Re: [pf] Perspectives on ourselves, our world and social change

· Positive Futures people: I paged-down fairly quickly through this, but my
eye was caught by the distinction made between:

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
False opposition is a special case of partial opposition. It is an attempt
to appear total or radical, while remaining only partial in actual practice.

·  and:

Radical opposition on the other hand attempts to subvert hierarchy and
alienation at their roots. It is always a conscious opposition to the
totality of the existing social system since it is based on an
understanding of how that system operates in an integrated fashion
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

· I suspect that's why Tom sent it on just now.

· There are several other bits I've included below; one is:

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It might seem obvious that _any_ act of resistance to a repressive and
alienating social system is a step (no matter how small) in the direction
of creating a new society. [No.] In practice, it becomes obvious that many
such acts ... are ... quite compatible with them. They ... begin with a
basic _acceptance_ of the necessity for hierarchical power and social
alienation, and only resist specific abuses ...
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 
_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_

At 12:20 21/5/2001 -0400, Tom Wheeler sent-on the
C.A.L. Press Statement:
>
>Common perspectives on ourselves, our world and social change.
>
>This statement is an updated version of what was originally a statement of
Columbia Anarchist League positions adopted in the spring of 1985, and
revised in late spring of 1989, while the group still existed. 
> ...
>
>12. It might seem intuitively obvious that any act of resistance to a
repressive and alienating social system is a step (no matter how small) in
the direction of creating a new society. However, such an assumption is far
from the truth. In practice, it becomes obvious that many acts which
superficially appear opposed to hierarchy and capital are in actuality
quite compatible with them. These acts of partial opposition always begin
with a basic acceptance of the necessity for hierarchical power and social
alienation, and only resist specific abuses or injustices within the
overall system. Because partial opposition has such a narrow focus on
reforming only certain aspects of the social structure, it has the
paradoxical effect of strengthening the social system it appears to fight
by legitimizing the overall system at the same time as it helps it
depressurize and adapt to demands for social change. This depressurization
of social forces demanding change is sometimes called "recuperation." By
recuperating impulses toward genuine social change, and channeling these
impulses toward the real or imagined reform of the existing social system,
the system not only eliminates a threat to its continued existence, but it
also strengthens its hold on people by giving the impression that
fundamental reforms may be possible by a piecemeal process, and that any
more radical opposition might threaten reforms already made. Partial
opposition is always contrary to any genuinely radical opposition because
it always accepts the ground rules of hierarchical commodity society as its
own. Liberal reformists, "radical" moralists and social democrats would all
prefer that we fought for "realistic" reforms on our knees than for radical
change on our feet.
>
>False opposition is a special case of partial opposition. It is an attempt
to appear total or radical, while remaining only partial in actual
practice. This type of opposition is especially typical of Marxist-Leninist
(and Stalinst, Maoist, etc.) groups. They claim to be revolutionary, but
their actual practice reproduces most of the hierarchical and bureaucratic
tendencies of the society they criticize. Despite their radical
pretensions, they ultimately maintain only a coup d'etat mentality and seek
to install themselves in power as a new and "enlightened" ruling class. A
further special case of partial opposition can be called "spectacular
opposition." Spectacular opposition involves the manufacture of an image of
revolt which has few or no roots in any real social existence. In this type
of imaginary opposition, celluloid images of revolt are created by media
radicals, or by the media itself, whose content is minimal or absent.
>
>Radical opposition on the other hand attempts to subvert hierarchy and
alienation at their roots. It is always a conscious opposition to the
totality of the existing social system since it is based on an
understanding of how that system operates in an integrated fashion as a
whole. This holistic perspective reveals that when only one aspect of the
system is challenged, the system as a whole will compensate and recuperate
the challenge until it has been sufficiently defused and reintegrated, at
which time the system is then able to begin reversing any reforms which no
longer serve its purposes. The only type of movement which can ever hope
for real change is one which challenges the social system as a whole at all
times, even when it is concentrating on particular aspects of that system.
>
>13. The absolute elimination of all social alienation is probably an
impossibility, and those who demand the attainment of such abstract
absolutes are most likely dogmatic fanatics to be avoided. They are the
would-be Robespierres of future reigns of terror. However, between the
Scylla of fanaticism and the Charybdis of an unprincipled and opportunistic
reformism, lies what we believe to be a realizable and viable conception of
a qualitatively more free, equitable and enjoyable social system. Such a
system would not be pure or perfect, but it could involve a genuinely
radical re-structuring of society that would change the balance of social
relations – ending the historical dominance of hierarchical and
authoritarian social relationships, and replacing their dominance with a
self-reinforcing system of non-hierarchical social relationships which can
be considered a form of anarchy.
>
>14. Anarchy literally means no ruler. In its best sense it signifies a
social system in which political hierarchies and authoritarianism are not
tolerated. Instead of hierarchical rule by monolithic institutions over the
general public, anarchy in this sense demands the most complete, widespread
and effectively direct control possible by all those who are involved. This
does not just mean that anarchists have some sort of vague or abstract
belief in democracy, or consensus or individualism. This means that
anarchists demand explicitly direct and concrete popular participation
within and control of every significant social institution by those who are
affected by them – not just control over institutional organization and
management, but also and just as important, over their direction, ends and
very existence. This can only be achieved through widespread and conscious
commitment to libertarian social and institutional values and practices
(self-management, spontaneity, autonomy, cooperation, human-scale
organization, direct responsibility/accountability/action, and maximum
flexibility)
> ...
>
>*************************************************
>Alternative Press Review  -  www.altpr.org
>Your Guide Beyond the Mainstream
>PO Box 4710  -  Arlington, VA 22204
>
>Mid-Atlantic Infoshop  -  www.infoshop.org
>Infoshop News Kiosk - www.infoshop.org/news.html
>
>

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
David.
(David MacClement) davd@ihug.co.nz 
http://www.geocities.com/davd.geo/index.html#top
************************************************

==^================================================================
EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://igc.topica.com/u/?aVxifP.aVx3Cb
Or send an email To: positive-futures-unsubscribe@igc.topica.com
This email was sent to: archive+pfvs@csf.colorado.edu

T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail!
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register
==^================================================================