INTERNATIONAL ANARCHIST MOVEMENT - SOUTH AFRICA:

BLACK FLAME: CAPE TOWN LAUNCH:

This is one book that is sure to become immensely influential in the international anarchist movement in years to come. What it may be styled as is something of a manifesto of international class struggle anarchism in opposition to many of the the distortions of anarchism that have been promulgated by both its opponents and some who claim to be "anarchists", particularly in the USA. I can't say that I agree with everything the authors say, especially as I am a rather convinced gradualist who sees the benefit in the cooperative model of mutualism (one thing that the authors attempt to "read out" of the mainstream of anarchism, with at least some justification). Still, I find it interesting that the anti-social wing of those who like to call themselves anarchist have yet to launch one of their usual vituperative attacks. Maybe I am missing something as I am not a member of the cult and don't follow the cult writings very closely.

Still, what the authors have done is impressive, whether I agree with all of it or not. To put forward a rational basis for the international anarchist movement based on the actual struggles of real people and showing how this has manifested itself across the world is a great achievement. Personally I am still in the process of reading the book. One of the authors, Michael Schmidt, is presently engaged in a book promotion tour of Ontario and Quebec, as has been mentioned previously on this blog.The book has been launched before in numerous countries across the world, including in the authors' native country of South Africa.

Here's an announcement of yet another book launch in South Africa, this time in the city of Cape Town. From the Anarkismo website:

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Cape Town Launch of 'Black Flame: The Revolutionary Class Politics of Anarchism and Syndicalism'
The Book Lounge presents the Cape Town launch of 'BLACK FLAME: revolutionary class politics of anarchism and syndicalism' by Lucien Van Der Walt & Michael Schmidt

'Black Flame' examines the anti-authoritarian class politics of the anarchist/syndicalist movement, and its 150 years of popular struggle on 5 continents. An indispensable conceptual and historical road map, with close attention to Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America, looking at its:
* Opposition to hierarchy, capitalism and the state

* Strategy: building revolutionary counter-power

* History: labour, community, anti-imperialism

* Agenda: participatory, cooperative economics

* Revolutions: Mexico, Spain, Ukraine, Korea

* Revival: today's struggles

This groundbreaking volume has been praised by reviewers as "deeply impressive", "fascinating, revealing and often startling", "a grand work of synthesis", "remarkable" "outstanding", "inspired" and "a welcome antidote to Eurocentric accounts".
THURSDAY 11 MARCH 2010 @ 5.30 for 6.00
The Book Lounge, 71 Roeland Street (corner of Buitenkant), Cape Town
ALL WELCOME!
With thanks to Leopard's Leap Wines.Please RSVP to booklounge@gmail.com

021 462 2425.
MORE INFO:

http://black-flame-anarchism.blogspot.com/

The LAUNCH POSTER:

http://www.mediafire.com

Related Link: http://black-flame-anarchism.blogspot.com/

ANARCHIST BOOKS:

VOLUME TWO OF 'GLOBAL FIRE' RELEASED:

The second volume of Lucien Van Der Walt and Michael Schmidt's (both of the South African Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Front) history of global anarchism is now available from AK Press. Here are the details.

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Vol2 of Global Fire released

Second volume of Lucien van der Walt and Michael Schmidt's monumental history of class struggle anarchism and syndicalism has been published.
Global Fire: 150 Fighting Years of International Anarchism and Syndicalism (Counter-Power Vol 2):by Lucien Van Der Walt (Author), Michael Schmidt (Author)
RRP: £18.00Product details
* Paperback: 500 pages

* Publisher: AK Press (1 May 2008)

* Language English

* ISBN-10: 1904859682

* ISBN-13: 978-1904859680
This second volume of Schmidt and van der Walt's two-part history of the non-Marxist, libertarian form of socialism, brings a look at anarchism as it has been practised around the world - and indeed how it provides a living political philosophy for a growing number of people across the planet today. The authors offer a comprehensive global history of Anarchist Mass Organisation between 1860 and the 1930s arranged geographically and covering the well known, like the Spanish Revolution, as well as the lesser documented histories of China, Japan, Australia, the Caribbean - a truly international analysis of a world-wide movement. With further sections on the Spanish Revolution; World War II; the Cold War era and Neo-liberalism they bring the history up-to-date and finish with reflections on Anarchism in the New Millennium. Alive and kicking!
(taken from amazon.uk description)