La Banquise - Recollecting Our Past

re-collecting our past
Translated from
le roman de nos origines
- La Banquise No. 2 (1983)
Page 2
Contents
re-collecting our past 4
the Birth of Modern Commnism
!hat Continit" # 13
$ighteen %ort"-$ight 1&
%rom 'to(ia to the Criti)e of Ca(italism 19
Nineteen-*e+enteen and after,ards 23
nderstanding the -onter-re+oltion
and the re+oltionar" retrn
%rom the .erman /eft to Socialisme ou Barbarie 29
The 0talian /eft and Bordiga 34
To,ards a 1e+oltionar" 1etrn # 38
The *itationist 0nternational 44
/a 2ieille Ta(e 48
histor" and (ersonal narrati+e of the last fifteen
"ears
Nineteen *i3t"-$ight &3
4fter Ma" &8
Nineteen *e+ent"-T,o 53
The Pig 4nti-h affair 59
Crisis and 4tonom" 63
The (irate Monde Diplomatique 83
/a 2ieille Ta(e 2 and the %arisson 4ffair 8&
The s(ring of la Guerre Sociale 99
Meeting of the 22nd Mar-h 1987 8 Paris 174
The atmn of la Guerre Sociale 176
The ltra-left 112
Pros(e-ts... 115
Page 4
re-collecting our past
9 :ne -annot transform -a(italist terrain into (roletarian terrain ;
Octobre< N= 4< 4(ril 1938.
Most of this isse of La Banquise is de+oted to a smmar" of the modern
re+oltionar" mo+ement. *mming ( the (ast< in-lding the re-ent (ast< and
ta>ing sondings of the -ontem(orar" (eriod in order to re-ognise some of its ?asi-
tenden-ies< is essential in order to >no, ,ho and ,here ,e are. @o ,ill onl" find
an assessment here< not the -om(lete glo?al smming ( ,hi-h ,ill onl" ?e
(ossi?le after the ,orld re+oltion. $a-h re+oltionar" gro(ing -an onl" ta>e sto->
?" starting from its o,n (osition< formation and (arti-lar e3(erien-e. This te3t is
not a gro( intros(e-tion< nor is it an assertion of general (rin-i(les and
mo+ements ,hi-h ,e (retend to des-ri?e as a ,hole< instead it see>s to ?e ?oth
ni+ersal in its ?asis< throgh the as(irations and strggles of ,hi-h it is the
(rod-t< and also (arti-lar< ?e-ase its athors (arti-i(ated in the ,orld
-ommnist mo+ement in s(e-ifi- (la-es and -ir-mstan-es. 0t ,old ?e ,rong< not
to sa" ntre< to ?elie+e and to instil ?elief in an a?solte smming ( A li>e e+er"
re+oltionar" gro( ,e ha+e a relati+e (osition and a-ti+it" ,ithin the totalit" of a
so-ial mo+ement< that is e3(ressed and inflen-ed< ?t not -reated< ?" -olle-ti+e
efforts s-h as ors.
0t is o?+ios< for e3am(le< that a re+oltionar" ,ho has -ome from anar-hism
,old ha+e -on-ei+ed this assessment differentl". Be might arri+e at similar
-on-lsions< ho,e+er his traCe-tor" ,old ?e different. Bt Cst li>e s he ,old not
ha+e made Mar3 and the -ommnist left into a dead end.
:n the other hand< ,e ha+enDt ,ritten a?ot e+er"thing that ,e -onsider im(ortant.
The essential -onsideration ,as to deal ,ith the things ,hi-h ha+e formed s< ?t
this does not mean that the -ontri?tion of other -riti)es ,hi-h are onl"
mentioned or (assed o+er in silen-e has ?een negligi?le. %or the same reason< to
deal ,ith or relations ,ith la Guerre Sociale and the %arisson affair in a merel"
allsi+e ,a"< ,old ha+e ?een na--e(ta?le and a?srd.
%ndamentall"< the -onne-ting thread of this te3t is the relation ?et,een -a(italism
and the hman a-ti+it" from ,hi-h< ,ithot e+er entirel" e3hasting it< it dra,s its
d"namism. The (roletarian mo+ement is neither ?ased on feelings< nor on the ho(e
that one da" -a(italism ,ill ?e-ome truly n?eara?le. 1e+olt 9 ,ith a hman title ;<
ni+ersal and non--ategorial< is -ertainl" ?orn from a limit of Ca(ital< one ,hi-h is
e3(ressed amongst other things in e-onomi- -rises< ?t ,hi-h -annot ?e red-ed to
them. Ca(ital doesnDt find its limit in a?solte miser"< or in the loss of the sense of
life< ?t in the diffi-lties it has in a?sor?ing the energ" of li+ing la?or< of the
(roletarian. !hile these diffi-lties a((ear a?o+e all ,ithin the organisation of ,or><
the" are also felt in the (roletarianDs ,hole life< es(e-iall" as Ca(ital has -oloniEed
the -onditions of the re(rod-tion of life.
0t is in those (eriods ,hen ne, forms of the integration of la?or ?" Ca(ital are
installed 8 in the middle of the 19
th
-entr"< arond 1914-18< and at the (resent
time 8 that the -riti)e of the basis of -a(italism< rather than of its ine+ita?le ?t
se-ondar" consequences< ?e-omes (ossi?le. More e3a-tl"< in s-h (eriods< -riti)e
-an rise from effe-ts ((o+ert"< nem(lo"ment< re(ression< et-.) to their -ase A
dis(ossession ?" the mar>et and ,age la?or.
!here -an a so-iet" go ,hi-h is ?ased on ,or> and "et ,hi-h ma>es it im(ossi?le #
To ta>e shelter from the so-ial -onse)en-es of the -risis (nrl" nem(lo"ed)< it
-reates something ,hi-h is an anomal"< if not an a?srdit"< in terms of its o,n
logi- A it gi+es a ,age (9 so-ial ; and not 9 (rod-ti+e ;) ,ithot an" e)i+alent
,or>< a >ind of insran-e< a little li>e the ,a" in ,hi-h it (?adl") (a"s the disa?led
and the elderl". Ca(ital ndermines its o,n -oheren-e ,hen non-,or> (a"s< al?eit
less than ,or> does< ?t in the same manner. *imilarl"< the -olle-ti+e -hara-ter of
la?or remo+es an" sense of remneration for (ersonal effort. The indi+idal ,age
is no longer an"thing e3-e(t an instrment for di+iding ,or>ers< ,hereas formerl"
indi+idal ,age negotiations res(onded to real differen-es in the ,or> the"
(ro+ided. 0n all of this< as in atomation< ,age la?or remains ,hereas ,or> )ite
sim(l" ?e-omes< not s(erflos< ?t inessential in a large (art of so-iet" and of
(rod-tion. !e are at the stage< alread" des-ri?ed ?" Mar3< ,here all indi+idal
,or>ers (arti-i(ate in the (rod-tion of +ale.
The strggles of ns>illed ,or>ers< dis(tes in the s(a-e otside ,or>< the refsal
of ,or>< (in ,hi-h the left and leftism onl" see rea-tions< the -onse)en-es of
e3(loitation)< all -ontain something ,hi-h -onfronts those things ,hi-h ftre
re+oltionaries ,ill dissol+e< ?e-ase these mo+ements -ome ( against (,ithot
?eing a?le to o+erthro, it) that ,hi-h -a(italises hman a-ti+it".
The red-tion of e+er"thing to the minimm time ne-essar" to a--om(lish it< the
a--mlation of small ?lo->s of -r"stallised time< this is the domination of +ale. !e
de+ote the shortest time to the (rod-tion of things< and in the same ,a"< to ea-h
a-t of life. !e ths (rod-e o?Ce-ts in-or(orating the least (ossi?le time. The life of
(roletarians is s?Ce-ted to this sear-h for (rod-ti+it"< to the (oint that the"
(artiall" internalise it. The se-ret and the madness of +alorisation -onsists in al,a"s
tr"ing to o?tain more from less< a ma3imm from a minimm. *omething that is
im(ossi?le< ?t ,hi-h seems a--essi?le ?" means of te-hnolog" in-or(orating an
a--mlation of (ast la?or< and trned into +ale ?" as small a li+ing la?or as
(ossi?le.
:n the ,a" ,hat ?e-omes of the (erson ,ho (ro+ides this li+ing la?or # 0n his life
he >no,s the limit-e3(erien-e of e3hastion ,hi-h< in a different -onte3t< Ca(ital
for-es the earth to ndergo. 0n the fa-tor" as in the field< the o?session ,ith
(rod-ti+it" rns ( against the same limitation A the -onditions ,hi-h it mst
meet< in order to -onstantl" red-e the so-iall" ne-essar" la?or time for the
(rod-tion of goods< trn against it. !hen ,e sa" that in t,ent" "ears< ot(t (er
he-tare has do?led or tri(led< ,e forget that this in-rease (res((oses ra,
materials and energ". 0n the 'nited *tates the relation ?et,een the energ"
har+ested in the form of grain and the energ" gi+en to its (rod-tion ,as
)antified. *etting aside (ri-es< 9 the +alorisation of the energ" in+ested in 1967
,as no more than 3F4 of ,hat it had ?een in 194& ;. (L'Anne conomique et
sociale 19!< Le Monde< 1969< (. 1&8.)
/i>e the fall in indstrial (rofita?ilit"< de-reasing agri-ltral ot(ts are not
insrmonta?le. Bt the soltion de(ends on the so-ial ?alan-e of (o,er. !hile the
earth onl" o((oses its inertia to +alorisation< (roletarians are the a-ti+e means for it
and its -riti-al threshold. The -risis of +alorisation< ,hi-h is simltaneosl" ?oth
-ase and effe-t of a-tion-rea-tion ?" (roletarians< o(ens the (ossi?ilit" of a ?rea>
Page 5
,ith a so-iet" ?ased on the s"stemati- sear-h for (rod-ti+it".
Ca(italism also finds itself in an o(en sitation< ,hi-h it dreams of filling ?" means
of te-hnolog". Ma-hine atomation -om?ines tools and (rogramming. Bt the
so"t#are remains se(arate from the hard#are< the 9 (rogramme ; is distin-t from
the (rel" me-hani-al and (re)(rogramma?le (art. The ro?ot is t"(i-al of a ,orld
,here to ma>e and to learn< to do and to dire-t< are >e(t as distin-t realities. The
ro?ot is a ,or>er in-or(orating his ?oss. 0n s(ite of Ta"lor< man -old not ?e made
into a ma-hine< so the aim is to ma>e ma-hines into li+ing ?eings. *(e-ialists in
ro?oti-s -onstantl" la(se into anthro(omor(hism A ?eing simltaneosl" 9 arm ;<
9 e"e ;< et-< the ro?ot Coins together ?od" and head< ms-les and intelligen-e. 0t is
the ideal sla+e ?" ,hi-h one measres 9 the degree of ser+itde ;. 4 resear-h
(roCe-t< one of ,hose -reations ,as a ma-hine for )adri(legi-s< ,as -hristened
Spartacus. 0n this +ision the ro?ot is to ?e-ome the (rosthesis of a Ca(ital that
,old ?e ?oth disem?odied< and freed from the harmfl sr(ls of hman a-ti+it"<
red-ing the li+ing ?eing to an na+oida?le ?t -ontrolled (olltion.
:r attem(t at a smming ( ends ,ith the (ros(e-t (onl" a (ossi?ilit") of an
(hea+al as signifi-ant as the indstrialisation of the first half of the 19
th
-entr"< or
the a((earan-e of a ne, s"stem of (rod-tion at the ?eginning of the 27
th
.
Bo,e+er it ,old ?e misleading to ,ait ntil (roletarians sim(l" re+olted against
the for,ard mar-h of a s"stem ,hi-h -rshes them. Big so-ial mo+ements donDt
ha+e a motor< and -annot ?e deemed e)i+alent< for e3am(le< to e-onomi- -risis or
the disastros effe-ts of te-hnologi-al (rogress. The" are set in motion ?" the
-ontradi-tions of a ni+erse re+ealing its falts and a?errations.
There is no garantee that (roletarians ,ill (rofit from these -ontradi-tions to (la"
their o,n hand in a -risis ,hi-h (erha(s ,ill (ro+e to ?e the transition to another
form of (rod-tion and of -a(italist so-iet". :r a-tion is fonded on the do?le
-on+i-tion of the de(th of (resent da" -ontradi-tions< and of the la-> of s((ort<
e3(ressed ideologi-all"< of ,or>ers for Ca(ital< nli>e the s((ort the -ommnist
left had noted ?efore the se-ond ,orld ,ar or in 1944-&. $lass action< that is to sa"
those (ra-tises ,hi-h lin> (roletarians< ad+an-es matters inside heads throgh the
dra?le -lea+ages it -reates ?et,een (roletarians and e+er"thing that sstains
-a(italism. Bt this (roletarian e3(erien-e is onl" re+oltionar" if it -ommits itself to
,a"s of ?rea>ing ,ith -a(italist soltions.
0t is not enogh Cst to see that nder the domination of Ca(ital< ,hi-h is -a(a?le
of (enetrating e+er"thing and of ma>ing dra?le ,or>ers organisation into one of
its rela"s< the introd-tion of (ermanent mass str-tres ?" ,or>ers ?e-omes an
o?sta-le to the re+oltion. 0t is also ne-essar" to ,onder ,h". Toda" the mere
de"ence o" the proletarian condition is a dead end< an nrealisa?le (ath or a (ara-
s"ndi-alism. 0t is not a matter of dissol+ing the defen-e of ,or>ers li+ing -onditions
into a tide of 9 ne, so-ial mo+ements ;< nor of ma>ing it the mainsta" or fa-e of
these neo-reformisms. The diffi-lt" toda"< in theor" and es(e-iall" in (ra-tise<
-omes from the fa-t that one -an no longer demand an"thing< that is to sa"<
an"thing that (ositi+el" e3ists in this ,orld< ,hether it ?e to defend it< to e3tend it
or e+en less to transform it in a (rogressi+e< (roletarian-friendl" dire-tion. This is
,h" a re+oltionar" mo+ement< and ths also gro(ings heralding -ommnism<
ha+e s-h diffi-lt" in emerging.
The re+oltion ,ill not ?e the sm of different mo+ements< ea-h fighting in the
name of its o,n s(e-ifi-it"< e+en ,hile the" gi+e (ride of (la-e to a mo+ement that
,old li>e to ?e of the ,or>ers. 0t ,onDt C3ta(ose distri-t -ommittees< ,omenDs
gro(s< en+ironmentalist -ir-les. . . e+en if these are o+erseen ?" fa-tor" -on-ils.
$a-h -onstitent (art ,ill not first of all deal ,ith its o,n -ondition< instead it ,ill
-om?ine into a ,hole that ,ill not Cst -hange the s-hool< the fa-tor" or the man-
,oman relation< ?t ,ill -hange those things< mone" and ,age relations< ,hi-h lie
at the root of e+er"thing< and ths ,ill o+erthro, the se-tors throgh ,hi-h Ca(ital
has either -reated or maintained s(e-ialisation.
Peo(le are not ,rong to affirm the glo?al e3(ansion of the -lass of ,age ,or>ers
(*imon 1?a>< $lasses laborieuses et r%olution< *(arta-s< 1969). Bt this
enlargement is a--om(anied ?" a (olarisation into t,o e3tremes ?oth of ,hi-h
re+eal themsel+es as tra(s. !or>ers in the de+elo(ed -ontries (and re-entl" in
Poland A -f. or arti-le in isse 1. of La Banquise) still see themsel+es too m-h in
terms of a ,or>ing -lass identit" that is ?oth ar-hai- and -a(italist. The hardest
foght and longest stri>e in %ran-e sin-e 194& ,as that at the &arisien Libr
(196&-66)< ,hi-h simltaneosl" managed to ?e -a(italist in its o?Ce-ti+e of
maintaining s-h a ne,s(a(er< trade nionist in its almost total -ontrol ?" the C.T
,hi-h trned it into a sho(-,indo, for its -a(a-it" for a-tion< and "et ,hi-h ,as
radi-al in its methods (ta>ing (o,er o+er the ne,s(a(er< (rinting (irate editions<
9 rodeos ; against s-a?s< et-.)
4t the other e3treme< in the third ,orld< (roletarianisation is often momentar"< it
does not nite arond a -ommon -ondition. The fre)ent a?sen-e of ,or>ing -lass
identit" goes hand in hand ,ith a la-> of (roletarian -ons-iosness and (ra-tise.
!here the ,or>ers of the de+elo(ed -ontries endea+or to es-a(e
(roletarianisation ?" -onfining themsel+es ,ithin their em(lo"ment< if not their
trade ,here the" ha+e a )alifi-ation< those of the third ,orld tr" to es-a(e
(roletarian stats ?" ma>ing it a tem(orar" (hase of their e3isten-e.
0t is ne+er re(ression or the 9 (l+erisation of the (roletariat ; ,hi-h o+er-omes
re+oltionaries< ?t their ina?ilit" to understand ,hat ha((ens and to situate
themsel%es in relation to it. :ne of the (rin-i(al -ases of the -rrent ,ea>ness of
small radi-al gro(s< ,hi-h at ?est (shes them to,ards a flight into a-ti+ism< is
or -ommon diffi-lt" in nderstanding the forms of (resent da" (roletarian
e3(erien-e< something ,e ha+e less gras( of< than of the -a(italist -onte3t ,hi-h
endea+ors to in-or(orate it.
This self-nderstanding of a so-ial mo+ement ne-essaril" remains (artial. !e ,ill
onl" loo> at one fragment of this mo+ement< -onsidered from a (arti-lar angle. !e
,ill s(ea> a?o+e all a?ot %ran-e. Not ?e-ase it might ha+e ?een the -entre of a
d"nami-< ?t ?e-ase ,e are o?liged to s(ea> a?ot ,hat ,e >no, ?est< and
-ommnism has onl" ?een strong enogh to rea-h international dimensions for
?rief moments< )i->l" follo,ed ?" a -ontra-tion of (ers(e-ti+es ?a-> to the
national -onte3t.
Page 8
9 :n-e in-lded into the (rod-tion (ro-ess of -a(ital< ho,e+er< the means of
la?or (asses throgh a series of metamor(hoses ntil it ends ( as the ma-hine<
or rather as an atomati- s"stem of ma-hiner" (s"stem of ma-hiner"G atomati-
merel" means the most -om(lete< most ade)ate form of ma-hiner"< and alone
transforms ma-hiner" into a s"stem). That s"stem is set in motion ?" an
atomaton< self-mo+ed moti+e (o,erG this atomaton -onsists of a large nm?er
of me-hani-al and intelle-tal organs< ,ith the ,or>ers themsel+es -ast in the role
of merel" -ons-ios mem?ers of it. ; ((. 82)
9 (...) the ne-essar" tenden-" of -a(ital to in-rease the (rod-ti+e (o,er of la?or
and to ?ring a?ot the greatest (ossi?le negation of ne-essar" la?or. ; ((. 83)
9 0n the same measre as la?or time 8 the sim(le )antit" of la?or 8 is (osited
?" -a(ital as the sole determinant of +ale< immediate la?or and its )antit"
disa((ear as the determining (rin-i(le of (rod-tion< of the -reation of se +ales.
0t is red-ed ?oth )antitati+el"< in that its (ro(ortion de-lines< and )alitati+el"<
in that it< thogh still indis(ensa?le< ?e-omes a s?altern moment in -om(arison
to general s-ientifi- ,or>< the te-hnologi-al a((li-ation of the natral s-ien-es< on
the one hand< and also in -om(arison to the general (rod-ti+e (o,er originating
from the organisation of so-iet" in o+erall (rod-tion (...) Ths -a(ital ,or>s to
dissol+e itself as the form ,hi-h dominates (rod-tion. ; ((. 8&-5)
9 Bt in the degree in ,hi-h large-s-ale indstr" de+elo(s< the -reation of real
,ealth ?e-omes less de(endent (on la?or time and the )antit" of la?or
em(lo"ed than (on the (o,er of the agents set in motion dring la?or time. 4nd
their (o,er 8 their P:!$1%'/ $%%$CT02$N$** 8 in trn ?ears no relation to the
immediate la?or time ,hi-h their (rod-tion -osts (...) ; ((. 97)
9 :n-e this transformation has ta>en (la-e< it is neither the immediate la?or
(erformed ?" man himself< nor the time for ,hi-h he ,or>s< ?t the a((ro(riation
of his o,n general (rod-ti+e (o,er< his -om(rehension of Natre and domination
of it ?" +irte of his ?eing a so-ial entit" 8 in a ,ord< the de+elo(ment of the so-ial
indi+idal 8 that a((ears as the -ornerstone of (rod-tion and ,ealth. The the"t o"
alien labour time' #hich is the basis o" present #ealth< a((ears to ?e a misera?le
fondation -om(ared to this ne,l" de+elo(ed one< the fondation -reated ?" large-
s-ale indstr" itself. 4s soon as la?or in its immediate form has -eased to ?e the
great sor-e of ,ealth< la?or time -eases and mst -ease to ?e its measre< and
therefore e3-hange +ale Hmst -ease to ?e the measreI of se +ale. The
surplus labour o" the masses has -eased to ?e the -ondition for the de+elo(ment of
general ,ealth< Cst as the non(labour o" a "e# has -eased to ?e the -ondition for
the de+elo(ment of the general (o,ers of the hman mind. 4s a reslt< (rod-tion
?ased (on e3-hange +ale -olla(ses< and the immediate material (rod-tion
(ro-ess itself is stri((ed of its form of indigen-e and antagonism. ; ((. 91)
9 B" stri+ing to red-e la?or time to a minimm< ,hile< on the other hand<
(ositing la?or time as the sole measre and sor-e of ,ealth< -a(ital itself is a
-ontradi-tion-in-(ro-ess. 0t therefore diminishes la?or time in the form of
ne-essar" la?or time in order to in-rease it in the form of s(erflos la?or timeG
it ths (osits s(erflos la?or time to an in-reasing degree as a -ondition 8
question de %ie et de mort HA matter o" li"e and deathI 8 for ne-essar" la?or time.
:n the one hand< therefore< it -alls into life all the (o,ers of s-ien-e and Natre<
and of so-ial -om?inations and so-ial inter-orse< in order to ma>e the -reation of
,ealth (relati+el") inde(endent of the la?or time em(lo"ed for that (r(ose. :n
the other
hand< it ,ishes the enormos so-ial for-es ths -reated to ?e measred ?" la?or
time and to -onfine them ,ithin the limits ne-essar" to maintain as +ale the +ale
alread" -reated. The (rod-ti+e for-es and so-ial relations 8 t,o different as(e-ts
of the de+elo(ment of the so-ial indi+idal 8 a((ear to -a(ital merel" as the
means< and are merel" the means< for it to -arr" on (rod-tion on its restri-ted
?asis. 0N %4CT< ho,e+er< the" are the material -onditions for e3(loding that
?asis. ; ((. 91-92)
9 Labour time as the measure o" #ealth (osits ,ealth itself as ?ased (on (o+ert"<
and J0*P:*4B/$ T0M$ onl" as e3isting in and throu)h the opposition to surplus
labour timeG or the ,hole time of an indi+idal is (osited as la?or time< and he is
-onse)entl" degraded to a mere la?orer< s?smed nder la?or. *ence the
most de%eloped machinery no# compels the labourer to #or+ "or a lon)er time
than the sa%a)e does' or than the labourer himsel" did #hen he #as usin) the
simplest' crudest implements. (...) ; ((. 94)
9 Kst as ,ith the de+elo(ment of large-s-ale indstr" the ?asis on ,hi-h it rests<
a((ro(riation of alien la?or time< -eases to -onstitte or to -reate ,ealth< so< this
de+elo(ment ta>es (la-e< immediate labour as s-h -eases to ?e the ?asis of
(rod-tion. That ha((ens ?e-ase< on the one hand< immediate la?or is
transformed into a (redominantl" o+erseeing and reglating a-ti+it"G and also
?e-ase< on the other hand< the (rod-t -eases to ?e the (rod-t of isolated
immediate la?or< and it is rather the combination of so-ial a-ti+it" that a((ears as
the (rod-er. ; ((. 94-9&)
Marx, 1857-58 Manuscripts (Grundrisse), Marx Engels Collected Works vol
29, International Publishers, 1987
9 ,irst< ,ith the de+elo(ment of the real subsumption o" labour under capital< or
the speci"ically capitalist mode o" production< the real le%er of the o+erall la?or
(ro-ess is in-reasingl" not the indi+idal ,or>er. 0nstead< labour(po#er socially
combined and the +arios -om(eting la?or-(o,ers ,hi-h together form the entire
(rod-tion ma-hine (arti-i(ate in +er" different ,a"s in the immediate (ro-ess of
ma>ing -ommodities< or< more a--ratel" in this -onte3t< -reating the (rod-t.
*ome ,or> ?etter ,ith their hands< others ,ith their heads< one as a manager<
engineer< te-hnologist< et-.< the other as o+erseer< the third as manal la?orer or
e+en drdge. ; )
Marx, !esults o" the I##e$iate Process o" Pro$uction in Capital I,
Penguin, 197%, pp 1&'9-1&(&
9 The (rod-t is transformed from the dire-t (rod-t of the indi+idal (rod-er into
a so-ial (rod-t< the Coint (rod-t of ea-h -olle-ti+e la?orer< i.e. a -om?ination of
,or>ers< ea-h of ,hom stands at a different distan-e from the a-tal mani(lation
of the o?Ce-t of la?or. !ith the (rogressi+e a--entation of the -o-o(erati+e
-hara-ter of the la?or (ro-ess< there ne-essaril" o--rs a (rogressi+e e3tension of
the -on-e(t of (rogressi+e e3tension of the -on-e(t of (rod-ti+e la?or< and of
the -on-e(t of the ?earer of that la?or< the (rod-ti+e ,or>er. 0n order to ,or>
(rod-ti+el"< it is no longer ne-essar" for the indi+idal himself to (t his hand to
the o?Ce-tG it is sffi-ient for him to ?e an organ of the -olle-ti+e la?orer< and to
(erform an" one of its s?ordinate fn-tions. ;
Marx, Capital I, Penguin, 197%, pp %('-((
Page 17
the )irth o" Mo$ern
*o##unis#
Page 12
re--olle-ting or (ast (2)
+hat *ontinuit, -
!hether or not the" are or -ontem(oraries< ,e -old (oint to nmeros<
sometimes re-i(ro-al< relationshi(s ?et,een those gro(s and indi+idals ,hi-h
ha+e made s ,hat ,e are. 0t ,old ?e a?srd to -laim an" organisational
-ontinit". Bt might ,e not s(ea> of an in+arian-e< or at least a do-trinal thread #
No e-le-ti- re+oltionar" e3ists ,ho -an ?e -ontent to ta>e his inheritan-e Cst as
he finds it. 0f toda" ,e read a (rofond thoght ,hi-h transforms s in the ,or> of
%lora Tristan< tomorro, a se-ond in the ,or> of Ba>nin< later still a third in the
,or> of Mar3< this -an onl" enri-h s if their -ontri?tions form (art of a -oheren-e
that is -onstr-ted and modified< ?t ,hi-h still tends to,ards a nitar" -riti)e. 0t
is (ointless to reCe-t e-le-ti-ism in the name of a do-trinal (rit". 0nstead one
reCe-ts it almost natrall" ?e-ase a communist mo%ement e3ists. Moreo+er it is
the -on+i-tion of that e3isten-e ,hi-h forms the differen-e ?et,een or 9 -rrent ;<
of ,hi-h La Banquise is an as(e-t< and other re+oltionaries. Be"ond a histori-al
-larifi-ation< this te3t ,ill ha+e a-hie+ed its aim if it illminates ,hat the -ommnist
mo+ement is< its natre as ,ell as its (resent da" e3(ressions.
Perha(s one da" the hman ?eing ,ill ?e a -a(italised mtant. 0n the meantime< it
is -omforting to note that the" still ha+enDt s--eeded in manfa-tring s-h
?eings< and ,e do?t the" e+er ,ill. 4s (ast and (resent histor" sho,s s< the
hman ?eing is -hara-terised< amongst other things< ?" the fa-t that he engages in
a-ti+it" ,ith other ?eings. Throgh this relation< he transforms himself ,hile
transforming that ,hi-h srronds him. This is ,hat distingishes hmanit" from
the 9 so-ieties ; of inse-ts or of a(es< et-. (*ee La Banquise no. 1 9 ,or a -orld
#ithout Moral Order ;.) The -ommnist mo+ement is the hman tenden-" to ma>e
this a-ti+it" and this relation the main element of hman life< a theoreti-al and
(ra-ti-al tenden-" ,hi-h a((ears em?r"oni-all"< ,ithot -alling so-iet" into
)estion< ,ithin elementar" a-ts of solidarit" and hel(< and at the le+el of so-iet"<
throgh a re+oltionar" mo+ement.
9 The )estion of so+ereignt" ths leads straight to the -ommnist
organisation< and ?" the same to>en aroses all those )estions ,hi-h deri+e
from the rational -ases of the e3isten-e of a state of so-iet"... !hat is
so-iet" #... *o-iet" onl" e3ists de to the fa-t of the -onne-tion ?et,een
men< (tting in -ommon their di+erse fa-lties... -onse)entl"< its o?Ce-t is
to se these for-es< this -olle-ti+e (o,er for the greatest good of all... ; (La
,raternit de 1!./< 1846)
99L of all >no,n so-ieties are ?ased on manDs e3(loitation ?" man< and on the
o((ression of gro(s ?" a dominant -lass< ,hi-h inter(oses mediations ?et,een
?eings and their a-ti+it" A the *tate< religion< (oliti-s< et-. @et< this anti-ommnist
,orld ,old not fn-tion ,ithot the hman tenden-" to,ards -ommnism<
ho,e+er di+erted and degraded it is. :ne of the most alienated -onditions of ,or>
is the need for a-ti+it"< Cst as the ne-essit" to a-t and to go ?e"ond oneself
ena?les the dis(ossession of "orself in religion< in (oliti-s and in art.
Commnism is ,hat one does and ,hat one has in -ommon ,ith others. 0t is a
fn-tion ne-essar" to all e3isten-e and to all a-tion. Then< one ,ill as>< does
9 -ommnism ; e3ist e+er",here # @es. The -ommnist mo+ement is the coherent
a-tion and e3(ression of this irresisti?le tenden-"< ,hi-h hel(s to assre the
trim(h of ,hat is -ommon to hmans< their ?eing-together. *o-ieties of
e3(loitation (la" on this latent -ommnit" and the need ,hi-h e+er"one has for it<
the need to a-t together< and on this ?asis the" ?ild ( a string of small gro(s or
indi+idals lin>ed together< a?o+e all< ?" the intermediar" of the state or the
mar>et. .regariosness and indi+idalism go hand in hand. Commnism< on the
-ontrar"< is the need to ?e and to a-t together< ?t ,ithot a?di-ating "or o,n
atonomos e3isten-e and a-tion.
The -ommnist mo+ement is ths< ?" natre< mltiform and -on+ergent. 0t doesnDt
fear do-trinal im(rit". B" -ontrast< the (oliti-ian< himself< mst ?e either inheritor
or fonder. %or (oliti-s filiation (oses an eternal (ro?lem. To regro( the se(arated
it needs referen-e (oints< an-estors and fonders. 4nd -on+ersel"< in the ,or> of
the s(e-ialists in s-e(ti-al resear-h< ,ho need to see> ,ithot finding< a (ho?ia for
tradition im(oses itself.
0n the e-onom"< Cst as in the life of so-ieties< des(ite the im(ortan-e of
mo+ements of long dration< for s the -r-ial moments are those ,here
-ommnism lea+es its e+er"da" (henomenologi-al realit" to emerge as an offensi+e
so-ial for-e. That ,as the -ase in the "ears ?efore and after 1848 and after 1916<
,hi-h -onstitte >e" (eriods in its histor". 0n ?oth -ases ho,e+er the (roletariat did
not go far enogh for,ard to ?e-ome nified and trl" a-t "or themsel%es. These
intense (eriods remain no less de-isi+e< in (ra-tise as ,ell as 9 do-trinall" ;. :n the
other hand< the long (hases ,hi-h follo,ed these ?rea>do,ns in-reased their
dis(ersion 8 the theoreti-al fra-tring -orres(onding to the disintegration of the
mo+ement. 0n 1933 the Cornal Bilan noted in its first isse that sin-e 1923 9 the
+ision of re+oltionar" de+elo(ment all o+er the ,orld (...) is no longer nitar" ;.
Trning ?a-> to these t,o (i+otal moments 8 1848 and 1916 8 is more than
histori-al reminder. *mming ( the de?ates ,hi-h ha+e animated the
re+oltionar" mo+ement sin-e the si3ties< the" ma>e it (ossi?le to see ,hether the
o(en histori-al (hase that has e3isted for a?ot fifteen "ears -old lead to another
of these intense (eriods. !hat "o ,ill read a?ot 1848 or 1916 also e3(resses the
rote tra+elled ?" an entire generation. :?+iosl" ,e donDt (t Mar3 or the 1ssian
re+oltion on the same le+el as la 2ieille Ta(e M Bt its ne-essar" to >no, ,hat la
2ieille Ta(e thoght a?ot the 1ssian re+oltion in order to nderstand it< and to
>no, ,hat ,e thin> of Mar3 in order to nderstand s. This is not a matter of
e+alating ,hat ,e ha+e ?orro,ed from here or there< nor of ,eighing the (roDs
and -onDs. 1e+ealing the limitations of a (arti-lar -rrent -onts for less than its
o+erall mo+ement and the de(th of its -ontri?tion. 1ather it is a )estion of
sho,ing ho, and ,h" ideas< ,hi-h in those (eriods ,ere s?+ersi+e< ?e-ame
transformed into ideolog".
9 (...) ideolog" is not -onstr-ted from the errors of the radi-al -riti)e ,hi-h
ga+e ?irth to it< ?t from the histori-al trth ,hi-h the latter ,ill ha+e
?roght ot< or -ontri?ted to ?ringing ot. ; (0o "inish #ith #or+ and its
#orld< C.1.C.1.$ no. 1< Kne 1982.)
Page 14
.ighteen /ort,-.ight
!h" -onstantl" retrn to 1848 # 0t is neither a matter of $ro-entrism< nor of
-ontem(t for the millennia ,hi-h (re-eded the indstrial era. Before the 19
th
-entr"< the -ommnist mo+ement ,as alread" (resent ,ithin natral< that is to
sa" so-ial< -ommnities< and also ,ithin those artifi-ial -ommnities ?onded
together ?" religion or ?" a semi-religios to(ia. Moreo+er< ?efore the 19
th
-entr"
there ,as alread" a 9 ,or>ing -lass ;. 4t the ?eginning of the 15
th
-entr"< it is
thoght that the troo(s of Thomas MnEer (rimaril" gathered together ,or>ers<
,ea+ers and miners li+ing in -ities. 0n the Banseati- -ities at the start of the 18
th
-entr"< in /e"den a?ot 1567 and in Paris in 1689< at least half of the (o(lation
,as made ( of ,age ,or>ers. 0t is estimated that there ,ere 1.& million te3tile
,or>ers in the soth of Belgim and the north of %ran-e a?ot 169&. !hile ,age
la?orers ,ere nmeros in the r?an -entres< the" ,ere also fond in the
-ontr"side. 0n short< so-iet" e+er",here generated this +ast la"er of the (rooted
and dis(ossessed< those ,hom *ll" -alled 9 men of nothingness ;.
0n an" -ase< a lo, le+el of 9 de+elo(ment of the (rod-ti+e for-es ; has ne+er
(re+ented the -ommnisation of so-iet". 0n those rare so-ieties near to
-ommnism ,hi-h -an still ?e seen toda"< ,here e3(loitation< (ri+ate (ro(ert" and
-oer-i+e instittions are n>no,n< and ,here the en+ironment doesnDt (ose a
(ro?lem< material (rod-tion is ?arel" de+elo(ed.
!hereas -ommnism lo-ates tre ,ealth in the a-t of (rod-tion itself< -a(italism is
animated ?" the need to (rod-e. 0t -onsiders the (rod-t ?efore the (ro-ess< and
this -hronologi-al im(ossi?ilit" o?liges it to organiEe itself in order to -heat time. %or
Ca(ital< ,ealth is ,hat one (rod-es. 0n -ommnism ,ealth is ,hat one does< and
ths ,hat one is. Doin) goes ?e"ond the age-old alternati+e ?et,een 9 ?eing ; or
9 ha+ing ;< ,hi-h has re-entl" ?een made fla+or of the month throgh
theoriEations of a homo ludens o((osed to a homo "aber. Joing is not Cst the
a-tion of the (rod-erG it doesnDt red-e intelligen-e to a mere toolG it -onsists of
the mlti(li-it" of (ossi?le a-ti+ities< in-lding doing nothing. Commnist man is not
afraid of ,asting his time. Commnism goes ?e"ond se(arations and e3ists as
-ontinal self--reation A ,ithin it ?eing is not one ,ith ,hat it does< and is not ,hat
it does< ?t is the dire-tion< the ftre of ,hat it does.
B" reinter(reting histor"< -a(italism has finished ?" ma>ing s ?elie+e that men
ha+e al,a"s ,anted to enlarge sr(lses and to in-rease (rod-ti+it"< ,hereas it is
Ca(ital ,hi-h has -reated the need to sa+e time and< in (arti-lar< to s"stemati-all"
red-e la?or time. The (rimiti+e -ommnit" ,as not dissol+ed on the da" that it
first (rod-ed an e3-hangea?le sr(ls.
There ,as no threshold of gro,th ?e"ond ,hi-h the (rod-ti+e for-es ,old ha+e
ne-essaril" generated -ommodities< -lasses and the *tate. The de-iding fa-tor ,as
so-ial and not e-onomi-. 0n the same ,a"< there is no threshold of the
9 a?ndan-e ; -reated ?" Ca(ital< ,hi-h mst ?e -rossed in order to arri+e at
-ommnism. The reason that -a(italism -an ma>e it (ossi?le to (ass on to
-ommnism is also so-ial. Ca(italism doesnDt restri-t itself to de+elo(ing the for-es
of (rod-tion< it also -reates a mass of (eo(le ,ho< at the right moment< ha+e ?oth
the need and the -a(a-it" to -ommnise the ,orld< to ma>e -ommon again
e+er"thing ,hi-h e3ists.
Those (rimiti+e -ommnities that ,e -an des-ri?e as -ommnist are the e3-e(tion.
Theoreti-al -ommnism is not a teleolog"G it doesnDt (retend that indstr" ,as
ine+ita?l" ins-ri?ed in the destin" of hmanit". 0t onl" ta>es note of the fa-t that
hman ?eings did not find ,ithin themsel+es the means of nif"ing into a hman
s(e-ies. 0f the" had ?een tele(aths< (erha(s the ni+ersalit" of the s(e-ies ,old
ha+e affirmed itself differentl"< ?" a+oiding the long detor throgh -lass so-ieties.
Bt as it e3ists toda" hmanit" ,ill ?enefit from -ommnising for itself the means
of (rod-tion and -ommni-ation -reated ?" Ca(ital.
0n the a?sen-e of modern indstr"< the follo,ers of Ba?ef -old onl" ,ith diffi-lt"
ma>e a re+oltion. The de-isi+e a?sen-e in their time ,as not the la-> of an
a?ndan-e of -onsmer goods< for material ,ealth is not sim(l" a((re-iated in
terms of )antit" (the re+oltion ,ill reorient (rod-tion and -lose all those
fa-tories ,hi-h are not ada(ta?le to -ommnism). !hat the Ba?o+ists la->ed ,as
this mass of (eo(le< ,ho (ossess the -a(a-it" to ma>e their re+olt s--eed throgh
ha+ing ni+ersall" nified (rod-ti+e for-es at their dis(osal. Te-hnolog" is not so
m-h sed to (rod-e goods in a?ndan-e as to -reate the material ?asis of social
ties. 4nd it is onl" for this reason that the -a(a-it" to (rod-e a lot< to trans(ort
ra(idl"< et-.< are -onditions of -ommnism. The histori- -ontri?tion of -a(italism is
the (rod-t of one of the ,orst horrors it has -ommitted. 0t has not allo,ed man to
?e-ome so-ial or hman< as a hman s(e-ies< ,hile at the same time it has
uprooted him "rom the soil. $-olog" ,old li>e to retrn him there ?t man ,ill onl"
on-e again (t do,n roots if he a((ro(riates all of his -onditions of e3isten-e.
Ba+ing gi+en ( the o?session ,ith his lost roots< he ,ill (t do,n ne, ones ,hi-h
,ill ,ea+e themsel+es together ad infinitm.
The modern (roletarian< ,ho a((eared in the 19
th
-entr"< at the same time as the
re+i+al of the ,ord itself< is not more e3(loited than the sla+e or the serf. The
differen-e ?et,een them is )alitati+e A the (roletarian is the first ,hose
e3(loitation is a--om(anied ?" a radi-al dis(ossession of himself at the %ery
moment ,hen the -onditions of a -ommnist re+oltion seem to ha+e -ome
together. $lementar" strggle is not a form of e3isten-e of the (roletariat< ?e-ase
the (roletariat onl" e3ists as a gro( of (roletarians a-ting -olle-ti+el" in a
re+oltionar" sense. $+en if em?r"oni-all"< the (roletariat onl" e3ists as a
re+oltionar" for-e. !ithin so-iet"< there al,a"s e3ists ?oth a diffse -ommnist
mo+ement and isolated (roletarians. :nl" o--asionall"< ,hen the -ommnist
mo+ement (asses to the offensi+e< is there a (roletariat. The (roletariat is the
agent of the -ommnist mo+ement. 0t tends to,ards -ommnism or it is nothing.
0f the (roletariat (ossesses realit" onl" ,ithin a d"nami-< the -lass strggle< and
-annot ?e red-ed to a statisti-all" measra?le )antit"< it still doesnDt Cst ha+e a
merel" negati+e e3isten-e 8 it also e3ists in an internal relation to Ca(ital. 4
ne-essar" ?ond nites those ,ho ,ill attem(t a -ommnist re+oltion and their
realit" ,ithin -a(italist so-ial relations. The" ,ill onl" destro" the -a(italist relation
inasm-h as the" are a -onstitent (art of it. :nl" the asso-iated la?or ,hi-h
-a(italism has generalised gi+es a -onsisten-" to the -onne-tion ?et,een the
(rod-ti+e a-ti+ities of (roletarians all o+er the ,orld. %ailing ,hi-h< this -onne-tion
-an onl" ?e ensred ?" -ommodit" e3-hange< ?" the -oe3isten-e of states or
throgh moral for-e as in to(ia.
Page 15
'ntil no,< so-ial mo+ements< in-lding the -ommnist left in the 27
th
-entr"< ha+e
,anted to organise men< to -reate a s(a-e in ,hi-h to Coin them together< ?e-ase
the" had insffi-ientl" -oherent lin>s ?et,een them to rise (. Bt from the 19
th
-entr"< -a(italist de+elo(ment has -reated a -ondition of -ommnism ?" gi+ing
?irth to a real 9 man of nothingness ;. !hate+er the s-ar-it" or a?ndan-e of
goods< this ?eing is totall" dended< for ,ithin his life a-ti+it" has ?e-ome
se-ondar" to the mar>et -onsm(tion of o?Ce-ts or ser+i-es< ,hi-h ha+e no, ?een
rendered essential. The (roletarian is the (erson ,ho is se(arated from e+er"thing<
and ,ho enters into relation ,ith this e+er"thing throgh needs. *aint-*imon
defined the indstrialist as the 9 man ,ho ,or>s to (rod-e or (t at the dis(osal
of the different mem?ers of so-iet" one or more material means to satisf" their
(h"si-al needs and tastes ;. Bman a-tion no, -omes se-ond to its reslt<
o?Ce-tified ,ithin a (rod-t ,hi-h one mst ?".
9 /oo> at 1a(haNl Hthe hero of 0he -ild Ass's S+in (La &eau de cha)rin)I.
Bo, the sentiment of self (reser+ation smothers ,ithin him an" other
thoght M (...) he li+es and dies in a -on+lsion of selfishness. 0t is this
(ersonalit" ,hi-h -orrodes the heart and de+ors the entrails of the so-iet"
,e li+e in. 4s it in-reases< indi+idals isolate themsel+esG the more ties< the
more -ommon life. ;
(BalEa-< (refa-e to 1omans et contes philosophiques< 1831.)
0t ,as in o((osition to this degeneration of hman a-ti+it"< in ,hi-h (o+ert"
?e-ame no more than the -orollar" of the le+el of -onsm(tion< and in o((osition to
the ne, form ta>en ?" 9 ,ealth ; that the -ommnist mo+ement gre, in the
middle of the 19
th
-entr"< throgh setting as its goal the re-om(osition of a man
,ho ,as not se(arated from his a-ti+it"< from others and from himself. 0n or
o(inion Mar3Ds 1!.. Manuscripts are the ?est s"nthesis of this immense as(iration
to,ard a ,orld ,ithot mer-antilism or indi+idalism< a ,orld ,here man is the
(rin-i(le ,ealth of man. 0f for this alone< this te3t Cstifies 1osa /3em?rgDs
formla A that Mar3 there?" e3(resses a mo+ement ,hi-h goes ?e"ond himself<
and ,hi-h e3-eeds the theoreti-o-(ra-ti-al needs of his time.
0n all (eriods it is communism ,hi-h defines the re+oltionar" mo+ement< as
o((osed to the left and leftism. 0ts ,holl" ne)ati%e affirmation (against the *tate<
against the trade nions< et-.)< ,hi-h in an" -ase ,old onl" reall" emerge after
1916< is merel" a logi-al -onse)en-e of this. 0f "o reall" ,ant to destro" the roots
of -a(italism and not Cst organiEe it differentl" in order to ?etter distri?te its
,ealth< then "o mst atta-> e+er"thing that hel(s it to fn-tion and tends to
9 im(ro+e ; it 8 the *tate< (oliti-s< trade nionism< et-. Commnism is not a mode
of (rod-tion ?t a?o+e all an entire mode of e3isten-e. 9 To ea-h a--ording to his
needs # ; @es< ?t onl" ?e-ase -ommnism is (rimaril" a-ti+it". 0t is not
-onstr-ted< it li?erates the means of life from -a(italist fetters and transforms
them.
2conomic man is -onne-ted to the ,orld ?" needs< ,hi-h he satisfies ?" (rod-ing
o?Ce-ts and then ?" ?"ing them. The re+oltion< ,hi-h -alls into )estion the
-ommodit"< also -hallenges the ?eing defined ?" needs. Need im(lies se(aration A
man needs o?Ce-ts (rod-ed otside of himself< and his (er(etall" nsatisfied
frenE" of -onsm(tion arises from this se(aration< for it see>s ,ithin the o?Ce-t that
,hi-h is no longer there A the a-ti+it" ,hi-h (rod-ed it. 0n the same ,a"< la?or<
ho,e+er (leasant it is< (rod-es nothing dire-tl" for "orself and o?liges "o to ?"
,hat "o need else,here. 0m(osed ?" 1&7 "ears of -a(italism< the -on-e(t of need
is the reslt of -a(italDs integration of hman a-ti+it"< se(arated into t,o s--essi+e
a-ts A to (rod-e and to ?".
