Free Skool:Summer 2013 Reading Group: Difference between revisions

From Anarchy In Action
No edit summary
Line 40: Line 40:
= Class Outline =
= Class Outline =
== Session 1 ==
== Session 1 ==
'''July 16, 2013'''
'''July 16, 2013: Introductions'''
* Introductions.  What interests you about anarchism?  What drew you to this discussion group?
* What interests you about anarchism?  What drew you to this discussion group?
* Video Clips:
:* Video Clips:
** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUig0lFHDDw Anarchists in the 1936 Spanish Civil War]
:** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUig0lFHDDw Anarchists in the 1936 Spanish Civil War]
** Clips from [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2MxtwAmeOY Breaking the Spell]
:** Clips from [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2MxtwAmeOY Breaking the Spell]
* What Is Anarchism?  Short definitions from sources like [http://anarchism.pageabode.com/afaq/ An Anarchist FAQ], [http://www.chomsky.info/interviews/19961223.htm Chomsky], [http://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/Rudolf_Rocker__Anarchism_and_Anarcho-Syndicalism.html Rocker].
:** What Is Anarchism?  Short definitions from sources like [http://anarchism.pageabode.com/afaq/ An Anarchist FAQ], [http://www.chomsky.info/interviews/19961223.htm Chomsky], [http://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/Rudolf_Rocker__Anarchism_and_Anarcho-Syndicalism.html Rocker].
* Decide upon what to read before next session.
:** Decide upon what to read before next session.


== Readings from Session 1 ==
=== Readings for the Next Session ===
* [http://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/peter-gelderloos-anarchy-works ''Anarchy Works'' by Peter Gelderloos]
* [http://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/peter-gelderloos-anarchy-works ''Anarchy Works'' by Peter Gelderloos]
:*Introduction
:*Introduction
Line 64: Line 64:


* [https://getlibre.org/wiki/images/Graham_R_%28Ed.%29_-_Anarchism_-_A_Documentary_History_of_Libertarian_Ideas_Volume_One_-_From_Anarchy_to_Anarchism_%28300_CE_to_1939%29.pdf Selections from Anarchism: A Documentary History of Libertian Ideas V1]
* [https://getlibre.org/wiki/images/Graham_R_%28Ed.%29_-_Anarchism_-_A_Documentary_History_of_Libertarian_Ideas_Volume_One_-_From_Anarchy_to_Anarchism_%28300_CE_to_1939%29.pdf Selections from Anarchism: A Documentary History of Libertian Ideas V1]
** Bakunin Sections:
:* Bakunin Sections:
*** 22 What is the State?
:** 22 What is the State?
*** 23 The Illusion of Universal Suffrage
:** 23 The Illusion of Universal Suffrage
*** 24 On Science and Authority
:** 24 On Science and Authority
** Kropotkin
:* Kropotkin
*** 41 On Anarchism
:** 41 On Anarchism
*** 34 Fields, Factories, and Workshops
:** 34 Fields, Factories, and Workshops
*** 53 Mutual Aid and Anarchist Morality
:** 53 Mutual Aid and Anarchist Morality


* [http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Anarchism Kropotkin article from 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica]
* [http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Anarchism Kropotkin article from 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica]


= Session 2 =
=== Freedom Tips ===
'''July 23, 2013'''
# Did you know there's a long-running anarchist press collective from Oakland, CA called [http://akpress.org AK Press]?
=Introductory Principles=
# If you haven't been there already, check out [http://www.dodiy.org/index.php?n=Main.Connecticut Do DIY].


== Session 2 ==
'''July 23, 2013: Introductory Principles'''
* Discussion!
=== Readings for the Next Session ===
*[http://newleftreview.org/II/13/david-graeber-the-new-anarchists David Graeber. The New Anarchists.]
*[http://newleftreview.org/II/13/david-graeber-the-new-anarchists David Graeber. The New Anarchists.]


