Taxamo Welf
kebagels pls
entirely depends where you live and what your political interests are actually.
I could go into organisational and political issues but i'm not doing that for (checks watch) at least a few more months
Anarchist Federation
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entirely depends where you live and what your political interests are actually.
I could go into organisational and political issues but i'm not doing that for (checks watch) at least a few more months
Taxamo Welf
kebagels pls
but seriously, check em out that was an attempt to be a lot more punchy and visually exciting, even FUNNY!
will be on www.afed.org.uk
but seriously, check em out that was an attempt to be a lot more punchy and visually exciting, even FUNNY!
will be on www.afed.org.uk
I'm certainly not a fan of Resistance either!
Nigel
For A Degenerates' Workers State
I don't think you can really call their politics Leninist, or consider them elitist.
Originally the ideas around the ACF/AF which came out of something called Libertarian Communist Discussion Group formulated around an Anarchist concept of Platformism that developed, and to some extent was succesful during the Russain Revolution, and to a lesser extent America in the early 20th Century, theoretically written about and formulated to Alexander Berkman(by them in the mid 1980's) and now it seems Nestor Makno.
A good guide to thier theoretical outlook in reality(practice, as far as I'm aware seems limited to them), can be seen with their previous relationship to CNT in the mid eighties, when they were handed over money from the Spaninsh government in recompense for their treatment towards them by the Franco regime. They made links for support to a dissident group with more of a socialist(marxist) outlook calling itself CNT(Itt) I think.
They used to distance themselves from centralised marxist programms, by having hours long discussions about minor details, that could be brought up at any time(and frequentely was), and quite dodgy views around the evils of nationalisation(in my opinion), especially in their pamphlet on NHS.
These days they seem to be the Anarchist Equivelant of the SPGB.
Originally the ideas around the ACF/AF which came out of something called Libertarian Communist Discussion Group formulated around an Anarchist concept of Platformism that developed, and to some extent was succesful during the Russain Revolution, and to a lesser extent America in the early 20th Century, theoretically written about and formulated to Alexander Berkman(by them in the mid 1980's) and now it seems Nestor Makno.
A good guide to thier theoretical outlook in reality(practice, as far as I'm aware seems limited to them), can be seen with their previous relationship to CNT in the mid eighties, when they were handed over money from the Spaninsh government in recompense for their treatment towards them by the Franco regime. They made links for support to a dissident group with more of a socialist(marxist) outlook calling itself CNT(Itt) I think.
They used to distance themselves from centralised marxist programms, by having hours long discussions about minor details, that could be brought up at any time(and frequentely was), and quite dodgy views around the evils of nationalisation(in my opinion), especially in their pamphlet on NHS.
These days they seem to be the Anarchist Equivelant of the SPGB.
TheCoffinDodger
shouting and pointing
Well a couple were students from seemingly middle class backgrounds who talked about 'class struggle' but only in theory. The others older but obviously living an 'alternative' lifestyle. None seemed to have more than vague idea of the reality of the workplace.
TheCoffinDodger
shouting and pointing
You serious?
I met a couple from solfed and they seemed sorted/realistic.
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Bllod hell. Firstly, the Platform was published in the mid-1920s and developed not out of the successes of anarchist practice in the Russian Revolution but of its failures. Berkman had nothing to with it, nor did the US. Makhno was the most well know of the contributers to the orignal document. Good start.
The CNT- the CNT used and continue to use a law passed in 1986 to get back their property that was confiscated under Franco. The AF has pursued links with anarchist groups in as many countries as possible. What's your point?
Anarchists distancing themselves from 'centralised marxist programs' - whatever next?
What pamphlet on the NHS?
(God this is boring)
bluestreak
HomosexualityIsStalin’sAtomBombtoDestroyAmerica
I'm the only one that hasnt been disappeared
That's because of the quality of your information.
The Black Hand
Unclean
ViolentPanda
Hardly getting over it.
Makhno, Arshinov and several dozen other Euro-anarchists, but Berkman had fuck all to do with it, except for writing about it long after.
Nigel
For A Degenerates' Workers State
Like I said the line of the AF seems to have changed. Alexander Berkman used to be held in high regard and seen as supportive of Platformism in Anarchist context.
I was using the example of the CNT as an example of their political outlook and relationship with other Class Struggle Anarchist Groups in Britain: Originally membership was open to people who were members of any or all other Groups, such as DAM(now Sol Fed) & Class War (in fact the majority of the Luton Group at the time of LCDG & ACF) were members of all three.
Pamphlet on the NHS seems not to be in publication any more.
During the 1990's elements of C.W. & ACF supported concepts of Co-operatives within public sector(at that time with the Post Office); a policy that in my opinion and that of many others is used to break up & privatise public sector industries.
Does the AF now support Nationalisation?
I am not slagging off AF, quite like a lot of the people i've met in it, sometimes come up with interesting ideas.
But I'm not an Anarchist!!!!!!!!
Nigel
For A Degenerates' Workers State
I think you're probably right.
Read ABC Of Anarchism about a decade ago, but can't really remember much at all.
What was Berkmans attiutude to Russain Revolution, and Anarchists by the way, out of interest?
Nigel
For A Degenerates' Workers State
ABC Of Anarchism not published 'till 1929?
Maybe this has something to do with it?
".....Berkman and Goldman are asked to collect material for a planned Museum of the Revolution, which gives them the opportunity to spend the remainder of 1920 traveling the countryside. In Ukraine they learn about Nestor Makhno and his insurrection. They visit a prison and labor camp in Kharkov."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Berkman
ViolentPanda
Hardly getting over it.
ABC Of Anarchism not published 'till 1929?
