UK Newswire Archive
Why I hate activism
07-10-2010 15:25
I hope that readers of this article will be aware of what I mean by activism. It is the work of that particular sect, “the activists”, who have taken it upon themselves to rid the world of evil. Whilst their peers pursue careers, raise families or lose themselves in hedonism, the activists minimise their commitments to the conventional world, putting their hearts and souls into the furtherance of whatever ideals they hold dear.
Inevitably, to some extent, through “dropping out” of the mainstream, the activist seeks solace in doing good deeds. She considers this to be a life more enriched and rewarding than the materialism of those who surround her.
OK – I exaggerate. Not every activist is a modern day nun or monk. That said, the parallels made between activism and religiosity are deliberate and are intended to demonstrate the limitations of the former. Indeed, the adoption of activism as a role or a lifestyle is a significant obstacle to progress towards genuine and far-reaching social and political change. The inflexibility that results from the adoption of an activist role hinders the ability of the activist to adapt to change and remain effective. It also encourages the emergence of “experts” of social change and the formation of hierarchies that impede spontaneous action. Meanwhile, the tendency to associate activism with a particular lifestyle can lead to the estrangement of activists from the general population and the dilution of radical politics.
One of the most influential critiques of activism as a role was the anonymous article Give up Activism, which appeared in the aftermath of the June 18th 1999 anti-globalisation protests in London (J18). Drawing heavily on the work of situationist writer Raoul Vaneigem, the piece emphasised the limitations of activism and even suggested that it was a counter-revolutionary ideology.
Taking on the role of activist, the authors suggested, was to become a jealous guardian of the secrets of revolution. The activist relies on a niche provided by capitalist social relations in order to have relevance and it is thus in his interest to maintain that situation. Whilst I would question whether this tendency is, in itself, sufficient to nullify the activist’s desire to overcome oppressive social relations, it is clear that the activist role sets up a situation in which there is competition between an individual’s status as an “expert” of revolution and the revolutionary change itself. This is particularly true when the former is so much easier to achieve and maintain than the latter.
There is certainly a tendency for ‘activist’ to turn into shorthand for ‘expert in bringing about radical social change’. Even in movements and groups that claim to be against hierarchical social relations there is an unstated assumption that it is the ‘superactivists’ that are best positioned to lead the revolution. This assumption results in the pursuit of getting as many people into activism as possible, with the aim of achieving a critical mass that can then lead the charge against capital/climate change/whatever.
However, this assumes that the activists are a vanguard and thus, somehow, superior to the masses. This theory is certainly not borne out by the evidence of actual insurrections, in which the ‘specialists’ of revolution usually play a rather peripheral role. Even if it were probable that activists could lead such a revolt, the formation of an informal leadership class would ensure the reproduction of hierarchical social values. To form a leadership group within a so-called revolutionary movement is to sow the seeds of counter-revolution.
Another phenomenon that seems to be associated with the adoption of the activist role is an inflexibility around strategy and tactics. Because activism inevitably means perpetuating action, there is often little opportunity for reflection and adaptation within the milieu. An ideology of constant attack is part and parcel of the role and is favoured, even when patience might be more effective.
In addition, the fetishisation of particular tactics results in their mass reproduction, often without regard for the limited period during which they are novel, when no defence against them had yet been formulated. For example, the past decades have seen activists around the western world lock themselves to various things with zeal, because it is what activists do – not, necessarily, because they have determined that it is the most appropriate action to take. By clinging to a heritage limited by culture and geography, the activist reproduces the same routine over and over, without apparent regard to its effects.
It is this culture of activism that is, perhaps, neglected by Give up Activism. The adoption of activism as a lifestyle rather than a medium for bringing about social change serves to alienate those who do not identify with its idiosyncratic culture. The unspoken rules of what hairstyles, clothing, diet and lifestyle choices are and aren’t acceptable in the activist ghetto are major barriers to those who are interested in the same revolutionary aims but don’t share the lifestyle.