[https://getlibre.org/wiki/images/Graham_R_%28Ed.%29_-_Anarchism_-_A_Documentary_History_of_Libertarian_Ideas_Volume_One_-_From_Anarchy_to_Anarchism_%28300_CE_to_1939%29.pdf Selections from Anarchism: A Documentary History of Libertian Ideas V1]
* [https://getlibre.org/wiki/images/Graham_R_%28Ed.%29_-_Anarchism_-_A_Documentary_History_of_Libertarian_Ideas_Volume_One_-_From_Anarchy_to_Anarchism_%28300_CE_to_1939%29.pdf Selections from Anarchism: A Documentary History of Libertian Ideas V1]
*Chapter 2. William Godwin. Enquiry Concerning Political Justice.
:**Chapter 2. William Godwin. Enquiry Concerning Political Justice.
*Chapter 3. Pierre-James Proudhon. What is Property?
:**Chapter 3. Pierre-James Proudhon. What is Property?
*Chapter 6. Mikhail Bakunin. The Organization of the International.
:**Chapter 6. Mikhail Bakunin. The Organization of the International.
*Chapter 10. Voltairine de Cleyre. Direct Action.
:**Chapter 10. Voltairine de Cleyre. Direct Action.
 


* [http://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/peter-gelderloos-anarchy-works Read Chapter 3 OR 4 of ''Anarchy Works'' by Peter Gelderloos]
* [http://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/peter-gelderloos-anarchy-works Read Chapter 3 OR 4 of ''Anarchy Works'' by Peter Gelderloos]
:*3. Economy
:*3. Economy
Without wages, what is the incentive to work?
:**Without wages, what is the incentive to work?
Don’t people need bosses and experts?
:**Don’t people need bosses and experts?
Who will take out the trash?
:**Who will take out the trash?
Who will take care of the elderly and disabled?
:**Who will take care of the elderly and disabled?
How will people get healthcare?
:**How will people get healthcare?
What about education?
:**What about education?
What about technology?
:**What about technology?
How will exchange work?
:**How will exchange work?
What about people who don’t want to give up a consumerist lifestyle?
:**What about people who don’t want to give up a consumerist lifestyle?
What about building and organizing large, spread-out infrastructure?
:**What about building and organizing large, spread-out infrastructure?
How will cities work?
:**How will cities work?
What about drought, famine, or other catastrophes?
:**What about drought, famine, or other catastrophes?
Meeting our needs without keeping count
:**Meeting our needs without keeping count


4. Environment
:*4. Environment
What’s to stop someone from destroying the environment?
:**What’s to stop someone from destroying the environment?
What about global environmental problems, like climate change?
:**What about global environmental problems, like climate change?
The only way to save the planet
:**The only way to save the planet
 
=== Freedom Tips ===
#
#


= Session 3 =
= Session 3 =
'''July 30, 2013'''
'''July 30, 2013 Russian and Spanish Revolutions'''
=Russian and Spanish Revolutions=
* Discussion!
 
=== Readings for the Next Session ===
* [https://getlibre.org/wiki/images/Graham_R_%28Ed.%29_-_Anarchism_-_A_Documentary_History_of_Libertarian_Ideas_Volume_One_-_From_Anarchy_to_Anarchism_%28300_CE_to_1939%29.pdf Selections from Anarchism: A Documentary History of Libertian Ideas V1]
:*Chapter 18
:**Peter Arshinov. The Makhnovschina and Anarchism.
:**Emma Goldman. The Transvaluation of Values.
:*Chapter 23
:**Diego Abad de Santillan. The Libertarian Revolution.
:**Gaston Leval. Libertarian Democracy.


[https://getlibre.org/wiki/images/Graham_R_%28Ed.%29_-_Anarchism_-_A_Documentary_History_of_Libertarian_Ideas_Volume_One_-_From_Anarchy_to_Anarchism_%28300_CE_to_1939%29.pdf Selections from Anarchism: A Documentary History of Libertian Ideas V1]
*[http://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/peter-gelderloos-anarchy-works Read Chapter 5 OR 6 of Anarchy Works by Peter Gelderloos]
Chapter 18. Peter Arshinov. The Makhnovschina and Anarchism.
:*5. Crime
Emma Goldman. The Transvaluation of Values.
:**Who will protect us without police?
Chapter 23. Diego Abad de Santillan. The Libertarian Revolution.
:**What about gangs and bullies?
Gaston Leval. Libertarian Democracy.
:**What’s to stop someone from killing people?
:**What about rape, domestic violence, and other forms of harm?
:**Beyond individual justice


