>From: x551_003@ccvax.ucd.ie Subject: Problems with the Anarchists? Date: 14 Apr 93 12:56:55 WET Heres a quote from the "History of the Mhaknovist Movement" that I think is relevant to some of the recent contributions to this group Enjoy ! "We are obliged to say that the Russian anarchists remained in their circles and slept through a mass movemet of paramont importance." [the Mhaknovists, Ukranian anarchist movement 1918-21] "But at the same time we discover that this deplorable situation is not accidental, but that it has very specific causes, which we will now consider. The majority of our anarchist theorists have their origins in the intelligentsia. This circumstance is very significant. While standing under the banner of anarchism, many of them are not able to break altogether with the physchological context from which they emerged. Very few amongst the isolated anarchists found themselves the necessary sensitivity and courage to recognise that this movement was the one anarchism had been anticipatinf for many years - those who didrushed to join it. An even more important aspect of this helplessness and inactivity of the anarchists is the confusion in anarchist theory and the organisational chaos in anarchists ranks. Thus many anarchists devoted their energies to the question of whether the task of anarchism is the liberation of classes, humanity or of the personality. The question is empty, but it is based on some unclear anarchist positions and provides a broad field for abuse of anarchist thought and practise. An even greater field for abuse is created by the unclear anarchist theory of individaul freedom. Those who do not know the passion of the revolution, who are most concerned with their 'I', understand this idea in their own fashion. Whenever the question of practical anarchist organisation or the question of organisation with a serious intent is posed, they hang on to the theory of individual liberty and using this as a basis oppose all organisation and escape from all responsibility. The ideas and actions of anarchists are thus pulverised to the point of derangement. For dozens of years the Russian anarchists have suffered from the disease of disorganisation. Thus when the mass movement roase from the depths of the people, the anarchists showed themselves completly unprepared, spineless and weak. In our opinion this is temporary. Anarchism is not mysticism: it is not a discourse on beauty; it is not a cry of dispair. Its greatness is due, above all, to its devotion to the cause of oppressed humanity. It carries within itself the truth, and the aspiration of the masses, and is today the only social doctrine the masses can count on it their struggle. But this is not enough. Anarchism needs to go to the masses and merge with them" Peter Arshinov (exiled Russian anarchist) Andrew