The activist subculture is derived from subsections of punk, hippy and other predominantly white subcultures which inevitably makes it harder for non-white people to fit into them. Without being part of the social scene around activism, with its drinking rituals (vegan organic beer only, of course) and crusty clothing choices, the outsider can only get so involved in the movement.
This results in a limbo situation for such people who cannot fit in. Most end up giving up on a scene that they feel they can never be fully part of.
Aside from the obvious cultural bias in activist circles towards whiteness, the disproportionate dominance of student politics (as well as those who have come through the university system) means that those from working class backgrounds often feel a similar alienation from activism. The intellectuals of the movement love to communicate in lengthy theses on this or that particular issue, often lacking direct connections to those on the front line.
Unsurprisingly, there is often a lack of understanding of the harsh realities poor people experience, which can lead to a lifestyle of poverty being fetishised (see, for example, criticisms of CrimethInc). Certain prevalent activist lifestyle choices e.g. clothing, diet, not flying, etc. are easier to adopt for the middle class activist who, after a childhood of luxury, sees these choices as a rejection of materialism. This denial of material wealth is a less comfortable choice to make for the person who has grown up associating such denials with a lack of opportunity.
Last but not least, the culture of activism is often a macho culture. The emphasis on having the best ideas or doing the most daring actions can encourage a competitive atmosphere where those with the loudest voices (usually men) get heard and others (often women) stay silent. Just as in the case in society at large, the speakers are often male and those who are expected to support them are often female. This reproduction of gender roles in activist culture is further evidence that it is not, at present, a revolutionary culture.
The lack of diversity and acceptance, in the activist subculture, of people who are different, is obviously a problem. However, the one area where there does appear to be genuine diversity is also a problem: activism has long been associated with anarchist politics due to the traditional association of direct action with those ideas. However, with the emergence of liberal direct-action movements, particularly around climate change, the political ideals of activism have become muddied and less focussed.
Whilst you might once have associated the activist with the revolutionary politics of anarchism or socialism, now the activist might be just as likely to engage in symbolic acts with the aim of pressuring some authority or other to change its policy. This divergence of political positions around a common lifestyle seems to be the opposite of what is required to bring about wide reaching social change.
Activism, then, is a deeply problematic identity which throws a number of obstacles in the path to radical social change. This inevitably leads to the question of what can be done by those who are committed to that radical change and, out of the lack of alternatives, end up defining ourselves as activists?
One of the most important things is to get over ourselves. Just because we are consciously committed to trying to revolt doesn’t make us the most capable of doing it. We are going to need a lot of friends and allies before we are able to do anything. When spaces open up for the kind of change we wish to see we won’t be the ones leading it because there won’t be any leaders. We can spread useful ideas and skills amongst people who are sympathetic but in the end spontaneity will be vital.
Because we need a massive range of people from all backgrounds to adopt radical ideas before meaningful change becomes possible we need to constantly be aware of the limited diversity of the circles we move in. It is only when these are genuinely open to and supportive of a wide range of active participants that we will grow in any meaningful sense. That means rejecting the white, middle-class, male claim on radicalism that is prevalent at the moment.
It means accepting people who have different lifestyles and different ideas about eating meat, shopping in supermarkets and using fossil fuels to those prevalent in the subculture. There is a need to be open to and welcoming of everyone who is sick of the system of domination.
Whilst there’s a lot to be said for and against that colourful character of an anarchist, Ian Bone, his Bash the Rich book makes excellent reading. In one chapter, he recounts how he and his Class War comrades participated in the Brixton riot of 1981. They saw the riot as an opportunity to engage in the struggle against their class enemies. Rather than trying to set themselves up as some elite group with authority over what was going in, they saw the riot as a moment in the struggle that, with their street fighting experiences, they could contribute to, along with other unknown militants.
As far as I’m concerned activists should be just that – unknown militants who lend their efforts and their solidarity to struggles wherever they find the opportunity.
This article originally appeared in Ceasefire Magazine.
We shall never forget
07-10-2010 13:22
Up-date about the on-going insults following top of malicious murderEarlier this year Bristol Class War held a couple of local protests in solidarity with the Tomlinson family. To protest at Ian’s death at police hands and in support of his family due to the lack of justice they’ve received and at the continual insults they have to battle against which are thrown at them by the establishment.
The protests were at CPS offices Bristol (Froomsgate House) and outside Trinity Road cop shop.
PC Simon Harwood the cop now known to of assaulted Ian Tomlinson minutes before he died may now be dismissed from the police force before Christmas.
But before we all cheer or at least relax thinking that the cops may actually be interested in justice read on…
This is infact a political ‘fix’. While it is agreed beyond all reasonable doubt that this bullying little shit did attack Ian Tomlinson it has been unable to bring criminal charges because of legal technicalities. This much we already know.
In a strange twist to this sorry tail of yet another case of police brutality both Ian’s family AND the sick supporters of Harwood agree that court action should be taken to stop a police disciplinary hearing taking place before an inquest into Ian’s death has taken place.
Ian’s family are known to be heartedly livid by the first ruling, i.e. lack of criminal prosecution of Harwood. It appears they believe that an inquest maybe the best chance of justice and holding the police to account.
Some believe Harwood will appear before a police disciplinary board shortly. The charge being gross misconduct. If found guilty then it’d be very bad for the little piece of shit.
He’ll be sacked.
The inquest is not due til May 2011 at best. Top porkers whine they do not want to wait that long and want to be seen to be acting responsibly and despite it all Harwood is still on full pay while suspended these last 18 months.
But in truth the top porkers will not want one of theirs appearing at an inquest in full Metropolitan Police Officer’s uniform. Its about damage limitation and not justice.
So the cops continue to add insult to the grave injury. Ian’s son, Paul King said, “I can see how it would look nice for the police if the officer turned up to the inquest in his civilian cloths.”
It is widely anticipated the inquest, if held in a fair and just manner will be enormously difficult for the bullying, murdering scum that is Harwood along with the lice – oh sorry- forgot the po in that! Oh well…
Questions in public about conduct, training, objectives, leadership etc.
Meanwhile it is reported Harwood’s sick supporters whine, “This will be unfair on the little orifice. It’s unfair to put him before the discipline board before the inquest. The SPG didn’t have to do this when they, sorry, when Blair Peach was killed – I mean died!”
“The proper place for the facts to come out is in the inquest. It is very difficult for our boy to give a full account at a discipline board. His legal team will have to seriously consider a challenge.”
What’s the betting it’ll be on ‘ ill health’ grounds?
Jules Carey, solicitors for the Tomlinson family said: "If the Metropolitan Police are determined to hold misconduct proceedings before the inquest has determined the cause of Ian Tomlinson's death, then they are effectively ruling out the possibility of the officer facing misconduct charges relating to his death."
"Clearly I shall need to advise Ian's family about their legal options to challenge any decision by the MPS to proceed with misconduct proceedings ahead of inquest."
In July the Crown Prosecution Service announced PC Harwood could not face criminal charges because it believed clashing medical evidence made it unlikely that a jury would convict him of manslaughter.
The CPS has said it would reconsider the decision not to prosecute after the results of the inquest in case any new evidence emerges.
One pathologist said Tomlinson, 47, died from a heart attack, but two other pathologists later separately concluded that he had died of internal bleeding as a result of blunt force trauma.
The CPS's view clashes with that of an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which concluded there was sufficient evidence to charge the officer with manslaughter.
Take Action: Ban BAE From Campus This Term!