[http://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/peter-gelderloos-anarchy-works Read Chapter 5 OR 6 of ''Anarchy Works'' by Peter Gelderloos]
:*6. Revolution
5. Crime
:**How could people organized horizontally possibly overcome the state?
Who will protect us without police?
:**How do we know revolutionaries won’t become new authorities?
What about gangs and bullies?
:**How will communities decide to organize themselves at first?
What’s to stop someone from killing people?
:**How will reparations for past oppressions be worked out?
What about rape, domestic violence, and other forms of harm?
:**How will a common, anti-authoritarian, ecological ethos come about?
Beyond individual justice
:**A revolution that is many revolutions


6. Revolution
=== Freedom Tips ===
How could people organized horizontally possibly overcome the state?
#
How do we know revolutionaries won’t become new authorities?
#
How will communities decide to organize themselves at first?
How will reparations for past oppressions be worked out?
How will a common, anti-authoritarian, ecological ethos come about?
A revolution that is many revolutions


= Session 4 =
= Session 4 =
'''August 6, 2013'''
'''August 6, 2013: Nonwestern Anarchism'''
= Nonwestern Anarchism =


[https://getlibre.org/wiki/images/Graham_R_%28Ed.%29_-_Anarchism_-_A_Documentary_History_of_Libertarian_Ideas_Volume_One_-_From_Anarchy_to_Anarchism_%28300_CE_to_1939%29.pdf Selections from Anarchism:  
* [https://getlibre.org/wiki/images/Graham_R_%28Ed.%29_-_Anarchism_-_A_Documentary_History_of_Libertarian_Ideas_Volume_One_-_From_Anarchy_to_Anarchism_%28300_CE_to_1939%29.pdf Selections from Anarchism:  
TBA.
**TBA.


[http://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/peter-gelderloos-anarchy-works Read Chapter 7 OR 8 of ''Anarchy Works'' by Peter Gelderloos]
* [http://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/peter-gelderloos-anarchy-works Read Chapter 7 OR 8 of Anarchy Works by Peter Gelderloos]
7. Neighboring Societies
**7. Neighboring Societies
Could an anarchist society defend itself from an authoritarian neighbor?
:**Could an anarchist society defend itself from an authoritarian neighbor?
What will we do about societies that remain patriarchal or racist?
:**What will we do about societies that remain patriarchal or racist?
What will prevent constant warfare and feuding?
:**What will prevent constant warfare and feuding?
Networks not borders
:**Networks not borders


8. The Future
**8. The Future
Won’t the state just reemerge over time?
:**Won’t the state just reemerge over time?
What about other problems we can’t foresee?
:**What about other problems we can’t foresee?
Making Anarchy Work
:**Making Anarchy Work
 
=== Freedom Tips ===
#
#


= Session 5 =
= Session 5 =
'''August 13, 2013'''
'''August 13, 2013: Sex, Art and Everyday Life'''
== Session 5 Readings ==
TBA.
==Sex, Art and Everyday Life==
[https://getlibre.org/wiki/images/Graham_R_%28Ed.%29_-_Anarchism_-_A_Documentary_History_of_Libertarian_Ideas_Volume_One_-_From_Anarchy_to_Anarchism_%28300_CE_to_1939%29.pdf Selections from Anarchism:]


Section from Emma Goldman. Living My Life.
=== Readings for the Next Session ===
Section from Raoul Vaneigem. Revolution of Everyday Life.
* [https://getlibre.org/wiki/images/Graham_R_%28Ed.%29_-_Anarchism_-_A_Documentary_History_of_Libertarian_Ideas_Volume_One_-_From_Anarchy_to_Anarchism_%28300_CE_to_1939%29.pdf Selections from Anarchism:]


* Section from Emma Goldman. Living My Life.
* Section from Raoul Vaneigem. Revolution of Everyday Life.


