Autonomy in the UK

[Serge Forward]

Italy in 1977 - David Wise

A personal memory... .and the link between intensifying cultural commodification, increasing state repression and the spectre of terrorism. Originally published on the Revolt Against Plenty website in 2007.

libcom.org

This is an interesting account and reflection by one of the Wise brothers (King Mob / BM Blob etc) on them visiting Italy in 1977 and getting caught up with various events.

The stuff on Italy that went missing after being sent to some anarchists in the Midlands... I'm wondering if that was my group in the Potteries??? I can't think of any other Midlands groups in that period who would have been interested. Ours would have been. Anyway, I have zero recollection of the incident, but it could have been after I moved "south" to Stafford. I'll have a word with the only other surviving member and see if he knows owt about it.

 

[Fozzie Bear]

The stuff on Italy that went missing after being sent to some anarchists in the Midlands... I'm wondering if that was my group in the Potteries??? I can't think of any other Midlands groups in that period who would have been interested. Ours would have been. Anyway, I have zero recollection of the incident, but it could have been after I moved "south" to Stafford. I'll have a word with the only other surviving member and see if he knows owt about it.

It would be absolutely wild if someone still had this stuff in their loft

 

[Serge Forward]

I've just spoken to him and he has no knowledge of it. The only other surviving member was last spotted as an aging roving hippy with remnants of the convoy, so finding this stuff in that direction seems highly unlikely

The only other possibility is that it somehow found its way to the old Wildcat group - though they would have hated to be called "anarchists" Anyway, I'll get in touch with a remaining member I'm still in touch with.

 

[Fozzie Bear]

Thanks Serge Forward that's great.

I am in touch with Dave Wise and can ask him about the group but he is not in the best of health and may not remember in any case...

 

[ID47]

Italy in 1977 - David Wise

A personal memory... .and the link between intensifying cultural commodification, increasing state repression and the spectre of terrorism. Originally published on the Revolt Against Plenty website in 2007.

libcom.org

This is an interesting account and reflection by one of the Wise brothers (King Mob / BM Blob etc) on them visiting Italy in 1977 and getting caught up with various events.

Interesting, I was there throughout those years, there was so much hope back then, '77 was definitely a high water mark but what happened in March the following year and the subsequent massive crackdown that followed changed Italy for the worse forever.

Fucking CIA and SISDE/SISMI (and their predecessors) state terrorism.

 

[Serge Forward]

Thanks Serge Forward that's great.

I am in touch with Dave Wise and can ask him about the group but he is not in the best of health and may not remember in any case...

Don't get your hopes too high as it's all a bit tenuous, I just can't think of another Midlands group that would have been interested in it back then. But there's no guarantee it was sent to us in the first place either. Anyway, I've emailed the ex-Wildcat person. I don't think he's online much so a response might take a while.

 

[Serge Forward]

He just got back to me. He's never seen it either. Maybe it went to one of the student anarchist groups back then, but apart from Keele Anarchists (which was a Careless Talk front), I've no clue. The only non-student anarchists in the Midlands that we had much contact with was in Crewe. I've no idea what happened to them. Alas, the trail has gone cold

 

[Fozzie Bear]

Hey no worries - thanks for checking!

 

[Lurdan]

The anarchs who later turned into the 'Pleasure Tendency' were in Leeds in the early to mid '80s. Not sure the timescale is right to be the group Wise is talking about but they are an example of many local groups at that time who started out as 'anarchists' in some sense but who then moved in different (sometimes very different) directions. Very few of those groups are remembered of course unless they were 'serious' anarchists.

'Serious' (adj) :- a group which becomes involved in some way with one of the 'national' anarcho-politico organizations.