07-10-2010 13:22
Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) has launched our Ban BAE counter-recruitment campaign across our Universities Networks. We are calling all interested activists to get involved in direct action against arms companies on university campuses. Education and arms companies should not mix so find out how you can get involved!For example:
Bristol University Careers Fair
Last Updated by CAAT on Sep 20
27th & 28th October 2010 12-3pm Willis Memorial Building, Queens Road
Arms Companies: GE, Rolls-Royce, Army, DSTL
OR
Bristol University Engineering & IT Careers Fair
Last Updated by CAAT on Sep 20
13th October 2010, 12-3omm Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road
Arms Companies: Airbus UK, ARM, Atkins, AWE, BAE Systems, Defence Engineering & Science Group, Detica, EADS Defence and Security Systems, GE, GCHQ, MBDA, QinetiQ, Rolls-Royce, Royal Navy & Royal Marines, Thales.
This year we want BAE Systems to be met with protests wherever it goes to recruit students. WE NEED YOUR HELP to force BAE Systems to conclude that attending university career fairs is not worth their while and shut down their main link to graduates. Education and arms companies should not mix!
BAE Systems is desperate to recruit university graduates. Each year they spend thousands of pounds on recruiting students to design, build, market and sell the next generation of killing equipment. Dick Olver (Chairman of BAE) said “Without action, the UK's widening skills gap will have become an irreversible gulf.” We certainly hope to prove him right by widening the gap between university graduates and the arms trade!
Recruitment fairs are the most straight-forward and visible approach that BAE Systems use to attract graduate talent. We want to disrupt their recruitment season this year! Controversial companies will often stop attending careers fairs when they consider their presence as detrimental to their objectives. This happened in 2008 when Climate Camp launched the 'E.ON F.OFF' campaign, which achieved such adverse publicity that e-on pulled out of careers fairs! We are hoping to achieve the same thing with our newly launched 'BAN BAE counter-recruitment campaign.'
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For example:
Bristol University Careers Fair
Last Updated by CAAT on Sep 20
27th & 28th October 2010 12-3pm Willis Memorial Building, Queens Road
Arms Companies: GE, Rolls-Royce, Army, DSTL
OR
Bristol University Engineering & IT Careers Fair
Last Updated by CAAT on Sep 20
13th October 2010, 12-3omm Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road
Arms Companies: Airbus UK, ARM, Atkins, AWE, BAE Systems, Defence Engineering & Science Group, Detica, EADS Defence and Security Systems, GE, GCHQ, MBDA, QinetiQ, Rolls-Royce, Royal Navy & Royal Marines, Thales.
There are numerous student actions that have been hugely successful, and in many cases very entertaining too! Last year alone these included: die-ins, confiscating companies promotional materials, removing displays and grim reapers looming over stalls! I wonder what this year will bring?!
AADD-UK asks Paul Burstow to apologise for stereotyping ADHD Adults
07-10-2010 12:33
Paul Burstow MP, Minister of State for Care Services, and lead for Equality & Human Rights, seems to assume all adults with ADHD are potential criminals and as a result the Department of Health will only consider adult ADHD issues after people have entered the criminal justice system."Women at the cutting edge" - a conference on women and the cuts
07-10-2010 12:21
On 30 October Feminist Fightback will be hosting a conference on women and cuts, open to people of all genders.Bristol & District Anti-Cuts Demo
07-10-2010 11:22
Saturday 23 October 11amThe Bristol & District Anti-Cuts Alliance is organising a demonstration and rally on Saturday 23 October in defence of public services and against the Government's proposed cuts in public spending.
The demonstration will assemble at 11.00am at Castle Park and march through Bristol city centre for a rally at 12.00pm on College Green. Please see the attached flyer.
The TUC have produced a pamphlet: "All Pain, No Gain, the case against cuts"
http://www.tuc.org.uk/industrial/tuc-18087-f0.pdf
Bristol rally against the cuts
07-10-2010 11:22
11:00 am Castle park Broadmead.12:00 Rally College green.
Defend public services. Demonstration and rally against the ConDem cuts in public spending.
http://bristolred.wordpress.com/2010/09/21/bristol-rall...ts-2/
Call for support action days with belarussian arrestants on 14-16 of october
07-10-2010 09:49
Arrests and searches are still going in Belarus. We call to support belarussian activists on international solidarity days 14-16 of october.Criminality of nuclear deterrence - World at the precipice of another world war
07-10-2010 09:35
It is the government officials in the nuclear weapons states and their allied states that are disobeying international law. Every person around the world has a basic human right to be free from the criminal practice of nuclear deterrence/nuclear terrorism, and its specter of nuclear extinction. All human beings in our capacities as creatures of God possess the basic right under international law to engage in civil resistance for the purpose of preventing, impeding or terminating the ongoing commission of these international crimes.
