Anarchism and the Occupy movement

Many commentators have stated that the Occupy Wall Street movement has roots in the philosophy of anarchism.[1][2][3][4][5] David Graeber, an early organizer of the movement, is a self-proclaimed anarchist.[6] Graeber, writing for The Guardian, has argued that anarchist principles of direct action, direct democracy and rejection of existing political institutions are the foundations of the Occupy Wall Street movement. Graeber also believes that radical segments of the civil rights movement, the anti-nuclear movement and the global justice movement have been based on the same principles.[7]

Media commentary

Thai Jones, an anarchist writing for the Jewish-American weekly newspaper, The Forward, asserted that the Occupy movement has demonstrated that the invigorating potential of anarchist political theory can be a feasible model of governance. According to Jones, contemporary anarchists involved in the Occupy Wall Street movement face the same dilemma as their early predecessors — whether to use violence.[8]

Michael Kazin, writing for The New Republic, analyzed the composition of the Occupy Wall Street movement. He argued that Occupy members are different from political activists of the late 19th century and early 20th century counterparts, citing contemporary rejection of violent methods as the main difference. Kazin described the Occupy Wall Street anarchists as "ultra-egalitarian, radically environmentalist, effortlessly multicultural and scrupulously non-violent", describing them as the "cyber-clever progeny of Henry David Thoreau and Emma Goldman." Social media has played a vital role in the Occupy movement and Kazin noted that instead of authoring essays or promoting feminism and free love, the Occupy Wall Street anarchists stream videos and arrange flash mobs.[4]

Portland

In November 2011, approximately 100 people participated in the "Anarchist General Assembly" and discussed ways to spread anarchist ideas and how to interact with police. The organizers of the assembly published a flier that read, "This is a call to the anarchist and broader anti-authoritarian community to reconvene in assembly and continue to develop ourselves as members of a larger network here in Portland."[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Graeber, David. "Occupy Wall Street's anarchist roots". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
  2. ↑ Berrett, Dan (2011-10-16). "Intellectual Roots of Wall Street Protest Lie in Academe". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
  3. ↑ Schneider, Nathan. "Thank You, Anarchists". The Nation.
  4. 1 2 "Michael Kazin: Anarchy Now: Occupy Wall Street Revives An Ideology". The New Republic. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
  5. ↑ Gibson, Morgan Rodgers (2013). "The 'Anarchism' of the Occupy Movement". Australian Journal of Political Science. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
  6. ↑ Bennett, Drake (2011-10-26). "David Graeber, the Anti-Leader of Occupy Wall Street". BusinessWeek. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
  7. ↑ "Occupy and anarchism's gift of democracy". The Guardian. 2010-11-08. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
  8. ↑ Jone, Thai (December 9, 2011). "Occupy Protests Show Radical Potential". The Forward. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
  9. ↑ The Oregonian. "About 100 people meet for "Anarchist General Assembly" in preparation for Occupy Portland eviction". Oregon Live. Retrieved 2012-02-26.

Further reading

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