 

[hitmouse]

New issue of Notes From Below will be having launch events in London and Norwich this week:

Notes From Below Issue 22 Launch · Luma

Launch of Notes from Below Issue 22 - Worker Centres: Locations of Class Power! Come and join us for the launch of the issue, with contributors speaking, and a…

lu.ma

Notes From Below Issue 22 Launch - Norwich · Luma

Come and join us for the launch of the issue, featuring contributors and editors. Stay afterwards too for a social with food and drinks. Worker centres are…

lu.ma

 

[Fozzie Bear]

The Fragile Juggernaut: Marx & Engels on Capitalism, Class Struggle and Crisis - Harry Cleaver

Whether loving or hating it, many visualize capitalism as an unstoppable juggernaut. For those of us who would defeat it, we must identify its weaknesses. Fortunately, Marx and Engels’ writings on “crisis” reveal them. They show how its endless imposition of exploitative and alienating work...

libcom.org

Harry Cleaver’s new book is available for free - The Fragile Juggernaut: Marx & Engels on Capitalism, Class Struggle and Crisis - Harry Cleaver

 

[redsquirrel]

Thanks Fozzie

 

[Fozzie Bear]

Henri Simon (founder of Socialisme ou Barbarie and Echanges et Mouvement) has died at the age of 102.

There is a nice film about him from a few years back…

Henri Simon - The story of a (non-)militant

Henri Simon. The story of a (non-)militant

en.labournet.tv

 

[Lurdan]

Interview with him last year at Brooklyn Rail
Henri Simon with Dominik Müller - The Brooklyn Rail

He was in SouB from 1952-58 (the group's origins went back to 1949). part of the minority including Lefort which was 'more or less excluded'. They founded ILO. Then came ICO in 1960 and Échanges in 1975. Editions Acratie have published two volumes of his correspondence with Gaston Davoust ('Henri Chaze'). The third volume covering 1968-1974 is forthcoming. (In French obviously).

Knew him slightly in the 80-90s when he was still visiting London fairly regularly. Obviously sad news but he outlived several generations of younger activists while still remaining very active himself.

 

[Lurdan]

In a message to Échanges subscribers (reprinted here) the project is being wound up.

A number of you have been concerned that you have not received the Exchanges bulletin since n° 185 dated winter 2023-2024. The debilitation of Henri Simon and then his death provide the reason. Henri had an accident on September 25. He was in hospital for several weeks, then in a rehabilitation center, before finally being taken in by his daughter Anne in Vaucluse. It was there that he died in his sleep, on December 16. (...)
[There are then details of a tribute to him in Paris on January 25th].
These circumstances have led us to think about the future of the bulletin. With Henri's agreement, we have decided to publish a special issue of the magazine, which will be the last. Our idea is to solicit texts from different people who wish to write about their experiences with Exchanges during its long existence (50 years in April!), whether this encounter lasted or not. (...)
We want to receive all contributions before mid-January 2025, so that it can be distributed on January 25 in Paris. Only one rule: no tributes and no hagiography please!
[email protected] or Échanges et mouvement, BP 241, 75866 Paris Cedex 18

 

[hitmouse]

There's actually two films sort-of about him:

Les copains d'Henri - Henri's Friends. A story that didn't make career

Henri's Friends. A story that didn't make career

en.labournet.tv

 

[hitmouse]

Notes from Below are starting a podcast, although they don't seem to have posted anything about it on their own actual website, so it's only hosted on various other platforms, here it is on podtail, which seems decent:

Workers' Inquiry – Podcast

A podcast about work, struggle and revolution by Notes from Below. – Listen to Workers' Inquiry instantly on your tablet, phone or browser - no downloads needed.

podtail.com

Ep 0: Introducing Workers' Inquiry – Workers' Inquiry – Podcast

Welcome to Workers Inquiry!In this short episode, we introduce the idea behind the podcast and explain we've started it. Read Notes from Below Support the podcast What is workers inquiry? – Listen to Ep 0: Introducing Workers' Inquiry by Workers' Inquiry instantly on your tablet, phone or...

podtail.com

 

[LDC]

Maybe this is the best place for the Big Flame book launch in the north plug...