Smash EDO Press Release - Anti Arms Protester Given ASBO by the Back Door
07-10-2010 09:00
For more info contact: Andrew Beckett or Chloe Marsh, Smash EDO campaignTel: 07526557436 E-mail:
smashedopress@riseup.net Website: www.smashedo.org.uk
Report on a full announced inspection of Dover IRC
07-10-2010 05:13
Panel discussion: Is journalistic impartiality a myth?
07-10-2010 01:06
Video and photo report from the Tory Party Conference protest
06-10-2010 23:44
On Sunday 3rd October, around 6000 people gathered to protest against the cuts planned by the Tory government at their party conference in Birmingham. The entire area around the ICC (International Convention Centre) became an exclusion zone with 15ft high metal barriers erected. West Midlands police had originally agreed that the march organised by the Right to Work campaign could go ahead, but soon reneged on their promise. On the day the march was of a standard A to B affair: colourful banners, a variety of blocs from different unions, but it took a ramshackle route through Birmingham city centre's side streets, resembling a tour of the 'city living' upmarket apartments more than a visible and vocal protest march. It was obvious to all present that political manoeuvring had taken place to minimise the political efficacy and visibility of the march. This was not helped by the Right to Work campaign stewards 'liaising' with West Midlands police to compromise protesters who identified themselves as anarchists. Chris Banbury, an SWP member and RTW steward allegedly threatened protesters holding a banner with 'arrest' if they did not move from the front of the march.
Government cuts: "There Is No Alternative" ... now where did I hear that before?
06-10-2010 23:02
Activists Take the Fight to Beyond Retro HQ, Soho Store & Noble Furs
06-10-2010 22:38
SMASH THE FUR TRADE!Blow to United States Prosecutors As Terror Case Witness Barred
06-10-2010 21:12
Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, a native of Tanzania, was arrested in 2004The judge in the first civilian trial of a former Guantanamo inmate has ruled that a key US government witness cannot testify, in a blow to prosecutors.
To the anarchists - a call for a united front
06-10-2010 20:52
The following is an attempt to put into words some thoughts on the UK anarchist movement, and hopefully get a bit of a debate goingYemen: The covert apparatus of the American Empire
06-10-2010 20:42
Yemen is perhaps an excellent example of America being on the “wrong side of a world revolution,” as the secret war in Yemen being exacerbated in the name of “fighting al-Qaeda” is in actuality, about the expansion and supremacy of American power in the region. It is about the suppression of natural democratic, local, revolutionary elements throughout the country seeking self-autonomy in changing the nation from its current despotic, authoritarian rule sympathetic to American interests, into a nation of their own choosing. It is about repressing struggles for liberation.
Is there an AR movement in Nocton, Lincolnshire?
06-10-2010 20:01
Nocton mega dairy farm.When Bad Faith Moves Mountains - Manifesta goes to Limburg
06-10-2010 19:43
The mediatisation of an event always removes some of its visibility, just as they say that the mode of production of a commodity always disappears.Similarly, Manifesta, the quintessential European biennial, is preparing to embark upon its eighth and latest exhibition effort in Murcia, in the south of Spain, in October. But it is common knowledge that Manifesta is a sort of phoenix that comes to an end in one place only to come back to life again in another.
After working on the frontiers between Spain and North Africa, Manifesta is already prepared for its return to the heart of Europe, to investigate the notion of “Europeanism” in the Limburg region: in the very Euroregion it has always favoured. Holland, Luxembourg, and Germany have all been venues for the event, and now it is the turn of Belgium, in a geopolitical hub that recalls the ECSC more than the new EU.