Poumista

I’ve had this comment at the back of my mind for a while, to do something with, but am not sure what to. It’s Andrew Coates, here. Hyperlinks are added:

If Bob you’d wish to define me it’s through what the Trotksyists call ‘centrism‘. (more…)

It’s that time of year again: the London Anarchist Bookfair 2010 is just a weekend or two away, in the East End on 23rd October. There are some history events as part of it:

A revolutionary centenary? The Cambrian Combine Strike and Tonypandy Riots of 1910
100 years ago a bitter-year-long coal strike erupted in the Rhondda Valley. Was it both the start and the peak of British syndicalism? And why did the Russian revolution kill this tradition? A talk by Dave Chapple, Chair, National Shop Stewards Network

Discovering Hidden History
Those who have seized ownership and control of the resources of society are very keen to also  control what goes on in our heads.  So a big part of radical history is digging out examples of resistance that the authorities have hidden. In this meeting we look at two examples (1) Joe Jacobs who lived very close to here and organised for 40 years after his fight against Moseley’s fascists in 1936 and (2)  Walter Conway,  from humble beginnings,  was the main organiser for hospital medical services for ordinary people, in Tredegar , South Wales, before the national health service.  Organised by: Radical History Network of North East London

Life Under The Jolly Roger: Reflections on Golden Age Piracy
In discussing his new book Life Under the Jolly Roger,  Gabriel Kuhn will do his best to examine the political and cultural significance of these nomadic outlaws by relating historical accounts to a wide range of theoretical concepts — reaching from Marshall Sahlins and Pierre Clastres to Mao-Tse Tung and Eric J. Hobsbawm via Friedrich Nietzsche and Michel Foucault. Gabriel lives as an independent author and translator in Stockholm, Sweden. He has been involved in radical politics and publishing since the 1980s. Organised by: PM Press

From Proudhon to Kropotkin
This year marks the 170th anniversary of transformation of radical politics forever when Proudhon proclaimed myself an anarchist and that “property is theft”. Iain McKay (“An Anarchist FAQ”) will be discussing Proudhon’s ideas in light of a new anthology of his writings (Property is Theft, AK Press, 2010). He will show how Proudhon influenced revolutionary anarchism (and Marxism) as well as its impact of the biological theories of mutual aid and mutualism (Mutual Aid: An Introduction and Evaluation, AK Press, 2010). Organised by: AK Press & Distribution

Gustav Landauer and Revolution
“Landauer is the most important agitator of the radical and revolutionary movement in the entire country.” This is how Gustav Landauer is described in a German police file from 1893. Twenty-six years later, Landauer would die at the hands of reactionary soldiers who overthrew the Bavarian Council Republic, a three-week attempt to realise libertarian socialism amidst the turmoil of post-World War I Germany. Gabriel Kuhn lives as an independent author and translator in Stockholm, Sweden. He has been involved in radical politics and publishing since the 1980s. Organised by: PM Press

100 years of Swedish syndicalism. The story of SAC (The Central Organization of Swedish Workers) and perspectives on syndicalism from the IWW (UK) and Worker’s Initiative (Poland)
Midsummer 2010 marked the 100th anniversary of the Swedish syndicalist union SAC. In its history, the SAC has experienced low points and its membership has dropped below six thousand, but the continuity and strength of the organization is fascinating and unique, not least from an international perspective. Jan Abrahamsson describes the history of SAC, its victories and strengths, as well as its setbacks and strategic mistakes. Jan will be joined by Adam Lincoln from the IWW and Andrzej Klis from Worker’s Initiative. Together they will evaluate and discuss the present position of syndicalism in Europe and how we should approach the future. Organised by:  SAC. Speakers: Jan Abrahamsson, Adam Lincoln, Andrzej Klis.

While I’m here, some gleanings from Entdinglichung’s latest: an obituary for Indian Marxist Vinayak Purohit (1927-2009), some new texts on Libcom: Antonio Gramsci: An Address to the Anarchists (1920); Socialisme Ou Barbarie (SoB): Open letter to members of the PCI and the “Fourth International” (1949);  London Edinburgh Weekend Return Group (Jeanette Mitchell/Donald Mackenzie/John Holloway/Cynthia Cockburn/Kathy Polanshek/Nicola Murray/Neil McInnes/John McDonald): In and against the state (1979);  Pierre van Paassen (Socialisme ou Barbarie): In Barcelona. Meeting with Durruti and the taking of Sietamo (1939).

New at RAHN: The variously radical life of Estelle Sylvia Pankhurst, and a new edition of Women in the Spanish Revolution by Liz Willis (1975).

Below the fold, some new releases from AK. (more…)

Image via Wikipedia

The illiberal imagination: Damon Linker on Michael Kimmage on Lionel Trilling and Whittaker Chambers.

Lady Poverty channels CLR James, and reflects on belief systems via Jeff Conant on the Zapatistas.

Nick Cohen on fellow travellers.

Anatomy of some ex-Trotskyists: the RCP.

Trot weirdness 2: Lutte Ouvriere founder’s corpse hidden for a year.

The racism of the Morning Star.