Bt< throgh its +iolen-e< the se+ering of the -onne-tion ,ith their roots in the first
half of the 19
th
-entr" (ro+o>ed a demo-rati- (srge ,hi-h offered (roletarians a
s?stitte -ommnit"< as (oliti-al a-ti+it" -ame to -om(ensate for the (ra-ti-al
a-ti+it" the" ,ere hen-eforth de(ri+ed of. Bo,e+er the most otstanding as(e-ts of
the mo+ement (rior to 1848< the most for-efl te3ts< and the insrre-tionar"
gestres< s-h as the riots ?" *ilesian ,ea+ers in 1844 ,hi-h ,ere theorised ?" all
of the radi-als< sho,ed the ,or>ing -lass in the gise of a monster ,hi-h< em(tied
of an" s?stan-e< could only atta-> the fondations of the s"stem. Ba+ing made a
-lean s,ee( of all (re+ios -ommnit"< indstrialisation no longer left an" s(a-e
e3-e(t for a hman -ommnit". $ngels said of 0rish ,or>ers that ,ith a fe,
hndred lads of their -ali?re one -old re+oltionise $ro(e. BalEa- e-hoed this in
his o,n ,a" ,hen s(ea>ing in 1844 of 9 these modern ?ar?arians ,hi-h a ne,
*(arta-s< (art Marat< (art Cal+in< ,old lead in assalt on the ,ret-hed
Borgeoisie ,hose (o,er has e3(ired ;. The fa-t remained that the so-ial +a-m
-reated ?" Ca(ital filled itself ?" itself. 0n 1848-&7 the -ommnists 8 Mar3 and
$ngels in-lded 8 hardl" (t -ommnism for,ard< e+en as a distant (rogramme.
$+en in its most +iolent a-tions< the (roletariat did not a-t as -ommnists. The
/"ons insrre-tion of 1831< ,hi-h ?roght into the o(en the )estion of the ,or>ing
-lass< ,as onl" the self-organisation of ,age la?or as s-h< the hierar-hi-al
str-tre of la?or ?eing trans(osed into a militar" -ommnit". 0n Kne 1848< it
,as the ,or>ing -lass distri-ts ,hi-h too> ( arms ?t ,ithot lea+ing the arena of
,age la?or. 4s ,ith man" other defensi+e mo+ements< ,here (roletarians are
>illed on the s(ot ,ithot ta>ing on their condition. 0n $ngland< the riots of 1842
and 1848 ,ere the most +iolent ntil those in Bri3ton in 1982. Bt Chartism
di+erted energies into the demand for ni+ersal sffrage. The immense -ro,d ,hi-h
nited on Oensington Common in *oth /ondon on 4(ril 17< 1848 did not ta>e the
ne3t ste(...
0n 1846< Mar3 ,rote A 9 $-onomi- -onditions had first transformed the mass of the
(eo(le of the -ontr" into ,or>ers. The domination of Ca(ital has -reated for this
mass a -ommon sitation< -ommon interests. This mass is ths alread" a -lass as
against Ca(ital< ?t not "et for itself. 0n the strggle (...) this mass ?e-omes nited<
and -onstittes itself as a -lass for itself. The interests it defends ?e-ome -lass
interests. ; (0he &o%erty o" &hilosophy< in Mar3 2n)els $ollected -or+s< 2ol. 5< (.
211). Bt -ontrar" to the theor" the (roletariat didnDt a-t for itself. The
a-hie+ements of the 8 demo-rati- 8 re+oltions of 1848-&7 remained on this side of
the ho(es of the (re+ios da".
Bo,e+er the t,ent" "ears that led ( to them ,ere essential in the formation of
the -ommnist mo+ement< and not onl" theoreti-all" A the theor" ,old not ha+e
a((roa-hed -ommnism as it did ,ithot a (ra-ti-al mo+ement. To -ite onl" one
e3am(le< it is sffi-ient to -om(are the forms of organisation ?efore and after 1848.
The trade nions ,hi-h a((eared after 1848 ,ere a regression -om(ared to the
first ,or>ersD asso-iations< ,hi-h had tried to nite (rofessions and different s>ills 8
a nion of trades and not trade nions as s?se)entl". These asso-iations had
-om?ined to(ian as(irations< so-ial demands and (oliti-al reforms. The -ommnist
Page 18
mo+ement gre, on terrain that on the ,hole ,as reformist< ?t ,here the )estion
of -ommnism ,as raised. B" -ontrast the 0nternational !or>ing MenDs 4sso-iation<
fonded in 1854< ,old a?o+e all ?e an organisation of la?or.
/ro# 0topia to the *riti1ue o" *apitalis#
0n their (ra-tise< the (roletarians of the first half of the 19
th
-entr" remained torn
?" the -oe3isten-e< ,ithin the same so-iet"< of t,o o((osed ni+erses A that of
Ca(ital< ,hi-h so-ialised the ,orld ?" niting them at ,or>< and their o,n life of not
entirel" atomised e3-lsion< for Ca(ital had not "et -om(letel" destro"ed the old
-olle-ti+e ties< (arti-larl" in the indstrial +illages formed in the 18
th
-entr". 4t
that time re+oltionaries ?elie+ed that the" -old sol+e the -ontradi-tions ?et,een
so-iet" and indi+idal< ,ealth and (o+ert"< Ca(ital and la?or< than>s to a
-ommnit" that arose< not from the 9 natral ; -oheren-e of a-ti+ities< ?t from
the (ra-ti-al realiEation of a -ommnal principle< ,hether it ?e (rofane or sa-red.
*aint *imon< :,en< Ca?et and %orier ,ished to esta?lish the -ommnit" li>e a
?siness enter(rise. %eer?a-h -om(ared hmanit" to a god A 9 The nit" of me
and of "o< is .od ;< said %eer?a-h. Certain to(ians ,ere -ommnist in that the"
,anted -ommnismG ?t the" did not ,ant a re+oltion.
4 so-ial mo+ement< the (roletarian mo+ement ,as also international A gro(s of
e3iles and -raftsmen tra+elled all o+er $ro(e. *ometimes it ,as also a (oliti-al
mo+ement A man" ?ridges -onne-ted it to the demo-rati- (srge< ,hi-h as ,e
ha+e seen ended ( ?" a?sor?ing it. Ca?et< for e3am(le< far from ?eing an i+or"
to,er thin>er< had a (oliti-al -areer ?ehind him. %or a long time he had -herished
the (roCe-t of rall"ing the re(?li-an o((osition arond the idea he held of
-ommnism. 9 ... ,e< -ommnists< ,e ha+e al,a"s -alled for and al,a"s ,ill -all
for the nion of all demo-rats ... ; he ,rote in 184&. Be said that at this time his
(a(er Le &opulaire had 9 (erha(s a hndred thosand readers ;. 4nd it ,as
(oliti-al failre ,hi-h in-ited him to fond 0-aria< his ideal so-iet"< 9 else,here ;.
The real so-ial ?ond ?et,een them ?eing neither sffi-ientl" strong or +isi?le<
(eo(le tried to -reate nit" on the ?asis of a (rin-i(le that stood otside the ,orld<
?t ,hi-h -onformed to manDs essen-e. 4gainst the horror of Ca(ital the" o((osed
manDs natre. 'to(ianism -oin-ided ,ith anthro(olog". 4s %eer?a-h said A 9 ManDs
essen-e is onl" -ontained in the -ommnit"... Man mst lead a life in -onformit"
,ith his tre natre A a Pgeneri-P life ;.
%orierDs strong (oint ,as that nli>e Ca?et he didnDt attem(t to form a 9 ne,
man ;. Be started ot from ,hat e3ists< des-ri?ing the hman ?eing at length and
ma>ing an in+entor" of his (assions< in order to sho,< ?e"ond his fn-tion as
(rod-er< the (lralit" of his ?eing. !ith the aid of his -lassifi-ations< he o((osed a
so-iet"< ,hi-h in 1837 Cst as toda"< (rimaril" sa, man as a ,or>er. Bis -riti)e
,ent ?e"ond the -a(italist eraG %orier too> on a 9 -i+ilisation ; ,ithin ,hi-h
-a(italism< in his e"es< ,as no more than one moment< and (ro(osed to restore
natre< ,hi-h had ?een (illaged ?" men. That ,hi-h hmanit" mst attain ?" the
natral mo+ement of its needs and a-tions< %orier ,anted to organise ?" means of
a (lan. This ,old -lassif" the (assions in order to harmonise them. Criti-al of
s-ien-e 8 he let himself ?e gided ?" intition 8 %orier remained a s"stem man. Be
(ri+ileged >no,ledge and he loo>ed for TB$ soltion< ,hose a((li-ation ,old
de(end onl" on -a(italist good ,ill. Neither (oliti-s nor re+oltion had an" (la-e in
his thoght< in ,hi-h the (roletariat remained an ob4ect.
Page 27
4fter %orier< to(ia ?e-ame radi-alised. 4l,a"s (osing the )estion of a different
life< it ,ondered a?ot the natre of the re+oltion ,hi-h ,old ?ring it into ?eing<
and a?ot the for-es ,hi-h ,old ma>e that re+oltion. Prior to 1848
re+oltionaries li>e JeEam" (assed from the (ro?lems of the hman ?eing to those
of so-ial gro(s and the strggles ,hi-h set them in o((osition. The" no longer
started from manDs essen-e ?t from his histori-al de+elo(ment< and ?egan ?"
ma>ing a -riti)e of alienated la?or. The (rin-i(al re(roa-h the" addressed to the
to(ians ,as not of ?eing +isionaries< ?t of ho(ing to a-hie+e their +ision ?"
means of re-i(es< instead of -on-ei+ing of a soltion starting from e3isting
-onditions. B" -ontrast< the theoreti-al -ommnism of the (eriod from 1847-48
soght to (ier-e the se-ret of the irresisti?le for-e of s-h a degrading s"stem as
-a(italism. 1ooting itself in realit"< it ,old es(ose its -ontradi-tions and finish ?"
?eing dra,n in to them.
0t is to Mar3Ds -redit that he ,as the first to sho, that the as(iration for a hman
-ommnit"< some as(e-ts of ,hi-h -old ?e ?etter e3(ressed ?" others li>e %orier<
-an onl" s--eed on the da" that so-ial life has a-)ired a -olle-ti+e -hara-ter for
all men< and ths -rossed a threshold ?e"ond ,hi-h asso-iated la?or and -ommon
a-tion made it (ossi?le to ma>e the re+oltion. 0n $apital< Mar3 ,old des-ri?e the
me-hanism of this (ro-ess< ,hose -ontent had ?een otlined in the 1!..
Manuscripts. Bt Mar3 ,as to lose the original -ommnist thread throgh in+ol+ing
himself in an anal"sis of -a(italism from the inside< and no longer from a
-ommnist (ers(e-ti+e. %ar too m-h he ,old see the -ommnist mo+ement as
?eing li>e the mo+ement of the ?orgeoisie< a mo+ement ,hi-h e3(anded the
de+elo(ment of the (rod-ti+e for-es. Bis -ontradi-tion ,as to ha+e (ri+ileged
political economy ,hile ma>ing a -riti)e of it< and to ha+e made a -riti-al std" of
it ,ithot it -easing to ?e his theoreti-al horiEon. Mar3 simltaneosl" -riti-iEed
Ca(ital from a -a(italist (oint of +ie, and from a -ommnist (oint of +ie,< ?t he
forgot that the de+elo(ment of (rod-tion is onl" sefl to the (roletariat as the
means of destro"ing itself as (roletariat. :ften he stdied the (roletarian -ondition
starting from -a(italist de+elo(ment and not from the so-ial a-ti+it" -onfined ,ithin
in it.
Bo,e+er< he remained the onl" one< in his time< to offer an o+erall +ision of the
histori-al (ro-ess< from the original -ommnities to the re-on-iliation ?et,een man
and natre. *in-e his ,or> a-hie+ed the greatest s"nthesis of the (eriod< its
-ontradi-tions ,ere onl" the more a-te. The same mo+ement simltaneosl" led
him to de+elo( and to a?andon the -ommnist d"nami-. 0n this ,a"< he e3(ressed
in theor" the (ra-ti-al -ontradi-tions ,hi-h the (roletariat ran ( against in the
middle of the 19
th
-entr"< and heralded its s?se)ent -on)est ?" Ca(ital and
then its rea((earan-e as -ommnist (roletariat in the 27
th
-entr". Mar3 ,as the
(rod-t of the strength and the am?igit" of the -ommnism of his time.
9 Mar3ism ; 8 the s?se)ent se of Mar3Ds ,or> 8 ,old resol+e the -ontradi-tion
that ran throgh his ,or> ?" netralising its s?+ersi+e as(e-t. The tendency of
re+oltionaries li>e Mar3 to ?r" themsel+es in the -riti)e of -a(italism in itself<
,as trned ?" Mar3ism into the sole reality. 0t is the thoght of a ,orld in-a(a?le of
thin>ing of an"thing other than Ca(ital. 9 1e+oltionar" ; +is-Q-+is (re--a(italist
so-ieties and so-ial strata< it identifies itself ,ith (rogress and the e-onom". 0n this
,a" Mar3ism -onstittes one of the dominant ideologies.
%or theoreti-al -ommnism Mar3 is no more and no less e3em(t from -riti-ism than
%orier or the -ommnist left after 1914. Those ,ho donDt nderstand %orier or
.orter donDt nderstand Mar3< and +i-e-+ersa. Theoreti-al -ommnism< as
e3(ressed ?" Mar3< -annot ?e -om(letel" digested ?" Ca(ital ?e-ase it -ontains
more than an e3(osition of the internal -ontradi-tions of -a(italism. This is not the
-ase ,ith *aint-*imonism< for e3am(le< ,hose (rogramme ,as entirel" realised ?"
Ca(ital A the de+elo(ment of (rod-tion< the -reation of an indstrial -lass< the
red-tion of (oliti-s to management< the generalisation of la?or. The 9 indstrial
s"stem ; is Ca(ital. B" -ontrast< e+en in those te3ts ?" Mar3 most o(en to
-riti-ism< -ommnism remains (resent< if onl" in negati+e. To ?elie+e in a Mar3 fll"
realised ?" Ca(ital< is to ?elie+e in a Mar3 as des-ri?ed ?" Ca(ital.
The )alitati+e ,ea>ness of the (roletarian assalt in 1848 ena?led Ca(ital to
a?sor? limited as(e-ts of its re+oltionar" -riti)e. Bt it mst ?e re-ognised that
9 Mar3ism ; also -ontaminated re+oltionaries< as m-h at the end of the 19
th
-entr" as no,ada"s. The radi-al gro(s ,hi-h -ame after Mar3 ?elie+ed that
-a(italist e3(ansion ,old limit the segmentation and di+ision of the ,or>ing -lass<
?" remo+ing< for e3am(le< the dominant (osition of $nglish Ca(ital< and ?" slo,ing
do,n the formation of a (ri+ileged ,or>ing -lass strata. The" did not see
-a(italismDs -a(a-it" to -reate a ne, -ommnit"< and to a?sor? the organisations
?orn from the terrain of the -lass strggle. The illsion of the sim(lifi-ation of the
-ommnist )estion throgh -a(italist ni+ersalism remains a ,ides(read idea. No
matter ,hat some sa"< in the re+oltionar" ran>s 9 the de+elo(ment of the
(rod-ti+e for-es ; often remains a good thing in itself.
!hat (ast failre hasnDt ?een e3(lained ?" the insffi-ien-" of the degree of
indstrialisation M 4nd this error in (ers(e-ti+e also deforms the -ommnist +ision.
0t ma>es the -onstittion of the hman -ommnit" de(end on e-onomi- gro,th A
9 ,hen the (rod-ti+e for-es gsh forth in a?ndan-e ... ; 0t reslts in ?rshing
aside the ris> of seeing the emergen-e of -onfli-ts in -ommnism ?" (ostlating the
e3isten-e of a hmanit" that has finall" ?e-ome 9 good ; ?e-ase it has an eas"
life. Both the /eft and leftism Cstif" athorities 8 ,hether 9 re+oltionar" ; or
(rogressi+e 8 ,hi-h the" s((ort in the name of the ne-essit" to manage s-ar-it".
The re+oltionaries e3(lain (roletarian failres ?" the insffi-ien-" of resor-es.
This illsion amonts to ma>ing s< in .esdeDs e3(ression< 9 the sons of
horse(o,er ;. 0t ta>es ( the t,in dreams 8 of -a(italist and ,or>er 8 of ?eing a?le
to es-a(e from e3(loitation than>s to te-hnolog" and atomation. Ca(ital dreams of
(assing ?e"ond the ,age-,or>er< the sor-e of -onfli-t. !age ,or>ers dream of
(assing ?e"ond the -a(italist< the ?oss and the (rofiteer. The first longs for a
ma-hine ,hi-h dis(enses ,ith hman initiati+eG the se-ond for a ma-hine ,hi-h
,old rid them of hman management.
The a((earan-e of 9 Mar3ism ; at the end of the 19
th
-entr" ,as the (rod-t of
the remoteness of the -ommnist (ers(e-ti+e< ,hi-h fragmented and di+ided itself
into t,o monsters A Mar3ism and anar-hism. (The -hoi-e of the terms attests to the
-onfsion - ea-h ha+ing initiall" ?een em(lo"ed ?" the other -am( ?efore their se
im(osed itself on e+er"one). These t,o monsters< ,hi-h gre, into t,o (oles of
theor" and (ra-tise< ea-h ere-ted a (artial as(e-t of -ommnism into the totalit".
Mar3ism h"(ertro(hied the -on-e(ts of e-onomi- gro,th and -risis< of the seiEre
of (o,er and -entralism. 4nar-hism h"(ertro(hied the -on-e(ts of the li?eration of
men< of self-go+ernment and of atonom". 0solated< ea-h of these as(e-ts lost an"
s?+ersi+e (otentialit"G one-sided< the" o(ened themsel+es to ?e-oming agents of
Page 22
-a(italist modernisation. 4nar-hism re,rote histor" ?" red-ing it to the fight
?et,een t,o (rin-i(les A athorit" and freedom. Mar3ism inter(reted it from the
stand(oint of the de+elo(ment of (rod-tion. !hen the +isionar" dimension
remained< as in Be?el ,ith his ?oo> on -oman and Socialism< or in the ,or> of
Oro(ot>in< it ,as li>e a mtilated fragment. 4nar-hism -ontined to (rea-h -ertain
modes of refsal of -a(italism 8 free lo+e< -ommnal life 8 ?t deta-hed from a
glo?al +ision. The s"nthesis attem(ted ?efore 1848 had shattered into (ie-es.
re--olle-ting or (ast (&)
2ineteen-3eventeen an$ a"ter4ar$s
9 4s for me< 0 see a sffi-ient demonstration of the need for -ommnist re+oltion in
the so-ial tremors of the inter-,ar (eriod. 0n fa-t< it is the most sffi-ient of
demonstrations... The disgsting international sitation< -onstantl" aggra+ated<
-om(letel" -orres(onded to this ;
(.. Mnis< &arti(2tat5 Stalinisme5 1%olution< *(arta-s< 196&< (. 84)
The s-ale and the de(th of the se-ond great (roletarian assalt are (arti-larl"
e3(lained ?" ,hat (roletarians had (re+iosl" ndergone and underta+en 8 the"
had to re?el against ,hat the" had largel" -ontri?ted to -reating. The defen-e of
la?or (o,er< nderta>en ?" the la?or mo+ement ( to the ,ar in 1914< -old
neither (re(are the re+oltion< nor e+en unite ,or>ers. The trade nions ne+er
integrated the nem(lo"ed. The latter -ond-ted s(e-ifi- strggles (the ?ig hnger
mar-hes in the '* after 1929)< ?t for their o,n o?Ce-ti+es A to o?tain ,or>. Jring
this (eriod em(lo"ed ,or>ers themsel+es demanded the maintenan-e and
im(ro+ement of their ,or>. :n this ?asis< the strai)ht"or#ard de"ence o" #or+<
there -old ?e no (ossi?le solidarit". Ths the a,a>ening in 1914 ,as (ainfl 8 the
(roletariat dis-o+ered not onl" that 9 its ; organisations ?elonged instead to
-a(italism< ?t that 9 the -lass ; ,old onl" unite itsel" for radi-al a-tion and in
+iolen-e.
The -"ni-ism of a K. .old< the 4meri-an indstrialist and mltimillionaire< ,ho in
1885 de-lared A 9 0 ha+e the means to hire half the ,or>ing -lass to >ill the other
half ; ()oted in %. Bro,ning et K. .erassi< Le $rime 6 l'amricaine< %a"ard< 1981<
(. 183)< ,ell e3(resses Ca(italDs -ontem(t for man. Bt most of the time the
-a(italists donDt need to ?" the e3(loited in order to hrl them against the others.
The +iolen-e of economic and political -ontradi-tions is sffi-ient to organiEe one
against another. 4ll 9 defen-e of em(lo"ment ;< from the demands of the 40T< to
the disgised 3eno(ho?ia maintained ?" trade nions toda"< ends in (rote-ting
,age ,or>ers a)ainst others.
.oldDs statement sms ( his (eriod 8 the em(lo"ers strateg" in the 19
th
-entr"
did indeed -onsist of lo,ering ,ages and lengthening the ,or>ing da"< ,hile
for-i?l" o((osing attem(ts at ,or>ers organisation. 0t ,old not a((l" to the (eriod
,hi-h o(ened in 1914-18. Bt in 1979< /oEins>" still (?lished a rather (essimisti-
assessment< -ontr" ?" -ontr"< of the sitation of Ca(ital and the ,or>ing -lass.
%or him< gro,th didnDt im(ro+e ,or>ing -lass -onditions< ?t sometimes aggra+ated
them. Jemo-ra-" ,as a -a(italist ,ea(on. Their o,n organisations reinfor-ed
,or>ersD s?mission to Ca(ital. The fa-tor"< ,hi-h organiEed ,or>ers< onl" nited
them in ser+itde. Ca(italist de+elo(ment didnDt strengthen the -ommnist
mo+ement.
9 Then the engineers< the a--ontants< the te-hni-ians mlti(lied themsel+es
(...) Be-ase one -annot lea+e the former sa+age near the ma-hiner"< he
might ?rea> it. No< it is ne-essar" that the ,or>ers are instr-ted and ,ell
trained (...) That is ,h" the (rofessors and ,riters< these s(e-ialised
trainers< mlti(l" (...) The demo-rati- state signifies that the s-ientist ta>es
the (la-e of the (oli-e. 0t is for this reason that so-ial leaders mlti(l" A
Page 24
de(ties< (oliti-ians< agronomists< statisti-ians< ne,s(a(er -olmnists<
la,"ers< et-. ; (K.Ma>haRs>i< 1978< Le socialisme des intellectuels< /e *eil<
1969< (. 198)
0n the so-ial life and e+oltion of organisations< ,hat -onts is their "unction< not
their initial do-trines. !hether it deri+es its origins from anar-hism or from
so-ialism< s"ndi-alism a?o+e all emerges as an im(otent rea-tion against
reformism< and ends ( ?" gi+ing in to -lass -olla?oration. :+erl" disa((ointed<
former re+oltionaries la(sed into elitism. Ths in the ,or> of .eorges Jarien< one
of ,hose -hara-ters no longer sees an"thing e3-e(t a 9 dirt" sale ; ?et,een 9 a
handfl of des(erate re-al-itrants ; and 9 the aristo-ra-" of mone" ; (Les
&harisiens< 1891< '.$< 1969< ((. 12&-125).
9 ... it ,as a ?eatifl da" that the" ?lended into one another< (roletariat and
?orgeoisie< and des(ite their denials< ,al>ed hand in hand. Throgh ?eing
affe-tionate< the" ,ere to end ( ?" s(anning the mdd" (it ,hi-h se(arated
them ,ith state so-ialism< this pont d'A%i)non on ,hi-h the horn" handed
(roletarian dan-es a -armagnole ,ith (ett" indstr" and (ett" -ommer-e<
reglated ?" indstrial tri?nal ... ; (7d.< ((. 124-12&)
B" -ontrast< after 1916 it ,as ndo?tedl" the communist mo+ement as s-h ,hi-h
rea((eared in 1ssia< in .erman" and else,here. @et it ,old ne+er ?e the heart 8
that is to sa" the (ra-ti-al goal 8 of the so-ial agitation< ,hi-h mainl" remained in
the ,a>e of demo-ra-". 0t emerged< ?t onl" as (rogramme.
9 !h" ,old ,e need mone"< all Petrograd is in the hands of the ,or>ersG all
the a(artments< all the stores< all the fa-tories and ,or>sho(s< the te3tile
mills< the food stores< e+er"thing is in the hands of the so-ial organisations.
The ,or>ing -lass doesnDt need mone" ;< (ro-laimed Blei>hman< a 1ssian
anar-hist ,or>er in 1916.
Bt (roletarians did not ta>e the measres of -ommnisation ,hi-h ,old ha+e
rendered mar>et e3-hange seless. The -on-il mo+ement ,hi-h a((eared in 1916
aimed at ta>ing ?a-> -ontrol of (rod-ti+e a-ti+it". 0n 1ssia it ,as a rea-tion to
the im(oten-e of the ?orgeoisie. 0n the 'nited *tates and .erman" it ,as a
rea-tion against *-ientifi- Management. The defeat of 1919 ,as that of the s>illed
,or>ers in the Berlin metal ,or>ing indstries< ,ho formed the heart of the '*PJ.
Jring the risings in -entral .erman" in 1921< the ,or>ers ,ho too> -entre stage
,ere ns>illed< as at /ena ,here B.4.*.% had -reated a modern -hemi-al (lant<
,ith an ns>illed la?or for-e s(er+ised ?" s>illed ,or>ers from other areas. The
,or>ers at /ena and else,here< ,old resist re(ression and the di+isions in their
midst for a long time. Bt their armed organisation ,as the (roletariat in arms 8 a
(roletariat ,hi-h did not nderta>e to destro" itself as (roletariat.
0n the 19
th
-entr"< far from -asing 9 the e+er e3(anding nion of the ,or>ers ;
($ommunist Mani"esto< se-tion 1)< strggles for ,age demands had s(lit (
(roletarians along the di+iding lines of the di+ision of la?or. 4--entating a
tenden-" ,hi-h had alread" ta>en sha(e in indstrial nionism< after 1914-18 the
-ommnit" of strggle (assed from the -raft nion to the fa-tor" -on-il< inside
,hi-h -olle-ti+e la?or< ,hi-h had ?een ?ro>en ( and de-om(osed ?" Ca(ital<
tried to regain the -ommon e3isten-e it had lost.
Ne+ertheless< nli>e the non-re+oltionar" 9 -ommnists ; s-h as %orier< the
(roletariat of 1916 no longer soght to a-t alongside the state< or else to -on+ert it.
%rom the start of the 27
th
-entr"< and (arti-larl" after 1914-18< the mo+ement
e3(li-itl" set as its goal< not the -on)est of the state< ?t its destr-tion. 4s
regards (ra-tise it is sffi-ient to -om(are the -olle-ti+e si-ide of the ,or>ers in
the old )arters in Paris in 1848 to the offensi+e of the red arm" of the 1hr in
1927 8 e+en thogh the latter s?se)entl" -ame to a halt< -onsmed from ,ithin
?" demo-ra-". 4s regards theor"< ,e -an -ontrast the am?igos de-larations of
Mar3 (and those of $ngels ,hi-h are stri((ed of an" am?igit") a?ot the (ossi?ilit"
of a (ea-efl transition to,ards so-ialism< ,ith the theses of the -ommnist
organisations after 1916.
Bt ,hat does the demand for the demolition of the state mean if it is limited to
that # 0f the (roletarian mo+ement is -ontent to merel" o--(" the -entre of
-a(itals (s-h as Berlin in Kanar" 1919) or to -onfront the arm"< it rshes to,ards
defeat. !here the state ,as ,ea>< as in 1ssia< (roletarians might e+en o+erthro,
it. Bt this onl" meant ta>ing its (la-e and letting the 9 ,or>ers state ; manage
,age la?or< in other ,ords manage -a(italism. The (roletariat -ond-ted a -riti)e
in deeds of the *tate< ?t not of Ca(ital as a histori- so-ial relation. 0n 1ssia and in
.erman"< it ,old almost al,a"s ?e a matter of reorganising la?or< of reforming
the ,orld of the e-onom"< not of -ommnisation. The -ommnist mo+ement
?e-ame ?ogged do,n on the terrain of (o,er.
!hen 0talian ,or>ers o--(ied the fa-tories in *e(tem?er 1927< (arti-larl" in
Trin< the go+ernment allo,ed the stri>e to deteriorate ?" itself. The (roletarians
did not ta>e the initiati+e. The *tate ,as e+en -le+er enogh to a--e(t 9 ,or>ers
-ontrol ;. :n-e it is -onstitted as a so-ial for-e< the (roletariat has nothing else to
organise ?t its o,n s((ression. 0ts -onstittion mst -oin-ide ,ith its self-
s((ression throgh the (ro(agation of e+er larger ,a+es of -ommnisation
infe-ting all a-ti+ities and all so-ial strata. 0n the a?sen-e of this (ro-ess< ,hi-h it
did not s(ar> off after 1916< the 9 organised (roletariat ;< and e+en 9 the
(roletariat in arms ;< ,as for-ed to gi+e ,a" ?efore the ,eight of -a(italist
relations ,hi-h ,ere not long in retrning to o--(" the entire terrain.
0n 1916-21 the langage of the so-ial mo+ement remained (oliti-al. Kst as the
millenarians had ?elie+ed the" ,ere realiEing a di+ine (rin-i(le< the most e3treme
,or>ers a-ted as if the" ,ere realiEing a ne, (rin-i(le of (o,er< ?ased on ,or>ers
self-organisation. The" ?elie+ed that the" had a--om(lished an ad+an-e -om(ared
to the (art" and trade nion ?rea-ra-ies< ?t the" did not define -ommnism.
Politi-al and no longer religios< the mo+ement se-larised itself< ?t on-e again it
still a-ted starting from something other than itself.
4rosed ?" the 1ssian re+oltion< the ,a+e of re+oltionar" and reformist-demand
strggles (the t,o -om?ining and so,ing -onfsion in all minds) ,old re+er?erate
from -ontinent to -ontinent o+er the ne3t t,ent" "ears. $+er",here the ?orgeoisie
,old end ( ?" ta>ing ?a-> ,hat it had ?een for-ed to -on-ede. 0n +ain the
$nglish and !elsh miners str-> for ,ee>s< e+en months< against ,age -ts. 0n the
'nited *tates< arond 1919< the 0!! in-reased from 47<777 to 177<777 mem?ers<
Cst ?efore disa((earing. %ran-e (assed a la, esta?lishing the eight hor da" ?t
dismissed 18<777 rail,a"men in 1927 8 it ,as one of the most serios defeats for
%ren-h ,or>ers. *tarting in 1ssia and -entral $ro(e the ,a+e of strggles s,e(t
as far as China (1925) and the 'nited *tates. %ighting a -a(italism that ,as in the
Page 25
middle of moderniEation< 4meri-an ,or>ers s--eeded in setting (... a trade nion
federation. Bt the strength and am?i+alen-e of their a-tion ,as -onfirmed ?" the
fa-t that the C0: had diffi-lt" in -ontrolling them. 0n 1936 sit-in stri>es< ,hi-h
,ere (ro- and anti-nion at the same time< er(ted Cst after the agreement
?et,een the 'nited 4to !or>ers and .eneral Motors. 0n e3-hange for re-ognition
the trade nions had agreed not to s((ort the ,ild-at stri>es< ,hi-h ,ere
-hara-terised as noffi-ial. 4gainst this agreement ?et,een the ?osses and the
nions< the ,or>ers o--(ied the fa-tories and< as at %lint in Mi-higan< sed non-
?rea-rati- methods ,hi-h dis(la"ed a high degree of organisation< ?t the" no
less -ontined to s((ort the nion.
0t too> the ,ar to ?ring order to the 4meri-an ,or>ing -lass A after .erman"
de-lared ,ar on the '**1< the Commnist Part" ,hi-h more or less dire-tl"
-ontrolled one third of the mem?ers of the C0:< a((ro+ed the anti-stri>e -lase
signed ?" the nions. The -onfrontation in Ma" 1936 ?et,een the ,or>ers of
Bar-elona and the *(anish 1e(?li-an *tate< mar>ed the last re+i+al of the ,a+e of
1916. :n-e again the -ontradi-tions in (roletarian (ra-tise -an ?e measred ?" the
fa-t that the maCorit" of the insrre-tionists ?elonged either to the CNT or to the
P:'M< ,hi-h did e+er"thing the" -old to sto( them< and s--eeded. 9 4 histori-al
-"-le ,as -losed ,ith the destr-tion of the *(anish re+oltion A that of the first
international offensi+e of the (roletariat against -a(italism ; (Mnis< &arti(2tat5
Stalinisme5 1%olution< *(arta-s< 196&< (. 56) :n-e again the (roletariat hadnDt
a-ted as a 9 -lass for itself ;.
0n s(ite of a glo?al -a(italist e3(ansion the (roletariat didnDt >no, ho, to (re+ent
either the 8 fatal 8 time-lag ?et,een the +arios national (risings or< in (arti-lar<
the demo-rati- -orr(tion. 0t re-ognised its enemies 8 ,ho sin-e 1914 had re+ealed
themsel+es for ,hat the" ,ere. 0t did not do ,hat ,as ne-essar" to destro" them<
sin-e it too> on the +isi?le enemies and not the things their (o,er ,as ?ased on A
the relations of ,age la?or and the mar>et. 4lthogh< in -ontrast to the 19
th
-entr"< it sometimes too> the offensi+e< it -ontined to (rse (oliti-al a-tion. 0n
short< it onl" (t for,ard 9 the ta-ti-al re)irements of the first stage of the ne,
mo+ements A anti-(arliamentarism< anti-nionism and anti-frontism ; (Mou%ement
capitaliste et r%olution russe< Brssels< 1964). Conse)entl"< the -ommnist left <
,hi-h ,old o--(" itself for "ears in attem(ting to nderstand ,hat had
ha((ened< ,old distingish itself ?" its re"usals A refsal of trade nions< of the
*tate (e+en< and es(e-iall"< the demo-rati- *tate)< of the Po(lar %ronts< of the
'**1< of national li?eration mo+ements< of the 1esistan-e< and so on< and this
?e-ase the (roletariat no longer inter+ened as a so-ial for-e. This o?literation of
-ommnism as a histori- for-e ,as not ne-essaril" more serios than that in the
se-ond half of the 19
th
-entr"< ?t it ,as -ertainl" more stri>ing.
un$erstan$ing
the counter-revolution
an$ the revolutionar,
return
Page 28
/ro# the 5er#an 6e"t to Socialisme ou
Barbarie
4 -ommnist mo+ement< ni+ersal in natre< ,hi-h had set ot to -on)er the
,orld in -a(italismDs footste(s< had ?een led into not ta>ing the offensi+e e3-e(t in
the -entre of $ro(e. No, it ,as ne-essar" for it to engage in dra,ing ( an
assessment< ?eginning ,ith itself< and ,ith the -ontradi-tions of the -onter-
re+oltion.
The follo,ing re+oltionar" generation had the ad+antage of ?eing a?le to -ast a
-learer -riti-al gaEe on this (eriod< ?t the" ,ere to rn into additional diffi-lties
a?ot ?eing a?le to go ?a-> to the sor-e of theories< e-hoes of ,hi-h had ended
( ?e-oming loder than their initial sond.
The ot?rea> of the ,ar in 1914 testified to the monstros ?an>r(t-" of the
?orgeois ,orld and the ,or>ersD mo+ement. Bo,e+er< after ?orgeois hmanism
and ,age-la?or reformism had -olla(sed< side ?" side< in the md of the tren-hes<
the" ?oth a-ted as if this -atastro(he hadnDt reCe-ted the ?asis (on ,hi-h the" had
(ros(ered and dri+en millions of ?eings into the a?"ss. $+er"?od" a((lied
themsel+es to re-reating the same (re-1914 sitation< ?t ?etter< more modern
and more demo-rati-< ,hereas the ,hole of -a(italist -i+iliEation had (ro+ed its
failre< -onfirming the a(o-al"(ti- fore-asts of the re+oltionaries and the ,arnings
of the more l-id ?orgeois.
9 !e are the last Hof the re(?li-an m"sti)eI. Nearl" the apr8s(derniers.
0mmediatel" after s ?egins another age< another ,orld< the ,orld of those
,ho no longer ?elie+e in an"thing< or ,ho ha+e an" (ride and glor" in it. ;
(PSg"< Our youth)
4nd< to still frther in-rease the -onfsion< nder a radi-al mas> 1ssia< the
Commnist 0nternational and the Commnist Parties ,ere also s((orting the
re-onstittion of a la?or mo+ement and a reno+ated demo-ra-"< ,hi-h didnDt ta>e
long ?efore resem?ling their (rede-essors.
4s distin-t from those ,ho +ainl" relied on a-ti+ism< the -ommnist left nderstood
the de(th of the -onter-re+oltion and dre, ot its -onse)en-es. 0t affirmed itself
as resistan-e to Ca(ital and< ?e-ase of this< it (ro+ed in-a(a?le of lea+ing its
entren-hmentDs in order to imagine the ftre otlines of a re+oltion different from
those ,hi-h had o--rred after 1916< ?eginning ,ith the ne, sitation< ?t a?o+e
all< ,ith the in+arian-e of the natre of the -ommnist mo+ement.
The ltra-left ,as ?orn and gre, in o((osition to *o-ial-Jemo-ra-" and /eninism 8
,hi-h had ?e-ome *talinism. 4gainst them it affirmed the re+oltionar" spontaneity
of the (roletariat. The .erman -ommnist left (in fa-t .erman-Jt-h)< and its
deri+ati+es< maintained that the onl" 9 hman ; soltion la" in (roletariansD o,n
a-ti+it"< ,ithot it ?eing ne-essar" to ed-ate or to organiEe themG that ,hen the"
a-ted ?" and for themsel+es the seeds of radi-all" different so-ial relations ,ere
Page 37
(resent in ,or>ers a-tionsG that the e3(erien-e of ta>ing their strggles into their
o,n hands (re(ared them to ta>e the ,hole of so-iet" into their hands ,hen the
re+oltion ?e-ame (ossi?leG that (roletarians toda" mst refse to allo,
themsel+es to ?e dis(ossessed of e+en the most negligi?le a-tions ?" the trade
nion and (art" ?rea-ra-ies< in order tomorro, to (re+ent an" so--alled ,or>ersD
state from managing (rod-tion in their (la-e and institting state -a(italism< as
the 1ssian re+oltion had done. %inall" it affirmed that trade nions and (arties
had ?e-ome elements of -a(italism.
Before ?eing red-ed to the stats of tin" gro(s< the .erman /eft had ?een the
most ad+an-ed (and nmeros) -om(onent of the mo+ement from 1916 to 1921.
/ater< ,hate+er its ,ea>nesses< it remained the onl" -rrent to defend the
e3(loited in all -ir-mstan-es and ,ithot -on-essions. 0n the same ,a"< it refsed
to s((ort an" ,ar< ,hether anti-fas-ist (nli>e the Trots>"ists and a great nm?er
of anar-hists) or national (nli>e the Bordigists)< ,ith the e3-e(tion of the *(anish
!ar< dring ,hi-h< follo,ing in the footste(s of anar-hism< it had gone so far as to
s((ort the CNT.
4ffirming ,ithin its theor" the atonom" of the (roletariat against state
inter+ention< it denon-ed e+er"thing that de(ri+ed the ,or>ing -lass of its -a(a-it"
for initiati+e A (arliamentarianism< trade-nionism< anti-fas-ist or national fronts<
s-h as the %ren-h 1esistan-e to .erman o--(ation< and an" a((arats tending to
-onstitte itself into a (art" a?o+e the ,or>ing -lass.
9 The eman-i(ation of (roletarians ,ill ?e the ,or> of (roletarians themsel+es ;<
sa"s the Mani"esto. Bt ,hat sort of eman-i(ation # %or the .erman /eft
-ommnism ,as -onfsed ,ith ,or>ersD management. 0t did not see that atonom"
mst ?e e3er-ised in all fields and not merel" in (rod-tion< that it is onl" ?"
eradi-ating mar>et e3-hange from all so-ial relations< from e+er"thing ,hi-h
norishes life< that (roletarians ,ill retain master" of their re+oltion. To reorganise
(rod-tion on-e more< is to gi+e ?irth to a ne, administrati+e a((arats. 4n"one
,ho (ts management for,ard -ondemns themsel+es to -reating a managerial
a((arats.
The management of or li+es ?" ?rea-rats is onl" one fa-et of or dis(ossession
of orsel+es. This alienation< the fa-t that or life is de-ided ?" others than
orsel+es< is not merel" an administrati+e realit" ,hi-h another form of
management -old -hange. The mono(oliEation of de-isions ?" a (ri+ileged la"er of
de-ision ma>ers is an effe-t of the so-ial relations of the mar>et and ,age la?or.
0n (re--a(italist so-ieties< the self-em(lo"ed -raftsman also sa, that his a-ti+it"
es-a(ed him as it entered into the (ri-e me-hanism. /ittle ?" little the logi- of
-ommer-e tore a,a" an" -hoi-e from his a-tions. Bo,e+er there ,as no
9 ?rea-rat ; to di-tate his -ond-t. Mone" and ,age-la?or alread" -ontain
,ithin themsel+es the (ossi?ilit" and the ne-essit" of dis(ossession. There is onl" a
differen-e in degree ?et,een the dis(ossession of the -raftsman and that of the
ns>illed ,or>er in BM!. 4dmittedl" the differen-es ?et,een them are not slight<
?t in ?oth -ases their 9 ... ,or> de(ends on -ases set a(art from them... ;
(JSEam"< $ode de la communaut< 1842). 4s for managers< the" em?od" this
alienation. 0t is ths no more a matter of re(la-ing them ,ith ,or>ersD -on-ils<
than it is of re(la-ing the ?orgeoisie ,ith ?rea-rats from the trade nions and
(arties 8 the reslt ,old resem?le the 1ssian e3(erien-e after 1916.
Caght in (in-ers ?et,een the *PJ and the C0: 8 the t,o forms of the -onter-
re+oltion ?orn ot of ,or>ersD strggles 8 the .erman /eft had to o((ose itself to
?oth of them. Bt it had diffi-lt" in seeing that the 0!! ,old ha+e disa((eared
or ?e-ome a reformist organisation. 4s an atonomos ,or>ersD organisation< the
0!! retros(e-ti+el" dis(la"ed all the +irtes. Bt it is not enogh for a str-tre to
?e ,or>erist and anti-?rea-rati- for it to ?e re+oltionar". That de(ends on ,hat
it does. 0f it ta>es (art in trade nion a-ti+ities it ?e-omes ,hat the trade nions
are. Ths the .erman /eft ,as also mista>en a?ot the natre of the CNT.
Ne+ertheless< o+erall it sho,ed that itDs too s(erfi-ial to onl" ta>e a--ont of the
trade nions< and that it is the re"ormist acti%ity of ,or>ers themsel+es ,hi-h
maintains organised< o(enl" -onter-re+oltionar"< reformism.
The .erman /eft nderstood that the bour)eois ,orld ?efore 1914 had gi+en ,a"
to the capitalist ,orld. 0t -old re-ognise Ca(ital e+er",here it e3isted< in-lding
the '**1< ,hereas it ,as not ntil 194& that Bordiga (t things so -learl". Con-il
-ommnism ended ( ?" -onfining itself in -on-illism< ?t< immediatel" after the
1939-4& ,ar< it sa, the ne-essit" of lea+ing ?ehind the theoreti-al frame,or>
defined ?et,een the ,ars. 0n 1945 Panne>oe> nderstood that the (roletariat had
ndergone 9 a failre lin>ed ,ith aims ,hi-h ,ere too limited ; and that 9 the real
strggle for eman-i(ation hasnDt started "et ;. The (rest e3(ression of the
re+oltionar" (roletariat after 1916< the .erman /eft also re(rod-ed its limitations<
,hi-h on its o,n it -old not (ass ?e"ond.
0nheriting the mantle of the ltra-left after the ,ar< the magaEine Socialisme ou
Barbarie a((eared in %ran-e ?et,een 1949 and 195&. :rganisationall"< the gro(
,hi-h -onstitted itself arond the Cornal ,as not des-ended from the .erman /eft
?t from Trots>"ism< ?efore soon ?eing Coined ?" defe-tors from the 0talian /eft.
$+en if it ne+er -laimed this filial relation itself< Socialisme ou Barbarie none the less
?elonged to -on-illism< ,hi-h it had -ome to as a reslt of a refle-tion on
?rea-ra-"< arising from a reCe-tion of the Trots>"ist (ositions on the '**1.
:ne of Socialisme ou BarbarieDs merits ,as that it loo>ed for 9 the ans,er ; in the
(roletariat. !ithot (o(lism or an" (reten-e of ha+ing redis-o+ered some >ind of
9 ,or>ersD +ales ;< it nderstood that #or+ers' speech ,as indeed a -ondition of
the -ommnist mo+ement. Ths it s((orted forms of e3(ression s-h as 0ribune
Ou%ri8re< (?lished ?" 1enalt ,or>ers. 0n this ,a" it (la-ed itself ,ithin the ,ider
mo+ement ,hi-h ,old -lminate in Ma" 58 and gi+e ?irth to (reliminar" s>et-hes
of atonomos organisation s-h as 0nter-$nter(rises. That a minorit" of ,or>ersD
-ome together and ta>e ( s(ee-h is trl" a -ondition of -ommnism.
'nions and ,or>ersD (arties offer their ser+i-es to ,age ,or>ers in e3-hange for
re-ognition and s((ort< in-lding finan-ial s((ort. $3treme-left gro(s (retend to
offer the ,aged a ?etter defen-e of their interests than the nion and (art"
?rea-rats< ,ho the" -onsider to ?e too moderate. 0n e3-hange the" demand
e+en less A a((ro+al< ho,e+er half-hearted< for their (rogramme. 0nter+entionists
or li?ertarians< all see the same solution to the continuity ?et,een (roletariat and
-ommnism 8 the" -on-ei+e the -ontent of -ommnism as ?eing otside the
(roletariat. Not seeing the intrinsi- relation ?et,een (roletariat and re+oltion 8
e3-e(t that it is the former ,hi-h ma>es the latter 8 the" are o?liged to introduce a
(rogramme.
Socialisme ou Barbarie sho,ed that ,or>ersD a-tion -ontained more than a strggle
Page 32
against e3(loitation and that it -arried ,ithin it the germ of ne, relations. Bt it
onl" sa, this in self-organisation< not in (roletarian (ra-tise 8 the monstros a+atar
of hman life (rod-ed ?" Ca(ital ,hi-h< in er(ting< might engender another
,orld.
Pro+iding that one doesnDt ?e-ome entangled in )estions of organising and
managing ,or>< the o?ser+ation of fa-tor" life ma>es it (ossi?le to illminate the
-ommnist dire-tion of (roletarian strggle. Ths< the testimon" of the 4meri-an
,or>er 1ia *tone (?lished in the earl" editions of the magaEine ,ent frther than
the theorising on the -ontent of so-ialism done later on ?" Chalie (?t (?li-ation
of *toneDs te3t ,oldnDt ha+e ?een (ossi?le ,ithot ChalieDs DerrorD).
Socialisme ou Barbarie ?ro>e ,ith ,or>erism. /efortDs 9 The Proletarian
$3(erien-e ; is ndo?tedl" the most (rofond te3t (?lished ?" Socialisme ou
Barbarie. Bt he indi-ated the gro(Ds limitations and in so doing annon-ed its
im(asse. 0n effe-t he -ontined to sear-h for a mediation ?et,een the miser" of the
,or>ers -ondition and their o(en re+olt against Ca(ital. Bo,e+er< it is ,ithin itself
that the (roletariat finds the elements of its re+olt and the -ontent of the
re+oltion< not in an" organisation (osed as a (re-ondition and ,hi-h ,old either
?ring it -ons-iosness or offer it a ?ase for regro(ment. /efort sa, the
re+oltionar" me-hanism in (roletarians themsel+es< ?t in their or)anisation
rather than in their -ontradi-tor" nature. *o< he too ended ( ?" red-ing the
-ontent of so-ialism to ,or>ersD management.
