'Socialism or Barbarism' today: the centrality of self-emancipation -
"Socialism or barbarisme" to-day = the centrality of self-emancipation
* « Socialism », « communism », « barbarians » to-day…
* Lessons of the past/present
* "Transitional strategy" within/against contemporary capitalism
Catherine Samary http://csamary.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
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 ?
Reading materials: