(Belated) French translation of a WSF article. “Racisme et lutte de classe”, Ruptures, number 4, 2004, Québec City, pp. 20-24. Par la Worker’s Solidarity Federation (Afrique du Sud), traduit par le groupe La Commune (NEFAC-Montréal) Get the PDF here Racisme et lutte de classe L’oppression raciale est sans aucun doute l’une des caractéristiques inhérentes du monde capitaliste moderne. Elle se manifeste de façon plus visible … Continue reading WSF text (translated): “Racisme et lutte de classe”, Ruptures, number 4, 2004, Québec City, pp. 20-24.

Race, class and organisation: The view from the Workers Solidarity Federation

Originally published in Black Flag, 1998.

INTRODUCTION BY BLACK FLAG:

We recently observed a very fruitful discussion on race and class on the internet, particularly around “black” anarchism, special oppressions and the desirability of separate organization.

One of the best and most comprehensive posts came from a member of the Workers Solidarity Federation of South Africa, an anarchist/syndicalist group which while in a personal capacity reflects their politics and positions on these matters. Interest in anarchism is growing throughout the world. There are active groups in most parts of the world, with the exception of the Indian subcontinent, Antarctica and as far as we know the Chinese dictatorship. This process will no doubt accelerate and there is a challenge for us to make our ideas accessible. But as our South African comrades point out below, “it was the ability of anarchism to provide alternatives and to pay special attention to the specific needs of these different sections of the working class in order to unite the whole class that made the success (of the Cuban anarchists and IWW) possible,” not “a revision of anarchism to accommodate nationalism”.

Race, class and organisationThe view from the Workers Solidarity Federation

It is claimed falsely claimed by some that Anarchism as currently constituted is unable to attract Black people, and other specially oppressed minorities. It is therefore argued that we should thus endorse separate Black-only anarchist/ community organizations that may in some (vague and unspecified) cases associate with “white” groups – “white” groups should “work among” “their own” people etc.). It is also asserted from this view point that Anarchism is “Eurocentric” and lacking an analysis of racism and imperialism.

IN DEFENSE OF CLASSICAL ANARCHISM

These arguments are wrong or lacking in clarity. They reflect a distortion of Anarchist history, and a misunderstanding of Anarchist strategy.

Firstly, class struggle anarchism has historically proved quite capable of attracting massive numbers of people of color. In fact, one could claim that historically most anarchist movements have been based in Third World countries. For example, anarchism dominated the revolutionary movement in China in the 1910s and early 1920s. In the First World, Anarchist movements historically attracted specially oppressed national minorities, for example, the syndicalist IWW attracted thousands of Black workers in the USA Deep South, and other movements, Jews in eastern Europe.

Today, there are groups such as the WSF in South Africa and the Awareness League of Nigeria.

The key to this success was a consistent class struggle program that combated all manifestations of oppression. For example, the Cuban Anarchists mobilized both Afro-Cubans,creoles and Spaniards in massive integrated anarcho-syndicalist unions because they opposed racist practices like apprenticeship laws, because they supported the anti-colonial struggle against Spain and because they provided a class struggle answer to the questions facing all sections of the working class. I Continue reading “WSF, 1998: “Race, Class and Organisation: The view from the Workers Solidarity Federation””

This document was provided as an A5 booklet, with a yellow cover, and outlined the general structure, expectations and political approach of the ‘platformist’ Workers Solidarity Federation (WSF). Also included was the constitution. Given the size of the WSF, the structure outlined was perhaps overly ambitious, but it had the merit of avoiding loose and undemocratic network structures — and of setting out a clear … Continue reading 1998 Position Papers of the Workers Solidarity Federation: members guide

This article was commissioned from the Workers Solidarity Federation (WSF), for Red and Black Revolution: a magazine of libertarian communism, number 4, 1998/1999. You can get the PDF of the relevant Red and Black Revolution here.

Racism and the Class Struggle

Racial oppression remains a defining feature of the modern capitalist world. It is manifest most spectacularly in violent attacks on immigrants and minorities by fascist gangs. More important to the fate of these communities has been the systematic and increasing discrimination by capitalist states, manifest in attacks on the rights of immigrants, cuts in welfare services, and racist police and court systems.

How can racism be defeated?

An answer to this question requires an examination of the forces which gave rise to, and continue to reproduce, racism. It also requires a careful analysis of which social forces benefit from racial oppression.

By racism is meant either an attitude denying the equality of all human beings, or economic, political and social discrimination against racial groups.

The roots of racism

Capitalism developed as a world system based on the exploitation of workers, slaves and peasants – black, brown, yellow, and white. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the young capitalist system centred mainly on western Europe and the Americas. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries Africa and Asia were brought increasingly into the ambit of capitalist power. Continue reading ““Racism and the Class Struggle”: Workers Solidarity Federation 1998/1999″

This article appeared in Red and Black Revolution: a magazine of libertarian communism, no. 3, 1997. You can get the PDF of this issue of Red and Black Revolution here.

Anarchism & the ‘new’ South Africa

An interview with the South African WSF

Q. Most readers of Red and Black Revolution will be familiar with the main organisations on the left in South Africa, such as the ANC and the South African Communist Party (SACP). Can you tell us something about the tradition of libertarian ideas and struggle?

A. Anarchism and Syndicalism do (or at least did) have an important place in South African history, although this is typically hidden or obscured by official and “radical” versions of the past. Before the founding of the SACP in 1921, libertarian ideas were common on the revolutionary left. A section of the US syndicalist union, the Industrial Workers of the World, was established here in 1911, growing out of an organisation called the Industrial Workers Union . Continue reading ““Anarchism and the ‘New’ South Africa: an interview with the South African WSF”, 1997″