Moreo+er< instead of the testimon" of ,or>ersD ,hi-h /efort ,anted< Socialisme ou
Barbarie thre, itself into ,or>ersD so-iolog"< ending ( ?" ma>ing e+er"thing trn
on the distin-tion ?et,een dire-tion and e3e-tion. 0n this it differentiated itself
from 7n"ormation et $orrespondance Ou%ri8res (0C:) 8 ,hi-h /efort reCoined 8 a
,or>erist and -on-illist ?lletin and gro(< a more immediate e3(ression of
,or>ersD atonom"< and from the Groupe de Liaison pour l'Action des 0ra%ailleurs
(./4T) e)all" ,or>erist< ?t -on-erned ,ith (?lishing mintel" detailed anal"ses
of -a(italismDs e+oltion. $a-h in its o,n ,a"< 0C: and ./4T ,old ?e (resent at
the ni+ersit" -entre at Censier< o--(ied ?" re+oltionaries in Ma" 58.
The Bngarian 1e+oltion ga+e a ne, +igor to Socialisme ou Barbarie< ,hile
reinfor-ing its -on-illism. 0n effe-t< the" sa, in it the -onfirmation of their theses
at a time ,hen the 9 -on-il ; form ,as -oming to (ro+e that it ,as -a(a?le of
a-ting in a manner totall" -ontrar" to -on-illism< for e3am(le in gi+ing s((ort to a
*talinist li?eral. Before long< Socialisme ou Barbarie a?andoned its old Mar3ist
referen-e (oints and thre, itself into an intelle-tal ,andering ,hi-h ,as to end in
195&. This e+oltion ?roght a?ot the de(artre of the 9 Mar3ists ; ,ho fonded
&ou%oir Ou%rier (P:) in 1953. 4nd it ,as one of P:Ds mem?erDs< Pierre .illame<
,ho ,ent on to fond the ?oo>sho( la 2ieille Ta(e t,o "ears later< ,hi-h later on
,e ,ill see the role of.
/i>e the *itationist 0nternational< ?t in a different ,a"< Socialisme ou Barbarie
9 -lng ; to the modernisation of !estern so-iet". 0ts theses on ?rea-rati-
-a(italism and on ?rea-rati- so-iet"< ?orn simltaneosl" from the s(e-tre of a
seiEre of (o,er ?" the *talinists and from the o+ertrning of %ren-h so-iet" ,hi-h
had ?een or-hestrated ?" the *tate< e3(ressed the -risis ,hi-h gna,ed into the
dominant indstrial model< (arti-larl" in %ran-e. B" (ro(agating slogans li>e
9 !or>ersD Po,er< PeasantsD Po,er< *tdentsD Po,er ; (P*' tra-t in Kne 1958)< ?"
ma>ing 9 atonomos and demo-rati- management ; into the nm?er one
o?Ce-ti+e< the Ma" 58 mo+ement (o(larised themes of Socialisme ou BarbarieDs<
,hile at the same time demonstrating the limits ?oth of the gro( and of the entire
mo+ement.
0n 1959 the Cornal 9 7n%ariance ; -on-lded that A 9 DSocialisme ou BarbarieD
,asnDt an a--ident. 0t -learl" e3(ressed a (osition diffsed on a ,orld s-ale A the
inter(retation of the a?sen-e of the (roletariat and the rise of the ne, middle
-lasses...Socialisme ou Barbarie flfilled its role of sr(assing the se-ts ?e-ase it
o(ened into the immediate< into the (resent< se+ering an" atta-hment to the
(ast... ; (*eries 0< no. 5. (29)
Page 34
7he Italian 6e"t an$ )or$iga
%ollo,ing the e3am(le of the other -rrents of the -ommnist left< that >no,n for
sim(li-it" as the 0talian /eft sho,ed that the (roletarian ,as more than Cst a
(rod-er ,ho fights to end his (o+ert" (the thesis of the left) or to end his
e3(loitation (the thesis of leftism). 0t -old re-ognise in Mar3Ds ,or> 9 a des-ri(tion
of the -hara-ter of -ommnist so-iet" ; (Bordiga). 0t affirmed the anti-mar>et and
anti-,age -ontent of the re+oltion. 4nd it got ?a-> in to-h ,ith to(ia.
9 !e are the onl" ones to ?ase or a-tion on the ftre. ;
Bordiga made an im(li-it -riti)e of the di+ision ?et,een s-ien-e and to(ia that
$ngels had esta?lished in the Anti(D9hrin)< ,hi-h he said< rested on 9 a false
?asis ;. Be defined re+oltionaries as 9 e3(lorers of the ftre ;. %or him< to(ia
,as not (redi-tion ?t the (ers(e-ti+e of the ftre. Be restored to the re+oltion
its hman dimension and e+en a((roa-hed ,hat< t,ent" "ears later< ,old ?e
-alled e-olog". Bt he -on-ei+ed of the re+oltion as the a((li-ation of a
(rogramme ?" 9 the (art" ;< not as a d"nami- niting men as the" -ommnise the
,orld.
Bo,e+er< one -an foresee that a mo+ement of -ommnisation< that destro"s the
*tate< ndermines the so-ial ?ase of the enem"< and s(reads nder the effe-t of
the irresisti?le a((eal arosing the ?irth of ne, so-ial relations ?et,een men< ,ill
?ond together the re+oltionar" -am( far ?etter than an" (o,er ,hi-h< ,hile
,aiting to -on)er the ,orld ?efore -ommnising it< ,old ?eha+e no differentl"
than... a *tate. 4 series of ?asi- measres and their ensing effe-ts ,ill (ermit an
enormos sa+ing of material means< and ,ill mlti(l" resor-eflness tenfold.
Commnism ,ill ?ring a?ot the a?andonment of man" sorts of (rod-tion< ,hi-h
reslt from 9 e-onomies of s-ale ; im(osed ?" the needs of (rofita?ilit".
2alorisation< ,hi-h im(oses -on-entration< (shes -a(italism to,ards gigantism<
(megalo(olises< a ?limia of energ") and o?liges it to disregard all non-(rofita?le
for-es of (rod-tion. Commnism ?" -ontrast ,ill ?e a?le to de-entralise< to se
lo-al resor-es< and not ?e-ase hmanit" -entralised in a (art" ,ill ha+e de-ided
on this< ?t ?e-ase the needs ,hi-h arise from (eo(leDs a-ti+it" ,ill im(el them to
li+e differentl" on this earth. Then the -onfli-t of 9 s(a-e against -on-rete ; ,hi-h
Bordiga s(o>e a?ot ,ill -ease.
The 0talian left< es(e-iall" after 194&< (t for,ard -ommnism ,ithot gras(ing it
as a mo+ement of hman a-ti+it" ,ith the tenden-" to li?erate itself. 4fter 1916<
the (roletariat had strggled ,ithot atta->ing the fondations of so-iet"< and as a
reslt radi-al gro(s had the greatest diffi-lt" in intelle-tall" gras(ing the
fondations of so-ial life and hen-e of the re+oltion.
Moreo+er< Bordiga did not dra, ot all the im(li-ations of his +ision of -ommnism.
0nstead of defining the 9 di-tatorshi( of the (roletariat ; ?eginning from
-ommnisation< he -onfined it to a (oliti-al di-tatorshi(< ,hi-h from the start made
it a )estion of (o,er. The .erman left had had the intition that -ommnism
d,ells in the natre of ?eing (roletarian< ,ithot gras(ing the tre natre of
-ommnism. B" -ontrast the 0talian left nderstood the natre of -ommnism ?t
de(ri+ed the (roletariat of a role in im(lementing it in order to entrst this to a
(art"< gardian of (rin-i(le< -harged ,ith im(osing it ?" for-e.
Certainl"< Bordiga made a Cstifia?l" strong -riti)e of demo-ra-". Peo(le often
re(roa-hed demo-ra-" for se(arating (roletarians< ,ho ,ere nited in a-tion<
throgh the +ote< and instead the" re-ommended 9 tre demo-ra-" ; or 9 ,or>ers
demo-ra-" ;< ,here de-isions ,old ?e ta>en ?" e+er"one in general assem?lies<
et-. Bo,e+er Bordiga sho,ed that demo-ra-" ?rings a?ot this se(aration in
de-ision ma>ing ?e-ase it se(arates ot the moment o" decision itsel". To ma>e
?elie+e that one -an ss(end e+er"thing for a (ri+ileged moment in order to >no,
,hat one ,ill de-ide and ,ho ,ill -arr" it ot< and to -reate for this (r(ose a
(ro-ess of deli?eration and de-ision ma>ing A here is the demo-rati- illsion M
Bman a-ti+it" is onl" dri+en to isolate the moment of de-ision ma>ing if this
a-ti+it" is itself -ontradi-tor"< if it is alread" tra+ersed ?" -onfli-ts and if
antagonisti- (o,ers are alread" esta?lished. The str-tre for the en-onter of
different o(inions is nothing ?t a faTade mas>ing the real de-ision< im(osed ?" the
(rior (la" of for-es.
Jemo-ra-" esta?lishes a ?rea> in time< ma+es it as i" one #ere settin) out a)ain
"rom scratch. :ne -old a((l" to the demo-rati- rital the anal"sis ,hi-h Mir-ea
$liade ma>es of religion< ,here (eriodi-all" one re(la"s the (assage from -haos to
order< (la-ing oneself ot of time for a ?rief instant as if e+er"thing had again
?e-ome (ossi?le. Jemo-ra-" has ?een ere-ted in (rin-i(le in so-ieties ,here the
masters ha+e to meet to share ot (o,er ?" -om(l"ing ,ith the rles of a game<
e+en if it means resorting to di-tatorshi( (a (ermissi?le form of go+ernment in
an-ient .ree-e) as soon as (la" is o?str-ted.
!hile demonstrating +er" ,ell that the democratic principle is alien to the ?ases of
re+oltionar" a-tion and of hman life< Bordiga ,as in-a(a?le of imagining the
intera-tion of the s?+ersi+e a-ti+ities of (roletarians< and he -old -on-ei+e no
other soltion than di-tatorshi( (of the (art"). The .erman left had fallen into the
demo-rati- error throgh fetishism of the ,or>ers -on-ils. Ba+ing failed to seiEe
the s?+ersi+e -a(a-ities of the (roletariat and their a?ilit" to -entralise their
a-tions< the 0talian left ran ( against the false alternati+e ,hi-h it had itself
denon-ed< and (ronon-ed itself in fa+or of di-tatorshi(< e+en of im(lementing a
monolithi- dis-i(line ,hen ne-essar".
Jee(l" -ontradi-tor"< Bordiga im(li-itl" -riti-ised /enin< so-ial demo-ra-" and
Mar3ism 8 ?t onl" half,a". 1etrning to /eninDs theses he ,ent so far as to ,rite a
long elog" to 9 Le"t -in) $ommunism ( an in"antile disorder ;< ,hi-h misled a
large (art of the generation of re+oltionaries that a((eared after 1958< ,ho ,old
onl" see Bordigism as a +ariant of /eninism.
%or the .erman left the nitar" ran> and file organisations of the ,or>ers
re(resented the -lass. %or the 0talian left nions re(resented the -lass. The fa-t that
,or>ers fond themsel+es in nions seemed more im(ortant than #hat they did
there. 9 The nion e+en ,hen it is -orr(ted< is al,a"s a ,or>ers -entre ; (Bordiga
1921). %rom this (oint of +ie, the nion al,a"s -ontained the (otential for
re+oltionar" a-tion. 0n ?oth -ases< the form 8 the organisation of ,or>ers 8 ,as
(t ?efore its -ontent 8 the fn-tion of this organisation. BordigaDs fndamental
error ,as to maintain the di+ision ?et,een (oliti-s and the e-onom" inherited from
Page 35
the *e-ond 0nternational< and ,hi-h the Third 0nternational did not -all into
)estion. The re+oltionar" offensi+e of 1916-21 had reCe-ted this se(aration in
(ra-tise ?t it had not gone far enogh to im(ose it ,ithin the thoght of the ,hole
of the -ommnist left.
9 Proletarian -ons-iosness -an rea((ear insofar as the (artial e-onomi-
strggles de+elo( themsel+es ntil the" rea-h the higher (oliti-al (hase
,hi-h (oses the )estion of (o,er ; ($ommunisme< No. 1< 4(ril 1936).
No. 0t is ne-essar" that the seeds of a so-ial -riti)e already e3ists< as m-h in the
initial (hases of a mo+ement as in the later< (ho, to dis-o+er it< to hel( it matre<
e+er"thing de(ends on this... )< a -riti)e ,hi-h -alls into )estion ?oth e-onom"
and (oliti-s throgh a refsal of realism (of demands -om(ati?le ,ith the life of the
?siness enter(rise)< and of mediation (sharing (o,er< (la-ing an" -onfiden-e in
organisations ?et,een la?or and Ca(ital).
BordigaDs ,ea>ness arose from his ina?ilit" to -om(rehend that -ommnism
emerges from the needs and (ra-tises -reated ?" the -on-rete -ondition of the
(roletariat. Bordiga (osed the )estion of the T14N*0T0:N from ,or>ers e-onomi-
strggles to (oliti-s. Be inade)atel" distingished the re+oltionar" (ro-ess. Be
>ne, that -ommnism is not built< that the re+oltion is satisfied to lea( o+er the
o?sta-les to a life for ,hi-h most of the elements alread" e3ist 9 in the entrails ;
(Mar3) of -a(italism. Bt for him the re+oltion remained the a-tion of a (oliti-al
(o,er ,hi-h modified the e-onom". Be did not see that -ommnisation and the
strggle against the *tate are ne-essaril" simltaneos.
*(e-lation o+er the different forms of organisation (-on-il< (art"< ,or>ers mass
organisations) and the se(aration in theor" ?et,een (oliti-s and e-onom" testified
to the fa-t that the (roletariat< ,hi-h ?efore 1914 had lost the sense of its nit"<
had hardl" re-o+ered it after 1916. The organisation -ame to fill the +a-m left ?"
the a?sen-e of re+oltionar" a-tion ?" (roletarians. !hen so-ial -ontradi-tions
donDt ?ring a?ot a s?+ersi+e mo+ement< a theoreti-al master->e" is soght.
Bordiga fond it in the e-onomi- mo+ement of the ,or>ers< ,hi-h ,as s((osed to
generate re+oltionar" a-tion than>s to the assistan-e of the (art". This initial
assm(tion re(la-ed the +ision of the totalit".
7n%ariance< ,hi-h too> ( BordigaDs theses< had ?egn to a((ear ?efore Ma" 1958.
4t the ?oo>sho( /a 2ieille Ta(e< Pierre .illame insisted on the im(ortan-e of
this re+ie, to friends and -stomers. The (rin-i(le merit of 7n%ariance ,as to ha+e
attra-ted attention to the ri-hest as(e-ts of BordigaDs theories< at a time ,hen the
0nternational Commnist Part" < ,hi-h (arti-larl" ndertoo> the management of
the Bordigist heritage< said little a?ot them< e+en -on-ealing the identit" of
Bordiga in the name of (art" anon"mit"< (referring to stress the refsals of the
0talian left A the fight against antifas-ism< or against ed-ationism< et-.
Bordiga had seen in Mar3Ds ,or> a des-ri(tion of -ommnism. %rom its first isse<
,ritten ?" Camatte and Jange+ille< 7n%ariance affirmed that 9 Mar3 and $ngels
deri+ed the -hara-teristi-s of the (art" form from the des-ri(tion of -ommnist
so-iet" ;. Bt 7n%ariance remained a (risoner of the meta(h"si-s of the (art".
Jring the (eriod 1916-1936 8 and e+en less ,ith the a(ogee of the -onter-
re+oltion that mar>ed the ,ar and the (ost-,ar re-onstr-tion 8 the (roletariat
had not im(osed itself for ,hat it is 8 the reslt of the (ra-ti-es and needs arising
from its fndamental -ondition. To resist the -onter-re+oltion< the 0talian /eft
-onstr-ted a meta(h"si-s of the (roletariat< an entit" ,hi-h too> the (la-e of the
a?sent real mo+ement< and its referen-e to the (art" ,as sed to (reser+e a
re+oltionar" (ers(e-ti+e< Cst as its distrst of 9 anar-hism ; (a term ,hi-h ,as
sed to in-lde the -on-illism of the .erman /eft) ser+ed as a defen-e against the
ris> of de+iation to,ards demo-ra-".
Page 38
7o4ar$s a !evolutionar, !eturn -
Jring the (eriod ?et,een the end of the re+oltionar" assalts follo,ing the 1914-
18 ,ar and the mid-1957s< the (roletariat -eased to e3ist as a so-ial for-e in ea-h
of the -ontries in ,hi-h it had a((eared 8 after 1921 in .erman"< after 1925 in
China and after 1936 in *(ain 8 ?t it hadnDt therefore disa((eared.
The ,or>ing -lass -ontined to a-t in the -olonial -ontries among others< ?t often
as a s((ort for a ,ea> national ?orgeoisie. 4lthogh this role ,as determinant in
its transformation into an o?Ce-t of Ca(ital< this didnDt entirel" stifle an endemi-
state of re?ellion. Bla-> 4fri-a sa, im(ressi+e stri>es after 194& A rail,a"men in
%ren-h !est 4fri-a in 1946-8< general stri>es in Ja>ar and Cona>r" in 19&3. 0n
.inea< Mali and the 0+or" Coast an osmosis too> (la-e ?et,een the indigenos
trade nions and ?orgeois demo-rati- (arties. 4nd after these -ontries gained
inde(enden-e< the single (arties that go+erned them had diffi-lt" in -ontrolling the
tenden-ies to,ards ins?ordination (the maCor stri>e ?" do->ers in .hana in 1951).
0n the 'nited *tates< des(ite the antistri>e la,s< in .erman" nder NaEism< and in
the $astern $ro(ean -ontries nder *talinism< a re?ellios fra-tion of (roletarians
-ontined to a((ear.
The general stri>e at %04T in 1942< and the nmeros stri>es in 0tal" in Mar-h
1943< ,ere di+erted a,a" from a (roletarian dire-tion< and reoriented ?" the
?orgeoisie and the *tate to,ards a retrn to demo-ra-" (the anti-fas-ist and (ro-
all" -trn of Kl" 2&
th
1943). NaEism ,as na?le to (re+ent either of the im(ortant
stri>es in .erman" at the end of 1941 and 1942. These ,ere all of s-h an e3tent
that the re?irth of the 9 0talian left ; ,as -onstr-ted on the idea of the re?irth of a
mo+ement. (!e shold remem?er that on the e+e of 1939 the gro( ,hi-h had
first (?lished Bilan and then Octobre ,ondered ,hether a re+oltion ,asnDt
(ossi?le< and e+en theorised on the ?asis of its (ro?a?ilit").
$)all"< ?efore the end of the ,ar a de?ate ?egan in the re+oltionar" mo+ement
a?ot ,hether a re+oltionar" ot-ome ,as (ossi?le. Mnis did not e3-lde this
(ossi?ilit". Bordiga did not ?elie+e in it. 0n fa-t< the +i-torios -ontries 8 in-lding
0tal" 8 ,ere far too ,on o+er ?" demo-ra-"< and as a reslt it s--eeded in
a?sor?ing the so-ial tensions that to some e3tent reigned e+er",here. 0n .erman"<
at a moment ,hen the *tate had -olla(sed< the e3isten-e of millions of demo?ilised
soldiers< foreigners of different origins and e3-(risoners -reated a sitation of
disorder. Bt the different gro(s in+ol+ed< althogh (otentiall" re+oltionar"< did
not (ossess sffi-ient -ohesion to affirm themsel+es and see> something other than
sur%i%al. Those e3-lded from (rod-tion ,ere marginaliEed and a((eared
in-a(a?le of a-tingG those ,ho ,ere integrated into it demanded its maintenan-e
and demo-ratisation< and soght re-ognition. 1elati+e ,or>ing -lass (assi+it" ,as
also -ased ?" the re(ression e3er-ised ?" the em(lo"ers militiaDs. The role of the
9 indstrial (oli-e ; ,old onl" de-line ,hen Ca(ital ,as a?le to go into (artnershi(
,ith the ,or>ers< to,ards 19&7. 'ntil then the" remained ne-essar" to (re+ent or
re(ress the riots (ro+o>ed ?" hnger (1946)< and the general stri>es against
monetar" reform (1948).
9 (...) 4 fragmentar" ,or>ing -lass atonom" e3hasted itself< dring the
de-isi+e months after the ,ars end< in sol+ing the most im(ortant (ro?lems
of e3isten-e of the -lass and< a long ,a" ?ehind this< -ame a ,or>ing -lass
reformism that ,as im(otent< ?t strong enogh at the right moment to
reta>e -ontrol of all the em?r"oni- attem(ts (t for,ard to -onstr-t an
antagonisti- ,or>ers (o,er ; (O. 1oth< L'autre mou%ement ou%rier en
Allema)ne5 19./(19!< $d. Borgois< 1969< (. 21)
The (eriod after 1946 ,itnessed +er" togh strggles in Ka(anG stri>es lasting
se+eral ,ee>s led to a stri>e ?an in (?li- tilities (1948)< the la"ing off of 37L of
the (ersonnel at To"ota (19&7) and massi+e dismissals at Nissan (19&3).
Ca(italDs strength deri+ed as m-h from militar" or (oli-e +iolen-e as from its
e-onomi- d"nami-. 0n !est .erman" the massi+e introd-tion of assem?l" lines<
and the e)all" massi+e re-ritment of ns>illed ,or>ers to man them< in+ol+ed the
(rogressi+e elimination of the highl" s>illed ,or>ers< and the marginalisation of the
Commnist Part" (OPJ)< ,hi-h ended ( ?eing ?anned in 19&5< and onl"
rea((eared as the JOP in 1959. The .erman ?orgeoisie in+ested in (re-isel" those
se-tors ,here the Commnist Part" ,as strong< the mines and the iron and steel
indstr"< in order to -reate 9 a ne, t"(e of ,or>er ?oth Pde(oliti-isedP and
dominated ?" the ma-hines ; (1oth)< than>s to the infl3 of refgees from $ast
.erman"< and ths it re-reated the di+ision ?et,een .ermans and foreigners ,hi-h
had ?een maintained ?et,een 1942 and 1944. !hen the refgees in their trn
made demands (19&5-&6)< Ca(ital started to im(ort ,or>ers from sothern $ro(e<
and there ,old ?e a million of these ?" 1951.
!e -an ths see the (ermanen-e of ,or>ers resistan-e to Ca(ital and the
generalisation of *-ientifi- Management. 0n 1945< nearl" three million 4meri-an
,or>ers str-> against the fall in real ,ages< ?t the trade nions dominated the
stri>e. 0n 19&9< 577<777 4meri-an steel-,or>ers ,ent on stri>e for 115 da"s to
(reser+e the nions -onsltation rights o+er methods of (rod-tion and o?tained a
(a(er +i-tor". Bt none of this (re+ented the (ost-,ar e-onomi- ?oom< still in its
as-endant (hase< from s,allo,ing these mo+ements (. %rom the mid-1957s on
the other hand< there ?egan a fall in indstrial (rofita?ilit"< ,hi-h is anal"sed ?"
e-onomi- e3(erts toda" from a )asi-9 Mar3ist ; (ers(e-ti+e.
Ca(italism 8 the transformation of la?or into -ommodities 8 dominates the ,hole
of so-iet" ,hen it integrates into its -"-le the conditions o" reproduction of the
la?or for-e< i.e. ,hen it transforms the ,hole of life into -ommodities. Bt this
domination rns ( against an o?sta-le arising from the fa-t that one -annot
re(rod-e hman ?eings< e+en (roletarianised hman ?eings< li>e mass-(rod-ed
o?Ce-ts. Moreo+er< the s-ientifi- organisation of ,or> ,hi-h ?rea>s do,n ,or> into
indi+idal o(erations< enters into -ontradi-tion ,ith the indis(ensa?le -ontinit" of
the (rod-tion (ro-ess.
%inall"< ,or>ers resistan-e also entailed a red-tion in (rofita?ilit". 0n 0tal"< -ertain
stri>es in 1957 (refigred the e+ents of 1959 ?" -alling into )estion< not Cst
,ages and ,or>ing -onditions< ?t the 9 regime of the fa-tor" itself ; (.risoni<
Portelli< Les luttes ou%ri8res en 7talie de 19:; 6 19:< 4?ier-Montaigne< 1965< (.
67 )< and also ?" holding ?ig assem?lies ,ithin the fa-tor". 4 stri>e ?" ele-tri-al
engineers (1957) mo?ilised ,hole distri-ts< and stdents Coined the ,or>ers. 0n
Page 47
1952 a stri>e at /an-ia also ?ro>e ot of the fa-tor" and s(read into the -it". 0n the
Milan-.enoa-Trin triangle< immigrants from the *oth of 0tal"< less nder the
-ontrol of the trade nions and of the *o-ialist and Commnist (arties< ,old form
the s(earhead of the stri>es dring the De-onomi- mira-leD. These stri>es -lminated
in 1952< in Trin< ,here ,or>ers foght the (oli-e for three da"s and destro"ed the
head offi-e of the '0/< a trade nion -om(ara?le to %or-e :+rier in %ran-e. 0n
!est .erman"< the "ears 1955-6 mar>ed a sea--hange in -a(italist attitdes< not
onl" ,ith res(e-t to immigrant ,or>ers (377<777 of them ,ere e3(elled) ?t to
la?or in general. %rom no, on Ca(ital im(osed norms on those ,or>ers ,ho in the
(ast had es-a(ed the most restri-ti+e tas>s< as ,ell as on ,hite -ollar staff< than>s
to the introd-tion of -"?erneti-s and data (ro-essing. Postmen< an e3(anding
se-tor of ,age ,or>ers< ,ere s?Ce-ted to a--elerated me-hanisation and lan-hed
stri>es< (oorl" -ontrolled ?" the trade nions< in the 'nited *tates and Canada
(1967)< the 'O (1961) and in %ran-e (1964). 0n .erman"< stdents lan-hed
strggles (1955-6)< and ,ere soon follo,ed ?" the ,or>ers ,ho str-> in massi+e
nm?ers in 1959. 0n %ran-e< the stri>es in the si3 months ( to Ma" 58< (arti-larl"
the ,or>ers riot at Caen< ,ere the signs of a re?ellion that ?egan amongst ns>illed
,or>ers< and mar>ed a ?rea>< al?eit still onl" s(erfi-ial< ,ith the (re+ailing
-onsenss. @oth in the ni+ersities sa, that their ftre (ros(e-ts in mana)ement
,ere not as attra-ti+e as (romisedG "ong ,or>ers no longer a--e(ted ,or>(la-e
dis-i(line as easil" as the older ones ,ho ,ere ?etter integrated into Ca(ital. The
e-onomi- -"-le (the first signs of the (ost-,ar ?oom grinding to a halt) ?e-ame
-om?ined ,ith a generation ga(.
0n the 'nited *tates< for e3am(le< the "ong (eo(le of the Thirties and %orties<
nionised in the C0:< ,ere the 9 integrated ; of 19&7-57< ,ho defended their
(ri+ileges than>s to 4meri-an trade nion str-tres (closed shop' union shop)< and
?" (la"ing the em(lo"ers game of di+iding the ,or>ers. The mo+ement of the
*i3ties ,as in (art ?orn otside and against them< from a deterioration of the li+ing
-onditions of -ertain fra-tions of the ,or>ing -lass (,omen< ethni- minorities<
"oth)< ,hereas the 9 standard of li+ing ; of middle aged< ,hite< male ,or>ers
-ontined to rise. 4fter 19&7< 4meri-an ,or>ing -lass trade nionism started to
de-line< ne, ,or>ers not nionising +er" m-h< and a ,hole se-tor of the ,or>ing
-lass sa, its -onditions of em(lo"ment< and of health et-.< start to deteriorate.
The end of the *i3ties ths -ertainl" mar>ed a -hange. 1e?ellion ?e-ame radi-alised
more )i->l"< ?e-ase at the same moment Ca(ital ,as still in an as-endant (hase<
"et this as-ent ,as disr(ted ?" failres. The first restri-tions in ,hat Ca(ital
offered led (re-isel" to a -riti)e of ,hat it offered< and not< as in (eriods of
re-ession< to the re)irement that it -ontined to offer the same thing as ?efore<
onl" ?etter if (ossi?le.
The ?orgeoisie ,old -ontera-t ,ith (oliti-al readCstments. 0n 1959< .erman"
sa, the arri+al into (o,er of an *PJ-li?eral -oalition< the legalisation of the
-ommnist (art"< desired ?" a fra-tion of the em(lo"ers< and the s-ra((ing of the
fa-tor" militias that had ?een -reated shortl" after the ,ar and ,hi-h nm?ered
57<777 men. The (roCe-t of fa-tor" self-(oli-ing< a mass organisation regro(ing
the silent maCorit" against the radi-al minorit"< ,as a?andoned. The so-ialists in
(o,er ndertoo> to reinfor-e the ma-hiner" of the (oli-e and to introd-e e3-lsion
legislation (em(lo"ment ?ans). Bt the e3isten-e of an alternati+e (oliti-al
soltion 8 the left 8 doesnDt im(l" that it mst -ome to (o,er e+er" time there is a
-risis. 0n %ran-e< for e3am(le< a left-,ing go+ernment ,hi-h had remained in offi-e
sin-e 1958< or e+en 1964< ,old soon ha+e ?een sed (. To remain -redi?le and
?e a?le to (la" its role< the left mst remain as a ho(e< flfilled from time to time<
?t not too often. That is ,hat ha((ened in 1956 in %ran-e< ,hen the right ,on the
legislati+e ele-tions ,ith onl" a one +ote maCorit".
4s the ?alan-e of (o,er e+ol+ed in fa+or of ,or>ers< and re(ression< la"offs and
e+en nem(lo"ment (ro+ed insffi-ient to dis-i(line them< it ?e-ame ne-essar" to
find something elseG to trn against ,or>ers their as(iration to no longer ?e (a,ns<
as the" (t it. :n one side this meant -ontra-tal (oliti-s< and nitar" trade-nion
re(resentation. :n the other< it meant a mo+ement to the left (sometimes e+en
leftist) ?" the trade-nions< and the ideolog" of self-management.
0ndstrial reorganisation< ,hi-h ,as ?oth -ase and effe-t of -hroni- ,or>ing--lass
ins?ordination< led to the se(aration of a la"er of e3e-tants< de(ri+ed of an"
nderstanding of the ,or> (ro-ess< from a la"er of s(er+isors ,hi-h had greater
-ontrol of the ,hole of the enter(rise and formed (so the em(lo"ers ho(ed) a ne,
,or>ers aristo-ra-". Bt the ?osses didnDt s--eed in trning the trade-nions into
9 asso-iations of heads of de(artment< assistants< time>ee(ers and foremen ,ith a
-ertain s((ort among ne,l" )alified ,or>ers (...) ; (1oth< (. 121). 0n an" -ase
,old this ha+e ?een desira?le # 0t ,old ?e dangeros for Ca(ital to s"stemati-all"
e3-lde nder(ri+ileged em(lo"ees from an" form of re(resentation.
0n an" e+ent< this reorganisation did not ma>e it (ossi?le to (re+ent -onfli-t.
!hereas in .erman" in 1959 the middle managers and s>illed ,or>ers had ta>en
the leadershi( of the mo+ement after t,o da"s< in the stri>es of 1963 the ns>illed<
,ho amongst other things ,ere demanding flat-rate in-reases a-ross the ?oard<
remained atonomos and ,ent as far as forming some non-trade nion stri>e
-ommitteesG ho,e+er this did not (re+ent the em(lo"ers from s--essfll"
-ontering these stri>es. The -entre of gra+it" of the -lass shifted. 0n %ord-
.erman" there ,as a ?ig mo+ement ?t also a ?ig defeat A the leadershi( ,ere
o?liged to s)ash a stri>e ,hi-h ,ent too far. The ,or>ers didnDt ha+e the strength
(the ,ill or the need) to go ?e"ond the stri>e< e+en ,hen it ,as )ite solid. Bere
,e rn ( against the eternal (ro?lem A an o--(ied fa-tor" -an ?e a ,ea> (oint if
"o entren-h "orself into it as a stronghold< for the *tate -an al,a"s ?ring
s(erior for-es to ?ear. Bt if stri>ers see> to lea+e the distri-t or fa-tor" the"
-ontrol< the" -an ?e sto((ed or for-ed ?a->. Bo,< therefore< -an "o a+oid a
,ithdra,al into the ,or>(la-e< ,hile going ?e"ond a sim(le ,or> sto((age or
refsal of ,or> # 4s the (resident of the ,or>s -on-il in %ord-.erman" in 1963
said 9 There is no room here for im(ro+ements< either ,e sht (< or ,e ma>e the
re+oltion ;.
%rom the end of the (ost-,ar ?oom< the nder(ri+ileged se-tors of ,age ,or>ers
(those ,ho had re-entl" Coined the la?or for-e< (oorl" )alified "oth< immigrants<
nder(aid ,omen) too> militant a-tion. The first instan-es o--rred in 1956-8 (-ar
(rod-tion ,or>ers in %ran-e) and the e3am(les then mlti(lied ((ost-offi-e
,or>ers< -asal ,or>ers in 0tal"< et-). These strggles differed from the 9 -risis ;
a-tions lin>ed to em(lo"ment< as at /0P in %ran-e or among steel,or>ers.
4dmittedl" the" retained some elements of traditional demands A a niform rise in
,ages< longer holida"s< the -orre-tion of the ga( ,hi-h had o(ened ( as ,ages
had fallen ?ehind those of other se-tors (a ,idening of ,age differentials ,as one
of the -onditions of the (ost-,ar ?oom). 4nd the" ,ere not ne-essaril" anti-nion 8
1958 ,as sometimes an o((ortnit" to esta?lish trade nions in ?a->,ard
Page 42
-om(anies.
0n %ran-e< this strggle of the ne, se-tors of ,age ,or>ers often er(ted in
nsal -om(anies< far from the large -ities and the traditional ?astions of ,or>ers
strggle li>e 1enalt 8 strongholds ,hi-h ,ere also (risons< e+en ,ithot
srronding ,alls and gates. Ca(ital ?elie+ed it had nothing to fear from a do-ile
,or>for-e in those -om(anies -reated dring the indstrial de-entralisation of the
1957s< ,hi-h had made it (ossi?le for it to -om?at the resistan-e of s>illed ,or>ers
to the s-ientifi- organisation of la?or< in other ,ords to ?rea> ( the 9 red ;
)arters ?" esta?lishing 9 different ; fa-tories in the -ontr"side. These fa-tories
had ?een set ( li>e ne, s-hools< and the former (easants< ,omen and "ong
(eo(le had gone there to (la" their role nder the (aternal leadershi( of a manager
,ho had ?e-ome the 9 -om(an" head ;. These em(lo"ees ?egan ?" demanding
,hat ?osses 9 normall" ; granted (roletarians. 4nd their (rotest ended ?" leading
them to -all into )estion not Cst their ,ages and terms of em(lo"ment ?t also
those ,ho managed (?osses)< defended ((oli-e) and fi3ed (trade nions) those
-onditions. Ma" D58 ,old see a +age realisation that all these -onser+ati+e for-es
li+ed off the esta?lished order and needed to maintain it. 4gainst them< or rather in
s(ite of them< 9 Ma" ; ,old imagine nothing more than generalised self-
management< ,hi-h (eo(le ,old s(ea> of ?t not initiate. Bt the mo+ement
,hi-h a((eared arond 195& ,as (o,erfl enogh not to ?e e3hasted ?" the
limits of Ma" D58.
0n the 'nited *tates there ,as the -onCn-tion of a stdent refsal (against the ,ar
in 2ietnam)< an a?ndant mo+ement among ns>illed ,or>ers< and riots (follo,ing
!atts in 195&) ,hi-h )estioned not the relations of (rod-tion ?t the relations of
distri?tion< not Ca(ital in its entiret" ?t the -ommodit" form ,hi-h it im(rints on
life. The 9 re+oltionar" retrn ; at the end of the 1957s ,as signalled ?" the
con%er)ence< ?t neither the interpenetration nor the fsion< of a-tions ?orn ,ithin
(rod-tion alongside those ?earing on -ommodit" e3-hange. 4s a so-ial s"stem
modern ,age la?or s"nthesises the (rod-ti+e a-t inside the ?siness enter(rise
and the 9 free ; dis(osal otside of it of the mone" earned there. 4s long as the
)estioning onl" relates to one or other of these s(heres (,or>Fotside ,or>)< the
,age s"stem (reser+es its nit" and strength.
4 mista>en (ers(e-ti+e< de to the rise of ?la-> nationalism in the 'nited *tates
(-onter-re+oltionar" li>e all nationalism)< -reated a ?elief in the e3isten-e of a
s(e-ifi- and more radi-al ?la-> ,or>ing -lass mo+ement. 0n fa-t the 4meri-an
(roletarian re+olt ,as no more +irlent among ?la-> ,or>ers than among ,hite.
!or>ing -lass -onser+atism< ,hi-h e3ists among -onstr-tion ,or>ers for e3am(le<
,as no ,orse in the 'nited *tates than in %ran-e. *((ort ?" 4meri-an ,or>ers for
Ni3on against the 2iet-ong ,as no greater than that of %ren-h ,or>ers for the
s--essi+e go+ernments dring the ,ar in 4lgeria.
The e+ents at /ordsto,n (:hio) lie at the transition ?et,een t,o (eriods. 4t the
end of the 1957s< it ,as one of the last ?ig a((li-ations of fordism. To (rod-e the
2ega< .eneral Motors attra-ted "ong ,or>ers (the a+erage age ,as 25)< in-reased
(rod-ti+it"< in-reased the (ro(ortion of ns>illed la?or< and des>illed e+er"thing
,hile offering more mone" (as %ord had done 47 "ears earlier)< ?t it also
introd-ed atomation. 0n 1967 it ,as the first -ar manfa-trer to install
atomated assem?l" lines ,ith ma-hines from 'nimation (the first 4meri-an
manfa-trer of ro?ots). The other -ar manfa-trers ,old ,ait ntil the mid-
1967s to follo, sit (1enalt onl" in 1969). The rate of (rod-tion at /ordsto,n
,as do?le the glo?al a+erage (177 +ehi-les an hor instead of &7). Jesigned to
-ontera-t the (assi+e and a-ti+e re?ellion of the "ong ,or>ers< the s"stem led to
a do?ling of a?senteeism and latent sa?otage. Ca(ital had ,anted to in-rease
(rod-tion rates ,ithot (ro(osing to in-rease the ,age rates it had (aid the
,or>ers for a long time A ?t mass -onsm(tion no longer -om(ensated for the
alienation of ,or> as in 1927 or 1937< its no+elt" ,as e3hasted. The endemi-
re+olt didnDt (re+ent the trade nion from leading and sa?otaging the 1962 stri>e<
,hi-h ,as ndo?tedl" 9 the first great anti-atomation -onfli-t in the '.*. ; (/e
USment< (. 196)< together ,ith that of !est -oast do->ers against
-ontaineriEation (1961-62). The /ordsto,n strggle ,as settled ,ith 877 ,or>ers
laid off< ?t it (arti-larl" sho,ed the ?orgeoisie that atomation had to ?e
introd-ed gradall"< or ris>ed starting ( dis(tes (alread" latent and sometimes
e3(losi+e) o+er indstrial ,or>. Ths atomated assem?l" lines -oe3isted ,ith
traditional assem?l" lines.
The 4meri-an anti-,ar mo+ement< (a-ifist as a ,hole< ,old nonetheless (la" a
s?+ersi+e role in o((osing the *tate and the arm" at ,ar. 0t ,as a -riti)e of an
e3(anding ,orld ,hi-h had entered into -risis (,e do not sa" de-aden-e). !as it
merel" -han-e that it ,as in 195& that the 'nited *tates sent &77<777 soldiers to
o--(" *oth 2ietnam (not e+en to ,age ,ar A it hardl" engaged the 2iet-ong and
the North 2ietnamese troo(s) # This tas> for-e< ,hi-h e3(erts from the start said
,old ?e ineffe-ti+e< ,as a t"(i-al (rod-t of an o+er-onfident !estern -a(italism<
as -onfident in its indstrial model as in the s(eriorit" of the form of ,ar it
-ond-ted -om(ared to that of 9 nder-de+elo(ed ; nations. The refsal of the ,ar
?" a large (art of 4meri-an "oth atta->ed the +er" fondation of a -ontem(orar"
-i+ilisation that ,as ?oth -ommodified and statist. Throgh the same mo+ement<
4meri-an (a-ifism a--sed the *tate and Ca(ital of o--("ing e+er"thing< and of
not granting enogh atonom" and so-ial s(a-e to 9 the (eo(le ;. Socialisme ou
Barbarie< ,hose last isse a((eared in 195&< ,as< here again< an a((ro(riate
e3(ression of this real )est for a ne, ,orld< e+en if it didnDt ta>e on the roots of
the old.
Page 44
7he 3ituationist International
The -a(italist in+asion of the totalit" of life< a--elerated ?" the -"-le of (ros(erit"
,hi-h ?egan in the 19&7s< had (rod-ed its li?eral -riti)e A ,or>s ?" 2an-e
Pa->ard on (lanned o?soles-en-e< of 1iesman on the solitar" -ro,d< of Benri
/efe?+re on e+er"da" life< et-. The more slo,l" -ommodified indstrial -ontries<
li>e %ran-e< had for a long time maintained a -hill" attitde to 9 4meri-anism ; (see
in (arti-lar Le Monde). 4?ot 1957< at a time ,hen a (ra-ti-al -riti)e ?"
(roletarians -oin-ided ,ith an initial -on-ern a?ot the limit and dire-tion of this
gro,th< the ,hole mode and e+en st"le of modern -a(italist life ,as in the hot seat.
0n this -onte3t< the *itationist 0nternational (19&6-1961)< the meeting (oint of the
Ne, !orld (rod of its modernit"< and of the :ld !orld ndermined ?" mass
-onsm(tion< niting .ermans< *-andina+ians and 4meri-ans on the one hand< and
%ren-h and 0talians on the other< ,old ma>e a de-isi+e -ontri?tion to the -riti)e
of the generalised -olonisation ?" the mar>et.
4 (rod-t of the (ros(erit" of the 1957s< the *.0. -old nderta>e a -riti)e of the
,orld ,ithot shtting itself into the e-onom"F(rod-tionFfa-tor"F,or>ers< ,hile at
the same moment ,or>ers< as at %04T in 1959< made the s(a-e otside ,or>
(hosing and trans(ort) a starting (oint for their a-tion. The *.0. re-onne-ted ,ith
the -riti)e of (oliti-al e-onom" of the (eriod (re-eding 1848.
Bistori-al e+oltion for-es s to see that ,aged life doesnDt Cst ta>e (la-e in the
,or>(la-e. The old ,or>ers mo+ement< ,hi-h disa((eared as a so-ial net,or> to
gi+e ,a" to negotiating ?odies< had e3tended its ramifi-ations to all as(e-ts of the
life of the (roletarian. Toda" (arties and trade nions are salesmen ,ho (la" the
role of so-ial ser+i-es and largel" fn-tion li>e state administrators.
The *.0. -riti-ised 9 r?anism ;< s-ien-e and the te-hni)es of re-reating so-ial
relations ,here the roots of (re+ios -olle-ti+e ?onds had ?een torn (. Ca(ital had
destro"ed ?oth -it" and -ontr"side< (rod-ing a h"?rid s(a-e< a to,n ,ithot a
-entre. (0n this ,a" Ca(ital -reated a s(a-e in its o,n image< that of a so-iet"
,ithot a -entre< ?t ,hose -entre ,as e+er",here.) The man" attem(ts at
e3(erimental model -ities (li>e Pllman near Chi-ago< at the end of the 19
th
-entr") (re+ented neither so-ial (ro?lems nor ,or>ers riots. The ,or>er-
em(lo"erDs -it"< li>e the (roCe-t of Ni-olas /edo3 at 4r--et-*enans at the end of
the 18
th
-entr"< failed ?e-ase ,aged life -annot ha+e the ,or>(la-e as its onl"
-entre. The 9 normal ; modern -it" integrates ,or>ers ?etter ?e-ase the" need a
-a(italist en+ironment< rather than an em(lo"ersD. This -a(italist en+ironment
maintains a -ommnit" e+en if it is to a large e3tent (?t not -om(letel"< far from
it) a mar>et -ommnit" -onstitted ?" the tele+ision and the s(ermar>et< ,ith the
-ar as a means of -onne-tion ?et,een dis-onne-ted (la-es. T2< s(ermar>et and
-ar still (res((ose the e3isten-e of hman ?eings to ,at-h< to go and to ma>e
them fn-tion more or less together.
%a-ed ,ith the modern -it" the *.0. soght ne, ses for -ertain (la-es. 0t ga+e ne,
life to to(ia< to (ositi+e as ,ell as negati+e to(ian +isions. 4t first it ?elie+ed that
it ,as (ossi?le to e3(eriment ,ith ne, ,a"s of li+ing ?t it ended ( ?" sho,ing
that this re-a((ro(riation of the -onditions of e3isten-e (res((osed nothing less
than the -olle-ti+e re-a((ro(riation of all as(e-ts of life. 0t ga+e ne, meaning to the
re)irement to -reate ne, so-ial relations. !here most re+oltionaries de?ated
9 (o,er ;< or the 9 ,ithering a,a" of the state ;< it (t for,ard re+oltion not as a
(oliti-al affair ?t as -hanging the ,hole of life. 4 9 ?analit" ; "o sa" # Bt a
?analit" that ,as onl" reintrod-ed into the re+oltionar" mo+ement in the 1957Ds<
and than>s to the a-ti+it" of the *.0. among others.
4 (rod-t ?oth of the -on-illist left< (." Je?ord ,as a mem?er of Socialisme ou
Barbarie for some months)< and of its reCe-tion< the *.0. started from a -riti)e of
the s(e-ta-le as (assi+it"< and the transformation of all a-ti+it" into -ontem(lation<
and this led it to affirm -ommnism as a-ti+it".
0-ono-lasti-< freed from the (ro?lemati- of ,or>ersD organisation (nli>e gro(s
s-h as Po+oir :+rier or 0C:)< the *.0. shoo> ( the ltra-left. Bt its theor" of
the spectacle dro+e it into an im(asse A that of -on-illism. More the e3(ression of
atta->s on the commodity than of an (a?sent) general mo+ement against Ca(ital< it
didnDt (rod-e an anal"sis of the ,hole of the -a(italist (ro-ess. /i>e Socialisme ou
Barbarie< it sa, in Ca(ital a form of management de(ri+ing (roletarians of an"
(o,er o+er their li+es< and -on-lded that it ,as ne-essar" to find a me-hanism
(ermitting the in+ol+ement of all. To this it added the o((osition (assi+eFa-ti+e.
Ba+ing -on-ei+ed -a(italism theoreti-all" more as s(e-ta-le than as Ca(ital< it
?elie+ed that in order to ?rea> the (assi+it" it had fond a means (demo-ra-")< a
(la-e (the -on-il) and a form of life (generalised self-management).
The idea of the s(e-ta-le s,allo,ed ( the idea of Ca(ital and effe-ted a re+ersal of
realit". 0ndeed the *.0. forgot that 9 the most signifi-ant -hara-teristi- of the
-a(italist di+ision of la?or is the transformation of the ,or>er from an a-ti+e
(rod-er to a s(e-tator of his o,n la?or ; (1oot and Branch < 0he 1ise o" the
-or+ers' Mo%ements< .reen,i-h< Conn. 196&. %rom 4 Brea> !ith The Past ?"
