Wobblies and Zapatistas: Conversations on Anarchism, Marxism and Radical History

288 Pages·2008·1.78 MB·English

by  Staughton Lynd

Praise for Wobblies & Zapatistas
“There’s no doubt that we’ve lost much of our history. It’s also
very clear that those in power in this country like it that way.
Here’s a book that shows us why. It demonstrates not only that
another world is possible, but that it already exists, has existed,
and shows an endless potential to burst through the artificial
walls and divisions that currently imprison us. An exquisite
contribution to the literature of human freedom, and coming
not a moment too soon.”
— DaviD Graeber, Author of Fragments of an Anarchist Anthropology and
Direct Action: an Ethnography
“With the patient and intelligent prodding of Andrej Grubacic,
Staughton Lynd, preeminent historian/scholar/revolutionary,
takes us on a calm, leisurely walk through the annals of history
and shows us what it means to be a human being. From the
Zapatista movement in San Cristóbal, Chiapas to the steel mills
of rural Ohio, he reminds us that when it’s all over, said and
done, what truly matters the most is our willingness to reach out
and love somebody.”
— bomani shakur a.k.a. keith lamar, Death Row, Ohio State
Penitentiary
“In these desperate, often tragic, times, we look backward, for-
ward, even to our dreams to be able to keep imagining a world in
which justice may be part of more people’s lives. We look to lives
lived before ours, to stories and their meanings, to strategies culled
from the worlds of politics or ancient wisdoms. We look in Africa,
Asia, Latin America, Europe, and here in the United States. We
are willing to entertain any new idea or revamped strategy.
Staughton Lynd’s life and work put him in a unique position
to seek out someone like Grubacic, ask the pertinent questions,
and tell the meaningful stories. Grubacic’s experience perfectly
compliments Lynd’s. Here we have the best of a non-dogmatic
Marxism listening to a most creative and humane anarchism.
But this book is never weighted down by unforgiving theory. Just
the opposite: it is a series of conversations where the reader feels
fully present. It provides a marvelous framework for enriching
the conversation that’s never really stopped: about how we may
make this world a better place.
Wobblies and Zapatistas: Marxism, Anarchism and Radical
History is an absolute must read for anyone battered by the
1989-1990 defeat of what many called ‘real socialism.’ Here is
a new and vibrant starting point for thought and action—and
a great read as well.”
— marGaret ranDall, Author of Sandino’s Daughters, When I Look Into
the Mirror and See You, and Narrative of Power, among other books.
“It is rare that words in a conversation approach the likeness
of something truly new—such is the case of the friendly and
productive dance of anarchist and socialist ideas in Andrej
Grubačić’s new book: Wobblies and Zapatistas, book of conver-
sations between Andrej Grubačić and Staughton Lynd. It is a
rich piece of literature, clearly benefiting from the lives and expe-
riences of these two extraordinary human beings, and an impor-
tant contribution to the continuing synthesis of revolutionary
ideas. Exploring questions of participatory experiments, worker
democracy, solidarity unionism, civil disobedience, organizing,
and the role of theory and organic intellectuals, Wobblies and
Zapatistas delves into the political questions of the twenty-first
century with the utmost clarity, reflection, and insight. I’d rec-
ommend Conversations to all young people interested in building
a movement towards a better, more democratic world.”
— brian kelly, Students for a Democratic Society & Student Environmental
Action Coalition
“Young organizers today are faced with a rapidly changing, com-
plex world. Many of us are building new political compasses
with which to navigate such a turbulent landscape. Conversa-
tions between Lynd and Grubacic are a perfect medium to weave
a narrative of social movements that roots us in history. Through
rich storytelling, debate, and political analysis, this book is about
more than Wobblies and Zapatistas. It is a window into wildcat
strikes in Youngstown OH, the civil war in Spain, the streets of
Seattle, mountains of Nicaragua, Israel and Palestine, and that’s
just the start. This is no romanticized history or mindless celebra-