Maybe this has something to do with it?
".....Berkman and Goldman are asked to collect material for a planned Museum of the Revolution, which gives them the opportunity to spend the remainder of 1920 traveling the countryside. In Ukraine they learn about Nestor Makhno and his insurrection. They visit a prison and labor camp in Kharkov."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Berkman
It'd be hard to visit the Ukraine in 1920 and not learn something about the Revolutionary Insurrectionary Army and Makhno, that doesn't mean he had much (if anything) to do with "the platform", given that he was busy in the USSR and Germany amassing anti-Bolshevik data most of the time until the mid-20s.
Well done with showing you know how to google wikipedia pages, though.
ViolentPanda
Hardly getting over it.
Berkman comes across as an old-style Anarcho-Communist, and while he loved the revolution, he didn't love the politicos who co-opted the people's revolution and stole their power.
I've never met anybody in the AF who lives and "alternative lifestyle", unless you count veganism, which I see as more of a weird personal quirk on their part
Honestly, you come across a little bit like you're making shit up.
ViolentPanda
Hardly getting over it.
I've never met anybody in the AF who lives and "alternative lifestyle", unless you count veganism, which I see as more of a weird personal quirk on their part
Veganism isn't a "weird personal quirk", it's biological warfare once the bastards start farting!
Steve Booth
Bourgeois apologist
I'm not sure how much this tells us about the Anarchist Federation. The impression I have is that they were one of the more solid and organizational of the traditional type Anarchist groups, along with the Solidarity Federation, formerly the Direct Action Movement.
The ACF (as it was then) were good on prisoner support.
You don't hear much about them these days, but this applies across the board so I don't know whether this represents a decline in their volume of activity or a lessening of the size and capacity of the group in line with everybody else.
I agree the change to the 'Anarchist Federation' name is a bit of a misnomer or a mistake. I think there was an attempt to create a national 'Anarchist Federation' back in the UK somewhere around the late 1960s / early 1970s, but it floundered. I'm not sure how far the change of name is a hankering after that, or just a coincidence.
It would be interesting to know more specifics about it as it stands today.
The ACF (as it was then) were good on prisoner support.
You don't hear much about them these days, but this applies across the board so I don't know whether this represents a decline in their volume of activity or a lessening of the size and capacity of the group in line with everybody else.
I agree the change to the 'Anarchist Federation' name is a bit of a misnomer or a mistake. I think there was an attempt to create a national 'Anarchist Federation' back in the UK somewhere around the late 1960s / early 1970s, but it floundered. I'm not sure how far the change of name is a hankering after that, or just a coincidence.
It would be interesting to know more specifics about it as it stands today.
I think if they changed their name back to Anarchist Communist Federation, members of the public would flock to them on mass.
TheCoffinDodger
shouting and pointing
I've never met anybody in the AF who lives and "alternative lifestyle", unless you count veganism, which I see as more of a weird personal quirk on their part
Honestly, you come across a little bit like you're making shit up.
Suit yerself. I suppose there are no students in AF as well.
There's something dishonest about calling yourself the Anarchist Federation. It's like calling yourself the Communist Party.
dennisr
the acceptable face
Anarchist Wankers? - just an idea
punkrockfaggot
>Squat this space
I'm a member of the Anarchist Federation.
ViolentPanda
Hardly getting over it.
Ungrateful
Tired and Weary
I guess with any group of more than a dozen people, there'll be some you like and some you don't. Most of the AFers I know are personable and pretty solid, who are involved in range of community and workplace campaigns, and willing to co-operate with others in a friendly and honest manner (which is more than can be said for a few more mainstream groups and parties). Though it may be different in different regions/districts.
In fact most os the people I've know from a range of anarchist groups over the decades (Class War, EF!, SolFed) have been pretty decent.
I agree that Resistance is a pretty uninspiring read, though kudos in at least publishing a regular free monthly. It is a shame that it isn't funnier, more pertinent, better designed-or written, but then I doubt any of its critics produce anything better, or are willing to help improve it.
In fact most os the people I've know from a range of anarchist groups over the decades (Class War, EF!, SolFed) have been pretty decent.
I agree that Resistance is a pretty uninspiring read, though kudos in at least publishing a regular free monthly. It is a shame that it isn't funnier, more pertinent, better designed-or written, but then I doubt any of its critics produce anything better, or are willing to help improve it.
Nigel
For A Degenerates' Workers State
There first magazine Virus was quite Stogey. Which is worth a look if you find some old members.
Were always strongly into civil rights. Think the first major campaign they were involved in as a group was Public Order Act?
Out of interest what happened to a more eccentric group of people involved with ACF in the eighties: Medway DAM vis a vis Syndiclist Fight.
As far as Subculture goes did'nt the Apostles on one of their single covers put a cartoon slagging them off??!
Last saw them a SWP social at Skegness in the early nineties, said they had joined as a group?
Or the AWG for that matter.
Were always strongly into civil rights. Think the first major campaign they were involved in as a group was Public Order Act?
Out of interest what happened to a more eccentric group of people involved with ACF in the eighties: Medway DAM vis a vis Syndiclist Fight.
As far as Subculture goes did'nt the Apostles on one of their single covers put a cartoon slagging them off??!
Last saw them a SWP social at Skegness in the early nineties, said they had joined as a group?
Or the AWG for that matter.
october_lost
It's not hip any more...
Where the AF'ers from?
The AF for my take is a synthesis organisation which contains a number of currents, and locals/branchs can range in activity and political direction, which when your a small group trying to expand can have no end of worries.
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
The AF is explicity not a synthesist organisation and its formation was on the basis of a rejection of synthesism.
anarchist federation ! more like the borg
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