*tanle" 4rono,itE). The 9 s(e-ta-le ; has its roots in the relations of (rod-tion
and of ,or>< in that ,hi-h -onstittes Ca(ital. :ne -an onl" nderstand the
s(e-ta-le starting from -a(italism< not the other ,a" rond. *(e-ta-le and (assi+e
-ontem(lation are the effe-ts of a more fndamental (henomenon. 0t is the relati+e
satisfa-tion of the 9 needs ; -reated ?" Ca(ital o+er the last 1&7 "ears (?read<
em(lo"ment< lodging) that -ases (assi+it" in ?eha+ior. The theoreti-al -on-e(tion
of the s(e-ta-le as the motor or essen-e of so-iet" ,as idealisti-.
Ths the *.0.< follo,ing the .erman left< re-ognised re+oltionar" s(ontaneit"< ?t
,ithot sho,ing the natre of this s(ontaneos a-ti+it". 0t glorified general
assem?lies and ,or>ersD -on-ils< instead of s(e-if"ing the -ontent of ,hat these
forms ,ere s((osed to a-hie+e. %inall"< it ga+e in to the same formalism as the
ltra-left ,hi-h it mo->ed< not seeing the ?eam in its o,n e"e.
The *.0. sho,ed the religios as(e-ts of militan-" 8 disso-iated (ra-tise in ,hi-h
the indi+idal a-ts for a -ase ,hile ma>ing an a?stra-tion of his (ersonal life<
re(ressing his desires and sa-rifi-ing himself for an o?Ce-ti+e otside himself. $+en
,ithot tal>ing a?ot (arti-i(ation in the -lassi-al (oliti-al organisations
(Commnist Part"< $3treme /eft. . . . )< (ermanent re+oltionar" a-tion -ertainl"
sometimes trns into militan-" A entirel" de+oted to a gro(< o?sessed ?" a
(arti-lar +ision of the ,orld< the indi+idal ?e-omes na+aila?le for re+oltionar"
a-ts on the da" that the" a-tall" ?e-ome (ossi?le.
Page 45
Bt this refsal of militan-"< instead of an-horing itself ,ithin a (ra-tise< and ,ithin
an nderstanding of the real relations ,hi-h -an (re+ent the de+elo(ment of
militant ?eha+ior< -ontri?ted to the re)irement inside the *.0. for a radi-al
attitde in all things. %or one militant moralit" it s?stitted another< radi-alit"< Cst
as n,or>a?le and Cst as intolera?le.
Not satisfied ,ith denon-ing the s(e-ta-le< the *.0. ndertoo> to trn it ?a->
against the so-iet" that li+ed it. The *tras?org ni+ersit" s-andal ,hi-h heralded
Ma" 58 ,as a s--ess. Bt the *.0. ere-ted the (ro-ess into a s"stem and missed
it so m-h that it re?onded ?a-> against itself. The re(etition of the te-hni)es of
ad+ertising and s-andal trned into s"stemati- -onter-mani(lation. There is no
s-h thing as an anti-ad+ertising ad+ertisement. There is no good sage of media
to get a-ross re+oltionar" ideas.
0n o((osition to militant false modest" the *.0. (t itself -entre-stage and
enormosl" e3aggerated its im(a-t on the ,orld sitation. 0ts re(eated referen-es
to Ma-hia+elli< Clase,itE and other strategists ,ere more than Cst teasing. 0t ,as
(ersaded that an a((ro(riate strate)y ,old allo, a -le+er enogh gro( to
mani(late the media and inflen-e (?li- o(inion in a re+oltionar" dire-tion. This
is -ertainl" (roof of its -onfinement in the -on-e(t of the s(e-ta-le< and ltimatel"<
of its in-om(rehension< throgh idealism< of the s(e-ta-lar (henomenon. !hen it
(resented itself as the -entre of the ni+erse< and as the agent of re+oltionar"
matration< et-.< one first thoght that it ,as ?eing ironi-al. !hen it made a
-onstant theme of it< one ended ( ,ondering if it didnDt ?elie+e the enormities
,hi-h it s(read a?ot itself.
The *.0. (ro+ided the ?est a((ro3imation of -ommnism among the theories ,hi-h
had a genine so-ial diffsion ?efore 1958. Bt it remained the (risoner of old
-on-illist illsions to ,hi-h it added its o,n illsions a?ot the esta?lishment of a
re+oltionar" 9 sa+oir +i+re ; HDart of li+ingDI. 0t -reated an ethi-s in ,hi-h (leasre
too> the (la-e of hman a-ti+it". 0n doing so it didnDt get ?e"ond the -a(italist
frame,or> of the a?ndan-e (ermitted ?" atomation< and ,as -ontent to des-ri?e
the end of ,or> as an immense (assionate leisre.
The 0talian left had (t for,ard -ommnism as the a?olition of the mar>et and had
?ro>en ,ith the -lt of the (rod-ti+e for-es< ?t it ,as na,are of the enormos
s?+ersi+e (o,er of -on-rete -ommnist measres. Bordiga (t -ommnisation
?a-> to the da" after the seiEre of (o,er. The *.0. (resented the re+oltion as an
immediate and (rogressi+e de-ommodifi-ation. 0t sa, the re+oltionar" (ro-ess
,ithin hman relations. 0ndeed< the *tate -annot Cst ?e destro"ed on the militar"
le+el. 4s the mediation of so-iet" it mst also ?e annihilated ?" ndermining the
-a(italist relations ,hi-h sstain it.
The *.0. finished ( in an error s"mmetri-al to BordigaDs. The latter had red-ed the
re+oltion to the a((li-ation of a (rogramme. The *.0. ,ere to limit it to o+ertrning
immediate relations. Neither Bordiga nor the *.0. sa, the totalit". The first
-on-ei+ed a ,hole a?stra-ted from real relations and (ra-ti-al measres< the
se-ond a ,hole ,ithot nit" or determination< the sm of (artial (oints s(reading
little ?" little. 0n-a(a?le of theoreti-all" dominating the ,hole of the re+oltionar"
(ro-ess< the" ?oth resorted to organisational (alliati+es A the (art" for one< -on-ils
for the other.
0n his (ra-tise Bordiga de(ersonalised the mo+ement to e3-ess< going so far as to
den" and effa-e himself ?ehind a self-mtilating anon"mit" ,hi-h (ermitted all the
mani(lations of the (Bordigist) PC0. B" -ontrast the *.0. affirmed the indi+idal to
the (oint of elitism< going so far as to ta>e themsel+es as the -entre of the
ni+erse.
4lthogh the" ,ere largel" na,are of Bordiga the *.0. -ontri?ted as m-h as him
to the re+oltionar" s"nthesis that ,as otlined arond 1958.
Page 48
6a 8ieille 7aupe
!hen Socialisme ou Barbarie reCe-ted 9 traditional ; re+oltionar" theor" for good<
a minorit" left it and regro(ed arond the Cornal &ou%oir Ou%rier. &ou%oir Ou%rier
,anted to retain the good as(e-ts of Socialisme ou Barbarie< ,hile ignoring the
-ommon thread lin>ing the origins of Socialisme ou Barbarie to its s?se)ent
de+iations. &ou%oir Ou%rier fell short of the .erman /eft on man" (oints A trade
nions< the (art"< im(erialism and the national )estion< et-. 0n fa-t different ltra-
left tenden-ies -oe3isted ,ithin it< nited onl" on the )estions of the -a(italist
natre of 1ssia and ,or>erDs management. 4t its head ,as 2ega< a former
mem?er of the 0talian left ,ho had Coined Socialisme ou Barbarie shortl" after its
fondation. Bt this e3-9 Bordigist ; ?roght nothing of Bordigism to Socialisme ou
Barbarie< ha+ing fond in the 0talian left onl" a (rer /eninism than that of the
Trots>"ists< and s((lementing this ,ith the theses on state -a(italism and ,or>ers
management.
4 d(li-ated monthl" magaEine ,ith a thosand readers< &ou%oir Ou%rier a-ted as if
it ,ere read ?" 177<777 (roletarians ea-h ,ee>. 0n de(th arti-les ,ere rare. :ften
these ,ere ?" Pierre *o"ri< nder the (sedon"m Brne< ,ho had ?een the athor
of t,o essential te3ts on China (?lished in Socialisme ou Barbarie.
0n 195&< Pierre .illame< a mem?er of Socialisme ou Barbarie and then of &ou%oir
Ou%rier< fonded the ?oo>sho( la 2ieille Ta(e< in the re des %ossSs-*aint-Ka-)es
in Paris. 4rond it a -rrent of refle-tion and a-ti+it" -ame together ,hi-h ,as as
interested in the *itationist 0nternational< ,hi-h for a ,hile maintained relations
,ith the ?oo>sho(< as it ,as in the 0talian left< at that time >no,n almost entirel"
throgh the filter of the 0nternational Commnist Part" (PC0). Pierre .illame too>
(art< for e3am(le< in the $nglish edition of the *itationist 0nternational te3t on the
!atts riots. &ou%oir Ou%rier< ndo?tedl" feeling +lnera?le< to the (oint of fearing
that this (se-ond) -rrent -old threaten the nit" and life of the gro(< organised
an a?srd dis-i(linar" hearing in *e(tem?er 1956< at the end of ,hi-h Pierre
.illame and Ka-)es Ba"na- ,ere e3-lded for 9 fra-tional ,or> ;... 4 good half-
doEen of the other mem?ers resigned. The" formed themsel+es into an informal
gro( ,hi-h e+er"one -alled 9 /a 2ieille Ta(e ;.
%rom its start< the ?oo>sho( refsed a do-trinal la?el. 0t ,as not a lo-al se-tion of
&ou%oir Ou%rier (,hile Pierre .illame ,as still a mem?er)< nor its ?oo>sho(. 4t a
time ,hen it ,as diffi-lt to o?tain the essential re+oltionar" te3ts< +er" fe, ?eing
a+aila?le for sale< man" ot of (rint et-.< it ,anted to fa-ilitate a--ess to them. 0n
195& the mere fa-t of sele-ting te3ts ?" Mar3< Ba>nin< the Situationist
7nternational< &ro)ramme $ommuniste (the organ of the PC0) and te3ts ?" the
ltra-left too> on a theoreti-al and (oliti-al meaning. 0n its ,a" la 2ieille Ta(e too>
(art in the theoreti-al s"nthesis ,hi-h is indis(ensa?le at all times. 0t ,ent ?e"ond
the se-ts ,ithot sim(l" ta>ing in e+er"thing 9 to the left of the Commnist Part" ;<
li>e the ?oo>seller and (?lisher Mas(ero (,ho at one time e+en refsed to sell
=oi3 Ou%ri8re< the HTrots>"istI an-estor of toda"Ds Lutte Ou%ri8re< ?e-ase it
a((eared too hostile to left ,ing (arties and trade nions M)
0n 1956< at a time ,hen the Commnist Part" ,as more -on-erned to (?lish
ThoreE and *talin< the ?oo>sho( ?oght ( the -onsidera?le remainders of the
material (?lished ?" Costes< the onl" real %ren-h (?lisher of Mar3 ?efore the ,ar.
4t the start of 1958< ,hen the Commnist Part"Ds 2ditions Sociales +ersion of
$apital ,as ot of (rint< the onl" (la-e ,here the three +olmes -old ?e o?tained
,as /a 2ieille Ta(e. The ?oo>sho( distri?ted the nsold sto-> of Socialisme ou
Barbarie< ?t also that of $ahiers Spartacus ,hi-h had (?lished man" titles after
the ,ar< a?ot the ,hole of the ,or>ers mo+ement from the e3treme left to the
e3treme right. Thosands of -o(ies of te3ts ?" /3em?rg< Prdhommea3 et-.<
,hi-h had ?een gathering dst in a -ellar in the to,n hall of the 2
th
distri-t ,ere
on-e again offered to the (?li-.
/a 2ieille Ta(e did not den" the need for -oheren-e. 0t onl" -onsidered that it
-old not ?e rea-hed starting from Cst one of the radi-al -rrents of that (eriod (all
of them one-sided)< nor Cst ?" starting to listen to ,or>ers (li>e 7n"ormations et
$orrespondances Ou%ri8res)< nor Cst ?" std"ing the forms ,hi-h modern
-a(italism had ta>en (as *o"ri< ,ho >e(t a,a" from the nrest (ro+o>ed ?" the
s(lit in &ou%oir Ou%rier< ,old ha+e ,ished). 0nstead it ,old in+ol+e a theoreti-al
a((ro(riation of all of the -rrents of the -ommnist left (and ths also of the
histori-al grond on ,hi-h the" had -ome into ?eing)< and of the *itationist
0nternational< as ,ell as a refle-tion on -ommnism and< in (arti-lar< on the
-ontri?tion of Mar3.
The small heterogeneos gro( ,hi-h had -ome ot of &ou%oir Ou%rier had little or
no 9 (?li- ; a-ti+ities in the months (re-eding Ma" 58. Mainl"< it -olle-ti+el" read
$apital and started to assimilate the -om(onents of the -ommnist left< as ,ell as
of the *itationist 0nternational. /a 2ieille Ta(e ,as not a gro(G rather it ,as the
-rossing (oint of +arios threads< ,ith a dominant anti-/eninism< ,hi-h ,as thro,n
into a ne, (er(le3it" ?" the arri+al of 7n%ariance.
0t ,old ?e a?srd to -laim that the e3isten-e of this small regro(ment (la"ed a
de-isi+e (art in Ma" 58 or after,ards. !hat o--rred there nder (ri+ileged
-onditions (?e-ase ,e ,ere a?le to ?enefit from the e3(erien-es handed do,n ?"
+arios gro(s ,hi-h had alread" sorted throgh a mass of ideas and fa-ts)< also<
of -orse< o--rred else,here 8 often in -onfsion< sometimes (erha(s ,ith greater
-larit". !hatDs im(ortant is that the (ro-ess of theoreti-al maturation< ,ithot
,hi-h the sho->,a+e of 1958 ,old ha+e gone less far< related to the "ollo#in)
points A -ommnism< the fn-tion of demo-ra-" and (roletarian s(ontaneit"< and
not to the string of non-(ro?lems that ,as -on+e"ed< e+en ?" (art of the ltra-left
(-ons-iosness< leadershi(< management< athorit"< et-). Ma" 58 ,as not a
re+oltion (M)< ?t ,hat this mo+ement a-tall" ,as ,old not ha+e e3isted ,ithot
that matration.
Page &7
histor, an$
personal narrative o"
the last "i"teen ,ear
Page &2
histor" and (ersonal narrati+e of the last fifteen "ears
2ineteen 3ixt,-.ight
0n this last se-tion or angle of +ision narro,s still frther< sin-e ,e ,ill ?e s(ea>ing
in (arti-lar of the things ,e did ,ithin a mo+ement ,hi-h did not s--eed in
e3tending 8 and ths internationalising 8 itself. To (retend to ha+e a distant and
o?Ce-ti+e (oint of +ie, a?ot this ,old ?e dishonest.
Toda" at the end of the (eriod -o+ered ?" this +er" (ro+isional assessment< the
onl" -lear (ers(e-ti+es are those of Ca(ital< althogh ,e hardl" >no, ,hether the"
,ill ?e s--essfl. Present da" s(ee-h is that of Ca(ital ?e-ase the so-ial initiati+e
?elongs to it.
There is no te-hnologi-al determinismG the soltion (-a(italist or -ommnist) to an"
-risis is so-ial. Bman a-ti+it"< and in (arti-lar the organiEation of ,or> as
e3(ressed and sha(ed ?" Ca(ital< ha+e on-e again entered into -risis. The -rrent
(eriod is -ertainl" -onter-re+oltionar" 8 a restr-tring ?" -risis 8 ?t is also the
?eginning of a ne, -"-le of strggles integrating (roletarian e3(erien-e of the
9 re-o+er" ; that ?egan in the 1957s. The (eriod from 1958-62 ,as the ?eginning
of a (hase 8 no, in the (ro-ess of ?eing s(erseded 8 mar>ed ?" a -risis of the
*-ientifi- Management of ,or>. The sear-h for (rod-ti+it"< ,hi-h in-reased
e3(loitation< in+ol+ed a great man" togh stri>es in small and medim siEed
-om(anies< and ?" the most e3(loited ,or>ers in large -om(anies< ntil roghl"
196&. Bt these strggles for ,ages and differentials onl" (er(etated those
di+isions ?et,een (roletarians< ,hi-h are maintained ?" Ca(ital< and managed ?"
the ?osses and trade nions.
The diffi-lt" in nderstanding the -rrent (eriod< and in a-ting< arises from the
emergen-e of a ne, organisation of ,or>< ,hi-h has not ?een a?le to esta?lish
itself< and ,hi-h is at the same time ?oth -ase and effe-t of other strggles< the
-ontors of ,hi-h are not "et -learl" +isi?le.
Proletarians often ,ent ?e"ond the frame,or> of trade nionism< and sometimes
e+en foght against it. Bt a de"ence of its -ondition ?" the (roletariat -old not
ena?le it to reorganiEe so-iet". Toda"< going ?e"ond that defensi+e (ostre onl"
e3ists negati+el". Peo(le dreamed of self-management A ,ho no, ta>es it
seriosl" # Peo(le s(o>e a great deal a?ot e-olog" A ,ho no, ?elie+es it is
(ossi?le to (re+ent the de+elo(ment of the n-lear indstr" in %ran-e sin-e the left
in (o,er has a--e(ted it #
9 4ll the -rrent (ro?lems of the a((rehension of the re+oltion< ,hi-h one
finds to a greater or lesser e3tent in all the theorisations that are made< stem
from the fa-t that the (roletariat -an no longer o((ose Ca(ital ,ith ,hat is
,ithin the -a(italist mode of (rod-tion< or rather< -an no longer ma>e the
re+oltion the trim(h of that ,hi-h e3ists . . . ;
(0horie $ommuniste< nV 4< 1981< (. 36)
0n or o(inion< Ma" 58 in %ran-e ,as the (ea> of a sho->,a+e ,hi-h had ?egn a
fe, "ears earlier and ,hi-h died a,a" after 1962-4. The "ear 1958 itself ,as ri-h in
?oth (ositi+e and negati+e e+ents for -ommnism. 0n the 'nited *tates< the anti-
Page &4
,ar mo+ement ?e-ame radi-alised as the fighting intensified (the Tet offensi+e) ?t
didnDt lin> ( ,ith the ,or>ers mo+ement< ,hile the riots in the ?la-> ghettoes
tended to,ards +iolent nationalism and (or) reformism. 0n Me3i-o a +iolent stdent
re+olt ended in a -arnage (377 dead) ,hi-h reinfor-ed demo-ra-". 0n
CEe-hoslo+a>ia the in+asion ?" !arsa, Pa-t troo(s more -losel" nited 9the
(eo(le; arond national and li?eral soltions. The dominant -onse)en-e ,orld,ide
,as the demo-rati- -ontainment of a (henomenon ,hi-h had (otentiall" (?t onl"
(otentiall") gone ?e"ond demo-ra-".
The e3(losion did not ta>e (la-e in either the most modern se-tors of the
indstrialised ,orld< or those most in diffi-lt"< ?t ,here the ?oom o+er the
(re+ios t,ent" "ears ,as least ,ell ada(ted to national -onditions. Bet,een 19&4
and 1964 the (ro(ortion of ,age ,or>ers in the %ren-h (o(lation rose from 52L
to 81L (the in-rease a?o+e all affe-ting those em(lo"ees< te-hni-ians and middle
managers ,ho made ( the ne, middle -lasses). !e ,itnessed the fsion of
+iolent ,or>ers demands and of anti-athoritarian< anti-re(ressi+e stdent
as(irations ,hi-h soon e3tended to a good (art of the ne, middle -lasses. The
mo+ement ,as also anti--ltral in that -ltre formed a safet" de(osit ?o3 and
,as the o((osite of -reati+it". 0t ths re+i+ed the refsal of art and -ltre ,hi-h
had a((eared a?ot 1914-18.
Ma" 58 ,as more than a s(lit ?et,een the trade nions and (arties on one side<
and a great man" ,or>ers on the other. 0t ,as also a demand for e3isten-e< ,hi-h
in the a?sen-e in (ra-tise of a so-ial ?rea>do,n< a((eared more as e3(ression than
a-tion. Peo(le ,anted to -ommni-ate< to s(ea>< to sa" that ,hi-h -old not ?e
done. The reCe-tion of the (ast didnDt s--eed in gi+ing itself a -ontent< and ths a
(resent. The slogans A 9 0 ?elie+e in the realit" of m" desires ;< 9 'nder the (a+ing
stones< the ?ea-h ;< referred to a different (ossi?ilit"< ?t one ,hi-h< in order to
?e-ome (ossi?le< (res((osed . . . a re+oltion. 0n its a?sen-e< this demand -old
onl" ?e-ome ada(tation or madness. The themes of Ma" too> the form of
e3hortations< re(la-ing 19
th
-entr" gilt ,ith the im(erati+e of (leasre.
0ndeed< aside from a ,ea> minorit"< the ,or>ers< the ?orgeoisie< most of the
9 (rotestors ; and the *tate< in short e+er"?od"< a-ted as if there ,as an im(li-it
(a-t (rohi?iting e+er"one from going too far. *ign of its limit A (eo(le did not dare<
did not e+en ,ant to ma>e a re+oltion< not e+en ?egin it. *ign of strength A (eo(le
refsed the (oliti-al game of a (sedo-re+oltion< sin-e a real one -old onl" ?e
something total. $+en in the re .a"-/ssa- the +iolen-e remained ,ell on this side
of the ,or>ing -lass +iolen-e ?efore 1914< or that seen in the 'nited *tates in the
Thirties. The -onfrontations ?et,een ,or>ers and trade nions ,ere less ?rtal
than in the (ast< for e3am(le at 1enalt in 1946.
0n the fa-tories in 1958 one hardl" fond the festi+e atmos(here of 1935. Peo(le
felt that something had ha((ened ,hi-h -old go frther ?t the" a+oided doing so.
The atmos(here of gra+it" ,hi-h reigned ,as -o(led ,ith a resentment against
the nions< a -on+enient s-a(egoat< ,hereas the" ,ere onl" a?le to >ee( -ontrol
throgh the ?eha+ior o" the ran+ and "ile. The gaiet" ,as else,here< in the
streets. This is ,h" Ma" 58 -old neither re(rod-e< or lead to< a re+oltionar"
retrn dring the "ears ,hi-h follo,ed. The mo+ement generated a reformism
,hi-h fed on the netralisation of its most +irlent as(e-ts. Bistor" doesnDt (ass the
dish arond a se-ond time.
The (ro?lem of the *tate ,as not raised A 1958 ,as not the start of a re+oltionar"
(hase. 4 re+oltionar" mo+ement ,ill not ?e ?orn from a dee(ening of Ma" ?t
from a ?rea> ,ith the (eriod inagrated ?" Ma". 0n the ,ill to go on mass stri>e
there la" a refsalG in the manner of -ond-ting that stri>e< and in (arti-lar of
a?andoning it to the trade nions< onl" in order to re?el against them at the end
,hen the" had s-((ered it< there la" an a--e(tan-e.
Peo(le -riti-ised (o,er ,hile e+er",here see>ing to ta>e it. The" ridi-led (arties
and gro(s-les onl" to (raise the Mar-h 22
nd
Mo+ement< the ?ridge ?et,een
leftism and the radi-als (the $nragSs for e3am(le). The" denon-ed (oliti-s onl" to
?e filled ,ith enthsiasm for a %e?rar" 1848 st"le fraternit" (,hile a,aiting 4(ril
1964 in Portgal). The -onCn-tion a-hie+ed ?et,een the strggles of ,or>ers< and
those of (ros(e-ti+e middle managers >i->ing o+er the tra-es< soght a different
means than those (ro(osed ?" the traditional right or left A the demand for a
modern 9 en+ironment ;< for the ad+antages of -a(italism ,ithot the
disad+antages.
4 te3t ,ritten a fe, months later for 2ieille Ta(e ?" %ranTois Martin (at the time
n(?lished)< e3(ressed this sim(le notion A in Ma"-Kne 1958< e+er"one had
thoght and a-ted ,ithin the frame,or> of demo-ra-". The Committee for the
Maintenan-e of :--(ations (CMJ:)< organised ?" the *itationist 0nternational<
-alled for the formation of ,or>ers -on-ils. To e3hort the -reation of a form and
imagine that this ,ill gi+e its a-tion a re+oltionar" -ontent< here is the demo-rati-
and (oliti-al illsion. Ma" 58 realised the (rogramme of the *itationist
0nternational< as Bngar" 19&5 had realised that of Socialisme ou Barbarie A in ?oth
-ases< the -on-ils. !hile Socialisme ou Barbarie and the *itationist 0nternational
,ere moments of the life of the (roletariat< the" ne+er e3(ressed the ,hole of its
life--"-le. !here ,or>ers attem(ted to gi+e life to demo-rati- forms (the ?ase
-ommittees of 1hWne-Polen- at 2itr")< the" e3hasted themsel+es in this tas><
sing ( the energ" ,hi-h the" then la->ed to -arr" ot the a-tions that ,ere
ne-essar".
The Kne 1958 ele-tions did not mo?ilise ,or>ers< (or an"one else e3-e(t the
(arties)< either for or against them. The" did not dro,n the mo+ement< ,hi-h had
alread" enfee?led itself throgh ha+ing failed to ta>e the initiati+e in mid-Ma"< and
,hi-h ,as simltaneosl" ?ogged do,n in +iolen-e (the )asi-riot of Ma" 24
th
)< in
demands< and in the -onstr-tion of demo-rati- str-tres (arallel to the hierar-h"
in the ,or>(la-e. Toda"< political demo-ra-" is alread" (resent< one is no longer
stirred ?" it. Bt social demo-ra-" -an still mo?ilise energies< to,ards the goal of
-om(leting (oliti-al demo-ra-"< and of finall" esta?lishing a real and non-formal
demo-ra-"< throgh introd-ing a s(a-e for deli?eration into the ?siness< the
s-hool< the distri-t< et-.
$+er",here< D58 ,as a +ast ta>ing ( of s(ee-h ?" the 9 interested (arties ;<
thogh the" ne+er -eased a-ting as users< (er(etall" -on-erned a?ot
reorganising the (la-es 8 s?,a"< -am(site< ?siness 8 ,here Ca(ital had (la-ed
them.
Bo,e+er it ,old ?e fa-ile and misleading to red-e Ma" D58 to something
insignifi-ant. The mo+ement too> on e+er"thing< ?t onl" reordered ea-h element
of the ,hole< ,hi-h itself ,as not atta->ed. This ?eginning of the retrn of
re+oltion testified to a l-idit"< ?t in negati+e form. There ,as no 9 dal (o,er ;
Page &5
?t< at the -lima-ti- (oint of the stri>e ,ith Je .alleDs s(ee-h on Ma" 37
th
< a dal
a?sen-e of (o,er. Neither go+ernment or stri>ers -ontrolled the sitation< nor ,ere
the" -ertain of -ontrolling themsel+es (Je .alle ,as o?liged to go and +erif" the
lo"alt" of the arm"). BiEarrel"< at a time ,hen (eo(le s(o>e so m-h of
management< one sa, that the ,or>ers disassociated themsel%es "rom all stri+e
administration. 4?andoning -ontrol of the fa-tories to the trade nions ,as a sign of
,ea>ness< ?t also of the fa-t that the" ,ere -ons-ios that the (ro?lem la"
else,here. %i+e "ears later< in 1963< in a ?ig stri>e at /a+al< ,or>ers (rel" and
sim(l" left the fa-tor" for three ,ee>s. /i>e the 9 de-(oliti-iEation ; of ,hi-h so
m-h has ?een said< this loss of interest in the -om(an"< in ,or> and in its
reorganisation< is am?i+alent< and -annot ?e inter(reted e3-e(t in relation to
e+er"thing else. Commnism ,as -ertainl" (resent in 1958< ?t onl" in relief< in
negati+e. 4t Nantes in 1958< and later at *$4T at Bar-elona (1961) or Ue?e-
(1962)< stri>ers ,old ta>e o+er distri-ts or -ities< go as far as seiEing radio
stations< ?t ,old ma>e nothing of it A the self-organisation of (roletarians 9 is
(ossi?le< ?t at the same time< the" ha+e nothing to organise ; (0horie
communiste< nV 4< 1981< (. 21).
0n an" e+ent< (roletarians did not -reate ne, (oliti-al< trade nion< or 9 nitar" ;
organiEations< as at the time of the .erman re+oltion. *ometimes the" tried to
?ild demo-rati- str-tres< ,hi-h fortnatel" ,old not sr+i+e the stri>e. Bt the"
didnDt feel the need to gi+e their stri>e a 9 so+iet ; form. !h" # The +ehemen-e of
their anti-nion res(onse testifies to the fa-t that in man" fa-tories the" had the
strength to im(ose demo-rati- organs to manage the stri>e< if nothing more than
that. The" -old ha+e ?t the" did not tr" to. Their (ro?lem la" else,here. The
am?igit" of 58 lies here< in this refsal ,hi-h is onl" a refsal. :ne -annot e3ist ?"
defalt.
The radi-al minorit" left the enter(rise and met ,ith other minorit" elements< in the
-om(an" of stdents< leftists and re+oltionaries. The CMJ: ,as one of the (la-es
,here leftism ,as >e(t on the fringes. Censier ,as another. The first isse of
Mou%ement $ommuniste (1962) ,old ma>e an anal"sis of its a-tion. (:ne -an
also find m-h information in K. Ba"na-< Mai 1etrou%< /affont< 1968< -ontradi-ting
the demo-rati- inter(retations of its athor.) The relati+e -oheren-e of Censier< ,as
de a?o+e all to the informal gro( /a 2ieille Ta(e a?ot ,hi-h ,e ha+e s(o>en<
)i->l" reinfor-ed ?" ./4T< (-ontrar" to ,hat is said< and not said< ?" Ba"na-< ,ho
also (la"ed an im(ortant role in this gro( H2ieille Ta(eI as ,ell as at Censier).
4 little ?efore 1958< in 0sse 11 of its re+ie,< the *itationist 0nternational had
res(onded to ltra-leftists that the *itationists did not -are a?ot gathering
,or>ers arond them to nderta>e a (ermanent 9 ,or>ers ; a-ti+it". The da" ,hen
there ,as something to ?e done< said the *.0. the re+oltionaries ,old ?e ,ith the
re+oltionar" ,or>ers. This is ,hat ha((ened.
Censier stimlated and -oordinated the a-ti+it" of radi-al< not to sa" re+oltionar"<
minorities< in nmeros firms. The -riti)e of the trade nions< timid at first<
?e-ame more s-athing at the end of the stri>es. The e3tremist fra-tions< ,ho ,ere
isolated in the ,or>(la-e< fond a meeting (la-e there. :n the ,hole< the de?ate
,hi-h ,as inagrated at Censier es-a(ed the torrent of em(t" (hrases ,hi-h often
(ored ot else,here and demonstrated great l-idit"< as testified ?" the 1apport
d'orientation of Ma" 21
st
< ,ritten ?" three (eo(le< at least t,o of them from ./4T<
and (erha(s a forth (Oa"atti< a mem?er of the *.0.) (Ba"na-< ((. 151-53).
!here man" ,old -ome to see Censier as a lesson in demo-ra-"< at the time ,e
sa, a lesson a?ot demo-ra-" A a demonstration of the s(erfi-ial -hara-ter of the
o((osition ?et,een indi+idal-?orgeois demo-ra-" and -olle-ti+e-,or>ers
demo-ra-". The (ro?lem of minorit"-maCorit" onl" arose for the mem?ers of 0C:
,ho ,ere also (resent in Censier< ?t ,ho refsed to Coin the a-ti+ities of a
minorit" that ris>ed im(osing itself on the mass. The sterilit" of -on-illist logi- M
Ma" 58 did not (ose the )estion of -ommnism. The gifts of (ro+isions to the
stri>ers testified to a solidarit"< not to the ?eginning of the de-a" of mar>et
e3-hange. The -ommnist (ers(e-ti+e e3isted in the ndenia?le rela3ing of
immediate relations< the ?rea>ing do,n of so-iologi-al ?arriers< the life ,ithot
mone" for se+eral ,ee>s< the (leasre of a-ting together< in a ,ord in this s>et-h
of -ommnit" ,hi-h -an ?e seen in e+er" great so-ial mo+ement< e+en non-
re+oltionar" ones (:r,ell in Catalonia in 1935). The +arios -ommittees ,hi-h
,ere ?ased at Censier natrall" de?ated ,hat to do< and ,hat ,as ne-essar" in
order to go frther. 0t is not so -ommon that large assem?lies nm?ering man"
,or>ers dis-ss -ommnism.
The leaflet >ue "aire ?< a?ot 177<777 -o(ies of ,hi-h ,ere re(?lished and
distri?ted< re-ommended ,hat the mo+ement needed to do to go frther< or e+en
Cst -ontine A ta>e a nm?er of sim(le measres ,hi-h ?ro>e ,ith -a(italist logi-<
in order that the stri>e -old sho, its -a(a-it" to ma>e so-iet" fn-tion di""erentlyG
meet so-ial needs (,hi-h ,old rall" the hesitant and the middle -lass ,ho ,ere
,orried ?" the +iolen-e 8 the (rod-t of a deadlo->< an im(otent rea-tion in the
fa-e of an im(asse) throgh free (ro+ision of trans(ort< health -are< food< throgh
the -olle-ti+e management of distri?tion -entres< throgh stri>ing against
(a"ments (rent< ta3es< ?ills)G and sho, that the ?orgeoisie and the state are
seless.
Commnism ,as onl" (resent in 1958 as a +ision. $+en the ,or>ers hostile to the
trade nions didnDt ta>e the ne3t ste(< the re+oltionar" elements among them
?eing the e3-e(tion rather than the rle. 4n additional (roof of ,ea>ness ,as the
-onfsion srronding the rall" at CharlSt" at the end of Ma". CharlSt" ,as a
(oliti-al attem(t to go frther< throgh an e3tension of the so-ial mo+ement at the
le+el of state (o,er. CharlSt" ,as ,here man" of the leftists ,ere to ?e fond< ?t
also the left of the trade nions (in (arti-lar the C%JT)< and ,here ,e also sa, a
-ele?rit" ,ho (eo(le had re-entl" ,anted to ma>e a national hero< the Je .alle of
the left A MendXs-%ran-e. CharlSt" ,as the (ea> of the -ons-iosness and (oliti-al
realism ,hi-h the 9 Ma" mo+ement ; ga+e e+iden-e of. :n one side< the dream A
-on-ils. :n the other< the realit" A a real reforming go+ernment< ,here man" sa,
themsel+es (la"ing the role of /enin to this MendXs-Oerens>". !e -an smile a?ot
it toda"< ?t if the MendXs soltion had -arried the da"< man" (rotestors ,old
ha+e s((orted it. :ne "ear later< t,o "ong ,or>ers ,ho (rod-ed a leaflet ,ith
/a 2ieille Ta(e re-alling the re+oltionar" s-o(e of Ma" 58< stated A 9 !e ,ill not
forget CharlSt" ;. . . 0n 1981< the ele-tion of a *o-ialist President< Mitterand< ,old
finall" realise the ho(es of CharlSt".

Page &8
9"ter Ma,
4fter the end of the stri>e ,e all made the mista>e of -onting on a -larifi-ation
ta>ing (la-e. This misread the natre of the mo+ement< and forgot that in (eriods
of re+oltion 8 or of sho->s li>e 1958 8 all organisations and ideologies (ros(er<
in-lding the -onter-re+oltionaries.
/eftism< in (arti-lar< -ame to attri?te false re+oltionar" goals to a 9 dress
rehearsal ;< ,hi-h in realit" had not ta>en (la-e. Bo,e+er the (ost-Ma" (eriod
-old onl" ?e -onter-re+oltionar"< a demand for li?ert" in all dire-tions< in-lding
in relation to the re+oltionar" mo+ement. *in-e the e3(losion had not modified the
fndamental str-tres< its energies dis(ersed in o((osing otdated instittions<
so-ial mores< et-.
Ta>ing the (la-e of *talinism< leftism (shed -a(italist dis(ossession to e3tremes<
,hile (resenting itself as the remed" for that dis(ossession. Ca(italised man is
de(ri+ed of roots. The leftist reado(ted this dis-identifi-ation. /i+ing in another
,orld< the militant (roCe-ted himself into another self< 9 at the side of the
(roletariat ;< 9 ,ith the so-ialist -ontries ; or 9 for the third ,orld ;. The -risis of
leftism some "ears later< triggered the o((osite (henomenon A the sear-h for
identit". Ben-eforth e+er"one ,old no, 9 sear-h ; for the (arti-lar gro( ,ithin
,hi-h the" ,old find their 9 natral ; roots (feminism< regionalism< homose3al
identit"< et-).
4ll ideologies ,ere re+italised< /eninism Cst as m-h as anar-hism. !e shold not
regret their -rrent de-line. This ?edlam of illsions natrall" led to their ato-
-riti)e A (eo(le (assed on from militan-" to e+er"da" life. 0f 9 the indi+idal is the
form (ar e3-ellen-e of ?orgeois e3isten-e< and egoism HYI the essen-e HYI of
(resent da" so-iet" HYI dis(ersed in atoms ; (Mar3)< ?orgeois so-iet" also al,a"s
renites those atoms into gro(s. The (ri+atisation of life< and the in-reasing
diffi-lt" in ha+ing an" -olle-ti+e non -ommer-ial a-ti+it"< entails a (olarisation<
,here (eo(le either tend to den" themsel+es as (ersons< in order to no longer e3ist
e3-e(t inside a gro(< or else refse all organisation in order to li+e onl" as
indi+idals. 4 false alternati+e is (osed A is man initiall" 9 himself ; or is he
9 so-ial ; # 0s a-ti+it" mena-ed more ?" indi+idalism or ?" the gro( ra->et # The
idea that itDs onl" interior life or e+er"da" life that matters merel" in+erts the idea
of the militant< that one mst inter+ene on ,hat is e3ternal< not on oneself< ,ithot
ma>ing an" -riti)e of it.
Militan-" and the a-ti+ism of e+er"da" life engage ,ith one another li>e a ,arring
-o(le ,ho ,ill ne+er se(arate. Moral -riti)es of the militant miss their target. The
militant is not Cst a 9 (oor ?lo>e ;< star+ed of affe-tion. Militan-" is the
na+oida?le illsion of the (ossi?ilit" of a-ti+it" in a ,orld ,hi-h ma>es it almost
im(ossi?le< itDs a m"stified means to es-a(e the dominant (assi+it". @o see> to a-t
for a reason other than "or o,n -ondition< "o ste( ot of "orself< "o find a
d"namism in realities or ideas that are e3ternal to "or o,n life A 9 the (roletariat ;
or 9 the re+oltion ; or< to ?e more modern A 9 radi-alit" ; or 9 desire ;.
4fter Ma" (eo(le -riti-ised e+er"thing< e3-e(t the -ement ?inding the ,hole
together< the totalit" itself. The a?sen-e of an offensi+e at the -entre of so-ial
gra+it" o?liged -riti)es from e+er" (oint of the -om(ass ea-h to res(e-t the limits
of its o,n (rod-tion. !ithin a different general frame,or> the" ,old all ha+e
(rod-ed something elseG ,ith nothing leading to,ards a re+oltion< the" e??ed
a,a". These neo-reformisms ,ere different from their (rede-essors A ,here the
latter had had a (roCe-t at the le+el of so-iet" (to reorganise it arond ,or><
-onstitted as a nified for-e)< these ga+e ( tr"ing to -hange so-iet" in order to
merel" arrange a free s(a-e ,ithin it.
The 9 li?eration ; of ,omen< of se3alit"< of mores< et-.< is a fragmentation. !ithin
themsel+es (eo(le se(arate one fn-tion from the others. 0nstead of going to,ards
total< mlti(le ?eing< (eo(le di+ide themsel+es (< nderstand and defend
themsel+es ?" trns as ,oman< as -onsmer< as (rod-er< as Breton< et-.< ,hereas
the interests of these different -ategories oppose one another. Peo(le s--eed in
the amaEing feat of -reating #ithin themsel%es the di+isions ,hi-h Ca(ital
endea+ors to maintain ,ithin the (roletariat.
0n %ran-e< ,here+er self-organisation in the ,or>(la-e had ?een esta?lished< it
-olla(sed after Kne 1958. The 0talian 9 hot atmn ; Hin %ren-h 9 mai ram(ant ; -
transI of 1959-67 sa, the emergen-e of -on-ils< ,hi-h e+en the head of the C.0/
trade-nion -onfederation re-ognised had ?e-ome transformed into (ara-trade-
nion instittions. These -on-ils did not s--eed in -onstitting themsel+es as
mass organisations em?ra-ing the ,hole of so-ial life< gathering together< not Cst
(rod-ers< ?t the ,hole ,or>ing (o(lation. There ,as no longer a (la-e for a
traditional ,or>ers mo+ement of that >ind. The modernist C%JT-st"le ho(e of a
ne, ,or>ing -lass that re-om(osed the nit" of ,or>< and ,as -a(a?le of
managing it< shattered on the realit" of the need for that nmeros< mallea?le and
not +er" s>illed strata< ,hi-h is al,a"s ne-essar" for Ca(ital. *elf-management onl"
ser+ed to ma>e ?elie+e that it ,as (ossi?le.
9 The 0talian sitation (ro-eeds more slo,l" and ltimatel" re+eals its
tenden-ies. ;
9 The first (hase lasted from 1958 to the ,inter of 1961. The main element
,as the ?irth of ,or>ersD strggles inde(endent of the inflen-e of nions
and (oliti-al organisations. !or>ersD a-tion -ommittees ,ere formed as in
%ran-e< ,ith one essential differen-e A the %ren-h ones ,ere )i->l" dri+en
ot of the fa-tories ?" the (o,er of the nions< ,hi-h in (ra-ti-e -om(elled
them to ha+e no illsions a?ot the ?ondaries of the fa-tor". 0n so far as the
general sitation did not allo, them to go an" frther< the" disa((eared. 0n
0tal"< on the other hand< ,or>ersD -ommittees ,ere at first a?le to organise
themsel+es inside the fa-tories. (Y) Man" -ommittees ,ere formed in the
fa-tories< in isolation from ea-h other< and the" all ?egan to )estion the
s(eed of the line and to organise sa?otage. ;
9 (Y) The ,or>ersD strggle itself met no resistan-e. This ,as in fa-t ,hat
disarmed it. 0t -old do nothing ?t ada(t to the -onditions of -a(italist
so-iet". The nions< for their (art< (Y) resha(ed their fa-tor" organisations
a--ording to the (attern of the PatonomosP -ommittees ,hi-h a((eared in
re-ent strggles. ;
Le Mou%ement $ommuniste< nV 1< 1962 A 9 $n )oi la (ers(e-ti+e
Page 57
-ommniste rSa((araZt. ;
9 (Y) the more the im(ortan-e of the se-tors of resear-h< of -reation and of
monitoring de+elo(s< the more hman ,or> is -on-entrated in the
(re(aration and organisation of (rod-tion< the more the sense of initiati+e
and of res(onsi?ilit" in-reases< in a ,ord< the more the modern ,or>er re-
-on)ers< at the -olle-ti+e le+el< the (rofessional atonom" he has lost in the
(hase of the me-hanisation of ,or>< the more the tenden-ies to,ards
demands for management de+elo(. ;
(*. Mallet< La nou%elle classe ou%ri8re< 1953)
(T,ent" "ears after MalletDs theses< ,e -an ta>e note that trade nionists<
reformers and e3(erts -ontine to inform s of a ne, >ind of indstrial ,or> in
,hi-h the ,or>er ,ill es-a(e his alienation< this time than>s to ro?ots. !e intend to
,rite an arti-le a?ot this e+oltion.)
$+en ?efore the re-a(tre of Censier ?" the (oli-e (Kl" 1958)< the -ommittees
,hi-h met there had formed 0nter-$nter(rises< ,hi-h -ontined to meet for se+eral
months< ?ringing together informal delegates (not e3(li-itl" mandated ?" their
-omrades) of the e3tremist ,or>ers minorities. The 0nter-$nter(rises ,ere more a
(la-e of e3-hange and dis-ssion than an a-ti+e -oordination. /a 2ieille Ta(e<
./4T and 0C: (arti-i(ated. 4t the same time an attem(t at -olla?oration ?et,een
/a 2ieille Ta(e and ./4T ended in -om(lete failre. The reglar meetings and
de?ates of the 0nter-$nter(rises< ,hile the" seldom led to -olle-ti+e a-tion in the
-om(anies -on-erned< (re(ared the grond ,ithin (eo(les heads< -ontining the
dis-ssions started in Ma" and Kne. The leftists themsel+es made 9 -on-rete ;
(ro(osals A to organiEe strggles . . . 4t the same time the +er" name 0nter-
$nter(rise indi-ated their limits (that is to sa" those of Ma" 58) A this ,as not a
-ommnist organisation< onl" the means of a transition to something else ,hi-h< for
the time ?eing< ,as not imminent.
:f -orse the disa((earan-e of the 0nter-$nter(rises did not mean the end of self-
organisation ?" a minorit" of ,or>ers< or of their -onfli-ts ,ith the trade nion
a((aratses. The Committees of 4-tion -ontined to ?ring together (rotesting
em(lo"ees and radi-al and leftist elements. /ittle ?" little< (art of the ,or>ers
-eased ta>ing (art in these a-ti+ities. *e+eral doEen mem?ers or s"m(athisers of
the ComitS Ba-hette dD4-tion 1S+oltionnaire< still mem?ers of the C.T< -ame one
after another at a nion meeting to lea+e their nion -ards on the (latform. Bt a
fe, ,ee>s later< the maCorit" Coined the C%JT.
4 small nm?er of a-ti+e elements in the Committees of 4-tion ,anted to a-t on a
different< re+oltionar"< ?asis and soght to dis-o+er this. /a 2ieille Ta(e ,as one
of the (oles arond ,hi-h the" met. 0t also ?roght into -onta-t (eo(le from the
same -ontr" (0tal")< ,ho had not (re+iosl" >no,n one another.
The *itationist 0nternational (rogressi+el" disa((eared. Before 1958 it had ?een
the (?li- affirmation of a ftre re+oltion. 4fter,ards it affirmed the arri+al of the
re+oltion in 1958. The demo-ra-" of the -on-ils had ?een the dream of Ma".
0nstead of seeing in this the limits of Ma"< the *.0. read into it a (roof that
-on-illism ,as -orre-t. The theor" of -on-ils ,as a((ro(riate to the %ren-h and
0talian stri>es< ?t inade)ate for a re+oltionar" mo+ement ,hi-h ,old go
?e"ond the limits of those stri>es. To a--elerate things the *.0. -alled for a de+ising
of s-andals< of ,or>ers 9 *tras?orgs ;. 0t -ongealed arond self-management<
and ?e-ame the herald of ,hat e3isted ?" disgising it as re+oltion A 0tal"<
Portgal. 0n-a(a?le of dra,ing ( its o,n self assessment< it s?stitted for this a
mania for Cdging failres of the moralit" ,hi-h it flanted and im(osed A radi-alit".
