The Organise list statement
Organise is a private e-mail list created in 1995 by a number of
active class struggle anarchists looking for a space to hold
discussions that were open only to class struggle anarchists and
where that space was not the property of any one organisation.
Everyone on the list considers themselves to be an anarchist,
anti-capitalist, recognises the need for revolution and recognises
the need for anarchist organisations. Anarchist in this context means
list subscribers must self- indentify as anarchists, not sympathetic
leftists interested in learning about anarchism. Anti- capitialist
implys list members oppose ALL forms of private ownership of the
means of production, including state/party ownership and all forms of
petty bourgeois proprietorship. Revolution in this context means the
abolishment of state and corporate power by the active
insurrectionary efforts of the working class, not the creation of
"Temporary Autonomous Zones" or other personal revolutions. The need
for organization implys that list members are active or aspiring
members of either anarchist organizations, or organizations pursuing
goals congruent with anarchism. The list is also limited to those who
do not have faith in political parties and the electoral system as
meaningful instruments of social change, and who believe that
reformism is a [bourgeoisie] tactic that has no place in radical
thinking. Thus members do not believe that stateless socialism will
ever be produced from above by electoral politics, and are not
members of political organizations that do. In addition "reformism"
(the notion that capitalism can be slowly reformed into socialism) is
rejected. While organise members will certainly fight for reforms
within the system, members reject joining the State or any of its
coercive institutions to "undermine capitalism from within" as a
failed social democratic strategy. Finally "class struggle" implys an
active struggle of the working class against the ruling class in the
real world. Hence absolute pacificists do not qualify for list
membership, nor do primitivists who believe the primary struggle is
against technology rather than capital. Anarchists also reject any
attempt to limit the freedom of individuals. Therefore those who
engage in racism, sexism, homophobia, or who support restrictions on
the freedom of individuals to control their own health and fertility
(including the freedom of women to seek an abortion) are not welcome
on this list.
The exact focus of the list beyond this is open. Practical
activity can be organised or theoretical differences can be
discussed. Advice can be sought from other comrades on how to
organise specific things or indeed how to organise in general.
Everyone should feel they have a right to post to the list and to ask
any questions providing its within the guidelines above. [In general
comrades should not discuss seriously illegal activity as some list
members are in countries with very restrictive conspiracy laws, such
discussion might leave them open to prosecution or victimisation].
This is a list for all class struggle anarchists regardless of
organisation. In the real world arguments exist between different
organisations and individuals. It is acceptable to discuss these here
_but_ such discussions should not include insults or unsubstantiated
accusations. In particular the practise of calling list members
'racists', 'middle class', 'authoritarian' or 'collaborators with the
state' is frowned on as only being disruptive. Flame wars do no one
any good and will just demoralise new participants and discredit all
those who participate.
You should not cross-post to Organise! with other lists or forward
mail to Organise! from other lists unless it is of extreme
importance. Also you should _never_ forward someone else's mail from
Organise to any one else.
We have had problems in the past with people joining who don't
really agree with these guidelines. This has resulted in a lot of
list disruption. So now we ask for a clear statement before sending
people subscription information
If you are a class struggle anarchist and agree with the list
statement above then mail strugglesite AT
nospam.eircom.net
(The email address is the bits in red with a @ for the AT)
just saying "yes I agree, I'd like to subscribe".
This page is part of the Organise list web
page