"Why Anti Fascism, why autonomous, why now?"

Introduction
Anti Fascist analysis and debate is coming to dominate increasing amounts of political space, whether this be in the more radical and confrontational parts of the movement for liberation, such as the anarchists, or the different Marxist groups and publications. Independent, or party publications all have something to say on the issue. Trade Unions and the Labour parties are also talking about and publishing anti fascist ideas and action.

In this context Cl@ss War Classix has decided to put together a compilation pamphlet in the finest pamphleteering traditions of the labour movement to contribute to the debate. Cl@ss War Classix number 5, the Anti Fascist special edition comprises of 2 articles from Mayday magazine issue 1 (2007) and issue 4 (2009), the key contribution this magazine makes is analysis that suggests a politics of autonomy is necessary to break out of the anti fascist impasse identified.

The theoretical areas of autonomy are in the space between the ‘left right wing’ Searchlight (who practice with the New Labour hierarchy, Trade Unions and others) positions and practice, and the ultra left e.g. Red Action/IWCA type who say that there is a need to start again outside of the degenerate institutions of the labour movement, or, those Marxists who say anti fascism is reactionary.

Their (Searchlight/Ultra Left) politics are predictable, because they are very often mirror image opposites, their political implications become inverted so they always oppose each other. Therefore, the answer is to be both inside and outside of the Labour movement, following in the best New Left traditions. The space between Searchlight and the Ultra Left are the new 21st century areas of autonomy, where people are not so ideologically committed and who are sceptical of those who produce politics as a finished product of commandments, in short they operate more anarchistically.

These articles identify the existence and necessity of a horizontal popular front of anti fascism founded upon the progressive sensibilities ordinary working people already have. It is an anti fascism that organises beyond traditional boundaries and explicitly involves those targeted by racists and fascists. Utilising the best early labour movement co-operative traditions, it would involve whatever voluntary, charity, and/or welfare support systems there are for migrants, and the setting up of new ones. These new networks should be secular if possible, but including religious ones if necessary because these institutions can have the infrastructure that can provide welfare functions.

The third article in this collection is by Andy Newman and was published on the Socialist Unity website in February 2010, “BRITISH FASCISM PAST AND PRESENT”. As usual with these debates, a large and steamy number of replies have been forthcoming, currently numbering 270 comments as we go to press & this can be found on the Socialist Unity website. It has been chosen for inclusion because the article covers a large number of issues, a lot of the replies are from different political perspectives, and this shows that a mature attitude is essential if political growth and unity is to occur. A fractured left is a defeated left.

It is important to try to break anti fascism and politics as a whole out of its ‘ghettoised’ sectarian, closed, predictable and reductionist forms. Rather the network model of organising is more appropriate for the 21st century, and the political and technical composition of the working classes. The key issues are centred upon the circulation of ideas and struggles, authentic co-operation within and amongst anti fascists, anti racists and others, and the abandonment of hierarchical political practice, especially the traditional authoritarian statist ‘Marxist’ party types and the current institutionalised Labour and Trade Union variety. This is the way towards autonomous political growth, instead of a means to recruit or just reproducing the same institutional status quo practice.
It is through anti fascism as a model of working class liberation
and struggle that progress can be made.



Cl@ss War Classix is a new initiative to reproduce seminal publications of the class war.
The first in the series was the Introduction to the 1970s political group “Big Flame”, Big Flame were a libertarian Marxist political party in the United Kingdom. They were founded in Liverpool in 1970 and at first grew rapidly in the prevailing climate on the left.
The second was the 1924 Presidential Address to the Independent Labour Party conference, “Putting Socialism in to Practice”.

Number 3, “An History of Economic Relationships with Crime” was published in 2009.

Number 4, the Class War ‘Poll Tax Special’ 20th anniversary edition was published in January 2010, & can be ordered from this address for £1 each inc. P & P, 4 for £2.
Number 5, The Anti Fascist special, published in February 2010 is £1, 4 copies for £2.

You can pay via Paypal at dr_trevorbark[AT]fastmail.net
1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 can be purchased for £1 each including P & P.

Contact Cl@ss War Classix at: 07931 301901 or class.war.classix [AT]googlemail.com to order, for review copies, or to suggest publications to reproduce. Cl@ss War Classix can usually be found at events promoted on this website;  http://workingclassbookfair.vpweb.com/ or Anarchist bookfairs, and some independent bookshops and social centres.