Black Flame: The Revolutionary Class Politics of Anarchism and Syndicalism (Counter-Power vol 1)
Encyclopedia
Black Flame: The Revolutionary Class Politics of Anarchism and Syndicalism (Counter-Power vol. 1) is a book written by Lucien van der Walt and Michael Schmidt which deals with “the ideas, history and relevance of the broad anarchist tradition though a survey of 150 years of global history.”
The book also states that “‘class struggle
’ anarchism, sometimes called revolutionary or communist anarchism
, is not a type of anarchism … it is the only anarchism,” and so it does not deal with individualist anarchists
such as William Godwin
and Max Stirner
, nor with mutualists
such as Pierre-Joseph Proudhon
. Regarding the “philosophical
, individualist, spiritual
and ‘lifestyle
’ traditions,” the authors say “we do not regard these currents as part of the broad anarchist tradition.”
Having removed a large portion of self-proclaimed anarchists from their analysis, the authors then divide the anarchist movement into two traditions, those are “mass and insurrectionist anarchism”. The book itself is argued from a mass anarchist perspective. For the authors, “[m]ass anarchism stresses that only mass movements can create revolutionary change in society, [and] that such movements are typically built through struggles around immediate issues and reforms.” They go on that “[t]he insurrectionist approach, in contrast, claims that reforms are illusory, that movements like unions are willing or unwitting bulwarks of the existing order, and that formal organisations are authoritarian. Consequently, insurrectionist anarchism emphasises armed action – ‘propaganda by the deed’ – as the most important means of evoking a spontaneous revolutionary upsurge.”
Content
The book takes an approach which, while also analysing Western Europe and North America, nonetheless takes the history of anarchism and syndicalism in Latin America, southern Africa, and East Asia seriously.The book also states that “‘class struggle
Class struggle
Class struggle is the active expression of a class conflict looked at from any kind of socialist perspective. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote "The [written] history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggle"....
’ anarchism, sometimes called revolutionary or communist anarchism
Anarchist communism
Anarchist communism is a theory of anarchism which advocates the abolition of the state, markets, money, private property, and capitalism in favor of common ownership of the means of production, direct democracy and a horizontal network of voluntary associations and workers' councils with...
, is not a type of anarchism … it is the only anarchism,” and so it does not deal with individualist anarchists
Individualist anarchism
Individualist anarchism refers to several traditions of thought within the anarchist movement that emphasize the individual and his or her will over external determinants such as groups, society, traditions, and ideological systems. Individualist anarchism is not a single philosophy but refers to a...
such as William Godwin
William Godwin
William Godwin was an English journalist, political philosopher and novelist. He is considered one of the first exponents of utilitarianism, and the first modern proponent of anarchism...
and Max Stirner
Max Stirner
Johann Kaspar Schmidt , better known as Max Stirner , was a German philosopher, who ranks as one of the literary fathers of nihilism, existentialism, post-modernism and anarchism, especially of individualist anarchism...
, nor with mutualists
Mutualism
Mutualism is the way two organisms of different species biologically interact in a relationship in which each individual derives a fitness benefit . Similar interactions within a species are known as co-operation...
such as Pierre-Joseph Proudhon
Pierre-Joseph Proudhon
Pierre-Joseph Proudhon was a French politician, mutualist philosopher and socialist. He was a member of the French Parliament, and he was the first person to call himself an "anarchist". He is considered among the most influential theorists and organisers of anarchism...
. Regarding the “philosophical
Philosophical anarchism
Philosophical anarchism is an anarchist school of thought which contends that the state lacks moral legitimacy while not supporting violence to eliminate it...
, individualist, spiritual
Anarchism and religion
Anarchists have traditionally been skeptical of and opposed to organized religion. Nevertheless some anarchists provided religious interpretations and approaches to anarchism.-Anarchist clashes with religion:...
and ‘lifestyle
Lifestyle anarchism
Lifestyle anarchism is a term derived from Murray Bookchin's polemical essay "Social Anarchism or Lifestyle Anarchism: An Unbridgeable Chasm." He used it to criticize those anarchists who dress the look or live in certain ways, but who don't really act on the basic tenets of anarchism at the...
’ traditions,” the authors say “we do not regard these currents as part of the broad anarchist tradition.”
Having removed a large portion of self-proclaimed anarchists from their analysis, the authors then divide the anarchist movement into two traditions, those are “mass and insurrectionist anarchism”. The book itself is argued from a mass anarchist perspective. For the authors, “[m]ass anarchism stresses that only mass movements can create revolutionary change in society, [and] that such movements are typically built through struggles around immediate issues and reforms.” They go on that “[t]he insurrectionist approach, in contrast, claims that reforms are illusory, that movements like unions are willing or unwitting bulwarks of the existing order, and that formal organisations are authoritarian. Consequently, insurrectionist anarchism emphasises armed action – ‘propaganda by the deed’ – as the most important means of evoking a spontaneous revolutionary upsurge.”
External links
- A blog on the book
- http://www.ainfos.ca/en/ainfos24315.htmlExchange on Black Flame with Anarchist StudiesAnarchist StudiesAnarchist Studies is a biannual academic journal on anarchism. It takes an interdisciplinary approach, examining the history, culture, and theory of anarchism...
between Spencer Sunshine and Lucien van der Walt] - A Flame to Extenguish Capital: Review of Black Flame by Deric Shannon
- Review of the book by M. Bookunin