From: "Dave Coull" <d.y.coull-AT-dundee.ac.uk>
Date: Tue, 23 Feb 1999 10:59:24 GMT
Subject: Re: Decline of Anarchism


Ben B. wrote

>> c)Anarchism was too closely associated with communism 
>> and therefore the soviet unnion.

The soviet unnion ? You mean, as in "Moscow has many
unnion-shaped domes" ?

Iain responded

>given that anarchists were opposing the Bolsheviks 
>from before the1917 revolution (and Marxism 
>since 1848) this is hardly believable.

Well of course it is totally ridiculous to link anarchism
with the soviet unnion, but that doesn't stop 
the ignorant and the downright liars from trying.

>In 1968, when the black flag was raised in Paris,
>all the "historians" were amazed. Anarchism 
>had not disappeared

And I am old enough to remember clearly
how some so-called "historians" were writing 
about anarchism in the past tense, and their 
amazement when they found out it's death
was only a rumour. 

I am also old enough to remember that 
it was quite "impossible" to defeat Maggie
Thatcher, the Iron Lady. That is, it was impossible
until we did it, when a huge mass movement 
of defiance, with significant anarchist
involvement, ended the poll tax.

No doubt we will hear more of this
"decline of anarchism" crap. Until
the next time the people who say 
so are made to look like idiots.


Dave