TBA.
=== Freedom Tips ===
#
#


= Session 6 =
= Session 6 =
'''August 20, 2013'''
'''August 20, 2013 Anarchy Now'''
== Session 6 Readings ==
 
==Anarchy Now==
=== Readings for the Next Session ===
[https://getlibre.org/wiki/images/Graham_R_%28Ed.%29_-_Anarchism_-_A_Documentary_History_of_Libertarian_Ideas_Volume_One_-_From_Anarchy_to_Anarchism_%28300_CE_to_1939%29.pdf Selections from Anarchism:]
* [https://getlibre.org/wiki/images/Graham_R_%28Ed.%29_-_Anarchism_-_A_Documentary_History_of_Libertarian_Ideas_Volume_One_-_From_Anarchy_to_Anarchism_%28300_CE_to_1939%29.pdf Selections from Anarchism:]
   
   
* David Graeber. The Shock of Victory.
* Brian Tokar. Murray Bookchin's Contributions to Social Movements.


David Graeber. The Shock of Victory.
=== Freedom Tips ===
Brian Tokar. Murray Bookchin's Contributions to Social Movements.
#
#


=== Recommended Videos ===
== Recommended Videos ==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBUZH2vCD_k This Is What Democracy Looks Like]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBUZH2vCD_k This Is What Democracy Looks Like]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__vv6eRj2-k This Is Anarchism]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__vv6eRj2-k This Is Anarchism]
Line 183: Line 204:
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVDkkOAOtV0 Conversation with David Graeber]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVDkkOAOtV0 Conversation with David Graeber]


=== Recommended Readings ===
== Recommended Readings ==
* [http://anarchism.pageabode.com/afaq/ An Anarchist FAQ]
* [http://anarchism.pageabode.com/afaq/ An Anarchist FAQ]
* [http://eng.anarchopedia.org/Emma_Goldman Emma Goldman] writings
* [http://eng.anarchopedia.org/Emma_Goldman Emma Goldman] writings
Line 193: Line 214:
* [https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Government+in+the+Future+by+Noam+Chomsky Government in the Future] by Noam Chomsky
* [https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Government+in+the+Future+by+Noam+Chomsky Government in the Future] by Noam Chomsky
* [http://www.prickly-paradigm.com/sites/default/files/Graeber_PPP_14_0.pdf Fragments of an Anarchist Anthropology] by David Graeber
* [http://www.prickly-paradigm.com/sites/default/files/Graeber_PPP_14_0.pdf Fragments of an Anarchist Anthropology] by David Graeber
=== Freedom Tips ===
# Did you know there's a long-running anarchist press collective from Oakland, CA called [http://akpress.org AK Press]?
# If you haven't been there already, check out [http://www.dodiy.org/index.php?n=Main.Connecticut Do DIY].


= [[Help:Contents|Wiki Editing Help]] =
= [[Help:Contents|Wiki Editing Help]] =
Tips on editing this wiki.
Tips on editing this wiki.

Revision as of 20:34, 17 July 2013

Note: When editing, please sign entries with ~~~~ or click Toolbar-signature.png in the WikiEditor. This will add your username and the time/date.

Reading Group on Anarchism

Class Description

The focus of this class will be readings on historical and contemporary anarchism. Anarchism is a major component of social movements, perhaps the dominant influence during the late 19th and early 20th Century. The past decade or so has seen a major resurgence of anarchist thought and principles, though perhaps not labeled as such. An understanding of anarchism and its place in our society is extremely important for anyone concerned with social justice. We'll explore classics like Bakunin and Kropotkin as well as anarchism's influence on movements like Occupy, Free Culture, and DIY. Open to recommendations for texts/excerpts. We'll even have awesome videos!

Things We'll Cover

  • An introduction to anarchism, starting with a very basic outline of its history and common threads throughout differing anarchist movements (syndicalism etc.)
  • Major events like Haymarket, the Spanish Civil War, Seattle WTO protests, Occupy.

Time and Location

Classes take place Tuesdays 6:30pm to 7:30pm EST, July 16 thru August 27 at The People's Arts Collective of New Haven:

212 College St, New Haven, CT 06511

Optionally, after class sessions can be scheduled, preferably somewhere with beer and the Internet.

Signing Up

There are a few ways to do this, there's a signup sheet at the Free Skool website, but it requires giving your information to Google via Google Docs. You can also just contact the facilitators (listed below) directly, or just show up. Classes are typically 6-10 people.