9 0 ,ill >ill e+er"one and then 0 ,ill lea+e ; said '?. !hen he had Cdged and
-ondemned nearl" e+er"?od"< there remained nothing more for Je?ord ?t to
(er(etate 0he Society o" the Spectacle ?" trning it into images< then in his last
film< 9 0n girm no-te... ; < to e3alt a nostalgia that (eo(le ,old either find
to-hing or anno"ing< and on-e again to -lti+ate his distin-ti+eness. Jring this
(eriod the re+oltionar" mo+ement ,as assimilating ,hat ,as essential in the *.0.<
,hile its mere dis-i(les dre, from it a Cstifi-ation for an art of li+ing ,hi-h ?e-ame
one ,ith all the other so -alled 9 alternati+e ; forms of life. 9 That is ,h" ,e
ado(ted ,hat ,as (at that moment) the e3tremest +ariet"< ,hi-h ?" +igoros
diale-ti- had s--eeded< throgh the logi- of its re+oltionism< in dis-arding the
ne-essit" for re+oltion. ; (2i-tor *erge< Memoirs o" a 1e%olutionary< :'P< 1953< (.
18).
The theoreti-al dee(ening ,ithin the ,or> of a minorit" that ,as small< ?t lin>ed
to a fra-tion of radi-al ,or>ers< themsel+es little -a(a?le of (ositi+e a-tion in their
,or>(la-es< s(read not Cst to 0tal" and *(ain ?t to modern -a(italist -ontries
(*-andina+ia< the 'nited *tates). !e ?e-ame a,are of -rossing o+er to a
)alitati+el" ne, stage. The re-e+alation of the heritage of the .erman left< and
the assimilation of ,hat ,as ?est in the 0talian left< ,as ta->led (?li-l" ?" /a 2ieille
Ta(e in 1959 in a te3t on the ideolog" of the ltra-left< ,ritten for a national and
international meeting of 7n"ormation et $orrespondance Ou%rieres (0C:). This
(i+otal te3t ,as im(ortant for those ,ho re-ognised themsel+es in it< ?t the
attem(t to de?ate ,ith the 9 -on-illists ; (0C:< Matti->. . .) -ame to a sdden halt.
4t the same time the 0nternational Commnist Part" (PC0)< the straight-Ca->et
,hi-h im(risoned the 0talian left< entered a -risis ,hi-h led t,o "ears later to the
s(litting a,a" of the *-andina+ians< o+er the .erman leftDs +ie, of the trade-nion
)estion.
4lthogh it ,as not -learl" e3(ressed< the (oint of -on+ergen-e ,as the -on+i-tion
that the (roletariat does not ha+e to install itself as a so-ial for-e ?efore -hanging
the ,orld. There is ths no ,or>ers organisation to -reate< to arose or to ho(e for.
There is no transitional mode of (rod-tion ?et,een -a(italism and -ommnism.
0here is no autonomous proletarian or)anisation outside o" #hat the proletariat
does in order to communise the #orld and itsel" #ith it. There is therefore no
(ro?lem of re+oltionaries ?eing interior or e3terior in relation to the (roletariat.
This -on+i-tion ,as enogh to mo+e s a,a" from gro(s li>e 1%olution
7nternationale (formed in 1958) ,hi-h after a -on-illist (hase< too> ( (art of the
heritage of the 0talian left< Bilan and 7nternationalisme (after 194&). 4n e3am(le of
failed s"nthesis< all"ing a -on-illist ?ias to a fetishism of the organisation< nder
the name 0nternational Commnist Crrent (0CC) the gro( )i->l" san> into the
life of a se-t< -om(ara?le to the HBordigistI 0nternational Commnist Part"< al,a"s
in competition ,ith other gro(s.
Bet,een 1958 and 1962< /a 2ieille Ta(e ,as ndo?tedl" the (oint of -onta-t< and
7n%ariance (led ?" Camatte) the theoreti-al -atal"st for this -on+ergen-e ?et,een
%ran-e< 0tal" and *-andina+ia. Ths in 1959< isses 5 [ 6 of the first series of
7n%ariance< reinter(reted a -entr" of the re+oltionar" mo+ement ?" reintegrating
Page 52
the .erman left into it. Bo,e+er the stimlati+e role (la"ed ?" 7n%ariance did not
eliminate its original idealism< for it -on-ei+ed of the (roletariat more as a histori-
entit" than as the (rod-t of real relations and sitations. This re-a((ro(riation of
the (ast ,as not the ,or> of ar-hi+istsG some (roletarians too> (art in it for the
same reasons as the others. Pierre .illame -old ths -hara-terise the
fn-tioning of or -ommnit" at that time A ,hen someone< ,ho has the ad+antage
o+er others of ha+ing read a re+oltionar" te3t from the (ast< ma>es a histori-al
e3(osition of it< then if he is -lear< his adien-e ,ill >no, as m-h as him A he is no
more than 9 the agent of the details ;.

2ineteen 3event,-74o
The refsal to form a gro(< delimiting an interior and an e3terior< allo,ed those
,ho met at /a 2ieille Ta(e to mo+e to,ards a -ommon -oheren-e ,hi-h others
onl" (ossessed on (a(er. !ithin this theoreti-al and (ra-ti-al -ommnit"< a -ertain
d"nami- ,as at ,or>< ,hi-h (t e+er"one on an e)al footing ,hile integrating
a?ilities and +arios nan-es of o(inion. This -olle-ti+it"< ,hi-h for -on+enien-e< ,e
,ill -all /a 2ieille Ta(e< ad+an-ed ste( ?" ste(< ea-h time asso-iating those ,ho
a((ro+ed of the (arti-lar a-tion ?eing nderta>en< ,ithot them ha+ing to agree
on a 9 (rogramme ; or a 9 (latform ;. Bt of -orse< if some?od" (ro(osed s-h
and s-h a-tion to this or that (erson< it ,as ?e-ase the" thoght the" had more
in -ommon ,ith them than Cst a desire for a-tion. /a 2ieille Ta(e didnDt tr" to
ma>e a name for itself A or a-ts ,ere or signatre. Common a-ti+it" ,as ?ased
on a -onsenss ,hi-h ,as often e3(erien-ed as ins(iring A there ,ere things to ?e
done and said< and (eo(le often nderstood one another +er" )i->l". The a?sen-e
of +oting< and of legalism< ga+e the feeling of an a-ti+it" -lose to ,hat one -old
-onsider as -ommnist. Ps"-holog"< the dis-ssion of states of feeling and the
inflen-e of -hara-ter and emotional 9 (ro?lems ; < ,ere reCe-ted.
This form of organisation en-oraged irres(onsi?ilit". 4 )estiona?le te3t might ?e
distri?ted< a harmfl initiati+e ta>en< ,ithot (eo(le -oming to an" ne-essar"
reser+ations or re-tifi-ations< ?e-ase the gro( didnDt ha+e a definite e3isten-e.
The most a-ti+e indi+idal< Pierre .illame< ,as ths the least -ontrolled ?" the
-ommon a-ti+it". 4s for the a?sen-e of (s"-holog"< if ,e thin> of this ,ith
melan-hol" ,hen ,e see ,hat a so( so man" among s no, s,im in< and ,hen
,e see the e3tent to ,hi-h distr?ed ?eha+ior ?e-ame im(ortant in the
s?se)ent e+oltion< and in the s(lits ,hi-h (n-tated it< ,e shold also not
forget that this refsal ,as in (art a ?lindness ,hi-h sometimes led s to tolerate
?eha+ior ,e ,old no longer (t ( ,ith toda".
0f the a?sen-e of formalism sto((ed s s--m?ing to the diseases of se-ts A
do-trinal s-lerosis and the organisation of organisation< the la-> of -learl" defined
(ers(e-ti+es< ,hi-h ,e might ha+e agreed on after a more formal dis-ssion< had
the disad+antage of hindering a -riti)e of or a-ti+ities< for this -old not ?e ?ased
on an" formlated agreement. 0tDs tre that this effort of formlation ,old ha+e
ine+ita?l" de(ri+ed s of the s((ort of (art of the elements ,hi-h -ir-lated
arond /a 2ieille Ta(e. 4nd it is not -ertain that this ,old ha+e ?een a good
thing A ,e ,old (erha(s ha+e gained in (re-ision< ?t a -reati+e (rofsion ,old
ha+e ?een lost< ,hi-h onl" later ?ore frit< in or heads< and in those of others.
Ne+ertheless< this +ageness fa-ilitated a *talino(ho?i- mania ,hi-h -ame -lose to
ma>ing anti-*talinism a re)irement in the same ,a" that antifas-ism ,as for
others (if it ,as against the Commnist Part" and the '**1< it -old not ?e ?ad...).
0ts ne-essar" to sa" again that hostilit" to the Commnist Part"< li>e hostilit" to
N4T:< -an ?e anti-re+oltionar". %or the -ommnist mo+ement there is no
9 enem" nm?er one of the (eo(les of the ,orld ;.
0t ended ( that /a 2ieille Ta(e de+oted m-h energ" to (la-ing 9 ?anana s>ins ;
nder the feet of *talinists in order to thro, them off ?alan-e< and that it de+oted
Page 54
m-h effort to s-andalos a-ts< atta->s on a single terrain A that of ideolog"< ,hi-h
the enem" had -ontrolled for far too long ,ithot ?eing seriosl" threatened. 4
+iolent a-tion that doesnDt in-lde ,ithin itself its meaning (-om(rehensi?le to those
,ith ,hom "o ha+e something in -ommon< and to ,hom "o address "orself)
(la"s the enemies game. !riting 9 Too man" mrderers (massacreurs) de-orate
this ,all ,ith flo,ers ; on the mr des %SdSrSs Ha memorial to the dead of the Paris
-ommne in PXre /a-haise -emeter"< ,hi-h ,as itself the site of the final resistan-e
and s?se)ent massa-re of the -ommnards on the 28
th
Ma" 1861. The memorial
,as sed as a (la-e of annal (ilgrimage for the %ren-h Commnist Part" -
translators noteI< is an a-t ,hi-h -ontains ,ithin itself its im(a-t< and ,hose
signifi-an-e -annot ?e misnderstood e3-e(t throgh ?ad faith or from an o?+ios
la-> of interest in the isse. Bt a +iolent atta-> ,hi-h doesnDt ins-ri?e ,ithin itself
a (ossi?le -larifi-ation ,ill ?e gi+en its meaning ?" the (oliti-al (o,ers< or ?" the
media< and "rom the outside.
0f a ?lo, aimed at re(resentations< (for e3am(le< the m"th ,hi-h the Commnist
(art" maintains a?ot itself)< is addressed to radi-als< it -an retain its meaning< and
en-orage the silent maCorit". Bt if it attem(ts to address e+er"one< and -hange
(?li- o(inion a?ot the Commnist Part"< it ,ill simltaneosl" fail to rea-h ?oth
general and minorit" -ons-iosness. @et /a 2ieille Ta(e (ra-tised s-andal ,ithot
?eing a?le to dis-ss it< e3-e(t on rare o--asions< and to little effe-t.
0n %ran-e< 1962 ,as a trning (oint. The "ear sa, the a(ogee of leftism and the
last im(ortant o--rren-e of the anti-statist< anti-(oliti-al and anti-re(ressi+e
demonstrations ,hi-h had a((eared in 1958. The fneral of :+erna" ,as the -lima3
after ,hi-h e+er"thing fell a(art. 0t ,as a large anti-Commnist Part" gathering A
:+erne"< a maoist militant< had ?een shot at the gates of 1enalt ?" the em(lo"ers
(ri+ate (oli-e< and Mar-hais Hgeneral se-retar" of the Commnist Part"I had not
?een a?le to restrain this heartfelt -r" A 9 !e are not going to start again as in 58
Y ;. The leftist ste,ards -old hardl" -ontain this enormos demonstration< shot
throgh ,ith a riotos atmos(here< ?t na?le to set goals for itself. !e sa, one of
or nm?er< his +oi-e -om(eting ,ith the mega(hones< re-a(tre the slogan of the
demonstration from the Trots>"ist ste,ards A 9 Mar-hais< ?astard< the (eo(le ,ill
ha+e "or hide ;< ?efore the nderlings inter+ened ,ith a -r" of 9 no anti-
-ommnism ;. 0n its +iolen-e< this slogan nonetheless sho,ed the limits of the
demonstration. !ithin leftism< one (art of Maoism de+elo(ed an anti-trade nion
and anti-Commnist Part" line< ?t ,ithin a logi- that ,as antifas-ist< (o(list and
demo-rati-.
Coming after a theoreti-al ?rea>throgh in the ,or> of re+oltionaries< the
demonstration ,as inter(reted as a sign of the a((earan-e (finall") of a radi-al
-rrent ?e"ond leftism. 4 series of gro(s ,ere ?orn at this time A in (arti-lar
@)ation in Paris and 7nter%ention communiste (,hi-h ,as to ?e-ome 0horie
communiste) in 4i3. /a 2ieille Ta(e (re(ared to (?lish se+eral te3ts< one of ,hi-h
,as 2n quoi la perspecti%e communiste rapparaAt ?" %ranTois Martin< de+elo(ed
from se+eral te3ts from 1958 and after,ards. Contining the dis-ssions ,hi-h had
follo,ed :+erne"Ds fneral< at ,hi-h a 2ieille Ta(e leaflet had ?een ,ell re-ei+ed<
a nm?er of ,or>ers ,ho for a long time had ta>en (art in or a-ti+ities -riti-iEed
the la-> of follo, ( to or a-tion< and -alled for the -reation of a more -oherent
gro(. The leaflets< the theoreti-al te3ts s-h as those ?" Jenis 4thier ((refa-e to
Trots>"Ds 1eport o" the Siberian Dele)ation< for *(arta-s)< ?" .illes Ja+S< nder
the name Kean Barrot< and ?" Pierre .illame< and the informal -onta-ts< ,ere no
longer enogh the" said. Ths Mo+ement Commniste sa, the light of da"< ,ith a
?lletin of the same name< of ,hi-h %ranTois MartinDs te3t formed the first isse<
and $apitalism and $ommunism the se-ond. %i+e hndred -o(ies of ea-h ,ere
(?lished (a frther 1777 -o(ies of No 2 almost immediatel" after,ards)< and the"
,ere distri?ted in a fe, da"s< the greater (art ?" dire-t -onta-t< nota?l" at
,or>(la-es (1enalt). !e had the im(ression of mo+ing for,ard.
The theoreti-al -larifi-ation< and the -onflen-e ?et,een gro(s in se+eral
-ontries< had -reated ?elief in the ?irth of a mo+ement< fe, in nm?er< ?t
-oherent< a?le to ma>e itself >no,n< and to maintain a minimm of a-ti+e relations
,ith the (roletarian e3(erien-e. Perha(s ,e ,ere right a?ot the -larifi-ation ta>ing
(la-e< ?t ,e ,ere -ertainl" ,rong a?ot the formation of -entres -a(a?le of
refle-tion and e+en of a-tion. :+erna"Ds fneral ,as one of the illsions of Ma"< of
,hi-h it formed the last gas(< and ?" no means the sign of a rene,al. $+en those
,ho had (shed for the formation of Mo+ement Commniste disso-iated
themsel+es from it almost at on-e. The lin>s esta?lished ,ith @)ation did not last.
:r lin>s ,ith the more modern -ontries -ooled and the onl" -lose -onta-ts ,e
maintained ,ere in 0tal" and *(ain. The glo?al (roletarian a-ti+it" had fa-ilitated
the en-onter and a--mlation of (oints of +ie, ,hi-h ,ere often in s"m(ath"<
?t it ,as not strong enogh to im(ose a s"nthesis ,hi-h ,old ha+e (ro+ided a
?etter gras( of the (resent A ,e did not get ?e"ond an nderstanding of the (ast.
0n these -onditions< the ?oo> Le Mou%ement $ommuniste (Cham( /i?re< 1962)<
,hi-h -ame ot at the same time< -old not ?e satisfa-tor". 0t ,as a te3t ?" .illes
Ja+S< not of /a 2ieille Ta(e or the gro( Mo+ement Commniste< ,hi-h had
hardl" dis-ssed or im(ro+ed it. 4s the for,ard to the Portgese edition (196&)
has alread" (t it< the ,or> ,as an inade)ate theoriEation< as (artial< in its ,a"<
as most te3ts at that time. 1e-reading Mar3 in the footste(s of 7n%ariance and
Bordiga< the ?oo> negle-ted to in-lde Mar3 himself in its glo?al -riti)e. 0ts
-on-ern to des-ri?e o?Ce-ti+e 9 la,s ; made it forget real relations. 9 2ale ; no
longer seemed to ?e the e3(ression of so-ial relations< ?t tended to (ersonif"
itself< and ?e-ome a s?Ce-t of histor" li>e the 9 -ommnist mo+ement ; < ,hereas
+ale and -ommnist mo+ement are onl" theoreti-al -onstr-tions ,hi-h a((roa-h
realit". The ?oo> -onstr-ted an integrated model of -ontradi-tions instead of
illminating them on the ?asis of (ra-tise. :n -losing the ?oo>< one might ?elie+e in
the e3isten-e of a (roletarian mo+ement atomati-all" set in motion ?" the
9 o?soles-en-e ; of +ale. Toda" it seems to s that the lin> ?et,een -a(italism
and -ommnism< and ?et,een Ca(ital and (roletariat< is far from ?eing as -lear as
,e (t it then. Commnist transformation ,as (resented as a series of measres to
?e ta>en. !hile ,e said that it ,as a )estion of a mo+ement< ,e didnDt sho, in
detail the s?+ersi+e effe-ts of s-h immediate measres. 4?stra-t anal"sis of the
real -onditions< and idealism.
The *-andina+ian s(lit in the HBordigistI PC0 in 1961 triggered the de(artre of (art
of the mem?ers of the %ren-h se-tion. The -risis of militan-"< endemi- ,ithin all
(oliti-al gro(s< did not orient these e3-militants to,ards re+oltionar" a-tion
(,hi-h ,old it ,old first ha+e ?een ne-essar" to define). 0t (ro(elled them
to,ards a sear-h for 9 life ; in ,hi-h the" got lost. Their e+oltion -onformed to a
(ro-ess ,e often sa, at ,or> in or ran>s A a >ind of 9 life--"-le of the
re+oltionar" ;. :n the ?asis of an instin-ti+e reCe-tion of esta?lished so-iet"<
(eo(le (ass from e3istential re+olt to organised a-ti+it" for re+oltion< throgh a
series of ?rea>s ,hi-h lead more and more to the left. The" ma>e a -riti)e of
Page 55
e+er"thing< of all forms of e3isten-e and (roletarian inter+ention< of the ,hole of
the re+oltionar" or (sedo-re+oltionar" (ast< glorified and deformed< ntil a limit
(oint is rea-hed ,here the -riti)e of e+er"thing also in-ldes re+oltion and
(roletariat ,hi-h the" end ( reCe-ting as m"ths< nless< that is< the" theoriEe them
as nothing more than a?stra-t identities< (hiloso(hi-al -on-e(ts ot of rea-h of
hman a-tion.
7n%ariance had o?+iosl" (la"ed a (art in the -risis of the PC0< ?t its o,n
e+oltion< refle-ting the )asi-general disarra"< onl" -ontri?ted to a la-> of
(rogress ?" some< and to a ta>e-off into h"(ers(a-e ?" others. Camatte< in ta>ing
( Mar3Ds (hrase ,ell smmariEed the -ontradi-tion of the (roletariat A 9 a -lass of
-a(italist so-iet" that is not of -a(italist so-iet" ; (*eries 000< 1969< ((. &&-&5). Bt
he resol+ed this -ontradi-tion in a strange manner A first the -lass is the (art"-
-ommnit"< then the (art" is the -lass--ommnit"< and ths a ni+ersal -lass< and
finall" it is hmanit". Camatte had initiall" relo-ated the failing -lass in the
9 (art" ;. 0nstead of going on from there to ,hat it is that -reates the (roletariat<
its e3(erien-e< and its -ontradi-tions< 0n+arian-e then relo-ated the (art" into ?eing
the ,hole of hmanit". The meta(h"si-s of hmanit" re(la-ed that of the (art". Bt
it al,a"s remained a matter of a mediation ?et,een re+oltion and the a-ti+it" of
men< ?e-ase ,hat it ,as in their (ra-ti-e ,hi-h -old generate a re+oltion ,as
(oorl" dis-erned.
7n%ariance translated into its o,n langage -a(italist omni(resen-e. Camatte so
,ell nderstood the a?sor(tion of the ,orld ?" this im(ersonal monster that he
s--m?ed to its fas-ination< to the (oint of seeing it e+er",here. 0f Ca(ital
s,allo,s e+er"thing< then (roletarians in their trn ma>e themsel+es into -anni?als<
and their strggle norishes Ca(ital ,ith their flesh. 0n+arian-e sho,ed ho,
str-tralism e3(ressed the strength of a s"stem ,hi-h in eternalising itself denied
histor". 0n its trn< in-a(a?le of seeing in ?ar?arism an"thing other than ?ar?arism<
it no longer distingished an"thing more than a totalit" ,ithin ,hi-h all (re+ios
distin-tions (-lasses< (rod-tionF-ir-lation< et-.) had ?een erased.
The se-ond and third series of 7n%ariance theorised a +isi?le realit" ,hi-h ,e rn (
against (ainfll" A the omni(resen-e of Ca(ital. 4--ording to 7n%ariance< against a
totalitarian ?eing ,hi-h o--(ies the entire so-ial terrain< another s?terranean< ?t
e)all" omni(resent< realit" ,old o((ose itself A the (rising of life.
Traditional re+oltionar" thoght a+oided s(e-lation a?ot the sr+i+al of Ca(ital
?" assigning it to e3ternal -ases (so-ial demo-ra-"< im(erialism< et-). 7n%ariance
resorted to an interioriBation A Ca(ital sr+i+es ?e-ase it has entered into s. The
e-onomi- 9 death -risis ; is re(la-ed ?" a re+olt of or natre ,hi-h has ?een
s-orned ?" Ca(ital.
%or 7n%ariance< a(art from this hman natre< this something ,ithin s ,hi-h
refses to s?mit itself< Ca(ital a?sor?s e+er"thing. This is to forget that a?sor(tion
mst enter throgh the real relations ?et,een hmans. The o((osition is not
?et,een an a-ti+it"< that is -a(italised throgh and throgh< and hman natre A if
there is an o((osition< it is ne-essaril" ,ithin -a(italist a-ti+it" itself< (re-isel"
?e-ase it is set in motion ?" (roletarians. 0t is this +er" a-ti+it" that is
-ontradi-tor" and (erha(s offers an e3it. The soltion lies in the so-ial relation< not
else,here.
9 The ,or>er himself is a Ca(ital< a -ommodit"Y ; (Mar3)< ?t he is not these
things (assi+el". 7n%ariance nderstood that Ca(ital does not (ro-eed ?" itself< ?t
throgh or o,n a-tion. Bt Camatte -on-lded from this that Ca(ital had therefore
trim(hed for good A it had made itself s< it in-or(orated s. Bo,e+er it is
(re-isel" throgh this a-ti+it" ,hi-h it im(oses on s that Ca(ital is -ontradi-tor".
4s /efort said in the arti-le (re+iosl" -ited< (roletarians are in a sitation of
ni+ersalit".
!ith regard to Camatte ,ho ?elie+es that the re+oltionar" mo+ement< in the
sense ,e gi+e these ,ords< is dead< and ,ho ?elie+es that the ne# realit" of Ca(ital
has remo+ed an" +alidit" from the -on-e(ts of (roletariat and re+oltion< ,e shold
not ta>e refge in an attitde of rigid -ontem(t. 1e+oltionaries at the end of the
19
th
-entr" Cstifia?l" affirmed< against 9 re+isionism ; < that nothin) essential had
-hanged sin-e 1848. 0n 1914 ho,e+er< (i.e. too late)< the" realised that all the
same somethin) had indeed -hanged A the la?or mo+ement had ?e-ome an
instrment of Ca(ital. 1e+oltionaries shold ha+e re-ognised then that re+isionism
,as the e3(ression of real (ro?lems ,hi-h their reftation ?" itself had negle-ted.
Camatte formerl" (ro+ided man" elements for re+oltionar" theor" in or time.
Toda" he (oses a real )estion ?adl". Bis ,andering illstrates the am?igit" of the
(eriod.
Castoriadis and Camatte sa, in Ca(ital something ,hi-h de+ors e+er"thing< and
-on-lded ?" in+alidating the -on-e(ts differentiating the (arts of Ca(ital< to lea+e
in (la-e< in the ,or> of one< a ?rea-rati- ("ramid< in the ,or> of the other< an
indefina?le totalit" ,hi-h simltaneosl" integrates the hman ?eing and "et
doesnDt s--eed in this. These are the thin>ers of the ne, fa-e of Ca(ital< of the
end of the la?or mo+ement and the a?sen-e of the re+oltionar" mo+ement A
?e-ase the latter does not dis(la" the -hara-teristi-s ,hi-h one might ha+e
imagined in the 1957s< the" ha+e -t themsel+es adrift from the moorings.
4 gro( li>e the Or)anisation des Ceunes 0ra%ailleurs r%olutionnaires< ,ho nota?l"
(?lished Militancy ( hi)hest sta)e o" alienation in 1962< ,ent against this trend of
9 e+er" man for himself ;. 0nitiall" mar>ed ?" the Situationist 7nternational< the"
?e-ame a-)ainted ,ith the -ommnist left< and effe-ted a -on+ergen-e ,ith /a
2ieille Ta(e.
Mou%ement $ommuniste had not a-hie+ed a satisfa-tor" -olle-ti+e fn-tioning< an"
more than /a 2ieille Ta(e had. 0t ?e-ame an organ for (?lishing te3ts ?" .illes
Ja+S< amended ?" a fe, (eo(le. 4fter diffi-lt dis-ssions ,ith @)ation and
others a?ot ,hat ,e -old agree to do< and a (olemi- a?ot a memorial meeting
for /eon Blm ,hi-h ,e had disr(ted< ,e realised there ,as a -risis in or ran>s.
The forth isse of Mou%ement $ommuniste 9 1S+oltionnaire # ; (1963) -ontained
some +alid remar>s< together ,ith others ,hi-h ,ere distorted< on the s?Ce-t of
s?+ersi+e a-tion and the -ommnit". Bt it es(e-iall" testified to a re+ealing
dis(la-ement in the -entre of interest A it no longer -onsidered the (roletarians< ?t
the re+oltionaries. 0ts hardl" sr(rising that this te3t (ro(osed no real remed" for
,hat ,as not a disease ?t the state of the mo+ement.
4 9 milie ; had aimed at -onstitting itself arond a -ommnist ideolo)y< ,ith its
o,n slogans (9 a?olition of ,age la?or ; < 9 -risis of +ale ; ) in (la-e of those of
the leftists. Noting that it no longer (erformed the role of a meeting (la-e< and
instead entertained a clientele li>e an" other ?oo>store< the ?oo>sho( /a 2ieille
Page 58
Ta(e -losed at the end of 1962.
9 4ll the elements of re+oltionar" theor" e3ist in the mar>et(la-e< ?t not
their instr-tions for se.
This is not the (ro+in-e of a ?oo>sho(.
1e%olutionary theory cannot e3ist apart "rom the establishment o" practical
lin+s in order to act and this action can no lon)er principally be the
a""irmation and dissemination o" re%olutionary theory5
(Y) /a 2ieille Ta(e mst disa((ear. ;
(Bail 6 cder< H/ease for saleI /a 2ieille Ta(e (oster< 1&
th
Je-em?er 1962)
Before 1958 there ,ere gro(s na?le to distri?te their theor" ?e"ond a -ir-le of
initiates. This ,as the reason for e3isten-e of the ?oo>sho(. 0n 1962< re+oltionar"
ideas -ir-lated< amongst other reasons ?e-ase so-iet" needed re+oltionar"
theor" to nderstand and adCst its -ontradi-tions. Bt an" -olle-ti+e re+oltionar"
effort ,as< and remained< e3tremel" fragile.
%ailing to (oliti-ise ,or>(la-e -onfli-ts< after 1958 leftism had not s--eeded in its
(assage from the "actories to the -orridors of po#er< and had ,ithdra,n into
strggles otside ,or>< strggles arond e%eryday li"e (t"(i-al ,as the Maoist
gro( 2i+e /a 1S+oltion (2/1) and its Cornal Ce )e nos +olons A Tot M -hat
do #e #ant < 2%erythin)M). 4fter 1962< (oliti-s de-lined and the +arios neo-
reformisms of e+er"da" life florished. Com(ared to leftist s(e-ialists in (o,er<
these mo+ements< in one sense< (osed real (ro?lems. Bt ea-h ?e-ame ?ogged
do,n in its o,n s(e-ialit". B" -om(arison the 9 -ommnist ; milie had a glo?al
(oint of +ie, to o((ose to theirs ,hi-h seemed li>e their o((osite A more li>e a
(oliti-al dis-orse< a more distin-ti+e (oint of +ie,< ?t nli>e the others a?soltel"
ineffe-ti+e. 4ll (artial -riti)e ,as false< ?t the glo?al -riti)e la->ed an" (oint of
a((li-ation.
7he Puig 9ntich a""air
4 so-ial mo+ement rea((eared in *(ain dring the final "ears of %ran-oism. *tri>es
follo,ed one another< and re(ression onl" intensified them. %rom the e3am(le of
,hat had o--rred in %ran-e< the need for a theor" of re+oltion for the -rrent
(eriod -reated a rene,al of interest in the re+oltionar" (ast< *(ain in 1935-39<
Ma" 36 in Bar-elona< and also their .erman and 0talian fore?ears. Bt this
theoreti-al effort ,as a--om(anied ?" armed strggle< s(ar>ed off ?" the en-onter
of offi-ial +iolen-e ,ith re+oltionar" im(atien-e. The o((osition of ?road fra-tions
of the (o(lation to a di-tatorshi( ,hi-h ,as nsited to modern -a(italism<
norished ,ithin a nm?er of re+oltionaries a ?elief in the +irte of e3am(le< or
the ne-essit" to -reate a 9 fire ; arond ,hi-h (roletarian energies ,old
-on-entrate themsel+es.
The -omrades ,ith ,hom ,e ,ere in -onta-t ,ere engaged in a do?le (ro-ess of
-larifi-ation and -onfsion. La =ieille 0aupe had for some "ears ?een in -onta-t ,ith
a gro( that had gi+en rise to the Mo+ement de /i?Sration 0?Sri)e (M0/)< ,hi-h
had (?lished a translation of @otes "or an Analysis o" the 1ussian 1e%olution (an
ltra-left te3t ?" .. Ja+S from 1956)< and man" other te3ts ,ritten ?" (eo(le
either -lose to La =ieille 0aupe or ,ho fre)ented the sho(. The M0/ (ossessed the
dal str-tre one generall" finds in those organisations (li>e the 014 or $T4) ,hi-h
see> to re(la-e the state A a (oliti-al ,ing and a militar" ,ing. The first s((orted
stri>es and (?lished te3ts< et-.< the se-ond (ra-tised hold-(s and ?om?ings.
4 fndamental error of La =ieille 0aupe and Mou%ement $ommuniste ,as not to
ha+e -larified their relations ,ith the gro(s the" met< (arti-larl" the foreign ones.
!e de?ated ,ith them and ,e -riti-iEed errors< ?t if this -riti-ism ,as a--e(ted
(often onl" in ,ords)< a formal agreement then sealed a -olla?oration ,hi-h left
na--e(ta?le (ositions in the shado,s. %or e3am(le< the re)irements of anti-
*talinism in+ol+ed s in distri?ting demo-rati- leaflets a?ot CEe-hoslo+a>ia in
1967. 4nd for a long time ,e maintained a not +er" -riti-al relationshi( ,ith a small
Me3i-an (art" ,hi-h< it trans(ired< sometimes (arti-i(ated in ele-tions.
!e >ne, a?ot the illegal a-ti+ities of the M0/. !e had not ,arned it stri-tl"
enogh against the (ro-ess ,hi-h its (ra-tise (la-ed it in< and against the
transformation of its mem?ers into (rofessional re+oltionaries< na?le to li+e other
than throgh hold-(s< more and more dis-onne-ted from the so-ial mo+ement<
and sing -ommnist ideas as an ideolog"< a Cstifi-ation for an a-ti+it" ,hi-h too
-losel" resem?led that of /eninist gro(s.
Pig 4nti-h< ,ho ,anted to sto( armed a-tions< and soght to -on+in-e the others
to follo, him< ,as arrested in :-to?er 1963 ,ith se+eral other mem?ers of the M0/.
The" fa-ed the death (enalt". Mem?ers of the M0/ as>ed Mou%ement $ommuniste
for hel( in ?rea>ing the ,all of silen-e ,hi-h srronded these arrests< ths
a+oiding a s(eed" trial and -ondemnation in the general indifferen-e a?ot them.
T,o t"(es of a-tion ,ere -arried ot in (arallel. :n the one hand< ,e endea+ored
to -onter the a--ont gi+en ?" the *(anish *tate ,hi-h (resented Pig and his
-omrades as gangsters A this strggle too> the form of the 2idal-Na)et -ommittee
Page 67
(a traditional -ommittee of demo-rati- (ersonalities). 0n addition to this it ,as
ne-essar" to sa" ,hat ,e thoght of the affair as re+oltionaries (amongst other
things this too> the form of isse 5 of Mou%ement $ommuniste). Pierre .illame<
,ho for months later ,as to de-lare that this ,as not a good te3t< de+oted himself
almost e3-lsi+el" to -onta-ting (ersonalities and Cornalists to (t (ressre on
%ran-o. There ,as ra(idl" a se(aration ?et,een these t,o a-ti+ities. Cold it ha+e
?een other,ise #
0n an" e+ent< the re+oltionar" milie either atta->ed s (@)ation' 1%olution
7nternationale)< or remained indifferent< (./4T). The" a--sed Mou%ement
$ommuniste of ha+ing one foot in anti-fas-ism. Le ,lau Social< ,hi-h had emerged
from the %ront Bomose3el dD4-tion 1S+oltionnaire and ?ro>en ,ith it< ,as the
onl" organiEed gro( ,hi-h s((orted s. Pig 4nti-h ,as e3e-ted< (rimaril" no
do?t ?e-ase of the s--essfl assassination of Carrero Blan-o< the *(anish (rime
minister< ?" $T4. Bt e+en if he had li+ed< the assessment of this affair -old onl"
ha+e ?een negati+e A Mou%ement $ommuniste had failed to -larif" the )estions of
+iolen-e and re+oltionar" solidarit"< and had failed to ma>e its (oint of +ie,
intelligi?le to %ren-h and *(anish re+oltionaries.
1e+oltionaries donDt need mart"rs. Commnism is also made throgh s(ontaneos
solidarit". :r a-ti+it" in+ol+es a fraternit" ,ithot ,hi-h it loses its -ontent. !e
are not an arm" ,hi-h mo+es (a,ns arond A and this remains tre e+en in the
militar" (hases of a re+oltion.
Bo,e+er as ,e ha+e alread" said (seeA ,or a -orld #ithout Moral Order)< for s
?iologi-al sr+i+al is not an a?solte +ale. 0n the enthsiasm of an insrre-tion<
the -on-e(t of sa-rifi-e loses an" meaning ?e-ase the insrgents (la-e themsel+es
in the forefront of danger. Bt otside of s-h a (eriod of massi+e -onfrontation #
Bo, do ,e e3(ress or solidarit" ,ith a re+oltionar" threatened ,ith death
,ithot altering the meaning of his a-ti+it" # There is no (re-ise ans,er to this
)estion. !e -an onl" set ot some ?asi- (rin-i(les.
There is no s-h thing as a re+oltionar" (rit" ,hi-h -an ?e irredeema?l" sllied
?" the smallest -om(romise. Pig 4nti-h (referred to ?e sa+ed ?" ?orgeois
inter+ention than die in 9 re+oltionar" (rit" ;. No-one in or ran>s ,old ha+e
dreamed of o((osing the fa-t that some ?orgeois demo-rats inter+ened to tr" and
sa+e his life. Bt the ,hole (oint ,as to >no, ho, to ?ring a?ot s-h
inter+entions. 0tDs ne-essar" to ta>e ( the ,ord demo-ra-"< and a-t in s-h a ,a"
that the demo-rats do their ,or>< ?t ,ithot -on-ealing ,hat ,e thin> of the
demo-rati- +ersion of -a(italism A easier said than done. 1e+oltionaries -annot
arose (?li- o(inion for ,hen "o (la-e "orself on that terrain "o -ease ?eing a
re+oltionar". @o -an ,rite to a ne,s(a(er to e3ert (ressre on ?ehalf of
someone< ?t ne+er in order to (t o+er ?asi- (ositions.
!e ha+e no -lt of heroes and if a -omrade disa+o,ed his ?eliefs in a time of
danger< ,e ,old no more Cdge him than ,e ,old all those (roletarians ,ho
9 agree ; e+er" da" to s?Ce-t themsel+es to the di-tatorshi( of ,age la?or.
*im(l"< he ,old fall otside or -ommon a-ti+it". 0n the -ase of Pig it ,as one
thing to -onta-t this or that (ersonalit" to otline the trth< it ,as )ite another to
form a -ommittee ,hi-h ine+ita?l" ,old li+e its life as a -ommittee< and ta>e on an
e3isten-e of its o,n< there?" -rossing a limit ?e"ond ,hi-h demo-rati- logi-
o+errode e+er"thing else. !hile he doesnDt see> death< and ,hile he doesnDt
hesitate to ?enefit from the -ontradi-tions of his enemies (in this -ase the strggle
?et,een demo-ra-" and di-tatorshi()< the radi-al in the ,ar against so-ial order
-annot sddenl" a-t as if he ,ill no longer ta>e (art< sim(l" ?e-ase he ris>s losing
his life< e3-e(t at the ris> of his a-ti+it" losing an" im(a-t.
There ,as a fndamental am?igit" in this strggle< for tr"ing to sa+e Pig and his
-omrades ?" tr"ing to ,in re-ognition of their (oliti-s and refsing the la?el
9 gangster ; meant ,anting to s?stitte one la?el for another< and if Pig ,as a
radi-al< he -old hardl" see himself in the stats of 9 (oliti-al ; (risoner< something
,e had re(roa-hed the %ren-h Maoists for demanding. 0f ,e ,ere going to strggle
on the terrain of demo-ra-"< the minimm ,old (erha(s ha+e ?een to (ro-laim
that ,e didnDt disso-iate the -ase of Pig from that of the others -ondemned to die
?" fran-oism. 4nd in fa-t< for good measre< %ran-o e3e-ted an 9 ordinar"
(risoner ; at the same time as Pig. This nha((" indi+idal< far more than Pig<
,as the ?tt of this si-> Co>e.
:r la-> of -larit" on this (oint ,as onl" one of a ,hole series of errors. The error
of the short initial te3t< ,ritten ?" Pierre .illame and a((ro+ed ?" Mou%ement
$ommuniste< ,hi-h (resented the affair to the ne,s(a(ers in a +ersion half,a"
?et,een or (ositions and ,hat it ,as ne-essar" to sa" in order to ?e heard. The
error of the inade)ate 5
th
isse of Mou%ement $ommuniste< ,hi-h Cstified the
+iolen-e of the M0/ ?" its *(anish -onte3t< and -riti-ised onl" the es-alation of the
+iolen-e< ,hen the +iolen-e itself ,as ,rong. The error a?o+e all of or (resen-e in
or ?ehind the 2idal-Na)et -ommittee.
0sse 5 of Mou%ement $ommuniste ,as the last. The (itifl *(anish affair< in ,hi-h
it had failed on all -onts< re+ealed the ,ea>ness of Mou%ement $ommuniste<
made ,orse ?" the fa-t that it did not dra, ( an" assessment of its a-ti+it". ..
Ja+SDs (am(hlet =iolence and 1e%olutionary Solidarity (1964) endea+ored to
ta>e sto->. The -riti-isms it -ontained ,ere ne+er dis-ssed ?et,een the
e3-9 mem?ers ; of Mou%ement $ommuniste. This te3t ,as onl" (artl" satisfa-tor"
for it did not ta->le the a-tal (rin-i(le of the a-ti+it" in the 2idal-Na)et
-ommittee. 0t ended ,ith the follo,ing (rogramme A
9 1. To ta>e note of the non--ommnit" (at least (ro+isional) ,ith all >inds of
(eo(le (Y).
2. To refse to gi+e s((ort to -olle-ti+e si-ides. 0n (ra-tise< to ?rea>< not
ne-essaril" ,ith those ,ho ma>e a different anal"sis of +iolen-e< ?t as a
matter of (rin-i(le ,ith all those ,ho are na?le to gi+e a -lear definition of
their o,n se of +iolen-e.
3. To ta>e ( theor"< ,hile de+elo(ing< as far as one -an< lin>s and -onta-ts.
4. 0n (arti-lar to nderta>e the anal"sis of the -rrent -ommnist
mo+ement. !e ,old onl" dis(la-e the (ro?lem ?" -entering it on those
gro(s ,hi-h failed (Y). The im(ortant thing is to see ,hat these failres
,ere the sign and (rod-t of. ;
:nl" the first t,o (oints ,ere a-hie+ed in the "ears ,hi-h follo,ed. La Banquise
attem(ts to a((l" the t,o latter< mutatis mutandis5 Hchan)in) those thin)s that
ha%e to be chan)edI
Page 62
The la-> of a -ommon (oliti-al line< as ,ell as the la-> of de+elo(ment of (rin-i(les
of re+oltionar" a-tion< had e3(ressed itself in 1962 and ?efore then throgh an
n-oordinated agitation. 0n 1963< ,hen Mou%ement $ommuniste ,as -onfronted
,ith a )estion of life or death< these a?sen-es a((eared fatal. The ties ?et,een
the (eo(le ,ho had (rod-ed Mou%ement $ommuniste ?e-ame strained. 0f the
a-tions of the gro( ,ere o(en to -riti-ism the inertia of the rest of the
re+oltionar" mo+ement -onfronted ,ith the *(anish affair ,as no ?etter. Bt the
ina?ilit" of this milie to ta>e a -ommon (osition on the isse< and to -ond-t a
-olle-ti+e a-ti+it" ,hi-h -old ha+e -ome do,n to the distri?tion of te3ts< still had
nothing to do ,ith the drift into terrorism ,hi-h too> the form of .410.

re--olle-ting or (ast (1&)
*risis an$ 9utono#,
$-onomi- -risis has ?een o+ersed to e3(lain an"thing and e+er"thing. !or>ing
-lass s((ort for -a(italism ,as s--essi+el" e3(lained ?" (ros(erit" (the -arrot of
,age rises) and ?" de(ression (the sti-> of nem(lo"ment). !ithin or -rrent
some ?elie+ed that -risis -old onl" 9 fel ; the (roletarian s?+ersion ,hi-h
emerged arond 1958. Not ?e-ase miser" ,old dri+e (roletarians to re+olt< ?t
?e-ase the -risis 9 re+ealed the fragilit" of the s"stem and mlti(lied the
o((ortnities for inter+ention ?" the (roletariat ; (Din) Don) 7nternational< no 1.
1965< (. 3).
!e donDt sa" 9 long li+e the -risis M ; nor do ,e ?id an" (rematre 9 fare,ells ; to
Ca(ital and (roletariat. *ome allo, themsel+es to ?e-ome o?sessed ?" the -risis
and -losel" monitor the fall in the rate of (rofit< as if ?e"ond some -riti-al threshold
it ,old ne-essaril" lead to a so-ial ot?rst. Bo,e+er< the )estion of -rises is not
an e-onomi- )estion< and the fall in the rate of (rofit is onl" an indi-ator of the
-risis of a so-ial relation. !hen Mar3ism< ado(ting a -a(italist (oint of +ie,<
,onders ,hether or not fa-tories ,ill -lose< it stri(s the -risis of its so-ial im(a-t.
0n the *e-ond 0nternational< as in the Third< (eo(le nearl" al,a"s -on-ei+ed of the
-lass strggle as ?eing e3ternal to the -risis. 4--ording to this -on-e(tion< ,hen the
e-onom" enters into -risis< it sets (roletarians in motion< and ,hat the" then do
has no relation to their e3isten-e ,ithin the -lass of ,age earners. %or theoreti-al
-ommnism< so-iet" is nitar"< and -lass strggle< e+en reformist -lass strggle<
-ontri?tes to the -risis< in ,hi-h the (roletariat either is< or is not< a?le to e3(lode
the so-ial relations ,hi-h -onstitte it.
9 (Y) Those ,ho -ont on a -risis of o+er(rod-tion< ,ith its (ro-ession of
tens of millions of nem(lo"ed in e+er" -ontr"< in order to (rod-e ,hat
the" term Pthe a,a>ening of the -ons-iosness of the (roletariatP < are +er"
dangerosl" mista>en (Y). The nem(lo"ed masses ,ill see> ,or> and onl"
,or>< for ,hi-h it is ne-essar" to restore the (oisonos -ir-it of
-ommodities (Y). Certainl"< /enin< Trots>" and e+en Mar3 ?elie+ed the"
-old dete-t re+oltionar" (ossi?ilities in the -stomar" -"-li-al -rises< ?t
,ithot e+er -onsidering them indis(ensa?le. 1ealit" stood in o((osition to
that ho(e< +er" o?+iosl" dring the last real -risis (1929-33) (Y) nli>e
toda" the -on-rete (ro?lems of the -ommnist re+oltion didnDt ta>e sha(e<
distin-tl"< throgh all the relations of -a(italism< ,hi-h more and more are
e3(erien-ed as seless and intolera?le -onstraints. 0t is from this< and not
from the ?rea>do,n of e-onomi- fn-tions that the (roletariat mst organise
itself against the s"stem. ;
9 .am?ling on the -risis of o+er(rod-tion means refsing to fight on an"
terrain other than that most ad+antageos to the enem" (Y). The -lass
a-tions ,hi-h ,ill a,a>en the re+oltionar" -ons-iosness< first of tens of
thosands of ,or>ers< and then of hndreds of millions< mst ?e nderta>en
-ommen-ing from the -onditions of la?or< not of nem(lo"ment< and
-ommen-ing from (oliti-al -onditions and the -onditions of life nder their
mlti(le as(e-ts (Y). Toda" re+oltionar" (ra-tise ta>es as its starting (oint
Page 64
the negation of all the fn-tional as(e-ts of -a(italism< and mst o((ose to
ea-h of those (ro?lems the soltions of -ommnist re+oltion. *in-e itDs ?een
the (osition for a long time that< ,hate+er the -a(italist e-onomi- sitation<
at least a fra-tion of the ,or>ing -lass ,ill not nderta>e this >ind of
strggle< there -old ?e a -risis ten times greater than the last ?efore
re+oltionar" -ons-iosness ,as restored. %or there -an ?e no
-ons-iosness< either ,ithin the (roletariat< or among re+oltionaries<
otside the strggle to -hange those str-tres and s(erstr-tres ,hi-h
ha+e ?e-ome rea-tionar"< and ,hi-h o((ress e+en ,hen the" fn-tion nder
(erfe-t -onditions. ;
9 !hat mst a-t as a reagent on the ,or>ing -lass is not the a--ident of a
great -risis of o+er(rod-tion ,hi-h might ma>e them regret the 17 or 12
hors of drdger" in the fa-tor" or offi-e< ?t the -risis of the s"stem of ,or>
and of -a(italist asso-iation< ,hi-h< itself< is (ermanent< >no,s no frontiers
and #orsens e%en #ith an optimal )ro#th o" the system. 0ts disastros
effe-ts s(are neither the indstrialised nor the ?a->,ard Eones< 1ssia and
its satellites no more than the 'nited *tates. This is the most im(ortant asset
of the ,orld (roletariat. 0t ,ill render a--onts ?etter nder 9 normal ;
-onditions< ,here realit" does not a((ear mas>ed ?" a sitation of famine ;
(.. Mnis. Part"-*tate. *talinism. 1e+oltion. *(arta-s< 196& ((. 95-96)
The de-iding fa-tor is ne+er the ta>e-off or inhi?ition of gro,th< ?t the
-onfigration of the so-ial for-es in+ol+ed. 0n 1916-21< the (roletarian assalt
?egan dring a (oliti-al and e-onomi- -risis. 4fter 1929< des(ite the ending of the
e-onomi- ?oom (ho,e+er limited) of the 1927s< the ?alan-e of (o,er leaned
hea+il" in fa+or of Ca(ital< the ,estern ?orgeoisies as m-h as the -onter-
re+oltion in the '**1. !hereas in 1916-21 the (roletariat had ?enefited (?adl"<
?t Cst the sameY) from the (oliti-o-so-ial o((ositions< in 1929< it ,as na?le to
?enefit from the de(ression. !hen the -risis of 1929 er(ted< the (rin-i(al ,a+e of
the (roletarian assalt had alread" e??ed< and at a glo?al le+el the (roletariat ,as
?eaten. *-h is not the -ase toda". Bo,e+er MnisDs argment seems to ha+e
retained its +ale< as is sho,n ?" the ?eha+ior of (roletarians sin-e 1964.
