From: "Harald Beyer-Arnesen" <haraldba-AT-online.no>
Subject: Re: AUT: Genoa
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 12:43:56 +0200



I will try to come back with reply to Thomas, but first to brief
comment to Angela.

I entirely agree with the perspective of the article of Jude McCulloch
you attached. Though I very much doubt that state powers are very
frightened by the "black block" or the "western" anti-globalisation
movement in general, rather for instance, the potential time-bomb
such realities as about 1700 (one thousand seven hundred)
North-Africans drowning each year  trying to reach Spain, constitutes.
This according to the estimates of the Spanish Red Cross.

The riots in Göteborg brought about widespread popular support
for a police state methods. It was all too obvious that  strong forces
within the state apparatus/police _wanted_ riots. The same seem
to apply for Genova (though the forces of law and order there just
might have taken it one step too far). In this perspective, it  is all the
more reason to consider tacticts and startegies critically. Not that
I for one moment belive that what we say on any particular list will
determine what actions will be taken, but it is potentailly not beyond
our means to have som influence on the discussions within what
could be said to make up  the "black block" milieus, composed
mostly in this country, for instance, of people I more or less know, some
pretty well, others onsly slightly, as I know people in Sweden and
and Denmark and other countries who could be such categorised.

I entirely agree with you as far as demonisation goes, also because
it is extremely counter-productive, if you want to bring about a
critical dialogue, which I belive is very much needed. As I see it,
large part of the black block milieu have also been pretty naive –
if decreasingly so  –  when it comes to the state violence. Their
tacticts have too a great extent been founded on such naivity, if
you ask me.

At a last remark, in general I don't believe riots accomplishes much,
wherever they might occur on the globe, however understandable
they may be, and however much I may feel a strong urge to participate.
Riots are greatly romantised. Part of the reasons for the strong
reactions from citizens of Göteborg following the rampage on Avenyen,
lies precisely, I believe, that under certain circumstances,
they could imagine themselves as participants. I am far from sure if
such fear is something entirely to be regretted.

Harald



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