Big Flame: Building the Movements, New Politics - Working Class Movement Library

As part of our ongoing series exploring the history of Big Flame, which coincides with our NLHF funded youth project on the influential libertarian socialist group, we are pleased to welcome authors and former Big Flamers Max Farrar and Kevin McDonnell for the Salford launch of their new book...

wcml.org.uk

 

[Fozzie Bear]

A very long interview with Endnotes by the people from the Chuang journal: Neither Prophets nor Orphans: An Interview with Endnotes

 

[Fozzie Bear]

Endnotes have done Henri Simon dossier - Henri Simon: une personne aimant 1922-2024 (in English)

 

[Fozzie Bear]

Some David and Stuart Wise and related things that I have enjoyed recently -

On the Banks of the River Styx - David Wise
Two letters (March 2010) to a young American Latino woman concerning situationists, ultra leftists, Jacques Camatte, post modernism, 'mad' Maoism, Revolution in 1970s Portugal, Jean Barrot, Anna Mendelsohn and others..... by David Wise

Chinese Takeaway: or a slow boat back from China - a critique of Western Maoism, with a chapter on Italy and Radio Alice etc which is cool.

 

[Fozzie Bear]

Finally this is a quite readable book on the more surrealist end of the Italian autonomists:

LIMITED EDITION: A Thousand Little Machines: A/traverso and the Movement of ’77 — Agit Press

SECOND PRINT RUN LIMITED TO 150 COPIES In 1977 youth revolts spectacular in their intensity, creativity and violence would send shockwaves throughout Italian society. These rebellions, belonging to the autonomia movement, were characterised by a mass refusal of wage-labour and powered by novel ex

agitpress.net

(Same people who are doing the Red Notes book).

 

[hitmouse]

Happening on Tuesday:

Building Autonomy: What is Workers Inquiry & Class Composition? – Pelican House

How can we organise as workers? This three-part series, in collaboration with Notes From Below, will explore Marxist class analysis and the politics of work…

pelicanhouse.org

How can we organise as workers? This three-part series, in collaboration with Notes From Below, will explore Marxist class analysis and the politics of work, before teaching workers’ inquiry and class composition as practical tools for worker struggles.

This first session combines Marxist perspectives on class and the politics of work with practical tools for workplace transformation. Through presentation and workshop, we’ll explore why workplace organising is crucial for revolutionary politics. Participants will then be introduced to workers’ inquiry and class composition, learning how to analyse their workplaces as sites of struggle and generate knowledge useful for empowering worker-led movements. The session will equip attendees with foundational concepts and methodologies for understanding and engaging in the politics of work – themes which will be developed in sessions two and three.


EVERYBODY WELCOME – NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE NECESSARY !!

 

[chilango]

One thing I like about NfB's approach is the framing of their ideas as a 'tool to be used by others' (I think?).

 

[Fozzie Bear]

The NfB podcast is a good listen.

 

[Fozzie Bear]

There's no way to delay that trouble coming every day: Italy '77

A report on youth revolts in Italy in 1977, from London-based anarchist-feminist magazine Zero.

libcom.org

This is a breezy and readable account of 77 youth revolts in Italy including Metropolitan Indians. Forget about Wages For Housework, comrades - this lot demanded:

Wages For Laziness.

 

[hitmouse]

I keep reading that title as a Zounds reference but I suppose it's unlikely that a magazine published in 1977 would be referencing a Zounds single released about five years later, professor google tells me that it is in fact from a Frank Zappa song.

 

[hitmouse]

Also, the Katsiaficas "Subversion of Politics" book claims that the MI manifesto also demanded a historical and moral reevalution of the dinosaur Archaeopteryx, but that demand doesn't seem to have made it into the Zero article - did Zero censor the cause of Archaeopteryx liberation? Or did Katsiaficas just make that up? Very mysterious.

 

[_Russ_]

Oh I need to say something don't I