That "ear a -risis a((eared for all to see ,hi-h e+er sin-e then hasnDt sto((ed
dee(ening. 0t atta->ed (roletarians ?oth dire-tl" A their (r-hasing (o,er de-reased
?" 17L in the '* in 1969 and 1987< as ,ell as indire-tl" A nem(lo"ment
reintrod-ed shar(er -om(etition ?et,een them and the -hildren of the middle
-lasses for lo, le+el em(lo"ment. 0n -ontrast to the 1957s the (re+iosl" (rote-ted
-ore of ,age ,or>ers (adlt male nationals< that is to sa" s>illed or nionised< or
?oth) sa, its ?enefits -t. 0n its trn it no, also e3(erien-ed a loss of Co? se-rit".
The ?orgeoisie ndermined the ?asis of its s((ort in the ,or>ers milie< it
rationalised (rod-tion ?" eliminating the least (rod-ti+e< and ?" allo,ing so-ial
ser+i-es to deteriorate. 0n an earlier (eriod it had attem(ted to in-rease rates of
,or> to ma>e ( for lost (rod-ti+it"< something ,hi-h had triggered man" ,ild-at
stri>es at the start of the 67s. %rom no, on it attem(ted to fndamentall"
restr-tre (rod-tion. %or the ne3t se+en "ears ,or>ers -ond-ted defensi+e
strggles ,hi-h generall" a-hie+ed (artial s--ess. Neither Ca(ital or la?or
s--eeded in im(osing themsel+es< the latter merel" rea-ting to the ?lo,s of the
former. The -a(a-it" of the s"stem to a?sor? these ?lo,s ,as stri>ing.
The immediate isse in ,or>ers strggles ,as generall" (reser+ing ,ages and
em(lo"ment inta-t. /0P ,as the most famos e3am(le of the -hara-teristi-
(henomenon of this (eriod A -ommnal defen-e against fa-tor" -losres. *-h
strggles< ,hi-h -onstitte ,or>ers into -ommnities ?ased on the ,or>(la-e and
then -onfine them ,ithin it< had a((eared ?efore /0P< for e3am(le in the te3tile
indstr"< and ,ere not -onfined to %ran-e or e+en $ro(e A Ka(an had also >no,n
man" -om(ara?le mo+ements.
Contrar" to ,hat ,as said or ?elie+ed ?" the ,or>ers in these ,or>-ins< at least
those ,e >no, a?ot< the" didnDt see> to (rod-e in a di""erent #ay ,hile
remaining ,age ,or>ers< rather the" ,ere (rimaril" in sear-h of a -om(an" A the"
?e-ame their o,n ?osses ,hile ,aiting for real ones.
9 :tside these ,alls< ,e are no longer an"thing. ;
Koe Toia< 49 "ears old< ?rea>-do,n me-hani- at Chr"sler< Jetroit< e3(laining
,h" the ,or>ers refsed to stri>e against their -om(an" ,hi-h ,as in
diffi-lt".
These mo+ements ,ere ?orn in rea-tion to indstrial reorganisation. *ometimes it
ha((ened that ,or>ers made Ca(ital (a" for their do,ngrading< follo,ing the
e3am(le of the metal-,or>ers of Baden-!rtem?erg in 1968< ,here the o,ners
-ommitted themsel+es to garantee e)i+alent em(lo"ment< and their (re+ios
,ages< to those em(lo"ees affe-ted ?" te-hnologi-al e+oltion. :?tained after a 15
da" stri>e and 13 da" lo->ot ?" 247<777 ,or>ers< the agreement -on-erned 47L
of .erman metal ,or>ers. Bt s-h arrangements ,ere the e3-e(tion. %or the
moment indstrial reorganisation ,as on-e again in lim?o< and ho,e+er m-h
(eo(le nderstood the (lan and the ?eginnings of its realisation throgh ro?oti-s<
the" ,ere e)all" n-lear a?ot the (a-e of its introd-tion. The )estion ,as far
from ?eing a (rel" te-hnologi-al one A the e3tent and ra(idit" of ro?otiEation< and
the forms ta>en ?" in+estments and inno+ation< de(end on the relations ?et,een
-lasses. .enerall"< it seems that Ca(ital -an no longer re-"-le those e3(elled from
indstr"< as formerl" it had re-"-led those e3(elled from the -ontr"side.
Toda" ,e ?etter nderstand that the fall in (rofita?ilit" arises from -onstraints on
+alorisation< ,hi-h is threatened ?" the e3-essi+e fragmentation of ,or>< and from
-onstraints on Ca(italDs re(rod-tion of all the -onditions of life< ?e-ase that
re(rod-tion in-ldes ser+i-es ,hi-h -annot ?e red-ed to o?Ce-ts of -onsm(tion
re(rod-ed in series. 0n the -olle-ti+e ser+i-es< (rod-ti+it" -annot ?e the same as
that of indstr". 4nd if the *tate ta>es them o+er< it is to the detriment of the
-a(italist -olle-ti+it".
:ne soltion ,old ?e to (ass from the ma-hine s"stem to a s"stem of atomati-
(rod-tion< ,hi-h has its o,n internal -oheren-e (feed?a->< self-reglation<
(rogramming< and not Cst a sim(le e3e-tion of the orders gi+en). The ma-hines
are to ?e ?roght nder -ontrol< or in other ,ords reglated< ?" one another< the
o?Ce-ti+e ?eing to a-hie+e self--ontrol. 0t is less a )estion of going ?e"ond man
than of ma>ing him more (rod-ti+e. Be is to ?e ?etter s(er+ised ?t< in
(arti-lar< things are to ?e organised so that e+en ,ithot monitoring ,or> -an onl"
?e done ,ell< the me-hani-al -onstraint ?eing sffi-ient.
This is -ertainl" another as(e-t of the -a(italist to(ia. !hen 9 Co? enri-hment ;
,as s((osed to remed" the 9 shattered ,or> ; (. %reidmann) of the ns>illed<
Page 65
(eo(le e3aggerated the signifi-an-e of the 2ol+o e3(eriment< ,hi-h (rod-ed
medio-re e-onomi- and so-ial effe-ts. !ith or ,ithot the aid of ele-troni-s<
(roletarian self-e3(loitation ,ill ne+er ?e a massi+e (henomenon.
To date it does not seem that Ca(ital has the -a(a-it" to release and (t in (la-e
the enormos in+estments ne-essar" for this restr-tring. 4 general de(re-iation
in the -onte3t of a so-ial (hea+al< the form of ,hi-h ,e -annot en+isage< ,old
ma>e it m-h easier. Je+alorisation ?roght a?ot ?" -risis is more than an
e-onomi- fa-t< it also means the -ards ?eing re-dealt ,ithin the ?orgeoisie< and
(oliti-al reorganisation< ,ith ne, forms of (o,er and ne, mediations ?et,een
la?or and Ca(ital< something (eo(le ha+e alread" e3(erien-ed than>s to the
do?le sho->s of 1914-18 and 1939-4&.
%rom the (oint of +ie, of the ,or>ers ,hat is at sta>e< as at the time of the
introd-tion of the *-ientifi- Management of ,or>< is not sim(l" em(lo"ment and
remneration. 0t is also a )estion of the transformation of ,or> itself< ,hi-h
-a(italist e+oltion ,old li>e see more reglated and ?etter -ontrolled ?" the
enter(rise. The -hoi-e is a so-ial one A is it ne-essar" to transfer a gi+en ,or>
station to a -ontr" ,ith -hea(er la?or # Bt< then< ,hat is to ?e done ,ith the
nem(lo"ed this -reates in the ad+an-ed indstrial -ontries # :r< do "o ro?otiEe
the fa-tor" # Bt then ho, do "o res(ond to the ,or>ers demands # 0n 1964<
ns>illed %ren-h -ar ,or>ers< re-ent immigrants< ad+an-ed traditional demands. 0n
1983 the ns>illed (ainters at 1enalt< man" of them se-ond generation immigrants
eager to remain in %ran-e< and ,or>ing in a de(artment threatened ,ith
atomation< foght to o?tain the stats of s>illed ,or>ers ,hi-h ,old ha+e
garanteed retraining after the moderniEation of the se-tion. $3isting on the ?asis
of these material di+isions< the trade nions hesitated to s((ort these ,or>ers< ?t
the" -old not ignore them either.
Born ot of the (re+ios fl-tations in gro,th< the 9 ne, so-ial mo+ements ;
thri+ed dring the re-ession< ,hi-h -reated diffi-lties in all areas A hosing<
trans(ort< leisre et-. *ome of the sers themsel+es too> -harge of se-tors ,hi-h
fn-tioned too (oorl". 4mong them a fringe ?e-ame radi-alised< nota?l" throgh
+iolen-e.
This radi-alisation of a margin ins-ri?ed itself throgh ,hat ,as the onl" genine
(rod-t of the -risis A the (henomenon of atonom". 4s ,e ha+e seen< no mass
,or>ing -lass organisations ,ere -reated after 1958< or after 1964. 4lthogh< ,ith
mar+ellos -onsisten-"< leftists -ontined to attem(t to (rod-e them M
:--asionall"< ,or>ers organisations ,ere -reated< and not Cst in %ran-e< ?t these
ne+er ,ent ?e"ond a lo-al le+el. There ,as no longer a (la-e for an" >ind of
anar-ho-s"ndi-alism or 0!!. 4tonom" in the sense ,e se it here< re(resented
the demonstration at :+erne"Ds fneral raised to the le+el of a so-ial mo+ement.
That demonstration had -on-retised the dee( resentment of a-ti+e fra-tions of the
(o(lation against so-ial order< traditional (oliti-s and the e3isting instittions. *-h
resentment< ,hi-h to some e3tent ,as ,ides(read in the !est< -old ta>e t,o
o((osing forms A that of the 9 alternati+e ; mo+ement< -ondemned< either throgh
tail-ending the e3isting instittions or throgh -reating ne, ones< to stimlate state
reformismG or else that of terrorism< ,hi-h s,iftl" merged into a neo-/eninism from
,hi-h it retrned to third-,orldism< or maoist-(o(lism. 4gainst these t,o
tem(tations< -onstantl" threatening to "ield to one or other of them< atonom" ,as
the e3(ression of the anti-(oliti-al and anti--a(italist resentment felt ?" strata that
,ere more or less marginaliEed a--ording to -ontr".
0tDs no a--ident that atonom" (roliferated to s-h an e3tent in 0tal". Be-ase of
the (arti-larities in the formation of the national nit< the 0talian *tate ,as
in+ol+ed less a-ti+el"< and in a less dire-t ,a"< than in %ran-e< ,ithin a less
-entralised so-ial and (oliti-al life. Thogh a strong nationalised se-tor e3isted in
0tal"< its nits ?e-ame fiefdoms es-a(ing from *tate -ontrol. The 0talian e-onom"
-onfronted the -risis ?" rel"ing on the initiati+e of (ri+atel" o,ned -om(anies and
e+en of illegal -ontra-tors< in the iron and steel indstr" (Bres-ia region)< as ,ell as
in te3tiles. 0talian e3(orts ?enefited from the s(er-e3(loitation of a (roletariat
em(lo"ed in a semi-legal se-tor of small ?sinesses. 0n 1969 it ,as estimated that
13<777 te3tile -om(anies ,ith an a+erage ,or>for-e of fi+e em(lo"ees e3(orted as
m-h as the for largest %ren-h arms manfa-trers.
0talian *tate strateg" -onsisted of -ontrolling nothing in detail in order to ?etter
>ee( o+erall -ontrol. 4fter 1959 0talian so-iet" im(loded< -reating a +a-m in
,hi-h initiati+e< es-a(ing from -entral -ontrol ?" the esta?lished order< retrned to
a mltitde of gro(s and tenden-ies. This o--rred in all areas A the e-onom"< the
media (a (roliferation of (ri+atel" o,ned radio and T2 stations) and in (oliti-s
(-ons(ira-ies< terrorism< atonom" et-.). 4tonom" made itDs ,a" ,ithin a so-iet"
that ,as in the gri( of a >ind of -i+il -old ,ar ?et,een these -entrifgal tenden-ies<
,hile the -onser+ati+e for-es of Ca(ital em(lo"ed themsel+es in (la"ing off one
against another. The -onfli-t ndermined so-ial -ohesion ,ithot 8 for the
moment 8 -hanging an"thing essential. 0t ,as ne-essar" to (oorl" nderstand the
natre of the *tate to see the imminen-e of re+oltion in 0talian so-iet"< as the
*itationists did. Bt e)all"< it ,old ?e m"o(i- to see onl" -onfsion.
0t is tre that the +iolen-e often onl" filled a +a-m and that follo,ing the e3am(le
of Ma" in %ran-e< ,ords often re(la-ed deeds. Bt 9 armed strggle ; < ,hether
si-idal or mani(lated< ,as the atonomised as(e-t of a +iolen-e ?orn in fa-tories
or -ities< ,here (roletarians res(onded to (ressre from the ?osses and state< and
to -ontrol ?" the trade nions< ,ith arson< sa?otage and ?om?ings. 0n-reasingl"
isolated from the maCorit" of ,or>ers< it ,as more and more dri+en to gi+e an
9 e3am(le ; to the masses in order to (sh them into strggle.
!here there is nothing e3-e(t +iolen-e< it is a sign of failre. 4 (roletarian
mo+ement -an ta>e on ?osses or ma-hines< ,hether sele-ti+el" or in an
insrre-tion. Bt in ere-ting +iolen-e into a s"stem< and in (retending to ma>e it
the heart of a strateg"< Cst as illsor" as an" other strateg" otside of the so-ial
mo+ement< terrorism s?stittes itself for the latter. 2iolen-e limits itself to
dee(ening the (oliti-al -risis and transforms (roletarians into s(e-tators of a
-ontest ,hi-h no longer -on-erns them.
0talian atonom" ,as also a rea-tion ?" ne, ,or>ing strata< neither fa-tor"
,or>ers or traditional em(lo"ees< ,ho ,ere a?andoned ?" the trade nions
?e-ase the" ,ere too +olatile to allo, themsel+es to ?e organised ?" them.
This mi3tre generated a ne, form of anar-hism< sometimes -o(led ,ith a re+i+al
of the -ommnist lefts. The atonomes a-ted li>e anar-hists ?" standing ( to
athorit" in their (ra-tise< not throgh an" to(ianism.
%rom its ?eginnings< 0talian atonom" ,as a m-h larger (henomenon than %ren-h
Page 68
leftism< and ,as the (rod-t of a more +irlent ,or>ing -lass +iolen-e< and of a far
more ,ides(read so-ial reCe-tion< than in %ran-e. !or>ers atonom" ,as an effe-t
of the -risis< not itDs soltion. Man" (roletarians no longer ,anted the trade nions
?t the" did not do the things ,hi-h ,old ha+e rid themsel+es of them. 0t ,as a
refsal of (oliti-s ,hi-h had neither the (o,er or ,ill to -ommnise the ,orld. %or if
that ,ere nderta>en< (eo(le ,old no longer s(ea> of atonom" 8 ne-essaril"
(eo(le ,old a-t in an atonomos ,a" in res(e-t of all the e3isting instittions<
?t throgh ma>ing them seless< ?" destro"ing that ,hi-h gi+es them a so-ial
fn-tion and ?ase. 9 4tonom" ; < as s-h< is the realit" of a (roletariat ,hi-h
se-edes< or de(arts (tem(oraril") from the norm< ?t ,ithot an" a?ilit" (and by
itsel") to o+erthro, it. To theorise this ga( is to Cstif" a la->< to ma>e a
short-oming (ass for its remed".
4fter 1959< ,hi-h sa, the first nited general stri>e ,ith a so-ial goal (o+er
hosing)< it ,as ,or>ing -lass a-tion ,hi-h o?liged the trade nions to nite. The
trade-nion leadershi(s -old not fn-tion as athoritarian str-tres. $+en less
than the (arties< the" -old not form an a((arats that im(osed itself on ,age
,or>ers. The trade nions had to ?e (ermea?le to ,or>ers atonom" and to feed
on it. 4s for the nmeros atonomos ,or>ers organisations ,hi-h emerged o+er
the last ten "ears< not Cst in 0tal"< the" formed a different str-tre< ?ased on a
different rationalit" than trade nion negotiations< ?t des(ite e+er"thing the"
remained immersed in the -a(italist organisation of ,or>. There is no o?+ios
se(aration ?et,een demanding ?enefits in ones ,or> and (arti-i(ating in the
organisation of that ,or>. :ne leads to the other. To demand the right to o+ersee
,or>ing -onditions and ,ages is to ?egin to organiEe ,or>. 0n the same ,a"
,or>ers 9 rights ; (to meet< to -ommni-ate< to leafletY) ?e-ome trade nion
rights.
Ths< to the e3tent that the" remain on the terrain of demands< these atonomos
,or>ers organisations< as such< -annot (ro(ose a re+oltionar" alternati+e. The"
?e-ome the fo-s of (roletarian e3(erien-e onl" on -ondition that the" lea+e the
terrain ,hi-h ga+e them ?irth. 0ne+ita?l"< ho,e+er< the maCorit" st-> to ,ishing to
defend ,age ,or>ers ?etter than the offi-ial organisations. Conse)entl" these
,ere not (otentiall" re+oltionar" str-tres< ?t e)all"< as the" stood the" ,ere
not assimila?le ?" the e3isting instittions< ?e-ase their anti-hierar-hi-al natre
and their ran> and fileism ,as in-om(ati?le ,ith so-ial order< in-lding that of the
trade nions. Bt the instittions -old digest some of the (ie-es.
4fter the sho->,a+e of 1959-67< the trade nions attem(ted to reno+ate
themsel+es throgh demo-rati- str-tres and 9 nion (o,er ; inside the
enter(rise. Their initiati+es ,ere gi+en a ?attering in 1966< and the leader of the
C.0/ ,as for-i?l" e3(elled from a ni+ersit" ,here he held a rall". Bt atonom"<
-ongealing in an immo?ilised sitation< re+i+ed the -on-illist errors of 1959-67.
This -old onl" ?e the self-organisation of a fra-tion of so-iet"< standing a(art from
the rest< dire-tl" ta>ing -ertain as(e-ts of its life into its hands (s)atting< the ato-
red-tion of e3-essi+e -harges). Bo,e+er in ta>ing themsel+es onto the so-ial
terrain< ,ithot an" real -onne-tion ?et,een (rod-tion and the s(a-e otside
(rod-tion< these strggles ran ( against the same (ro?lems and re(rod-ed the
same -ontradi-tions fond in traditional fa-tor" strggles. The energies e3(ended
dis(ersed themsel+es< and ?e-ame lost in the s(a-e of an economy ,hi-h ,as not
-alled into )estion.
0n the more ad+an-ed -a(italist -ontries< there ,ere fe,er half-soltions.
4meri-an< !est .erman< Jt-h and e+en Janish 9 (arallel ; mo+ements ?roght
into ?eing a real organised marginalit"< (alliating the defi-ien-ies of normal Ca(ital
,ith a marginal -a(italism. 0n these -ontries< nli>e %ran-e or 0tal"< the -risis of
the *-ientifi- Management of ,or> had not -oin-ided ,ith its final im(lementation.
*o the '* and !est .erman" sa, a marginal ghetto< ,hile 0tal"< in the form of
atonom"< ga+e ?irth to a mo+ement that ,as -onfsedl" radi-al.
0talian 4tonom" ,as the most e3treme ,ing of a leftism that ,as more so-ial and
less (oliti-al than in %ran-e. (0n the same ,a" that the 0talian Commnist Part" had
for a long time ?een more 9 o(en ; than the %ren-h Commnist Part" A ten "ears
ago it ,as (ro-laiming ,hat the left does toda"< stating in 1964 that it ,old a--e(t
asterit" (ro+ided that it ser+ed the needs of str-tral reform). 0talian leftism
(rofited from an intelle-tal re+i+al in the si3ties< at a time ,hen %ran-e ?" -ontrast
,as ndergoing str-tralism< and in its ,a>e 4lthsser< et-.
4fter 1959< &otere Operaio ,anted to ?ring organisation to a do?le mo+ement
(?oth ,or>ers and stdents) of ns>illed ,or>ers< asserting a -olle-ti+e ?eing and
the need to ta>e (oliti-al (o,er< not in order to manage or hmanise (rod-tion<
?t in order to -hange the ,hole of so-iet". There ,as an nderstanding that the
re+oltion ,as not (rimaril" a ,or>ing -lass (ro?lem< ?t this ,as still e3(ressed
,ithin a so-iologi-al--lassist (ers(e-ti+e. *o instead of the ,or>ing -lass in the
sal sense< the" made ot that most (eo(le ,ere (art of 9 the -lass ;. This
tenden-" to,ards a refsal of the ideolog" of ,or>< e+en thogh it ,as e3(ressed
,ithin a (oliti-al (ers(e-ti+e< ,as ndo?tedl" the frthest that leftism -old go.
0t ,as also an attem(t to renif" (roletarians throgh a retrn to the -on-il (,ith
the aid of .rams-i)< and to the nit" of the -lass. :n the ?asis of the ne, realit" of
the ,or>er as -olle-ti+e (rod-er of sr(ls +ale (in fa-t anal"sed ?" Mar3< ?t
(er-ei+ed as ne,)< Tronti and Negri s(o>e of the mass-,or>er< of the -olle-ti+e
,or>er< in other ,ords of nion throgh the la?or-(ro-ess< ,hen on the -ontrar" it
,as ne-essar" to lea+e ?ehind an" (re and sim(le defen-e of the (roletarian
-ondition.
The (ro(osal of a garanteed ,age for e+er"?od"< em(lo"ed and nem(lo"ed
,or>ers< hose,i+es< stdents and marginals soght to ?ring together the ,or>ing
strata A e+er"one in fa-t< a(art from a minorit" of ?orgeois and middle managers.
These so--alled 9 (oliti-al ; ,ages -orres(onded to the -on-rete need to s((ress
the ,age -ontrol Eones in 0tal"< and for niform in-reases in ,ages. 0t ,as nothing
less than a )estion of creatin) a (roletariat throgh the ni+ersal generalisation of
,ages. The atonome (latform -hose a -a(italist to(ia for its theoreti-al horiEon.
0ts egalitarianism< simltaneosl" a standardiEation of the (roletarian -ondition< and
a ?ringing together in -ommon -ase< re(resented a sear-h for a >ind of nifi-ation
,hi-h -old onl" ?e a-hie+ed in a re+oltion< and one ,ith -ommnist o?Ce-ti+es.
0n %ran-e< atonom" ,as es(e-iall" -om(osed of a fringe of ot of ,or> "oths<
,hi-h is -ertainl" not in or +ie, gronds for -ondemnation. The (roletariat is also
-onstitted on the ?asis of the nem(lo"ed< ,hether more or less +olntar"< of
tem(orar" ,or>ers< of (ett" delin)ents< of dS-lassS intelle-tals. The strength and
radi-alit" of a (roletarian mo+ement ,ill ?e identified amongst other things ?" the
fa-t that it integrates those ,ho are e3-lded from ,age-la?or< ,hi-h ,ill hel( it
not to -onfine itself inside the limits of the ,or>(la-e. Bt in %ran-e far more than
Page 87
in 0tal"< the atonom" ,hi-h asserted itself as s-h ,as -entred on the +iolen-e of
the marginal. The atonomes ,ere nderstanda?l" disgsted ,ith (oliti-s< the left
and leftism. The" ,ere right to refse to (la" the game of demo-ra-" ,hi-h is the
?est garantor of -i+il (ea-e. Bt the" la(sed into a fetishism of +iolen-e and
illegalit". Neither of these things are a?solte -riteria of radi-alit"< and neither -an
transform into a s?+ersi+e a-t something ,hi-h isnDt. !here it -orres(onds to a
massi+e srge against the e3isting instittions the (ra-tise of the ?rea>a,a" demo
is a -riti)e in deeds of (oliti-s. Bt ,hen it ?e-omes s"stematiEed to the (oint of
?e-oming an end in itself< it is as derisor" and im(otent as an" other (ointless
demonstration. This -old ?e seen in the anti-n-lear demoDs s-h as that at
Mal+ille (1966). 4gainst the maCorit" of (ea-efl e-ologists ,as C3ta(osed a
minorit" determined to fight< ,ho merel" added their +iolen-e to a demonstration
,hi-h o+erall ,as reformist. :--(ations of a(artment ?lo->s too> on an im(ortant
as(e-t of the -a(italist organisation of life. Bt red-ed to the esta?lishment of
ghettoes the" la(sed into marginalit"< des(ite the +iolen-e dis(la"ed ?" the
o--(ants.
:n Mar-h 23 1969< ,hen the steel,or>ers of /orraine ,ho had ?een -ondemned to
nem(lo"ment ?" restr-tring< res(onded to a -all from their trade nions and
-ame to Paris to demonstrate< ,hat ha((ened in the streets smmed ( +er" ,ell
the sitation o+er the last fe, "ears A the limits of the ,or>ers strggles< the
im(otent +iolen-e of the atonomes and the (?li- non-e3isten-e of the
re+oltionar" -rrent. 4 great man" of the steel,or>ers had -ome for a fight and
had e)i((ed themsel+es a--ordingl". The" s?stitted a destr-ti+e e3altation for
,hat the" had not ?een a?le to do in their o,n indstrial to,ns< that is to sa"< go
?e"ond the (roletarian -ondition. 4 ,or>ing -lass radi-alit" affirmed itself. This ,as
not sim(l" a defen-e of em(lo"ment. The de+astation of the -ommer-ial and
finan-ial -entre of Paris and the see>ing ot of -onfrontation ,ith the (oli-e
e3(ressed a hostilit" to,ards the entire s"stem. There is a )alitati+e differen-e
?et,een rising ( in "or o,n to,n< 9 at home ;< and ta>ing the dis(te to the
geogra(hi-al heart of the nationDs -a(ital.
The trade nions ,ere o+er,helmed< ?t not -alled into )estion. The" had
retained -ontrol of the material organisation of the demonstration and ?sied
themsel+es tr"ing to limit the damage and the -onta-t ?et,een the ,or>ers and the
atonomes. The latter too> an a-ti+e (art in the -onfrontation ,ith the (oli-e and
the destr-tion of (ro(ert"< ?t ,ere in-a(a?le of an" other lin> or (ra-ti-al a-ti+it"
,ith the ,or>ers e3-e(t 9 fight ;. No so-ial (roCe-t and no initial theoreti-al ste(s
animated these -lashes. The -hara-teristi-s of the mo+ement ,hi-h a((eared
arond 1958 (ersisted. 0t ,as essentiall" negati+e< ga+e itself no -on-rete
o?Ce-ti+es< and still did not nderstand< ,ithin and throgh its (ra-tise< that the
destr-tion of -a(italism in+ol+es (ositi+e measres of so-ial transformation. 0t
,old ha+e ?een sefl if ,e had ?een (resent on Mar-h 23 1969< on or o,n
terms. !e -ertainl" -old not ha+e a?olished the limits of this nrest< e+en less
gi+en it a (rogramme ,hi-h it did not itself ?ear. That ,old ?e to la(se into
leftism< in other ,ords the management of other (eo(les strggles 8 ,hi-h is ,hat
the ideologes of atonom" attem(ted in ?oth %ran-e and 0tal". The dissemination
of or ideas dring this da" of rage ,old ha+e had no immediate +isi?le effe-ts<
?t it is li>el" that it ,old ha+e ena?led s to esta?lish some lin>s and that it
,old ha+e left some tra-es. Bet,een 1958 and 1963 a re+oltionar" -rrent had
e3isted in %ran-e ,hi-h ,as homogenos enogh to mo?ilise itself ,hen ne-essar"<
,ithot ?eing halted ?" the ?ondaries ?et,een gro(s. 0n 1966 a (art of this
-rrent deri+ed from /a 2ieille Ta(e and its en+irons had ?een a?le to regro( in
order to inter+ene o+er the Baader affair. Bt in 1969 this -rrent ,as too
dislo-ated to inter+ene in a nified ,a". 0t >e(t silent or ,as e3tremel" dis-reet.
!ithin a so-ial mo+ement the a?sen-e of a (roCe-t is not to ?e de(lored ?e-ase it
is ne-essar" that e+er" s?+ersi+e gestre is a--om(anied ?" its o,n theoreti-al
e3(lanation< and that e+er"one is a?le to define -ommnism. 0t is the sitation of
the (roletariat ,hi-h triggers itDs a-ti+it"< and -ons-iosness onl" a((ears as
-ons-iosness of the a-t< not in ad+an-e of it. Toda"< as ideolog"< atonom" is
more or less dead. Bt the (ra-tises ,hi-h the atonomes had ,anted to organise
remain< in a more diffse ,a". The ,ill to refse the old ,orld in e+er" moment of
life< in isolation from an" so-ial mo+ement< ine+ita?l" la(ses into one or other of the
errors set ot a?o+e 8 a margin more or less red-ed to ?eggar"< or terrorism< or a
s"nthesis of the t,o A delin)en-" ,ith a (oliti-al Cstifi-ation. !e donDt (retend to
-riti-iEe those ,ho ha+e in -ommon ,ith s a refsal of the old ,orld< and a ,ill to
li+e this refsal toda" in (ra-tise as "ar as possible< for the manner in ,hi-h the"
sr+i+e. Bt (ra-ti-es ,hi-h ignore the so-ial mo+ement ,hi-h (rod-e them are
-ondemned to ?lindl" -harge to,ards reforms or to,ards si-ide. !hile it is tre
that (oliti-s and militantism feed on theor" that has degraded into ideolog"< a (re
and sim(le refsal of theor" onl" reslts in ?e-oming lost in the immediate< in other
,ords in s?mitting to Ca(ital ,hi-h organises that immediate realit"< or else in
d"ing. 9 !ithot re+oltionar" theor" there is no re+oltionar" mo+ement... ;
The sdden a((earan-e of atonom" ,as the frit of a so-ial -risis that is still
insol?le< for Ca(ital as ,ell as for the (roletariat. 0t -onfirmed the e3isten-e< in
fa-tories and else,here< of a small minorit" ?oth resolte and read" to a-t. Bt a-t
to ,hat (r(ose # Bere the theoreti-al defi-ien-" is serios. The atonomes
sffered to an a-te degree from a disease that is endemi- ,ithin the re+oltionar"
milie A the irresisti?le rge to,ards a-ti+ism. Jrtti had also ,anted to a-t
,ithot en-m?ering himself ,ith -hattering intelle-tals. Bt in s(ite of the m"ths
maintained a?ot him ?" the anar-hists< the *itationist 0nternational and e+en
ro-> msi-ians< ,e shold not lose sight of the essential (oint A his need to a-t
(la-ed him in the ser+i-e of the re(?li-an state against a ri+al state form. !hile
-ons-iosness does not (re-ede a-tion< it is an indis(ensa?le moment of it.
4t a different le+el the e+oltion of ./4T also testified to the -risis of re+oltionar"
theor". 0n 1968 the gro( de-ided to -ontine its theoreti-al ,or>< ?t -eased
(?lishing its ?lletin< ,hi-h for se+eral "ears had ?een one of the (rin-i(al sor-es
of intelle-tal norishment for re+oltionaries< Cst at the moment ,hen this
thoght and the -ontri?tion of ./4T ,as most needed. ./4T said it -old no
longer see the relation ?et,een itDs ,or> and the rest of the ,orld. Jen"ing the
so-ial fn-tion of re+oltionar" theor"< it still intended to (rse its resear-h e+en
more than e+er< ?t ,ith the sole end of hel(ing intelle-tals go ?e"ond themsel+es
as intelle-tals.
This e3traordinar" (osition ,as the -onter(art of that held ?" Camatte ,ho at the
same moment ,as affirming the need for theoreti-al ,andering< in the name of life.
./4T and Camatte ths sho,ed their in-om(rehension of the relationshi( ?et,een
theor" and e+er"thing else. ./4T forgot that its ?lletin< e+en ,ithot an"
(er-e(ti?le res(onse< norished a theoreti-al matration. B" (referring life to ideas<
Camatte (ro+ed that ( to then he had granted the intelle-t a (ri+ilege ,hi-h it
-annot (ossess< e3-e(t on (enalt" of mtilating the indi+idal< and e+en his
Page 82
intelligen-e A he had ,anted to insert the ,hole of life into the theor". :n-e ha+ing
seen the im(ossi?ilit" of this enter(rise< instead of ta>ing theor" as ,hat it is 8 an
a((ro3imation< the most ade)ate (ossi?le form for a mltiform realit"< a
(ers(e-ti+e on the ,orld ,hi-h does not -ontain the ,orld ?t is -ontained ?" it< an
effort of -om(rehension ,hi-h -an ne+er -om(letel" -om(rehend itself 8 Camatte
thre, o+er?oard an" -laim to -oheren-e.
Ca(italDs trim(h is not so m-h to e3(ort false ideas into the re+oltionar"
mo+ement ?t to ma>e it lose the sense of its relation to so-iet" as a ,hole.
0nstead of de+elo(ing the germs of the so-ial mo+ement ,hi-h a((eared in 1958-
62< e-onomi- -risis onl" added ne, limitations to those of 1958< ,hile (rod-ing a
ne, generation of re+oltionaries.
9 The (resent -risis of Ca(ital has not (rod-ed the re+oltionar" mo+ement
ane,< (arado3i-all" it has onl" dee(ened the -risis of modern re+oltionar"
theor". ; (/D0nternationale 0n-onne< la Guerre $i%ile en &olo)ne< 1965)
7he pirate Mon$e :iplo#ati1ue
The death of Baader and his -omrades (1966) and the rea-tions ,hi-h it (ro+o>ed<
nota?l" in the (ress< ga+e t,o or three of s the idea of (rod-ing a fa>e Monde
Diplomatique. The initiati+e ?roght together o+er a fe, da"s some energies ,hi-h
,ere momentaril" isolated< and others ,ho ,ere then organised else,here. The
main (art of it ,as ,ritten and (rod-ed ?" the (eo(le ,ho toda" (rod-e La
Banquise< ,ith the assistan-e of mem?ers and friends of la Guerre Sociale< and
some others. Part of the te3ts ,ere re(rod-ed in 1968 in 0sse 2 of la Guerre
Sociale.
0t ,as a rea-tion to the s(e-ta-lar reinfor-ement of the *tate in a (eriod of -risis<
,hi-h not onl" re+ealed its means of (oli-ing< ?t also gathered ?ehind it nearl" the
,hole of the media and of the (oliti-al and intelle-tal for-es. %ar more than in the
gise of the (oli-e state that ,as so m-h denon-ed< the -onterre+oltion
a((eared in the form of organised -onsenss. 0n !est .erman"< as else,here< the
(oli-e o(eration fn-tioned than>s to the -onformism maintained ?" so-ial inertia<
and than>s to the gardians of the mono(ol" of s(ee-h A intelle-tals< Cornalists<
(oliti-ians< (rofessors< e3(erts< et-.< ,ho a((lied themsel+es to e3a-er?ating and
managing a (o(lar h"steria ,hi-h ,as ndo?tedl" ,ithot (re-edent in $ro(e
sin-e the last ,orld ,ar. The onl" dis-ordant +oi-es differed in -alling for a 9 tre ;
demo-ra-"< as if this h"steri-al -onsenss ,as not (re-isel" a (rod-t of
demo-ra-".
*o-ial inertia is made (ossi?le not ?" the 9 (assi+it" ; of the ,or>ers ,ho -ontine
no less to -ond-t strggles< ?t ?" res(e-t for the limitations ne-essar" for the
normal fn-tioning of -a(italism and its demo-ra-". 0t is o?+ios that an a-ti+e
-ommnist mo+ement ,old ha+e fond other forms of a-tion< that ,ere offensi+e
in other ,a"s< instead of< or in addition to< this dtournement of the media. !e ?"
no means soght to trn its o,n ,ea(ons against the (ress. Confronting the
Cornalisti- ser+ilit" ,hi-h is (lain to see in the media< ,e didnDt -all for a 9 tre ;
Cornalism ,hi-h ,as less res(e-tfl of (o,er.
!e had -hosen le Monde Diplomatique ?oth for reasons of -on+enien-e 8 its
(eriodi-it"< and ?e-ase the readershi( of this organ 8 left and li?eral intelle-tals<
,as (re-isel" ,ho ,e (arti-larl" ,anted to atta->. The te-hni)e of the forger"
simltaneosl" made it (ossi?le for s to ma>e or (ositions >no,n (distri?tion
throgh ?oo>sho(s and ?" hand)< and to atta-> the media throgh a (ro-ess
analogos to sa?otage in the s(here of (rod-tion.
Je(ri+ed of the means of effe-ti+el" atta->ing the *tate< for e3am(le throgh a
demonstration< or throgh an" other more +irlent a-t< ,e inter+ened in the
domain of ideas< and ,ithin a limited milie. The fa>e Monde Diplomatique did ,hat
the (ress is s((osed to do in times of -risis< and ,hi-h it e+identl" does not do A it
e3er-ised a -riti-al s(irit at a -riti-al moment for (o,er. To this end ,e em(lo"ed
iron" and -on-ealment A a (o,erfl ,ea(on< ?t a ,ea(on of the ,ea> ,ho -annot
-ond-t a frontal atta->. !e did ,hat demo-ra-" did not do< ?t against it.
!e (rod-ed 2777 -o(ies. 4 fe, hndred ,ere sent to Cornalists and (ersonalities<
Page 84
-reating a -ertain sho-> in the enem" ran>s. !e >no, for -ertain that those in
-harge of the (rin-i(le media it aimed at (Le Monde) ,ere rather in-on+enien-ed ?"
it. The other -o(ies ,ere distri?ted +er" )i->l" in the anti-esta?lishment milie.
Jes(ite ,hat ,as imagined ?" Cornalists< in good or ?ad faith< the a-hie+ement of
s-h a fa>e< ,hi-h -ost s 4<&77 fran-s in all< is ,ithin the rea-h of an"one ,ho
gi+es themsel+es the means. The strength of so-ial inertia and the ,eight of
re-ei+ed ideas are the real ?ra>es on a-tion that ?rea>s ot of the sal (oliti-al
frame,or>< not the material diffi-lties.
*ome readers or re-i(ients too> a ,hile ?efore realising that it ,as a hoa3. *hold
,e -on-lde from this that the te3ts ,ere not -lear enogh # 1ather it (ro+es the
destr-tring -hara-ter of s-h an a-tion< ,hi-h sha>es ( the esta?lished
frame,or>s of thoght. 4nd ?e"ond that # The entire isse -ontained nothing of a
demo-rati- (rotest< -ommnism and the re+oltion ,ere there. Bt the natre of
s-h a-ti+it" -ontains its o,n limitations.
The (rod-tion had ?een -arried ot in a (leasant and effi-ient atmos(here<
?ringing into -onta-t (eo(le ,ho had ?een se(arated for a long time< or ,ho did not
>no, one another. The net,or> of -onta-ts ,hi-h had ?een ,o+en arond La
=ieille 0aupe had ?een rea-ti+ated. !e ,ondered ,hat to do ne3t. Meetings o+er
follo,ing ,ee>s led to nothing. 0t ,as a s--essfll" -ond-ted limited a-tion< ?t
that ,as all. !e had -onfirmed that the ,or> nderta>en in and arond La =ieille
0aupe had left sffi-ient tra-es in (eo(le that the" -old on o--asion form an
effe-ti+e for-e of a-tion. Bt there ,as no )estion of organising this reser+e of
energies. :rganisation is the organisation of tas>s and no other tas> a((eared
sffi-ientl" rgent to ,eld these energies together. Bo,e+er one of the >e"
senten-es of the fa>e ,as the last A No,< let s s(ea> of something else.

6a 8ieille 7aupe 2 an$ the /aurisson 9""air
The te3ts in the (irate Monde Diplomatique dis(la"ed a fla, of ,hi-h ,e onl" later
sa, the im(li-ations. 4lthogh it re(eatedl" asserted that the )estion ,as of little
im(ortan-e< and des(ite the fa-t that it -entred its -riti)e on the s(e-ta-lar and
demo-rati- -onsenss< the fa>e Monde Diplomatique resol+ed the )estion of
,hether Baader had been +illed or had +illed himsel" A it a((eared to it that there
,as no do?t that the trth ,as literall" the re+erse of ,hat the media said< and
that it ,as e3tremel" li>el" the (risoners of *tammheim had ?een >illed ?" others
than themsel+es.
The (arado3 of a forger" aiming at a trth M 0t ,as a mista>e to d,ell on 9 literal ;
trth. Kst as the 9 trth ; of or Monde Diplomatique ,as not its title< e+en thogh
this ,as ,ritten in ?la-> on ,hite< in the same ,a" the trth of the death of Baader
,as not the identit" of the finger ,hi-h (lled the trigger on the gn. 0t is literall"
tre that this finger -ertainl" had to (ossess one identit" rather than another. 0n
the same ,a"< it is srel" tre that the gas -ham?ers had to e3ist 8 or not. Bt for
a re+oltionar"< the identit" of the finger that >illed Baader< Cst li>e the e3isten-e
or non-e3isten-e of the gas -ham?ers< is no more than a trth de+oid of meaning<
a?ot as sefl as the (ro+er?ial >nife ,ithot a ?lade for ,hi-h the handle is
missing. @et it ,as the (ro?lem of this trth ,hi-h tore a little frther a(art a
%ren-h re+oltionar" -rrent ,hi-h ,as alread" ,ell dis(ersed.
1969 A to m" right< a 9 little (rofessor ; from /"on ,ho for some "ears had ?een
(ro-laiming the follo,ing 9 good ne,s for hmanit" ; A the gas -ham?ers in the
NaEi -on-entration -am(s ne+er e3isted< the" ,ere no more than sinister (risoners
gossi(< ta>en ( as ,ar (ro(aganda and a((ointed as offi-ial trth ?" those
for-es 8 in (arti-lar \ionism and *talinism 8 ,hose interests -on+erged on this
(oint. 0t ,as the same for the geno-ide of Ke,s< ,hi-h 9 in the stri-t sense ; had
no realit". :n the first (oint the -ra->(ot de+elo(ed an argment that ,as
sometimes -on+in-ing< at least at first sight. Be sho,ed ho, fragile some
9 (roofs ; of offi-ial histor" reall" are.
To m" left< the re(resentati+es of the -or(oration of historians ,ho< after ha+ing for
a long time o((osed the dee(est silen-e to the little (rofessor< de-lared in Le
Monde A 9 it is not ne-essar" to as> ho, s-h a mass mrder ,as (ossi?le
technically. 0t ,as te-hni-all" (ossi?le ?e-ase it too> (la-e (Y) there is not< there
-annot ?e a de?ate o+er the )estion of the gas -ham?ers ;. Then< ha+ing (t
for,ard these ethi-al (remises< the -or(oration more or less entered the de?ate
and a((lied themsel+es to sho,ing< sometimes in a -on+in-ing ,a"< that the little
(rofessor ,as not as rigoros as he -laimed and on o--asion ,as e+en a forger.
Neither ad+ersar" s(ared themsel+es an" -onsiderations as to the moti+ations of
their enem"< ,hether the" lo-ated these in (s"-ho(atholog" or in the (ett" minded
need to defend a ni-e little earner< not to s(ea> of the shado," lterior (oliti-al
moti+es ,hi-h ?oth -am(s readil" lent themsel+es to.
4ll this too> (la-e in the middle of an antifas-ist -lamor from all those ,ho had the
floor and intended to hang on to it A (oliti-ians of e+er" tenden-" merged
Page 85
together 8 from demo-rats in good standing to e3-2i-h"ists and e3-:4*< (assing
from *talinists and Cornalists in sear-h of a s-oo( throgh to the gardians of
memor"< ,ithot forgetting those (eo(le ,ho -onsider it im(ortant to -ommni-ate
their o(inion on e+er" digesti+e disorder of !estern good -ons-ien-e A the
intelle-tals.
The %arisson affair o--rred in %ran-e after t,o others ,hi-h< at first sight< it
greatl" resem?led. %irst of all there had ?een a (arti-larl" nsa+or" Cornalisti-
9 -o( ; A someone had gone to gather the senile ram?lings of a former 2i-h"
Commissioner for Ke,ish 4ffairs< Jar)ier de Pelle(oi3< no, retired to *(ain. Then<
,ith a great fanfare< the $ro(ean media had lan-hed onto tele+ision s-reens a
series (rod-ed in the 'nited *tates de+oted to the tragi- destin" of a Ke,ish famil"
dring the *e-ond !orld !ar. 0t ,as not the first time that the alarming s(e-tre
had ?een ?roght ot A ,as NaEism raising its head again # Bt than>s to the -risis<
this )estion had more tro?ling resonan-es A arond it -old -on-entrate the
irrational fears ,hi-h hant men ,hen the" identif" their o,n ftres ,ith the
e3tremel" n-ertain ftre of a ,orld ,hi-h o((resses them. !e ths had the
n-ommon sight of the highest go+ernment athorities dis-ssing the rgent
ne-essit" of (r-hasing a tele+ision 9 series ;. The first s-reening of *olocaust ,as
a moment of great national harmon". To listen to some e+er"da" -on+ersations<
the dt" of an" demo-rat that e+ening ,as to ?e in front of his T2.
The attention of ne,s(a(er readers ,as dra,n to %arisson for the first time<
-ortes" of Le Matin< ,hi-h ndo?tedl" ,ished to mont an o(eration of the same
>ind ,hi-h L'23press had s--essfll" -ond-ted ,ith Jar)ier de Pelle(oi3.
Ono,ing the -ir-mstan-es in ,hi-h an inter+ie, ,as e3tra-ted from the little
(rofessor and the ,a" the" then do-tored and (resented the inter+ie, in )estion<
,e might ha+e ?een sho->ed if ,e had ?een interested in that sort of thing (-odes
of ethi-s)< and if ,e still had an" illsions a?ot the (rofession of Cornalist.
The so-ialist ne,s(a(er annon-ed that in /"on< a tea-her ,as s((orting Jar)ier
de Pelle(oi3. Moreo+er< Kean-Pierre Pierre-Blo-h< a frenEied antira-ist< had told Le
Matin that Jar)ierDs 9 theor" ; ,as the same as that of the 9 falsifier 1assinier ;.
!hatDs more %arisson also -laimed to follo, 1assinier. 1assinier ?eing dead 8 and
,hat Le Matin had not thoght to (?lish 8 %arisson ha+ing de-lared that Jar)ier
,as the +er" >ind of man he had foght all his life< the little (rofessor of /"on fond
himself alone against all. :n one side the ?ad g"< on the other side the good g"s.
$+er"thing ,as ths in (la-e for one of those affairs ,hi-h -an onl" lea+e indifferent
those ,ho >no, ,hat the so-iet" of the s(e-ta-le is. !e ,ere a?ot to ,itness one
of those e+ents -reated from nothing in order to gi+e ?readth to the ?a->grond
noise< so that not for an instant is there an" ?rea> in the in-idental msi- ,hi-h is
the raison d'Etre of the media< the flo, of (sedo-information ,hi-h (re+ents the
(roletarian from thin>ing.
