'Socialism or Barbarism' today: the centrality of self-emancipation

IIRE – ECOSOCIALIST SCHOOL December 2017

"Socialism or Barbary" to-day : the centrality of self-emancipation. "Transitional strategy" and “Permanent revolution” in contemporary capitalism Lessons from the past and from new struggles

Catherine Samary http://csamary.free.fr

OUTLINE

I - Why “socialism or barbary” to-day ? The impact of the “soviet century” - and its end – on capitalist “policies” and institutions, behind economic dimensions, “long waves” and crisis.

II- Back on “Socialism” and “communism” : what do we mean ? Lessons from the past and present struggles ; updating notions and debates.

III- What “transitional strategy” to-day ? At what level ? What fundamental demands ?

Questions for working groups

A) See “Reading material” about Via Campesina. Even if you have no example of its activities in your own country (region), did you know that network and component of the Global Justice movement ? What is your opinion on its importance for anti-capitalist struggles ? What kind of cross strategical issues and alliances does it encompass ?

B) Do you know (in your own country or elsewhere) significant examples of the following experiences (you can select what you know more about) : “Municipalism” or “rebel cities” ? Fights about “commons” (clarify the concept) workers or popular forms of “self-managment” in factories, services or local (rural and/or urban territories) ? Fights against private banks and financial markets, as supported by the CADTM against “illegitimate debt” (at municipal, national or broader level), or against “toxic credits” ?

How can those fights be part of a “transitional” dynamic within/against the capitalist system and logics ? What difficulties, risks, contradictions are they (or could they be) confronted to ? How to deal with them ? What involvement and debates about those experiences among radical left currents ?