Facilitators

Sean "Diggity" O'Brien

me@seandiggity.com or sean@webio.me

Dan Fischer

danfischer4@gmail.com

Dan Kwet

dan@dankwet.com

Participants

Class Outline

Session 1

July 16, 2013: Introductions

  • What interests you about anarchism? What drew you to this discussion group?

Readings for the Next Session

  • Introduction
    • Anarchy Would Never Work
    • What exactly is anarchism?
    • A note on inspiration
    • The tricky topic of representation
  • Human Nature
    • Aren’t people naturally selfish?
    • Aren’t people naturally competitive?
    • Haven’t humans always been patriarchal?
    • Aren’t people naturally warlike?
    • Aren’t domination and authority natural?
    • A broader sense of self
  • Bakunin Sections:
    • 22 What is the State?
    • 23 The Illusion of Universal Suffrage
    • 24 On Science and Authority
  • Kropotkin
    • 41 On Anarchism
    • 34 Fields, Factories, and Workshops
    • 53 Mutual Aid and Anarchist Morality

Freedom Tips

  1. Did you know there's a long-running anarchist press collective from Oakland, CA called AK Press?
  2. If you haven't been there already, check out Do DIY.

Session 2

July 23, 2013: Introductory Principles

  • Discussion!

Readings for the Next Session

    • Chapter 2. William Godwin. Enquiry Concerning Political Justice.
    • Chapter 3. Pierre-James Proudhon. What is Property?
    • Chapter 6. Mikhail Bakunin. The Organization of the International.
    • Chapter 10. Voltairine de Cleyre. Direct Action.
  • 3. Economy
    • Without wages, what is the incentive to work?
    • Don’t people need bosses and experts?
    • Who will take out the trash?
    • Who will take care of the elderly and disabled?
    • How will people get healthcare?
    • What about education?
    • What about technology?
    • How will exchange work?
    • What about people who don’t want to give up a consumerist lifestyle?
    • What about building and organizing large, spread-out infrastructure?
    • How will cities work?
    • What about drought, famine, or other catastrophes?
    • Meeting our needs without keeping count
  • 4. Environment
    • What’s to stop someone from destroying the environment?
    • What about global environmental problems, like climate change?
    • The only way to save the planet

Freedom Tips

Session 3

July 30, 2013 Russian and Spanish Revolutions

  • Discussion!

Readings for the Next Session

  • Chapter 18
    • Peter Arshinov. The Makhnovschina and Anarchism.
    • Emma Goldman. The Transvaluation of Values.
  • Chapter 23
    • Diego Abad de Santillan. The Libertarian Revolution.
    • Gaston Leval. Libertarian Democracy.
  • 5. Crime
    • Who will protect us without police?
    • What about gangs and bullies?
    • What’s to stop someone from killing people?
    • What about rape, domestic violence, and other forms of harm?
    • Beyond individual justice
  • 6. Revolution
    • How could people organized horizontally possibly overcome the state?
    • How do we know revolutionaries won’t become new authorities?
    • How will communities decide to organize themselves at first?
    • How will reparations for past oppressions be worked out?
    • How will a common, anti-authoritarian, ecological ethos come about?
    • A revolution that is many revolutions

Freedom Tips

Session 4

August 6, 2013: Nonwestern Anarchism

    • Could an anarchist society defend itself from an authoritarian neighbor?
    • What will we do about societies that remain patriarchal or racist?
    • What will prevent constant warfare and feuding?
    • Networks not borders
    • 8. The Future
    • Won’t the state just reemerge over time?
    • What about other problems we can’t foresee?
    • Making Anarchy Work

Freedom Tips

Session 5

August 13, 2013: Sex, Art and Everyday Life

Readings for the Next Session

  • Section from Emma Goldman. Living My Life.
  • Section from Raoul Vaneigem. Revolution of Everyday Life.

Freedom Tips

Session 6

August 20, 2013 Anarchy Now

Readings for the Next Session

  • David Graeber. The Shock of Victory.
  • Brian Tokar. Murray Bookchin's Contributions to Social Movements.

Freedom Tips

Recommended Videos

Recommended Readings

Wiki Editing Help

Tips on editing this wiki.