Bo,e+er< a nm?er of (eo(le< ,ho nearl" all had in -ommon that the" ,ere in
fa+or of the a?olition of ,age la?or (among them Pierre .illame< Kean-Pierre
Carasso< Ber+S JenXs and Christine Martinea) thoght it ,old ?e hel(fl to ,rite
to Libration in order to affirm that 1assinier< ,ho Blo-h had made a s(irital
an-estor of Jar)ier< far from ha+ing ?een a NaEi had ?een a left-,ing e3tremist< a
mem?er of the 1esistan-e de(orted to B-hen,ald< and that he ,as still a so-ialist
and a (a-ifist ,hen he formlated the theories ,hi-h no, earned him a -om(arison
,ith a 2i-h" Commissioner for Ke,ish 4ffairs.
!hat ,ere re+oltionaries doing in this mess # *ome of those ,ho toda" ,rite La
Banquise a((ended their signatres to this letter ,hi-h a((eared nder the title
9 Jo @o Ono, 1assinier # ;. Toda" ,e -onsider that adding those signatres ,as
a fndamental error< for se+eral reasons< the (rin-i(al one ?eing that this letter
aimed< a?o+e all< to (re(are 9 the de?ate ;.
0ndeed< ,hat ,as the de?ate a?ot # The offi-ial +ersion and -rrent (?li- o(inion
affirm that the NaEis deli?eratel" massa-red Ke,s. 9 1e+isionists ; of the %arisson
t"(e retort that the de(ortees died of hnger and disease< et-. 0nstead of di((ing a
toe into this de?ate as ,e did< and instead of losing themsel+es in it as some other
re+oltionaries did< ,e ,old all ha+e ?een ?etter ad+ised to res(ond A
9 This de?ate is false. !e ,ill no more ?e-ome s(e-ialists in \">lon B than in 1966
,e -laimed to ha+e -ond-ted the ato(s" on Baader. 4 +er" large nm?er (,hi-h
,e ,ill let "o determine) of Ke,s< and Baader and his -omrades< ,ere >illed ?" the
.erman *tate and the ,orld -a(italist s"stem. ;
%rom the start< the interest of re+oltionaries in the -on-entration -am(s (and ths
in 1assinier) formed (art of an attem(t to -riti-all" anal"se the ,ar of 1939-4&. H
N
ote
1
I 'nderstanding ho, NaEi atro-ities had ?een sed< and e+en e3aggerated< in
order to Cstif" the ,ar and its aftermath< hel(ed s to ?etter nderstand the false
o((osition ?et,een demo-ra-" and fas-ism. 0t ,as for this reason that ,e had
re(?lished an arti-le from &ro)ramme $ommuniste A 9 4s-h,itE o le grand
ali?i ;< in 1961 and 1964. Toda" in 1983 after a for "ear -am(aign ?" the se-ond
2ieille Ta(e< ,hi-h had ?een -reated for this (r(ose ?" Pierre .illame< those
,ho on-e read the ,or>s (?lished ?" the ?oo>sho( la 2ieille Ta(e< ,hi-h had
-losed in 1962< are still na,are of ,hat 2ieille Ta(e 2 thin>s a?ot 1939-4&< or
a?ot fas-ism. %or for "ears< the onl" )estion for 2ieille Ta(e 2 has ?een
gassings and the right to s(ea> a?ot them.
4s ,e ha+e said< those ,ho met at the ?oo>sho( la 2ieille Ta(e -onsidered that
their a-tions and their ,ritings ,ere their signatreG la 2ieille Ta(e ,as a lin> and
a meeting (la-e 8 e+er"thing e3-e(t a signatre. Pierre .illame re+i+ed it in the
e3-lsi+e form of a signatre ,hi-h< ,hether he ,anted it or not< dre, all its
interest from a (ast a-ti+it" ,hi-h had nothing to do ,ith its (resent a-ti+ities. 0n
sa"ing this< ,e are not (tting orsel+es for,ard as the s(er-ilios heirs of an
a-ti+it" of ,hi-h he had ?een the (rin-i(al organiser. Uite sim(l"< ot of fidelit"
,ith ,hat ,e on-e had in -ommon ,ith him< it is ne-essar" for s to o((ose the
Pierre .illame of toda" to that of former times.
!hile 1assinierDs 0he Lie o" Flysses is an interesting do-ment< and ,hile it stands
ot from the maCorit" of ,ritings on -on-entration -am(s< and from the e3-esses
dis(la"ed ?" some of them< this doesnDt ma>e it an e3-e(tional ,or>. $+er"thing
that some ha+e ,ished to see in it -old ha+e ?een ?roght ot from other
N
ote 1
However it is incorrect to write, as Pierre Guillaume has : Briefly, since 1970, Vieille au!e has share" the
essential theories of Paul #assinier$ % &te't sent to Libration (uote" in )er*e hion, Historical ruth or Political
ruth, la Vieille au!e, 19+0, !$ 1,9-$ .r that The Lie of Ulysses was unanimously acce!te" /y Vieille au!e
which reco*nise" its ra"ical im!ortance at all levels$ % &Pierre Guillaume, !reface to #assinier, Ulysses betrayed by
his own, la V, 19+0-$ he secon" assertion is very e'a**erate"$ 0s for the first, #assinier1s theories % were very
little 2nown, an" still recently few of those who "efen"e" him ha" rea" anythin* other than The Lie of Ulysses an"
The Drama of the European Jews$ 3ven to"ay who has rea" The Persons Responsible for the Second World
War % 4
Page 88
a--onts< for e3am(le that of the 1ssian de(ortee Mart-hen>o< (My 0estimony< /a
*eil< 1967). %ar more than the ?oo> itself< it is the rea-tions it (ro+o>ed ,hi-h are
re+ealing.
1assinierDs interest lies a?o+e all in his refsal of ,ar (ro(aganda. !hen he lea+es
?ehind his hostilit" to ?rain,ashing and ?egins to e3(lain the ,ar and the Ke,ish
)estion< he is entirel" off his head A not throgh errors of fa-t (,e ha+enDt
attem(ted to -he-> his sor-es)< ?t a?o+e all throgh his angle of a((roa-h to
these (ro?lems. The fa-t that his ,or> might distr? (eo(le -hanges nothing. The
Moonies also distr? (eo(le and nite a large Fnion Sacre in o((osition to them.
Joes this ma>e them interesting #
To deal ,ith the massa-re of Ke,s dring the ,ar ?" de+oting a hndred (ages to
statisti-al -al-lations (one third of 0he Drama o" the 2uropean Ce#s< 1954) in
order to determine ,hether 1<577<777 or 5<777<777 Ke,s died< is to (eer at things
throgh the ,rong end of the s("glass< and -ontines the Nrem?erg Trials
throgh -ontesting them. 4 ne, and (rofond ?oo> on this s?Ce-t ,old ?e
do-mented< ?t it ,old lea+e to one side the false (ro?lem of )antifi-ation.
$+er"thing has ?een said ,hen it has ?een sho,n ho, the figre of si3 million< at
the +er" least do?tfl< has de+elo(ed into dogma. :ne sa"s nothing ,hen one
ela?orates ri+al statisti-s for oneself< Cst as n+erifia?le for non-s(e-ialist readers
as those one -riti-ises.
Most of the do-ments and files ,hi-h ,e ha+e -onslted ,ere s((lied to s ?"
2ieille Ta(e 2. The" sho, that 1assinier ,as in-lined to,ards< and s((orted
throghot< ?" a (a-ifist< so-ialist (*%0:) and hmanist -rrent< in the line of those
state em(lo"ed tea-hers of the 000
rd
1e(?li- s-h as Jommanget< ,ho ,ere
freethin>ers and o((onents of ,ar. !hen ,ar -ame< in 1914< as in 1939< the"
generall" a--e(ted< if not Cstified< it. Bt otside (eriods of ,ar the" maintained
the anti-militarist tradition and sometimes de-lared themsel+es to ?e li?ertarians.
4fter the s-andal o+er 0he Lie o" Flysses arond 19&7-&1< this -rrent< ,hi-h had
re-ei+ed 1assinierDs -riti)e of ?rain,ashing fa+ora?l"< faded a,a". 1assinier then
?ried himself in the Ke,ish )estion and the gas -ham?ers and disengaged from
the left of the *%0:< ,hi-h ,as engaged in other strggles (against the ,ar in
4lgeria). Be no, r??ed sholders more -omforta?l" ,ith the e3treme right than
,ith the former (a-ifists and so-ialists< ,ho in general ga+e into the -old ,ar. %or la
2ieille Ta(e 2< 9 1assinier nsha>ea?l" remained ntil his death a so-ialist<
(a-ifist< antira-ist< internationalist (Y) ; (Pierre .illame< for,ard to Flysses
betrayed by his o#n< (. 169). 1assinier ,as a so-ialist< in the sense that he
remained for t,ent" "ears in the *%0: and e+en re(resented it in the Cham?er of
Je(ties. Bis (a-ifism e3-lded internationalism< ,hi-h among other things
(res((oses ?rea>ing ,ith the 9 ,or>ers (arties ;< and this e3(lains ,h" he agreed
to tra+el alongside the e3treme right.
Considering that 9 ,armongering had (assed from the right to the left ;< that
9 1esistancialism ,as ?eing maintained there ; (rogh draft of a letter to Ba-het<
1954)< and entirel" (reo--(ied ?" (ea-e< he first and foremost reser+ed his ?lo,s
for the left. %or him< as for antifas-ism< there e3isted a fa+ored enem"< ?t for him
this ,as the left< and in (arti-lar the Commnist Part"< not fas-ism. Be Cdged the
right to ?e less dangeros 8 and this sho->s left intelle-tals 8 in m-h the same
,a" that arond 19&7 *artre (referred the '**1 to the '*4. Be did not share the
ideas of BardX-he< the editor of D"ense de l'Occident HD"ense de l'Occident
GDe"ence o" the -estH and 1i%arol ,ere right-,ing Cornals - translatorI< ?t all the
same BardX-he ,as a 9 good man (Y) more a (oet than an editor ; (letter of
1assinier to %arrison< 3
rd
Kanar" 1956)G he fond D"ense de l'Occident or 1i%arol
less harmfl than l'*umanit Hthe Commnist Part" ne,s(a(er - translatorI.
1assinier did not merel" ?e-ome a 9 re+oltionar" ,ithot re+oltion ; ,riting
,here+er he -old ma>e his 9 s-ientifi- ; stdies >no,n. %rom the start of his (ost-
,ar a-ti+it" 1assinier follo,ed a (re-ise (oliti-al line A 9 Pea-e a?o+e all ; 8 ,hi-h
,as in no ,a" re+oltionar". Be ended ( ?" (la-ing his (a-ifism at the ser+i-e of
the !estern -am( in the Cold !ar< and more (arti-larl"< of the e3treme-right.
0n the isse of 1i%arol for 1
st
Kanar" 1954 1assinier set ot his +ie,(oint as
follo,s A o?sessed ?" the desire to Cstif" the re(arations that .erman" (aid to the
*tate of 0srael< the international \ionist mo+ement 9 ?roght the reinfor-ement of
the gas -ham?ers and the si3 million dead ; to all of Ohrsh-he+Ds atta->s on
$ro(e. 0n so doing< the \ionist mo+ement ,ill not fail to ?ring a?ot that 9 not
onl" the horses of Cossa->s -ome to ,ater themsel+es in the ,aters of the 1hine<
?t that their tan>s are filled ( on their ,a" to the *ahara and that their (lanes
sto(o+er on their ,a" to dro( their ?om?s on the 'nited *tates. ;
The s((osedl" anti-ra-ist 1assinier< ,ho nderstanda?l" fond the *talinist
dis-orse of l'*umanit disgsting< ,as not em?arrassed in 1953-4 to ,rite in a rag
li>e 1i%arol in ,hi-h -olmns of the most inde-ent ra-ism ,ere s(read ot at
length.
B" for-i?l" in-or(orating the *deten .ermans in 1918 into CEe-hoslo+a>ia
9 ,hose -ltre and -i+iliEation ,ere se+eral -entries ?ehind them< the
4llies inslted them A a little li>e that inslt ,hi-h is offered toda" to those
,hite 1hodesians ,ho< nder the -o+er of demo-ra-" and anti-ra-ism< the
ni+ersal -ons-ien-e ,old li>e to (la-e nder the domination of negroes ;.
1assinier< 0he &ersons 1esponsible "or the Second -orld -ar.
0f it means to ma>e 1assinier ?etter >no,n 2ieille Ta(e 2 shold re(?lish 0he
&ersons 1esponsible "or the Second -orld -ar. 0n this ?oo> the *e-ond !orld !ar
?e-omes the ,or> of a -ons(ira-" of arms dealers< dominated ?" the %reemasons
and Ke,s< s((osedl" inflential e+en in the *%0:. 0t ,old ?e ne-essar" to -ite
thirt" long )otes in order to gi+e the fll e3tent of the a?Ce-tl" anti-*emiti-
-hara-ter of this ,or>. The 4llies ?lame e+er"thing on Bitler. 1assinier ?egins ?"
sharing ot the res(onsi?ilit" ?efore ma>ing it ,eigh es(e-iall" hea+il" on the 4llies.
%rom or (oint of +ie, it is Cst as a?srd to sa" that Bitler ,anted ,ar (the (oint
of +ie, of the Nrem?rg trials) as that he didnDt ,ant ,ar (the (oint of +ie, of
1assinier). %or re+oltionar" theor"< the ot?rea> of a modern ,ar has little to do
,ith the ,ill< good or ?ad< of statesmen.
9 The Ke,s ; ena?le 1assinier to trn to his o,n a--ont a ,ell >no,n +ie, of the
,orld A that old tradition< entirel" foreign to re+oltionar" -riti)e< ,hi-h e3(lains
,orld (oliti-s throgh the s-hemes of an international net,or> of finan-iers and
arms dealers ,hi-h (lls all the strings. 1assinier Coined those ,ho identified this
net,or> ,ith the trans-national Ke,ish 9 -ommnit" ;< o((osing 9 international
-a(italism ; to national indstr" and la?or.
4dmittedl"< one -an se(arate an athors o(inions from his ,or>< ?t ,hen it is a
)estion of anti-*emiti- indlgen-e or (reCdi-e in the ,or> of someone ,ho
Page 97
stdies the Ke,ish )estion and the -on-entration -am(s< ,hi-h rather a lot of Ke,s
entered< one ma" fear that the athor is no more o?Ce-ti+e than ad+o-ates of the
offi-ial +ersion of histor".
!h" does 2ieille Ta(e 2 (resent a distorted image of 1assinier # !h" do his ideas
need to ?e a--om(anied ?" the image of an anti-ra-ist man of the left # The original
2ieille Ta(e had indi-ated the fndamental as(e-ts of Bordiga ,ithot den"ing his
/eninism< or hiding the fa-t that he had al,a"s a((ro+ed of the re(ression at
Oronstadt< for e3am(le. !e did not need to tidy up his ?iogra(h". The strength of
the -ommnist ideas he held ,as enogh to se(arate the +alid (ositions from the
erroneos o(inions in his ,or>. 0f 2ieille Ta(e 2 dresses 1assinier ( in the mas>
of an anti-ra-ist and internationalist< this is ?e-ase all of its a-ti+it" has as its
o?Ce-ti+e to in"luence the media. 0ts goal is that 1assinier and %arisson are
a->no,ledged and a--e(ted in the form of ideas. 0t is therefore ne-essar" to ma>e
1assinier (resenta?leG so his ?iogra(h" ,ill ?e gi+en a fa-e-lift. This is an enormos
regression -om(ared to ,hat the *itationist 0nternational or the original 2ieille
Ta(e had said A ,hen the" s(o>e of s?+ersi+e elements in -ertain 9 nsed
?oo>s ;< the" ga+e them a ni+ersal range ?" setting them ,ithin a -riti-al theor".
There is nothing li>e this in the a-ti+it" of 2ieille Ta(e 2< ,hi-h merel" (?lishes
1assinier and %arisson. 0t ths ?e-omes ne-essar" for it to e3aggerate the
s?+ersi+e< and e+en the merel" a--e(ta?le< ,here there is none.
4t the end of 1968 ,hen the %arisson affair er(ted< the )estion of the
-on-entration -am(s had ?een dis-ssed amongst s for se+eral "ears.
0n 1966 a draft te3t had ?een gi+en to la Guerre Sociale ?" .illes Ja+S. Modified
,ith the dire-t or indire-t -olla?oration of )ite a lot of (eo(le< and ths of Pierre
.illame< it a((eared in 1969 in the third isse of la Guerre Sociale. The ,a" in
,hi-h ,e had intended to s(ea> of %arisson ?e-ame instead the desire to do
something for him A he had ?een atta->ed ?e-ase of his hereti-al ideas on the NaEi
-am(s and after ha+ing ?een denon-ed ?" LibrationG as for %arisson himself< he
set his misad+entres ,ithin a m-h larger -onte3t< against all offi-ial (ro(aganda<
?" stating that the -am(aign against Baader had disgsted him. *erge Uadr((ani
addressed a letter (n(?lished) to Libration. Pierre .illame ,rote the letter
,hi-h Libration (?lished on Kanar" 22
nd
1969< ,hi-h ,e s(o>e of a?o+e. ()oted
in Thion< *istorical 0ruth and &olitical 0ruth< (( 128-137). This letter< ,ritten to
(rotest against the assimilation of 1assinier ,ith Jar)ier de Pelle(oi3< ga+e Cst as
false a (i-tre of 1assinier as the one it -laimed to -riti-ise.
!ithot e+en tal>ing a?ot its +er" )estiona?le -ontent< it ,as a serios mista>e
to enter< e+en slightl"< ,hat ,as and al,a"s ,old ?e a Cornalisti- and (oliti-al
s-andal< and nothin) more. !e did not ha+e to enter the arena of (?li- o(inion.
$3(ressing the interests of a mo+ement in its entiret"< in the form of a manifesto
for e3am(le< is neither to remain in an i+or" to,er< nor to (roCe-t oneself into a
-ase ,hile forgetting e+er"thing else. Bt the signatres added to this letter onl"
en-oraged some of the more -lear sighted< those for e3am(le ,ho identified ,ith
the Guerre Sociale arti-le on the -am(s< to loo> at things from an angle of atta->
,hi-h no longer had an"thing to do ,ith re+oltionar" theor"< and either to become
more interested in #hat interested ,aurisson< li>e Pierre .illame< or to (oorl"
distingish ?et,een their ideas and those of %arisson< li>e the 9 infantr"men ; of
la Guerre Sociale.
Meeting %arisson shold ha+e o(ened or e"es to the differen-e in natre ?et,een
his resear-h and or a-ti+it". Jring 1969< dealing ,ith Pierre .illame< ,e
arged ,ith him and ,e -riti-ised him< ?t ,ithot orsel+es nderstanding the
roots of the affair< and ths ,ithot tr"ing to ma>e him nderstand A that
re+oltionaries -annot s((ort %arisson. ThatDs not to sa" that ,e -old ha+e
(re+ented him from re+i+ing 2ieille Ta(e for s-h a ,aste of energ". Bt in an"
e+ent or res(onsi?ilit" is great< ?e-ase ,e ,ere among those ,ho >ne, Pierre
?est.
The idea that A 9 !e ,ho are re+oltionaries in an" -ase intend to s((ort him (...)
?e-ase %arisson is ?eing atta->ed for ha+ing soght for and s(read the trth ;<
(resented in the .erre *o-iale leaflet -ho is the Ce# ?< ,as false ,hen the leaflet
,as distri?ted (1969). 4t that time ,e neither nderstood this -learl"< nor stated it
-learl" (the leaflet is )oted in Mise au &oint< (( 98-99)
%irstl"< ,e donDt ha+e to s((ort %arisson ?e-ase ,e ha+e no more in -ommon
,ith him than ,ith those ,ho (erse-te him. The (ro?lem ,ith %arisson is
o?+ios A so-iet" distingishes ?et,een mrder and in+olntar" death. 0t (rses
the assassin and resigns itself to ,or>(la-e and traffi- a--idents< the 9 natral ;
-onse)en-es of a ,a" of life. Bt from the (oint of +ie, of the hman s(e-ies< the
im(ortant thing is to a+oid massa-res and sffering< ,hether it is a matter of
mrder or of the >ind of +iolent death that is -onsidered normal. The death of a
-hild strangled ?" a 9 sadist ; e3-ites the imagination more than the death of
thosands of others from hnger. The (rose-tors at Nrem?erg red-ed the
deaths in the -on-entration -am(s to the first e3am(le A the" made them a -rime.
The la,"ers for the a--sed at Nrem?erg red-ed them to the se-ond e3am(le A
the" made them an a--ident. To tr" to (ro+e that the NaEis >illed #ithout #antin)
to or #ithout #antin) to systematically< is to ado(t the (oint of +ie, of the defen-e
la,"ers at Nrem?erg.
4nal"sing the 1939-4& ,ar is not ,hat interests %arisson. Bis 9 (assion for the
trth ; ta>es the gas -ham?ers as its o?Ce-t. ThatDs ( to him. Bt this self-
limitation leads to the same reslt as the antifas-ist -am(aign ,hi-h (resents the
NaEis as monsters ,ith sole res(onsi?ilit" for the ,ar. %or %arisson e3(lores a
minor (oint< and trains the s(otlight on this (oint< Cst li>e the other e3(erts< ths
o?s-ring #hat surrounds this (oint and might e3(lain it. B" hel(ing to fo-s
attention on the gas -ham?ers< he dramatises them e+en more and reinfor-es the
m"th. 4 great o?s-rit" -ontines to reign o+er the ,hole )estion of NaEism and
1939-4&< ,hi-h this fo-s hel(s to sstain. 0t is onl" ?" lea+ing aside the gas
-ham?ers that one might -onsider them seriosl" and hold the onl" dis-orse that
is (ossi?le on this )estion A
9 %arisson is atta->ed and (erse-ted for ha+ing affirmed that the gas -ham?ers
are no more than a tall tale ?" (risoners. !e are not e3(erts and ,e donDt ,ant to
?e-ome e3(erts< therefore ,e ,onDt enter into this dis-ssion. Bt those ,ho
?elie+e that ?" remo+ing the gas -ham?ers from NaEism< one might ,ea>en the
horror ,hi-h it ins(ires< onl" re+eal their grand-gignoles)e +ie, of ,hat it is that
ma>es hman life trl" horri?le. The" atta-h the horror to images instead of seeing
it ,here it a-tall" is A in the relations ?et,een men. 0n their -on-e(tion< the fa-t
that a -rde tall stor" ,as im(osed on millions of (oor ,ret-hes ,old ?e less
serios than the e3isten-e of a (arti-lar te-hni)e for e3termination. @et< if the
gas -ham?ers ,ere nothing more than a sinister rmor among (risoners< it ,old
Page 92
?e ne-essar" to admit that in order for s-h an enormos tall stor" to ?e im(osed
,ith s-h for-e on so man" (eo(le< these (eo(le mst ha+e ?een thro,n into a
radi-al dis(ossession of themsel+es. Bo,e+er< the fa-t that this dis(ossession
indeed e3ists is a massi+e fa-t ,hi-h no-one thin>s of dis-ssing.
9 !hether or not the NaEi gas -ham?ers had a -on-rete e3isten-e matters +er"
little to s. The" e3ist toda"< as at the +er" least the" e3isted to the de(ortees< that
is to sa" as an image deri+ed from a horri?le realit". 0t is not ne-essar" to ha+e
anti-*emiti- lterior moti+es in order to dis-ss the (ossi?ilit" that this image did
not -orres(ond< or -orres(onded onl" (artiall"< to realit". :r tas> is to s?Ce-t to
-riti)e the (art ,hi-h this image (la"s in anti-fas-ist ideolog"< and -riti)e that
ideolog" itself. 0n doing this< ,hen this dis-ssion and these -riti)es ,ill lead to s
?eing -hara-terised as NaEiDs< ,e ,ill ha+e +erified the totalitarian mentalit" of
those ,ho ,ish s ill. Bt ,hat )alifies s in or o,n e"es to nderta>e this tas>
of de-onstr-ting an ideolog"< is (re-isel" that ,e are not dis(assionate fanati-s for
trth 8 assming s-h a t"(e reall" e3ists. !e ?elie+e itDs (ossi?le to s(ea> ?e-ase
,e re-ognise that the gas -ham?ers ha+e a ?asi- le+el of e3isten-e A in the e"es of
millions of de(ortees the" em?od" the real horror of ,hat the" e3(erien-ed. 9 The
gas -ham?ers< if the" ,ere not the means< ,old at least ?e the meta(hor ; (@.
Chotard).This a((alling image ,hi-h has -ome do,n to s hardl" gi+es s an"
information a?ot the real fn-tioning of the -am(s. Bt it tells s +er" ,ell the
feelings ,hi-h the" ins(ired in men. ;
That is all there is to sa" on the )estion of the gas -ham?ers. 4s for the )estion
of the -am(s< it is the anal"sis of 1939-4& ,hi-h allo,s s to sitate and
nderstand them. 0t is -ertainl" not the -am(s ,hi-h ena?le s to nderstand
NaEism. Kst as in the same ,a" it isnDt the 9 .lag ; ,hi-h e3(lains the '**1< ?t
the nderstanding of the histor" and natre of the '**1 ,hi-h e3(lains the .lag.
The massa-re of the Ke,s made it (ossi?le for demo-ra-" to sa+e the -osts of a
-riti)e of NaEism. 4(art from the ,or> of s(e-ialists there is no real attem(t at
nderstanding NaEism as a ,hole. The standard image of NaEism held ?" most
(eo(le -on-entrates on the ,orst horrors< ?oth real and imagined. This im(ression
is formed a--ording to a (ro-ess ,hi-h is simltaneosl" s(ontaneos and
organised< (o(lar and state--ontrolled. The arti-le 9 The Borror is Bman ; in the
first isse of La Banquise anal"ses the (ro-ess of (roCe-ting the horror of the
(resent onto the (ast.
%arisson affirms that he is dri+en ?" a (assion for the trth. Bt the trth is onl"
tre throgh a so-ial relation< as ,hen one s(ea>s of a 9 tre ; ?eha+ior< of an
attitde that is a((ro(riate to a sitation< or of a rea-tion ,hi-h mo+es things
for,ard. Trth ne+er lies in the ra, fa-t< or in an inert thing or an isolated thoght<
it emerges from the (ro-ess of setting into relation (mise en rapport). 0t is
-onstr-ted ?" the gaEe ,hi-h falls (on it (see 9 Trth and P?li- :(inion ; in this
isse). The trth a?ot the -am(s ndo?tedl" in-ldes the intentions of those ,ho
ordered their -onstr-tion< ?t it lies es(e-iall" in the -onditions ,hi-h (rod-ed
them and in their o(eration. The trth of the -am(s is not the dimensions of the
?ildings< the -ost of the materials< the nm?er of de(ortees< the (ro(ortion of
Poles< et-.< or more e3a-tl" these figres are onl" data ,hi-h do not form the
trth A the" ?e-ome it throgh ,hat is ?ond to ?e an or)anisation of the fa-ts. The
-ontro+ers" o+er the nm?er of Ke,ish +i-tims of NaEism distan-es s from the
trth of the -am(s.
!hether %arisson ,ants it or not< he also organises the fa-ts a--ording to his (oint
of +ie,. Bo,e+er< this (oint of +ie, ma>es him a?soltel" indefensi?le.
%arisson sear-hes for the authentic. 4n athenti- do-ment doesnDt ne-essaril"
(and doesnDt often) s(ea> the trth< ,e onl" >no, ,hether or not it -omes from the
sor-e from ,hi-h it (or that one) sa"s that it -omes. 4thenti-it" means to remain
faithfl to ones o,n -ode. 4n athenti- ?eing onl" e3ists in relation to norms< or to
a restri-ti+e -ode. Trth< a so-ial relation< is (otentiall" ni+ersal< and falls ,ithin
the range of hman a-ti+it". 0n this ,a" the 9 trth is re+oltionar" ;. The trth
does not lie in the ,or> of %arisson.
9 (...) the nm?er of Ke,s e3terminated ?" the NaEis (or +i-tims of
9 geno-ide ;) is ha((il" e)al to Eero ; %arisson )oted in Thion.
%arissonDs detra-tors treat him as NaEi or a madman. Bt )ite sim(l"< he (la"s
,ith ,ords. This denial of geno-ide onl" ma>es sense if one gi+es the ,ord the
signifi-an-e ,hi-h the most narro,-minded antifas-ism gi+es it. 0n this sense to sa"
that the NaEis (er(etrated geno-ide against the Ke,s ,old mean that for a long
time the" had ,anted and (lanned the deaths of millions of Ke,s and that the" then
organised this ?" e3-e(tional methods. This is the meaning ,hi-h one finds in the
1o?ert< a di-tionar" (?lished after the Nrem?erg trials A 9 Methodi-al destr-tion
of an ethni- gro( ;. %arisson s(ea>s the same false langage as the
9 e3terminationists ;. Be also ma>es massa-re a )estion o" intentions. Be is on
their terrain< and not on that of a re+oltionar" histori-al< or e+en of a merel"
serios< -riti)e. $+en li?eral historians -an see that the trth of the -am(s and the
geno-ide does not lie in a histor" of intentions.
There ,as a massa-re of a large nm?er of Ke,s ?e-ase the" ,ere Ke,s. 4nd in
or e"es< if ,ords ha+e meaning< there ,as geno-ide< ,hate+er the e3a-t nm?er
of deaths. 0n the same ,a" %ran-e -ommitted a massa-re at *etif and in
Constantinois in 194& ,hi-h >illed ?et,een 4&77 and 4&777 4lgerians. 4nd there
,as a geno-ide of 1ed 0ndians.
!e do not ,ish to dis-ss ,ith (eo(le ,ho den" massa-res and ra-ial (erse-tion
?" t,isting ,ords< ?t rather ,ith those ,ho tr" to e3(lain them< something ,hi-h
neither the re+isionists nor the e3terminationists do. %arisson is neither sa?le nor
s((orta?le ?e-ase he reinfor-es a -onfsion ,hi-h re+oltionar" theor" is
(re-isel" there to dis(el.
0n a te3t (?lished ?" Libration on Mar-h 6
th
1969< Pierre .illame ,rote t,o
senten-es ,hi-h -old ha+e smmarised +er" ,ell or (osition on the -ontent of
this affair A 9 The anti-NaEism ,ithot NaEiDs ,hi-h reigns o+er the ,orld is an
otlet for a -onfsed so-iet" ,hi-h -annot manage to fa-e its o,n (ro?lems. :ne
doesnDt fight against the ine3ora?le me-hanisms of real o((ression ,ith
stereot"(i-al re(resentations (ima)es d'Ipinal) ;. 0f this te3t had -ontained onl"
this< ,e ,old sim(l" ha+e o?ser+ed that its (?li-ation in Libration ,ent against
or (rin-i(les A that is to sa" ,e donDt defend or ?asi- (ositions in the ne,s(a(ers.
'nfortnatel" it -ontained something else. *hortl" after the (?li-ation of this
arti-le Pierre .illame e3(lained ,h" he had -onsidered it sefl to send his (rose
to the -entral organ of neo-reformism.
Page 94
4fter ha+ing e3(lained the (erse-tions ,hi-h had ?efallen %arisson< Pierre
.illame -ontined A 9 it ?e-ame +ital for the de+elo(ment of the sitation to
o?tain s((ort and ths to o?tain the agreement of e+er"one o+er the same te3t<
,ithot -on-ession or se-ond thoghts. This te3t therefore had to in-lde the
famos senten-e ,hi-h seemed to render %arisson indefensi?le A 9 Bitler ne+er
ordered the e3e-tion of a single Ke, merel" ?e-ase he ,as Ke,ish ; ?" sho,ing
that this senten-e ,as stri-tl" tre< e+en if Bitler did not gi+e a damn a?ot ,hat
?e-ame of the Ke,s in (ra-tise ;
This senten-e indeed rendered %arisson indefensi?le.
4s to ,hether itDs reall" tre that on 9 the le+el of stri-tl" s-ientifi- histor" ; 9 Bitler
ne+er ordered the e3e-tion of a single Ke, merel" ?e-ase he ,as Ke,ish ;<
ha+ing e3amined %arissonDs s-ientifi- ,or> more -losel"< ,e are no longer so sre.
Bt e+en if it ,ere tre< this trth a((ears so se+ere< so restri-ted< that it is
red-ed to nothing. !hen Pierre .illame adds A 9 e+en if Bitler didnDt gi+e a
damn a?ot ,hat ha((ened to the Ke,s ;< he himself sho,s the inanit" of this
alleged trth.
4 mem?er of Beroth might sa" A 9 Begin ne+er ordered or a--e(ted that an"one
,as >illed at *a?ra and Chatila ?e-ase of his Palestinian s"m(athies. ; %arisson
,old agree A ,here are the authentic do-ments (ro+ing the -ontrar" # The truth
is that one is al,a"s res(onsi?le for oneDs allies< and that e+en if it did not ,ant it<
the 0sraeli arm" at least -reated the -onditions fa+ora?le to this massa-re (e+en
,ithot s(ea>ing of the fa-t that it allo,ed the mrderers to -ontine). The 0sraeli
?oard of in)ir" itself re-ognised that the *tate had an 9 indire-t ; res(onsi?ilit".
:ne -old mlti(l" senten-es of this >ind A ." Mollet H*o-ialist Prime Minister at
the time of the strggle for inde(enden-e in 4lgeria - translatorI ne+er ordered or
a--e(ted that an"one ,as >illed or tortred merel" ?e-ase it ,as ss(e-ted that
he ?elonged to the %/N. *talin ne+er ordered. . .
0t is stri-tl" false to assert that Bitler didnDt gi+e a damn a?ot Hie. ,as indifferent
to 8 translatorI the fate of the Ke,s. Be ,asnDt organising their -olle-ti+e massa-re
from 1919 on,ards< ?t he did (lent" in order that rather a lot of them died< and it
is not reall" to ?e the +i-tim of antifas-ist (ro(aganda to thin> that he did not
morn their fate. 0s it ne-essar" to find #ritten orders ?" ." Mollet himself in
order to asso-iate him ,ith the 4lgerian tortre # 'ndo?tedl" he did not gi+e a
damn ,hat ha((ened to the militants of the %/N ,ho fell into the hands of the
(aratroo(ers dring the ?attle of 4lgiers. 0n order to ?e anti-*talinist is it ne-essar"
to find orders ,ritten ?" *talin (ro+ing that he ,as dire-tl" im(li-ated in the (oliti-s
of his *tate # 0n realit"< re+oltionar" -riti)e doesnDt need the indi+idal -l(a?ilit"
of heads of *tate< and it is the same for their inno-en-e. !hat determines or
attitde to,ards them is not their good or ?ad ,ill. !hat ma>es them enemies is
the fa-t that the" are heads of *tate. Bt 2ieille Ta(e 2 ,old see> to
demonstrate that the NaEis< and (arti-larl" Bitler< ,ere not 9 gilt" ; of e+er"thing
attri?ted to them. To assert the o((osite of the offi-ial +ersion of something is not
the same as to -riti-ise it.
Bo, does %arisson -laim to defend the indefensi?le # Bere are the e3(lanations
,hi-h he gi+es in ThionDs ?oo> A
9 Bitler ne+er ordered nor admitted that an"one ,as to ?e >illed ?e-ase of
his ra-e or his religion ;
9 $3(lanation of this senten-e A ;
9 Bitler and the NaEis saidA Pthe 4llies and the Ke,s ,ant or annihilation<
?t it is the" ,ho ,ill ?e annihilated.P ;
9 *imilarl"< the 4llies and the Ke,s saidA PBitler and the NaEis ,ant or
annihilation< ?t it is the" ,ho ,ill ?e annihilated.P ;
9 %or one side as for the other< ,hat mattered first ,as to #in the #ar< at
the same time against the militar" and against the -i+ilians (men< ,omen<
the old< -hildren all together). ;
0t is here that ,e disengaged from him. *ic Cacet Lepus. HBere is the -r3 of the
(ro?lemI.
Bitler and the NaEis on one side< the 4llies and the Ke,s on the other A delimiting
the sides in+ol+ed in this ,a" is histori-all" false and it oght to ?e odios to
an"one ,ho isnDt anti-*emiti-G The NaEis 8 a (oliti-al (art" in (o,er ,ithin a
*tate 8 and Bitler 8 the head of that (art" and of that *tate 8 form an easil"
defined ,hole. Bt< nless one thin>s< li>e the (re-,ar anti-*emites< that the Ke,s
mani(lated the demo-rati- regimes< it is false to (resent the Ke,s as a ?elligerent
entit". %arisson -larifies in a footnote A 9 :n *e(tem?er &
th
1939< Chaim
!eiEmann< (resident of the !orld Ke,ish Congress< de-lared ,ar on .erman". ;
4(art from the fa-t that on the histori-al le+el this is a fi-tion< ,e ,old (oint ot
that !eiEmann ,as not at all< li>e Bitler or 1oose+elt< a Bead of *tate -a(a?le of
mo?ilising armies and -itiEens. %arisson -ontines A 9 %or Bitler< the Ke,s ,ere
re(resentati+es of a hostile< ?elligerent nation. ; 0t mst ?e noted that on this (oint
%arisson shares BitlerDs (oint of +ie,.
0n its s(e-ial isse de+oted to the Ke,s on the 16
th
%e?rar" 1939< Ce Suis &artout<
the organ of %ren-h fas-ists and anti-*emites< ,rote A
9 The Ke,s 8 ,e ?elie+e ,e ha+e demonstrated it sffi-ientl" 8 -onstitte
des(ite their dis(ersion a (erfe-tl" homogenos nation< more -oherent from
the ra-ial (oint of +ie, than all other hman gro(ings. %or this reason the"
are s?Ce-t to the great la,s ,hi-h go+ern the relations ?et,een the
different hman -ommnities of the ,orld. Bo,e+er the life of a nation is
made ( of the alternati+es ?et,een (ea-e and ,ar. (...) ;
9 The %ren-h (eo(le are at (ea-e ,ith .erman". The Ke,ish (eo(le are at
,ar ,ith .erman". ;
9 0t does not matter ,ho started it. /etDs note that the Ke,ish nation has a
P$1*:N4/ disagreement to settle ,ith the 1ei-h and that it endea+ors to
settle it +i-toriosl" ?" mo?ilising nder its standards the greatest (ossi?le
nm?er of allies. ;
Ma>ing ra-ial -riteria the sign of mem?ershi( of a nation ,hi-h one is fighting< is a
ra-ist (oliti-s. To -onsider that this nation defined ?" ra-ist (oliti-s reall" e3ists< is
to ado(t a ra-ist (oint of +ie,. 1ed-ing the deaths of Ke,s dring the *e-ond
Page 95
!orld !ar to a ?anal a-t of ,ar< is to -on-eal ra-ism as a fndamental -om(onent
of NaEi ideolog" and (oliti-s.
Certainl"< 9 one doesnDt fight against the ine3ora?le me-hanisms of real o((ression
,ith stereot"(i-al re(resentations ;. Bt ,hat are %arisson and 2ieille Ta(e 2
doing # To the dominant stereot"(i-al image< otlined at Nrem?erg and -olored
?" the (roCe-tion of modern horror< they oppose another stereotypical ima)e A that
of a ,ar ?et,een the Ke,s and the NaEis. This -on-e(tion< ,hi-h the" share ,ith
the anti-*emiti- right< is no more false than that ,hi-h trns an im(erialist ,ar into
a -rsade against 4?solte $+il. Bt it is no less false. Those ,ho see in the ?irth of
the 9 m"th ; of geno-ide the ,or> of a Ke,ish -ons(ira-" thin> a--ording to the
same (attern as those ,ho see ?ehind %arissonDs ,or> the hand of a neo-NaEi
international. Both of them ha+e a (oli-emanDs -on-e(tion of histor".
Pierre .illameDs intentions are of little im(ortan-e. 0t mst ?e noted that far from
ma>ing it (ossi?le for or ?asi- (ositions to ?e e3(ressed ?" dra,ing on the ,or> of
%arisson< his a-ti+it" onl" reslted in gi+ing ltra-left s((ort to this /"onnais
-ra->(ot.
4t the ?eginning of 1987< ha+ing de-ided to (t things in ,riting< K-P Carasso< .
Ja+S< C Martinea and * Uadr((ani ea-h ,rote to Pierre .illame e3(ressing
their (rofond disagreement ,ith him. 4 ?elated attem(t to straighten things (
regarding 2ieille Ta(e 2< ?t at least< ,e di((ed a toe into it.
%arisson< ,e ,rote< onl" +iolated a ta?oo ,ithot ta>ing it a(art< and he remained
on the terrain of m"th. :ne doesnDt refte religion< and one doesnDt see> to
9 -on+in-e ; its follo,ers< rather one sho,s its fn-tion and its o(eration. 0n the
same ,a" one ,old not refte an ad+ertisement< something ,hi-h is neither tre
nor false A its intention is not to demonstrate< ?t to asso-iate< in the same ,a"
that a m"th does< and is ?oth ela?orate and +i+id in its +ariants. Ths it is a?srd< if
one ,ishes to de-onstr-t< to see> to (ro+e that the myth lies.
9 !or>ing--lass (eo(le (Y) are dra,ing (on ?eliefs ,hi-h< thogh rarel"
-onsidered< are still in most -ases firml" there. These ?eliefs< some of the ?asi-
Christian do-trines< the" hold ?t do not e3amine. Nor do the" often thin> that the"
ha+e m-h rele+an-e to the da"-to-da" ?siness of li+ing ; (1i-hard Boggart< 0he
Fses o" Literacy' Pengin< 19&8< ((. 11&-15). This trth o?+iosl" a((lies to all
-lasses. The same (erson ,ho sho,s immense -ommon sense in his o,n life< ,ill
e+er"da" s,allo, ,ithot dis-ssion the ,orst im(ro?a?ilities a?ot Kess< or
*talin< or the gas -ham?ers< et-.
Pierre .illameDs res(onse< a fe, months later< -an ?e smmarised as A 0Dm
sti->ing to m" gns. *in-e then he has al,a"s (rsed this -orse.
1oghl" s(ea>ing< e+er"one more or less ?elie+es in the gas -ham?ers. Bt do?t
a?ot them is not some mira-los le+er that might ena?le one to raise the ,orld
or its ideolog". 0t ma" ?e that do?t a?ot them is gro,ing. *o ,hat # To ?elie+e
that one -old inter+ene in order that the a?andoning of this ?elief ,as not
a-hie+ed smoothl"< and that this might for-e (eo(le to refle-t on the me-hanisms
of ideolog"< is a delsion -lose to delirim. !h" ,old the gas -ham?ers form the
(ro+idential grain of sand< -a(a?le of Camming the me-hanism of antifas-ist
ideolog" # There is no s-h grain of sand. To ?e -on+in-ed of this it is onl"
ne-essar" to see to ,hat e3tent the %arisson affair ,as s(e-ifi-all" ,rench.
The (rin-i(al fn-tion of horrifi- m"tholog" is to ?lind (eo(le to the fndamental
nit" of the modern ,orld. Con-entrationist m"tholog" deri+ed from the *e-ond
!orld !ar is onl" (art of this set of re(resentations of ?ar?arism< against ,hi-h the
onl" re-orse is s((osedl" demo-ra-". Bt -on-entrationist m"tholog" and the
imager" of the gas -ham?ers are ?" no means the -ornerstone of the dominant
ideolog". The" (la" a role of ne)al im(ortan-e a--ording to -ontr". 0n the
'nited *tates< an 4rthr BtE< ?oth 9 re+isionist ; and anti-*emiti-< -an tea-h in a
small ni+ersit"< ,ithot his theories s(ar>ing off the Cornalisti- and (oliti-al
h"steria of a 9 %arisson affair ;. 0n Britain< a former offi-er in the s(e-ial ser+i-es
-old organise a fa>e -on-entration -am( in ,hi-h (eo(le -old (a" to ?e treated
?adl"< ,hereas in %ran-e s-h an enter(rise ,old ha+e ?een im(ossi?le< there
,old ha+e ?een a mo?ilisation of organisations and the inter+ention of the la,.
4s Pierre .illame had sho,ed in his (ost-fa-e to Oats>"Ds 0hree Sources o"
Mar3ism (*(arta-s< 1959)< there is no -ons-iosness otside of a (ra-tise ,ithin
,hi-h this -ons-iosness has a fn-tion. The /eninist am?ition to 9 ma>e ((eo(le)
?e-ome -ons-ios ; is ideologi-al A it is onl" sed to gi+e the donor of
-ons-iosness (o,er o+er those to ,hom he ?rings it. 0t ,oldnDt o--r to s to
a((eal for -ommnism throgh a leaflet. $+en dring a re+oltionar" (eriod one
,old not 9 a((eal ;< one ,old e3(ress ,hat one ,as doing. P?li- o(inion is the
o((osite of this A it de+elo(s a (assionate interest in ,hat it does not do< in ,hat it
-annot -hange.
!hen the re+oltionar" horiEon a((ears to ?e ?lo->ed< re+oltionaries readil" -ling
to mira-los soltions. 2ieille Ta(e 2 ?elie+es in a -ertain nm?er of 9 (rin-i(les;
that are s((osed to ?e s?+ersi+e A trth< honest"< s-ientifi- (ro?it"< the a--ra-"
of information. 0t fights in the name of the ideal of the media as against their real
use. 0t a((eals to a moral -ode against the +iolation of that -ode. Bo,e+er
e3(erien-e tea-hes s that an" moralit" is made to ?e transgressed< and that an"
-ode of ethi-s is fi3ed a--ording to ine+ita?le and foreseen la(ses. 0n the fa>e
Monde Diplomatique< ,e didnDt re(roa-h the (ress for (la"ing its role ?adl". :n the
-ontrar" ,e noted that it flfilled it. The re+oltionar" mo+ement does not a((eal to
an idea of Csti-e against ?rea-hes of that idea. 0t demonstrates that the ni+ersit"<
the s-hool< the arm"< the la,< the (ress< art< et-. et-.< -an onl" (la" the role of
garantors of so-ial order. 2ieille Ta(e 2 ,ent from this to demanding that the
Cornalist (rod-e the tre dt" of the Cornalist. There is no differen-e ?et,een
this demand and demo-rati- -am(aigns for 9 tre ; information< for a (ress that is
9 free from (o,er and mone" ;< for 9 a--ess to -ltre ?" all ;< et-.
The im(ortant thing is not the fa-t that (eo(le ?elie+e or not in the e3isten-e of gas
-ham?ers< ?t the reasons ,h" the" %alue this ?elief so hi)hly. 0t is not a matter of
setting a?ot the trth or falsit" of this ?elief< ?t of the histori- -ases ,hi-h ma>e
it a ta?oo.
The %arisson affair had harmfl effe-ts ,ithin so-iet" as ,ell as in the ,or> of
those ,ho -riti-ised it. 4t a time ,hen the 9 Ke,ish -ommnit" ; ,as a?ot to
-onstitte Cst one more ghetto< one more 9 identit" ;< at a time ,hen the
re+oltionar" mo+ement had the tas> of affirming the hman s(e-ies against the
-r"stalliEation of 9 -ommnities ; ,hether the" ?e homose3al< 4ra? or Ke,ish. . .
at this +er" moment the harmfl inflen-e of %arisson e3erted itself in the
Page 98
re+oltionar" ran>s. 2ieille Ta(e 2 started loo>ing for Ke,ish sonding names to
sign its letters and (etitions. Bo,e+er< to s(ea> of 9 Ke,s ; as a ?anal realit"<
,hereas this is the first notion to ?e -riti-ised< a notion ,hose )estioning
ndermines anti-*emitism and \ionism at the same time< here ,as a (ra-tise ,hi-h
%arisson hel(ed reinfor-e among those ,ho fond him interesting.
