrote

you think it's a bad idea?

2

Bezotcovschina wrote

Not bad - fruitless. If doing Sisyphus labor is your catharsis - please, go ahead, for all I think. But I think there is other more positive and certainly more fun things to do.

2

bobok_the_menacingly_weak OP wrote (edited )

how is it fruitless to create a network that anarchists can use to pool resources, share experiences/info, connect with other anarchists and groups, etc?

i'm guessin you're some kind of individualist or anti-organizationalist or whatever? what do you think is fruitful?

2

Bezotcovschina wrote

Experience and history. I'm not claiming possession of universal truth of how shit should be done, though.

I'm pro-fun anarchist for all I care. I'm probably the least anti-organizationalist on this site. And I doubt you (or anyone) can make national-wide organization fun. Or existent. In no way I want to curb anyone's enthusiasm on a positive change, but I feel obliged to warn about likely disillusionment in a mass movement building. And a burnout closely tied to this.

I don't think "create a network that anarchists can use to pool resources, share experiences/info, connect with other anarchists and groups, etc" is fruitless - this is what the site we currently in is dedicated to, I think. But, again, I think (believe?) trying to make any all-encompassing organization is, indeed, an ungrateful and pointless labor. That, historically, tends to end in a dumpster fire and plenty people disappointed.

I wish I knew what is really fruitful. I believe creating bonds in a close affinity groups is fruitful. I believe spontaneous acts of solidarity is fruitful. I believe helping marginalized people by direct acts is fruitful.

3

bobok_the_menacingly_weak OP wrote

Fair enough. Thanks for the input, anyway! I learn by experience, so I guess I'm gonna just have to try and see what I think about it all in a few years.

Btw, I only just heard about this site. Are most folks on here anti-organizationalist-types or what?

2

Bezotcovschina wrote

Hm... Maybe my bit about this site auditory was somewhat of exaggeration, but I would expect a more individualist and anti-organizationalist leaning types amongst a general user base.

1

nosho18 wrote

Always worth talking about how to find each other around shared liberatory politics and moving towards collective action. There have been a few projects like this over the years that might be worth thinking about.

Common Cause at one point had chapters in 7 Ontario cities. It dissolved in 2016. http://linchpin.ca/struggle-changes-everything-a-statement-on-the-dissolution-of-common-cause/

A bunch of the people involved in CC went on to do neighbourhood organizing. Herongate tenants, Parkdale Organize, Hamilton Tenants Solidarity Network...

Prairie Struggle was a similar group that wrapped up in 2015: https://libcom.org/library/prairie-struggle-dead-struggle-continues

In some areas, people were involved in NEFAC before that: https://libcom.org/tags/nefac

As well, during the mobilization against the Harris government in the 90s, Coalition Against Poverty chapters popped up all over with heavy anarchist participation. Only the Toronto chapter is still meainingfully active, as far as I know: https://ocap.ca/our-work-2/

There was also a Quebec chapter of the Union Communiste Libertaire: https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/Quebec-Naissance-de-l-Union-communiste-libertaire

Don't worry about folks being sectarian. Yes, there are all kinds of anarchists, but the meaningful differences are better revealed through action than through ideology. There have also at different times been more (or less) organized networks of insurrectionary anarchists across Canada too.

3