tion of confrontation; this is a reflection on the lessons organizers
can learn and carry with them to build a new world. It contains
portraits of Ella Baker and Thomas Paine, thoughts on informal
leadership from Saul Alinsky, and descriptions of the education
of Myles Horton. The reader is treated to historical examples of
interracial solidarity and movement building. We learn of songs
sung in SNCC, of liberation theology and Anabaptists. We read
stories of consensus decision-making in a Supermax prison, and
Rosa Luxemburg’s feelings on internationalism. Lynd calls for
organizers who are ‘long distance runners, not sprinters.’ This
book is a tool to help us go the distance.”
— Joshua kahn russell, Climate Activist, Author, and National
Organizer with Energy Action Coalition, Rainforest Action Network, and the
new Students for a Democratic Society
“Here, Staughton Lynd is a story teller, drawing from critical
moments of popular movements over centuries and continents,
as well as his own experiences as historian and activist. Together,
he and Andrej Grubacic reflect on such key issues of perennial
interest to those of us working to build a just, sustainable future
as: Archbishop Romero’s idea of accompaniment, evolving anar-
chist solutions to the challenges of democracy, the implications of
global citizenship and the Zapatistas’ changing views of economic
and political power, with the goal of ‘helping us to prioritize…to
abandon unsuccessful experiments without condemning persons
who undertook them on behalf of us all.’ I missed more than one
subway stop whilst transported to Chiapas, the Youngstown steel
mills, the fight for the 8-hour day in Chicago of the 1880’s, the
Freedom Schools in Mississippi and Norman Morrison’s power-
ful protest against the Vietnam war.”
— Cathy Wilkerson, Author of the Weatherperson memoir Flying Close to
the Sun
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Wobblies & Zapatistas:
ConvERSationS on anaRChiSM, MaRxiSM and RadiCal hiStoRy
By Staughton lynd & andrej Grubacic
Copyright © 2008 Staughton Lynd & Andrej Grubacic
This edition copyright © 2008 PM Press
All Rights Reserved
Cover illustration by Roderick Constance © 2008 www.shadowshapes.com
Designed by Courtney Utt
Special thanks to Alice Lynd
Published by:
PM Press
PO Box 23912
Oakland, CA 94623
www.pmpress.org
ISBN: 978-1-60486-041-2
Library Of Congress Control Number: 2008931839
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed in the USA on recycled paper.
v
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ix Acknowledgments
xi Foreword, Forward! by Denis O’Hearn
PART I, MARXISM, ANARCHISM AND ZAPATISMO
3 Zapatismo
What is Globalization?
What is the Zapatista Strategy for Change?
Does it Work?
11 a haymarket synthesis
Zapatismo and Haymarket
15 the Wobbly experienCe
A Culture of Solidarity
The New Movement
20 luxemburG, Weil, anD e. p. thompson
24 the WorkinG Class
Another Path
What I Learned
Solidarity Unionism
And So?
34 D ireCt aCtion anD aCCompaniment
Liberation Magazine and Studies on the Left
Theory and Practice in Marx
Is There Such a Thing as Theory Arising from Practice?
More Theory?
What About Anarchism?
43 hiGh anD loW theory
Low Theory in Practice
Anarchists Need Marxism
49 burnham’s Dilemma
50 aCCompaniment
Archbishop Oscar Romero
Father Uriel Molina
57 i ntelleCtuals anD aCCompaniment
On Being an Intellectual
I Am an Outsider
v
62 raDiCal intelleCtuals
The Role of Left Intellectuals in Zapatismo
Thompson, Zinn and Lynd
66 Dual poWer
The Freedom School Convention
The Workers’ Solidarity Club of Youngstown
Solidarity USA
WATCH
78 parallel institutions DurinG
the ameriCan revolution
83 oaxaCa
85 spontaneity anD orGaniZation
87 DireCt DemoCraCy anD representation
89 are We WinninG?
94 o lD anD neW movements:
similarities anD DifferenCes
97 s eeDs anD soil
Marxism and Anarchism
Visions and Seeds
Seeds of Solidarity
A Seed Bank for Seeds of Solidarity?
103 hoW Can We rebuilD our movement?
Why the 1960s Had it Easier
A False Start and an Incomplete Apocalypse
Seeds Beneath the Snow
Soldiers
Workers
Prisoners
Drawing the Threads Together and Behaving Like Comrades
PART II, GUERRILLA HISTORY
119 What is Guerrilla history?
121 history from the bottom up
British Marxist Historians
124 ameriCan raDiCal historians
127 eConomiC interest anD iDeoloGy
131 sons of liberty
132 history by partiCipants in the struGGle
vi vii