The -on-e(tion of the *e-ond !orld !ar as an 9 irre-on-ila?le ,ar ?et,een Bitler
and the Ke,s ; (ro-eeds< follo,ing the e3am(le of Bitler or Begin< throgh the
for-ed integration of e+er"one ?orn to Ke,ish (arents into the 9 Ke,ish ; ?lo-< ?"
-ommanding that (erson to -onform< for good or ?ad fortne< to a -ommnit" of
9 Ke,ish ; destin" ,hi-h falls into the -ategor" of m"th. *(ea>ing of 9 the Ke,s ; is
to Cstif" the -laims and (ra-tises of ?oth the Third 1ei-h and the *tate of 0srael in
im(osing their la, on an" indi+idal ,ho -annot (ro+e their non-mem?ershi( of this
9 -ommnit" ;.
Kst as m-h as the ?om?ing in the re Co(erni- or the shooting in the 1e des
1osiers< the %arisson s-andal a-hie+ed the o((osite of ,hat re+oltionaries might
,ish for A it froEe 9 (ersons ?orn of Ke,ish (arents ; into a defensi+e h"steria.
4mongst other things< it is ?e-ase of %arisson that toda" (eo(le still see> an
identit" a--ording to -riteria ,hi-h resem?le the ra-ial la,s of the Third 1ei-h li>e
t,o (eas in a (od.
7he spring o" la Guerre Sociale
The :rganisation of @ong 1e+oltionar" !or>ers (:KT1) had disa((eared at a?ot
the same time as Mo+ement Commniste. 4t the ?eginning of 1964 the :KT1
organised a national meeting ,hi-h ,as a failre. %ortnatel" this did not (re+ent it
from (?lishing A -orld -ithout Money (3 ?oo>lets< 196&-5)< in ,hi-h for the first
time< (erha(s< and nli>e to(ian and anar-hist ,ritings< the -on-rete me-hanism
of a -ommnist re+oltion ,as en+isaged.
The athor of this te3t< Jomini)e Blan-< then organised Din) Don) 7nternational
(1965). T"(i-al of the (eriod< the editorial< a s"nthesis of essential -ommnist
(ositions< stood in shar( -ontrast to other minor arti-les< and to a te3t on /0P ,hi-h
(rod-ed no -riti)e of this res-e o(eration of a -om(an" ?" its em(lo"ees. 0t is
ne+er enogh to indi-ate the (rofondl" (roletarian -ases of so-ial a-ts< it is still
ne-essar" to s(ea> of ,hat effe-ts the" lead to. 0n the /0P affair< as in man" other
-ases< -a(italism s--eeded in (enetrating inside the ,or>ersD a-tion and made it a
-a(italist enter(rise (in ?oth senses of the ,ord) ,hi-h also< ?" +irte of the
national and international im(a-t it e3(erien-ed< had an anti-re+oltionar"
fn-tion. H
N
ote 1
I
!ith the se-ond isse the Cornal -hanged its name to la Guerre Sociale (0sse 1
1966). 4 te3t on the a?olition of ,age la?or< distri?ted in large )antities on Ma"
1
st
1966< ,as rern as an editorial. 0t -oe3isted ,ith at least t,o dee(l" erroneos
te3ts< one on atomation and one on the refsal of ,or>< ,hi-h ,as one-sidedl"
inter(reted as (roof that Ca(ital ,as at deathDs door. The -larifi-ation in isse 2 did
not de+elo( matters.
4mong the (ast and (resent (arti-i(ants in la Guerre Sociale< some had ta>en (art
in 2ieille Ta(e and le Mou%ement $ommuniste. 0n addition< .illes Ja+S
-ontri?ted to Guerre Sociale ?" gi+ing the first +ersions< s?se)entl" modified< of
the te3ts on the *tate ((?lished in isse 2) and on the -am(s (isse 3< 1969).
1eading la Guerre Sociale and La Banquise ,ill -learl" sho, the -onne-tions and
-on+ergen-es ?et,een them. 0n addition to the matters ,e s(ea> of ?elo, (and
,hi-h are not tri+ial)< La Banquise addresses t,o -riti-isms to Guerre Sociale A
firstl"< Guerre Sociale does not get to the ?ottom of the anal"sis of demand
strgglesG se-ondl"< it has (oorl" ?ro>en a,a" from (ro(aganda.
0f Guerre Social is tem(ted ?" trim(halism (the arti-les alread" mentioned in 0sse
1< the arti-les on Jenain-/ong," on 0sse 2)< this is (ro?a?l" more than a sign of
e3-essi+e o(timism. The -riti)e of the ,or>ersD mo+ement< in-lding ,ild-at
mo+ements< has not ?een -arried to its -on-lsion. Guerre Sociale ,rote in its
forth isse (1982) A
9 0t seems to s that< regardless of the forms of organisation< ,hether trade
nionist or atonomos< the (roletariat also e3(resses itself in its elementar"
strggle of resistan-e to e3(loitation. $+en if in this ,a"< it does not a((ear
N
ote 1
*ee the isse of @)ation de+oted to /0P.
Page 177
re+oltionar". ;
This is a theor" that is< at the +er" least )estiona?le< and re)ires dis-ssion. (*ee
or (ositions on the definition of the (roletariat). $lementar" resistan-e is a
-ondition of the -ommnist mo+ement< ?t it is onl" a -ondition. !e donDt a((lad
all ,or>ersD strggle (,hi-h -an ?e or ?e-ome anti-(roletarian)< nor e+en all -lass
strggle (,hi-h -an ?e reformist or e+en end ( ?" im(risoning (roletarians still
frther ,ithin -a(italism).
:ne -annot ma>e a dead end of this isse. No regro(ment ,ill ?e made solel" on
the ?asis of an nderstanding of -ommnism and the re+oltion. *till it is ne-essar"
to agree a?ot ,hat there is ?et,een no, and a re+oltionG a?ot ,hat the
(roletariat does and does not do.
0n its first isses Guerre Sociale (referred to (?lish minor te3ts at the e3(ense of
others that ,ere more fndamental (on the *itationist 0nternational for e3am(le)<
,hi-h ,ere reser+ed for a more limited distri?tion. Guerre Sociale often lagged
?ehind A -orld -ithout Money. The te3t on the -risis (isse 3) left to one side the
main elements of a (re+ios d(li-ated anal"sis ?" Jomini)e Blan- on the s?Ce-t.
Guerre Sociale (rod-ed too m-h sim(lifi-ation< and too m-h (ro(aganda.
9 0t ,as a -onferen-e< that is to sa" of ed-ation and (o(larisation. 0 ,old
ha+e li>ed that this -onferen-e ,hile tea-hing me something< ,old also
ha+e taght "o something. This -riteria of dis-o+er" is the onl" one ,hi-h
a((ears +alid to me ,hen 0 ,rite. ; (letter of 4ntonin 4rtad to 4ndrS
1olland de 1enS+ille< 11
th
Kanar" 1933).
4t the end of 1969< after isse 3< Jomini)e Blan- sent a -ir-lar letter to the
mem?ers of the gro( and to a series of (eo(le ,ho had -olla?orated ,ith him in
the (ast< as ,ell as those he >ne, among the editors of the fa>e Monde
Diplomatique. Guerre Sociale< he said< ,as ndergoing the -onse)en-es of the
general (assi+it". 0t ,as in -risis and he ,ondered ,hether it ,as ne-essar" to gi+e
it ( or -ontine it. 4 -orres(onden-e follo,ed. The ftre editors of La Banquise
re-ognised the im(ortan-e of the e3isten-e of a Cornal li>e la Guerre Sociale ?t
addressed to it the -riti-isms smmarised a?o+e.
0n the s(ring of 1987< a meeting too> (la-e in Paris< the mintes of ,hi-h ,ere
,ritten shortl" after,ards ?" the /"ons mem?ers of Guerre Sociale. No minte are
im(artial< and ors ,old ha+e ?een different< ?t these are honest and ,e
re(rod-e them in an anne3e.
The meeting had (ro-eeded in a general -limate of good,ill< honest -riti)e and a
refsal of (olemi-. Those ,ho toda" (rod-e La Banquise had the feeling that ,e
(erha(s ,ere entering a ne, (eriod dring ,hi-h a re+oltionar" regro(ment ,as
going to ta>e (la-e. 0n the follo,ing ,ee>s te3ts ,ere ,ritten and dis(at-hed to all
the (arti-i(ants A
a te3t ?" .illes Ja+S on the -on-entration -am(s and their m"th
(s?se)entl" (?lished in t,o isses of La ,rondeurG some (ages ,ere
in-or(orated in 9 The Borror is Bman ; in the first isse of La Banquise).
This te3t la(sed too m-h into mass (s"-holog" ?t initiated a -riti)e of
1assinier and %arissonG
another te3t ?" him on 9 Proletariat and Commnism ; ta>ing ( former
mans-ri(tsG
a te3t ?" Kean-Pierre Carasso and *erge Uadr((ani< ,hi-h after
modifi-ation ?e-ame 9 ,or a -orld -ithout Moral Order ; in the first isse of
La BanquiseG
a te3t ?" .illes Ja+S on ,ar< (art of ,hi-h ?e-ame 9 !ar and %ear ; (0sse
1 of La Banquise< an e3tra-t of ,hi-h ,old ?e (?lished in 7ndolencia< in
Bar-elona< and ,old ?e (resented in error as ha+ing emanated from Guerre
Sociale).
Commitments seemed to ha+e ?een honored. Bt...
Jomini)e Blan- firstl" -onsidered that 9 Proletariat and Commnism ; thre, the
(roletariat ot of the ,indo,< then some time after< de-lared that the te3t on
morals ,as -loser to the (ositions held ?" Br->ner (a modernist intelle-tal) than
of Guerre Sociale< that this msh of 9 immoralist moralism ,as ,orth nothing and
e3(lained nothing ; and he finished ?" -hara-terising it as 9 2aneigemist ,an>ing ;
(in other ,ords s?-*itationist). Bis -riti-isms ,ere e3(ressed ,ith a less and less
-ontrolled aggression and left little room for argment. The te3t on morals did
indeed -ontain some +er" erroneos (assages ,hi-h ha+e sin-e ?een -orre-ted
(amongst other things an n-riti-al (resentation of the m"th of the 9 re-al-itrant ;<
and e+en a half-identifi-ation of the re-al-itrant ,ith the re+oltionar") ?t draft
te3ts did not deser+e s-h fr".
0n addition< disagreements ,ere frther aggra+ated ?" the %arisson affair. B"
mtal agreement ?et,een Pierre .illame and s it had not ?een dis-ssed at
the meeting< sin-e ,e ,ere still a,aiting (Mar-h 1987) PierreDs ans,ers to or
-riti-isms. *hortl" after,ards< sin-e Pierre -ontined ,ith fine energ" along the
(ath he had ta>en< ,e -onsidered that it ,as im(ossi?le to -on-eal or
disagreements ,ith him an" longer. Belie+ing in (re(aring the ftre and not
,asting it< ,e ?roght all of it to the attention of those ,ho had ta>en (art in the
Mar-h meeting. Pierre rea-ted ,ith a ne, letter ,hi-h ,e also -ir-lated. !e
,anted to lan-e the a?s-ess. 0t ,as nearl" im(ossi?le for s to ?elie+e that 2ieille
Ta(e 2 ,old (ersist for long in its a?errations. !e thoght that on the ,hole the
mem?ers of Guerre Sociale ,old agree ,ith s on the -ontent of or disagreement
,ith Pierre< ,old ma>e this >no,n to him and that he ,old find himself (
against the ,all.
Bt Jomini)e Blan-< ,hile holding Pierre to ?e ,rong on the )estion of
inter+ening in the media< -on-entrated all of his energ" on -riti-ising or attitde
and de-lared that PierreDs ,as more 9 s"m(atheti- ; than ors. To or great
astonishment< he hardl" dre, an" -on-lsion a?ot the -ontent (shold one
s((ort %arisson #) ?t de-lared 1assinier more s?+ersi+e and Pierre more
s"m(atheti- than s.
Be -hose to ta>e ,hat< for s< ,as a -all for an essential dis-ssion and a ,arning<
as an indi-tment< made against Pierre ?" (eo(le ,ho ,ere e)all" gilt" of the
things for ,hi-h the" re(roa-hed him (letters to the (ress< errors that ,ere indeed
o(en to -riti-ism). Jomini)e Blan- had rightl" re(roa-hed one of his -omrades for
ha+ing attem(ted to get the @ou%el Obser%ateur to mention Guerre Sociale. Then
,hat is to ?e said a?ot a s"stemati- (?li-it" -am(aign for %arisson #
Page 172
0magine a gro( (?lishing an arti-le against demo-ra-"< one of ,hose most
eminent mem?ers< ,ithot ,hom the arti-le -old not ha+e ?een (rod-ed< then
stands as a -andidate in an ele-tion # This ,as the na--e(ta?le -onfsion ,hi-h
Pierre -reated ?" ta>ing (art in a re+oltionar" gro(ing ,hile -ond-ting a
-am(aign for the demo-ratiEation of the media in fa+or of %arisson. Bere la" an
am?igit" that needed ?e resol+ed. Jomini)e Blan- refsed to do so. 4s a reslt
the follo,ing atmn Guerre Sociale Coined 2ieille Ta(e 2 in the -onfsionist
a-ti+ism in defen-e of %arisson.
The -riti)e of 9 hman rights ; toda" forms (art of minimm re+oltionar"
(ositions< for s< as ,ithot do?t for Guerre Sociale. Bo, -an a gro( then allo,
itself to ?e more and more o(enl" dra,n into a -am(aign for hman rights # 4nd
,h" e3a-tl" shold the hman in )estion ?e %arisson #
4n agreement had ?een entered into in Mar-h. !e had the im(ression that ,e had
flfilled it. !e ,ere alone in this +ie,. !hate+er the disagreements ,ith Guerre
Sociale< the" did not Cstif" an attitde ,hi-h -an ?e smmariEed as follo,s A
Guerre Sociale deli?eratel" -hose not to asso-iate ,ith (eo(le ,hi-h it
-hara-terised as s?-*itationist intelle-tals or as drifting dangerosl" to,ards
Camattism. The te3t on morals< amended< is in isse 1< the ideas on the (roletariat
are in isses 1 and 2. $+er"one -an Cdge for themsel+es the +erdi-t (assed on s
?" Jomini)e Blan-.
There ndo?tedl" e3ist ?et,een s im(ortant disagreements< as m-h o+er the
-on-e(tion of the (roletariat as o+er the -riti)e of moers. These disagreements
,old most (ro?a?l" ha+e (re+ented a -lose -olla?oration< at an" rate in the same
Cornal. Bt there ,as an o((ortnit" to dis-ss essential s?Ce-ts and Jomini)e
Blan-Ds attitde (re+ented that.
0n the -ir-lar letter ,hi-h (t a fll sto( to or relations ,ith Guerre Sociale and its
net,or> of -orres(ondents ,e in-lded these lines ,hi-h smmariEe or feelings
a?ot this e(isode A 9 That the ,hims of an indi+idal and the 9 o?s-re settling of
emotional a--onts ; still ha+e so s-h im(ortan-e demonstrates the ,ea>ness of
the re+oltionar" -rrent. 0n the ,hole of this sad ?siness this is ,hat tro?les s
most. ; 4s long as the re+oltionar" -rrent is ,ea>< -onfrontations of (ersonalit"
and -hara-ter ,ill retain their im(ortan-e. *ometimes it is ne-essar" to (rod-e a
little (s"-holog" in order not to ha+e to do so later on. Bt in (arti-lar< it is
ne-essar" to find a mode of relations ?et,een indi+idals and gro(s ,hi-h
marginalises (aral"sing emotional ?eha+ior. The gathering together of some
indi+idals in La Banquise is not an end in itself. !e are o(en to an" relations ,ith
gro(s and indi+idals< ?t it is ne-essar" that these relations are -ond-ted on
terms ,hi-h sho, that from the start ,e ha+e a minimm in -ommon. There are
rles of ?eha+ior to ?e fond ?et,een re+oltionaries. 4fter ha+ing -hara-terised
s as 2aneigemist ,an>ers and de-lared s to ?e less s?+ersi+e than 1assinier<
Jomini)e Blan- a((eared astonished that ,e thereafter refsed an" dis-ssion
,ith him. Be has Cst ,ritten s a letter of a?se -on-erning the first isse of La
Banquise. To this letter H
N
ote 2
I as to those ,hi-h (re-eded it ,e ,ill not ?e re(l"ing.
$+er"one >no,s those leftists ,ho (atientl" dra, themsel+es ( to hea( inslts on
their interlo-tors ?efore ?oldl" retrning to the argment. !e donDt (ra-tise this
>ind of angelism< not (or not onl") ot of self-esteem< ?t ?e-ase one -an onl"
N
ote 5
6i2e the whole of the "ocuments relative to the (uestions tac2le" /y La an!uise, it *oes without sayin* that
this letter is at the "is!osal of anyone intereste" in it$
dis-ss effe-ti+el" ,ith those (eo(le ,ith ,hom one at least has a -ommon
langage. To inslts< ,e -old onl" re(l" ,ith inslts< and ,e also do not ,ant to
sin> into that sort of (ett" s?-*itationist game.
4fter the +er" friendl" meeting in Mar-h 1987< ,ith onl" one e3-e(tion< the friends
and mem?ers of Guerre Sociale to ,hom the te3ts and the -o(ies of the
-orres(onden-e ,ith Pierre .illame and Jomini)e Blan- had ?een sent<
e3(ressed no rea-tion. Nothing. !h" did the" (la" the #hite Bombies ,e >no,
them not to ?e. 0n its e3(osition of ,hat had o--rred ?et,een isses 3 and 4
Guerre Sociale ma>es the follo,ing allsion to this ,asted s(ring A 9 0nstead of
gro,ing in siEe< ,e managed to damage some of or relationshi(s and e+en those
,ith ,hom a more remote and more o--asional -olla?oration might ha+e ?een
(ossi?le ; (isse 4< 1982< (. 43). The reader of la Guerre Sociale ,old learn no
more.
La Banquise< li>e an" -onsistent re+oltionar" Cornal< ,or>s for its o,n
disa((earan-e. :r a-ti+it" onl" ma>es sense in terms of a mo+ement ,hi-h one
da" ,ill en-om(ass all of the energies e3(ressed here or there in the form of
gro(s or Cornals. !e ha+e nothing to do ,ith the great famil" of the ltra-left. :n
the other hand< ,e >no, that a sdden a((earan-e ?" the (roletariat ,ill soon
settle the differen-es ,hi-h se(arate s from the other segments of the
re+oltionar" mo+ement. !hile ,aiting< ,e ,ill -ontine to see> among orsel+es<
and ,ith those ,e meet< a -oheren-e that is ne+er gi+en from the start< ?t -an
onl" ?e rea-hed ?" -larif"ing (oints of disagreement as far as is (ossi?le< and
,or>ing thogh them. The original 2ieille Ta(e< le Mou%ement $ommuniste<
Guerre Sociale and those ,ho toda" (rod-e La Banquise ha+e all made errors. The
most serios of them ,old ?e to lea+e these errors in the dar>.
Page 174
Meeting o" the 22
n$
March 198& - Paris
4?ot 27 (arti-i(ants in-lding 3 from the *oth-!est< 3 from /"ons and the rest
from Paris. This re(ort onl" deals ,ith the meeting on *atrda" 22< the dis-ssion
on the *nda" (,ith the (arti-i(ation of a -omrade from 4i3-en-Pro+an-e) ?eing
more -asal. !e shold indi-ate the +er" limited nm?er of ,omen (2) and the
relati+el" 9 ad+an-ed age ; of the (arti-i(ants.
The dis-ssion ?egan ,ith a -riti)e of la Guerre Sociale.
4 -riti)e of the -ontents of the re+ie, ,hi-h ?e-ame tangled ( ,ith a -riti)e of
its fn-tioning.
8 Kean-Pierre< *erge< Christine< .illes do not ,ish to (osition themsel+es in relation
to the H)estion of theI e3isten-e of the re+ie, in itself ?t in relation to ,hat it has
to sa". 4longside im(ortant te3ts li>e 9 Miser" of %eminism ;< Uestion of the
*tate ; and 9 The Cam(sY ; -oe3ist arti-les in ,hi-h the argments do not do
Csti-e to the assertions< or ,hi-h -ontain things that are -om(letel" false. This
-on-erns the editorials on Ne, @or> (isse 2)< on Jenain-/ong," and 0ran (isse 3)
in ,hi-h realit" is am(lified ,ith an o(timism ,hi-h mas>s a la-> of anal"sis< ?t
,hi-h -omes to reinfor-e a more general o(timism a?ot the re+oltion< leading to
the manfa-tre of a reassring -ommnist ideolog" for the gro( and its readers.
(4 (oint of +ie, shared ?" Jomini)e from /"ons).
8 Jomini)e O e3(lained that his o(timism ,as not short-sighted. 0f this ,orld is
hea+" ,ith re+oltion< this is not ?e-ase he sees it arri+ing ,ith Jenain< ?t
?e-ase of the -ontradi-tions of -a(italism. JO re-ognises the ,ea>ness of these
arti-les or the false (assages (the arm" -olla(sed at lightening s(eed in 0ran).
Pierre (ointed ot the m"ster" of the ltra-(o,erfl 0ranian arm" ,hi-h a((arentl"
+anished into thin air A 9 !hat ?e-ame of the 6
th
-om(an" # ; (Pat) Bt these
defi-ien-ies ,ere the (rod-t of a -on-rete sitation (the relation of for-es in the
first isse)< Hthe arti-le onI Jenain-/ong," had ?een intended to ?e a (oster-
leaflet 8 ,hi-h e3(lains its tone 8the -ommitments not held to 8 and the a?sen-e of
some ,ho shold ha+e ?een (resent in the Cornal. Pierre in order to smmarise
the sitation s(o>e a?ot the role of JO as editor in -hief. 9 The ?eginning of the
?eginning is nonetheless the e3isten-e of a Cornal. . . ; (JO)
8 .illes said that one -annot ?e -ontent to line ( lists of ,or>ersD strggles< and
that their +iolent -hara-ter against the *tate did not ne-essaril" ma>e them
strggles for -ommnism. 9 The steel,or>ers are fighting to remain steel,or>ers. ;
The res(onse of Uim is mentioned A 9 ?e-ase one al,a"s strggles against ;. 8
Benri A in elementar" (roletarian strggle there is something elseG ?" their sitation
,ithin (rod-tion< the fra-tions of the (roletariat tem(oraril" ?rea> the fn-tioning
of the e-onom" e+en if reformism is the logi-al -on-lsion (-ontradi-tion of the
(roletariat ?et,een -a(italism and -ommnism). .illes s(o>e of the -risis of the
(roletariat. $+er"one agreed in re-ognising this as the nm?er one (ro?lem (as -an
?e seen at the le+el of the -on-e(ts or terminolog" in ,hi-h (eo(le inter-hangea?l"
em(lo" ,or>ing -lass< (roletariat< ,or>ersY)
.illes is astonished that essential te3ts li>e 9 Chant %nX?re ; and on the 9 *.0 ;
ha+e not a((eared. Pierre s(o>e of the *.0 as 9 st"le ; and of its s?+ersi+e
relation to -ommni-ation. 0f the ltra-left and the 9 milie ; ha+e an es(e-iall"
defensi+e relation to the ,orld< the *.0. had sho,n a more offensi+e attitde. 4ll
those ,ho had read Jomini)e ODs te3t agreed in finding it im(ortant (.illes<
.Srald) e+en if its st"le left something to ?e desired. Bt Jomini)e (refers to
de+ote himself to re,riting 9 4 !orld !ithot Mone" ;. 4lain (Uillan *oth !est)
did not agree ,ith the (?li-ation of the te3t on the *.0. in the Cornal< he fears that
one ,old ?ring the m"th ?a-> to life< and that the Cornal remains -onne-ted to
the same interlo-tors and did not go ?e"ond a -ertain milie (a (oint of +ie,
shared ?" Ka-)es (*oth-!est) %ranTois (/"on). .illes (ointed ot that he had
,ritten a te3t on the *.0. ,hi-h -ir-lated in $nglish.
7he Proble# o" Intervention
0n a slightl" delirios form the *oth-!est (latform had raised the (ro?lem as ,ell
as the )estions 9 !ho does the Cornal ser+e # !ho is it addressed to # ; raised
?" *"l+ie. Ka-)es thin>s that it -annot remain a theoreti-al Cornal ,ithot (osing
the (ro?lem of its lin>s ,ith the so-ial mo+ement< of (ra-ti-al inter+ention in
strggles and of the organisation of -ommnist fra-tions. Kean-Pierre res(onded< if
it ,as a )estion of a-ts of inter+ention< the" -old not ?e s(o>en a?ot in the
a?stra-t< it ,as ne-essar" that there ,ere s(e-ifi- things to dis-ss and de-ide.
Ka-)es is ha((" to a--e(t that initiall" one (ro-eeds +ia a theoreti-al Cornal. 0n
(assing the remar> of .illes A one shold not (ose the e3isten-e of the re+ie, in
terms of the ?rain" t"(es ,ho thin> and ,rite for the others< it mst ena?le the
(ossi?ilit" of a de?ate and a -ir-lation of ideas and (roCe-ts< e+en if some ha+e
more -a(a-it" to formlate them. 0ndeed se+eral (eo(le said nothing at the
meeting "et after,ards had an o(inion on this or that )estion. !or>ers and those
,ho ha+e ne+er immersed themsel+es in (oliti-s and the o?session ,ith holding
meetings ,ill al,a"s ?e less at ease in meetings. JonDt the" Cst as m-h ha+e a
(oint of +ie, # Jomini)e O e+o>ed his (ermanent -on-ern to ?e nderstood ?"
(eo(le ,ho ha+e no referen-e to the 9 -lassi-s ;. Be ,orries if theor" is not
-ommni-a?le to those ,ho so-iall" -an nderstand it ?est (Pro?lem of the
atonomisation of theor"< ha+ing fe, ties ,ith the so-ial mo+ement 8 and
(roletarian atomisation reinfor-es this sitation 8 to ?e ta->led on *nda").
8 Jomini)e s(o>e of rles to ?e esta?lished in order to hold to ,hat one is
-ommitted and to a+oid -ertain st(idities e+o>ed in his letter. Kean-Pierre
e3(lained the -ir-mstan-es in ,hi-h inter+entions ,ere made in the ne,s(a(ers in
-onne-tion ,ith the %arisson affair and its re(er-ssions. The dis-ssion ?e-ame
?ogged do,n o+er the )estion of formal rles for e3am(le that the (re-ise se of
finan-ial resor-es is >no,n. 0n fa-t ?ehind the formal rles are rather (rin-i(les
that it is ne-essar" to ma>e o?+ios ,hen one goes ?e"ond the -ir-le of -lose
friends. Behind the rle a?ot not inter+ening in the (ress (a(art from the defen-e
of a re+oltionar" in danger) it is a )estion of the (rin-i(le of the -ommni-ation
of -ommnist ideas.
4greement ,as rea-hed on the (rin-i(le of a -olle-ti+e a-ti+it"< the (ro?lem ?eing
not to fill a (ossi?le forth isse ?t that there is a de?ate on the im(ortant
)estions ta->led and ths of the -on-rete -ontri?tions ,hi-h ,ill logi-all" ,ill
(ro+ide a lot more material than a forth isse.
Page 175
8 K-P< *erge< KosS< .illesY mention their organised dis-ssions on ,ar ,ith a te3t of
.illes.
8 K.P and *erge are to (rod-e a te3t on moers. 0t is (ossi?le that the" ,ill
integrate it into a more general te3t on the -risis (so-ial -risis 8 e-onomi- -risis).
8 .illes ,ill re-e3amine his 9 Crisis of the Proletariat ;
8 Benri ,ill send notes on the re-om(osition of the (roletariat ?eginning ,ith the
transformation of the la?or (ro-ess.
8 a -ontination of the arti-le on the -am(s is -alled for< the arti-le ending on 9 the
need to disassem?le the me-hanisms ,hi-h assre the (rod-tion and re(rod-tion
of ideolog" and its delirims< ,e al,a"s a,ait the ,at-hma>er ; 4n a((eal is made
to Pierre.
8 the te3t on the *0 mst ?e re-e3amined. Com(arison ,ith the te3t ?" .illes and
the insights of Pierre. %or its (?li-ation it is (ro(osed that it -ome ot as a ?oo>let.
Bt ,ho ,ill re,rite it #
8 the te3t on e-olog" ?" JO is thoght good ?" those ,ho ha+e read it. !ith the
hel( of some im(ro+ements it -an -ome ot (send sggestions to Jomini)e)< an
0talian translation is a,aited. 4 leaflet (oster on e-olog" is (ro(osed ,ith ,hi-h one
-an inter+ene (the $-olog" Ja"s at Per(ignan 8 the national e-olog" -onferen-e at
/"on 1< 2< 3< 4 Ma").
4ll -ontri?tions mst ?e sent )i->l" to the Cornals ?o3 nm?er. KosS is in -harge
of distri?ting te3ts ,ith the assistan-e and s((ort of the (eo(le from Paris
((hoto-o("ing). Ma" 1&
th
de?ate on te3ts.
Note 8 tra+elling ?" -omrades from the (ro+in-es in+ol+ed greater -osts and energ"
than for the Parisians (the more so sin-e the maCorit" of them are nem(lo"ed).
The minimm shold ?e that -osts are shared. :n this o--asion it is (ro(osed that
the Parisian -ontri?tion is transferred to the *(anish edition of 9 The Uestion of
the *tate ; 9 Miser" of %eminismY ;
7he autu#n o" la Guerre Sociale
1987 in %ran-e A 4 strateg" of tension aimed at the Ke,ish 9 -ommnit" ; is at
,or>. !hat ?egins ,ith the no-trnal ma-hine-gnning of s"nagoges and s-hools
-lminates ,ith the ?om?ing in the re Co(erni-. 0sraeli *tate< 4ra? *tate< %ren-h
(oliti-s< hard-line Palestinians< ,hate+er the for-es ?ehind these a-ts< it is -lear
that< as later dring the ,ar in /e?anon< the" aimed at se-ring a defensi+e
-r"stallisation of the Ke,ish -ommnit" ,hi-h all >inds of (oliti-al a((aratses and
ideologists then a((lied themsel+es to mani(lating. 4fter the ?om?ing< a large
demonstration of the Fnion Sacre too> (la-e. 0n o((osition to the resrgen-e of a
m"thi-al neo-NaEi ?ar?arism (araded man" (eo(le ,ho had defended other
-relties< (artisans of *talinism "esterda" and toda"< former mem?er of
go+ernments ,hi-h had -o+ered ( tortre in 4lgeria< defenders of a \ionism ,hi-h
?efore (ossessing a *tate that tortred Palestinians< had ?een a terrorist mo+ement
,hi-h slaghtered man" 9 inno-ent ; +i-tims.
0n *e(tem?er 1987< on the initiati+e of Guerre Sociale< a leaflet entitled 9 :r
Oingdom is a Prison ; ,as (?lished< signed ?" +arios ltra-left gro(s and ,idel"
distri?ted< in (arti-lar at the demonstration after the re Co(erni- ?om?ing. This
leaflet ,hi-h denon-ed antifas-ism ,old ha+e ?een good< if it had not entered
into the de?ate o+er the gas -ham?ers< and if it had not -ontained a (erfe-tl"
,aurissonian (assage a?ot the -am(s A
9 The de(ortation and -on-entration of millions of (eo(le -anDt ?e red-ed to
a dia?oli-al NaEi idea< it ,as a?o+e all la-> of the la?or ne-essar" for ,ar
indstr" ,hi-h (rod-ed the need for it. !ith diminishing -ontrol of the
sitation< as the ,ar -ontined and gathered together against it m-h
greater for-es< fas-ism -old not sffi-ientl" feed the de(ortees or (ro(erl"
distri?te food. ; (Cited in Mise au &oint).
This (assage ,as sed as a (rete3t to reCe-t e+er"thing +alid in the leaflet. Bt
e+en so M To -ome to s(ea> li>e %arisson... 1e(resenting a regression as
-om(ared to isse 3 of Guerre Sociale ,hi-h dealt ,ith de(ortation in all its
as(e-ts< the first senten-e of this (assage )ite sim(l" s>i(s o+er the Ke,ish
)estion. NaEi anti-*emitism no longer e3ists. @et didnDt it (la" a role in the
9 de(ortation and -on-entration ; # The offi-ial +ersion e3(lains e+er"thing throgh
NaEi ra-ism. To forget NaEi ra-ism is to ta>e the o((osite of the offi-ial +ersion not
to -riti-ise it. 4n histori-al 9 omission ; on this s-ale doesnDt (t one in a good
(osition to ,rite a hard hitting leaflet on the o((osition ?et,een demo-ra-" and
di-tatorshi(. The demo-rats natrall" Cm(ed on this la-na.
The se-ond senten-e of this (assage is Cst as de(lora?le. %rom the thesis A NaEism
#anted to >ill< ,e (ass to A NaEism could no longer feed the de(ortees. T,o e)all"
red-ti+e e3(lanations. Bo, -an ,e e3(lain these (re(osteros statements< e3-e(t
throgh the %arissonian inflen-e in or ran>s #
4fter Co(erni- and the org" of san-timoniosness ,hi-h follo,ed it< the ?est
res(onse ,as the (?li-ation in Libration of an a--ont of the massa-re of
4lgerians in Paris in :-to?er 1951. That Libration did ?etter than the
Page 178
re+oltionaries sa"s a great deal a?ot the disintegration of this -rrent.
2iolentl" anti-*emiti- do-trines had hel(ed ?ring Bitler to (o,er. These do-trines<
?orne ?" a (o(lar h"steria ,hi-h the" then inflamed< dro+e Bitler to a-ts ,hi-h
-annot al,a"s ?e e3(lained< e+en indire-tl"< ?" militar" or e-onomi- moti+es< ?t
,hi-h often -on-erned an ideologi-al logi-. 0deolog" is not a mas>< or rather the
ideolog" and the s>in soon ?e-ome one. 4nti-*emitism< one of the things ,hi-h
-emented together the team in (o,er< as ,ell as so-ial order in the -ontr"< had its
o,n re)irements. 0t also led to the for-ed emigration and re(ression< to the
-on-entration and e3termination of a large nm?er of Ke,s. To -onsider that
ideolog" has a relati+e atonom" is not in -ontradi-tion ,ith a materialist +ie, of
the ,orld. The -on-entrationist e+ents in NaEi .erman" in+ol+ed (rel" e-onomi-
and militar" needs< ?t the" didnDt onl" in+ol+e that. There ,asnDt a -ons(ira-" to
e3terminate that ,as hat-hed from the origins of NaEism< ?t there ,as more than
a -hain of -ir-mstan-es de to the ,ar. 4 -ontinit" of +er?al +iolen-e ,as
transformed into (h"si-al +iolen-e at first s(oradi- (Oristelna-ht in 1938) and then
general (the -am(s).
0n the midst of the (assions arosed ?" Co(erni- and ?" the general hostilit" to
%arisson< and in an atmos(here of hnting for neo-NaEis< 9 :r Oingdom is a
Prison ; stirred ( a series of atta->s on Guerre Sociale in the (ress. Criosl"
Guerre Sociale -ontered ,ith a leaflet distri?ted to the t"(esetters at Libration
and the editors of $harlie(*ebdo< ne,s(a(ers ,hi-h had ?e-ome -aght ( in this.
The 9 :r OingdomY ; leaflet ha+ing ?een distri?ted at a demonstration of left-
,ing la,"ers< and Le Monde ha+ing (resented it as a 9 (ro-fas-ist ; te3t< mem?ers
of Guerre Sociale ,ent to Le Monde and o?tained the -orre-tion ,hi-h one -an read
?elo,. Guerre Sociale had -orre-tl" -hara-terised or letters addressed to
Libration at the start of the %arisson affair as 9 st(idit" ;. 4nd "et here it ,as
ta>ing ( this (ra-tise< not as ,e had done in order to defend indi+idals< ?t in
order to se the media to ma>e their ?asi- (ositions >no,n M
0he authors o" the lea"let entitled J Our
Din)dom is a &rison K distri?ted on
:-to?er 17
th
at the Pala-e of Ksti-e in
Paris ?" t,o (ersons ,ho ,ere
immediatel" -hallenged< ha+e as>ed s
to -larif" that this is not a matter of a
9 pro("ascist ; te3t (Le Monde 12-13
th
:-to?er). These leaflets denon-ed
9 the rumour o" the )as chambers GLH
a mythical horror #hich made it
possible to mas+ the real and banal
cause o" the #ar ;< ?t the" ended ,ith
a -all for 9 communist stru))le by
proletarians' the destruction o" #a)e
labour' o" commodities and o" States ;.
*e+eral li?ertarian organisations had
ta>en (art in drafting this leaflet.
Le Monde< *atrda" 18
th
:-to?er 1987.
Guerre Sociale and the others 8 in (arti-lar the gro( Ceune 0aupeM&our une
7nter%ention $ommuniste 8 geninel" mo?ilised for %arisson< ?ringing him and
2ieille Ta(e 2 9 re+oltionar" ; s((ort and ?a->ing. The" trned themsel+es into
e3(erts ?efore a -ort ,hi-h the" shold ha+e -hallenged< in the same ,a" as ,ith
an" other -ort.
B" entering the (ro?lemati- of the e3isten-e of the gas -ham?ers< .erre *o-iale
,as o?liged to ?e-ome a ne, e3(ert. :?+iosl" a minimm of do-mentation is
ne-essar" in order that "o >no, ,hat "o are tal>ing a?ot. Bt ntil the arri+al of
%arisson< the maCorit" of %ren-h re+oltionaries distingished ?et,een )estions
,hi-h made sense inside (arti-lar s(e-ialisms< and those ,hi-h made sense for
e+er"?od"< and the" ,ere onl" interested in the latter. $+er"thing that ,e
nderstand a?ot the ,orld< and the (ossi?ilit" of transforming it< ne+er -on-erns
s(e-ialised >no,ledge< ?e-ase e+er"thing that ,e >no, is inse(ara?le from ,hat
,e ha+e done and e3(erien-ed. %arisson< the +i-tim of the illsion of his o,n
s(e-ialit" (and ,hat a s(e-ialit" M) is no more than an a)ent o" details. Bis -riti)e
of te3ts -an at ?est disse-t ,ritings< ne+er el-idate histori-al (ro-esses.
1e+oltionar" -riti)e -hallenges all e3(erts and all -orts. Bo,e+er some radi-al
gro(s ,ent from this to s((orting an e3(ert in the Nrem?rg tri?nal.
4ll te3tal -riti)e (res((oses an aestheti-< a norm< it is ne+er the ,or> of a
9 netral ; resear-her. %arisson ?elie+es in a natral te3t< in an ndo-tored
narrati+e< in a state of ,ords ,hi-h (re-edes inter(retation and ,hose dis-o+er"
,old finall" -larif" the (ro?lem A the do-ment re+ealing the ra, fa-t. This is the
illsion of a 9 real ; e3isting in a (re form< (rior to and nderneath the
inter(retations that re-o+er it< and ,hi-h -an ?e e3tra-ted in that (re state.
There is no >no,ledge of histor" inde(endent of the meaning one gi+es it. The
,orst -ontem(orar" m"stifi-ation< that ,hi-h is the theoreti-al (res((osition of all
the others< is o?Ce-ti+it"< the negation of the s?Ce-ti+e-o?Ce-ti+e element of all
thoght. This is ,hat *tate s-hools and the ?orgeoisie tr" to im(ose on s.
0n 1981 a Mise au point de la Guerre Sociale sho,ed that it had entered into a
(olemi- in ,hi-h it had no fn-tion. 9 Yone -old a((re-iate and s((ort the ,or>
of %arisson on an anti--a(italist ?asisY; ((. 41).
/i>e 2ieille Ta(e 2< Guerre Sociale rearranged 1assinierDs ?iogra(h" ?" minimising
his anti-*emitism. Bt is e+en a minimal anti-*emitism a--e(ta?le # !old Guerre
Sociale defend ,ith s-h ardor a historian ,ho ,as a 9 little ?it ; *talinist ,riting
a?ot the +i-tims of *talinism #
0nstead of ma>ing the distin-tion ?et,een or )estion and the )estion raised ?"
%arisson< Guerre Sociale made a -riti)e of him ,ithot sho,ing the radical
differen-e in (oint of +ie,. %arisson and re+oltionaries do not loo> at things in the
same ,a"< ths the" -annot see the same things.
:n the statement A 9 Bitler ne+er ordered nor admitted that an"one ,as to ?e >illed
?e-ase of his ra-e or his religion ;< Guerre Sociale ,rote that %arisson 9 sa"s the
o((osite of the ,ides(read -rrent image of the Pfinal soltionP and Bitler (Y) in
an" e+ent this senten-e is far too -ategori-al (Y) ; ((( 38-39). The least one -an
sa" is that 9 too -ategori-al ; is a ,holl" inade)ate -riti)e of s-h an otrageos
and erroneos assertion.
Page 117
0t is so-iet"< sa"s Guerre Sociale< ,hi-h 9 ma>es a )estion of (rin-i(le ; ot of the
gas -ham?ers ((. 47). The arti-le in its third isse had not made them an essential
matter. Bt from the moment that re+oltionaries 9 s((orted ; %arisson< himself
o?sessed ?" gas< the" thre, themsel+es into ,hat ,as a 9 )estion of (rin-i(le ;
for 9 so-iet" ;< ?t not for them. !here did that lead them # !hen Guerre Sociale
,as na,are of %arisson< it said rather more a?ot the -am(s. $+er"thing ,hi-h is
im(ortant a?ot NaEism and 1939-4& in this Mise au &oint< is #ithout recourse to
%arisson.
This same ?oo>let re(rod-ed a hitherto n(?lished letter ?" Pierre .illame
dating from 1969< ,hi-h set ot his initial theoreti-al (osition in this affair (?efore
the meeting ,ith %arisson). 0f this te3t reall" smmarised PierreDs a-ti+it"
(ho,e+er -riti-isa?le)< that a-ti+it" ,old still ha+e ?een on the terrain of
-ommnist -riti)e. P?lished a "ear and a half later< his letter no, a((ears as a
s(rios Cstifi-ation for 2ieille Ta(e 2. *(rios ?e-ase it does not contain the
%arissonian -ohesion ,hi-h de+elo(ed s?se)entl"< and ,hi-h it no, ser+es to
co%er o%er ,ith a theoreti-al -loa>< ,ith the assistan-e of Guerre Sociale.
$+er"thing the letter sa"s a?ot the re+oltionar" reasons for an interest in the
-on-entrationist )estion does not 4usti"y the e3-lsi+e interest in gassing< e+en
less the e3-lsi+e interest in %arissonDs resear-h into gassing. Toda" this letter<
,hi-h ,e had often as>ed Pierre to (?lish ?e-ase it ta->led the (ro?lem from or
(oint of +ie,< is a m"stifi-ation.
0n this letter ho,e+er< Pierre alread" denied 1assinierDs anti-*emitism. Moreo+er<
-onfsion alread" a((ears in a (assage ,hi-h it is remar>a?le that ,e did not
noti-e at the time. Con-lding a dis-rsion on the trial of /is-h>a Hone of those in
-harge of the de(ortation of %ren-h Ke,s - translatorI< Pierre adds A
9 (Y) @o ,ill note that it is 0 ,ho gi+es m" s((ort to Ort /is-h>a. 4nd 0
ho(e that in his trial the rights of the defen-e are s-r(losl" res(e-ted. ;
((. 97)
4 1981 footnote -larifies this A indeed this m-h -riti-ised (assage no, seems to
Pierre to ?e +er" o(en to -riti-ism. 9 !hat 0 meant to sa" in an" -ase< ,as that<
,hile 0 ha+e nothing in -ommon ,ith a /is-h>a< 0 ,ant to ha+e nothing in -ommon
,ith the horri?le san-timon" of the NaEi hnters. ;
Bet,een the dissatisfa-tions of a mainl" theoreti-al a-ti+it" (Cornals< sometimes
leaflets)< and +iolent self-destr-tion (terrorism)< the (ro?lem of the gas -ham?ers
a((eared to offer some re+oltionaries a s(ring?oard ,hi-h might ?e sed to
ad+an-e the -ommnist mo+ement. Not onl" did the gas -ham?ers not ad+an-e the
re+oltionar" -riti)e of NaEism< and of the me-hanism of horror< it (ro+o>ed a
regression. Peo(le lost sight of the totalit". The demand for the 9 right to
resear-h ;< and for 9 freedom of e3(ression ; ,as to lead to its logi-al -on-lsion<
the de"ence o" human ri)hts.
0n !est .erman" (rofessional ?la->lists affe-ted thosands of (rogressi+es< leftists
and re+oltionaries for o+er ten "ears. 0t ,as ne-essar" to ,ait ntil the athor of
an i-ono-lasti- ?oo> a?ot 4s-h,itE fond the same treatment a((lied to him<
?efore 2ieille Ta(e 2 lan-hed a -am(aign in %ran-e for the defen-e of demo-rati-
li?erties in !est .erman".
!hile ,riting fa+ora?le re+ie,s in Guerre Sociale of ?oo>s he had (?lished< Pierre
.illame not onl" foght for the 9 freedom of the resear-her< the -ode of ethi-s of
the historian and for freedom of e3(ression ;< ?t also for the training 9 of man"
la,"ers (Y) ?roght to ,or> on the seriosl" trn-ated te3t of a Cdgement
(?lished in the 1ecueil DalloB(Sirey. ; (/eaflet of No+em?er 12
th
1982). The
-onter-trial of Nrem?rg< -ond-ted throgh a legal ?attle ,hi-h Guerre Sociale
ne+er (?li-l" -riti-ised< led all the ,a" to legalism.
4s the notes in isse one of La Banquise indi-ated (((. 57-53) offi-ial histor" is
-onstantl" and seamlessl" re+ised. 2ieille Ta(e 2 and Guerre Sociale ,anted to a-t
in s-h a ,a" that this re+ision -old not ta>e (la-e smoothl". Bo,e+er< ,ithin
demo-ra-" the dominant ideolog" in-ldes its o,n -riti)e. %rom ,hi-h -omes the
ris> that the e3er-ise of the -riti-al mind onl" ?e-omes -onfsed ,ith the normal
e+oltion of ideolog" and of the s(e-ta-le< and ?e-omes no more than a moment of
it< al?eit the most e3treme< that ,hi-h sha>es things (< ?t onl" in order to ma>e
them go on to,ards a s((lementar" 9 re+ision ;.
0n order not to ?rea> ( on this reef< -riti)e mst ta>e on the +er" (rin-i(le of
re+ision< and not dedi-ate itself to demanding one. The 9 re+isionists ; donDt
denon-e the 9 0deas ; (age of Le Monde < their great +i-tor" ,old ?e to a((ear
in it. The entire (rogramme of 2ieille Ta(e 2< s((orted ?" the infantr"men of
Guerre Sociale< is red-ed to see>ing this >ind of +i-tor".
The -ase of the massa-re at *a?ra and Chatila is e3em(lar". The 0sraeli *tate
re-ognised and (to some e3tent) san-tioned this a((alling -rime. That is the
differen-e ?et,een a demo-ra-" and a di-tatorshi(. Jemo-ra-" also massa-res and
says so. To ,hat effe-t # The (rifi-ation of the *tate and the reinfor-ement of the
s"stem as a ,hole.
!hat does it mean to fight for the re-ognition of the right to o(en a de?ate # To
shift (?li- o(inion< to (rod-e that ,hi-h ,ill one da" sha(e o(inion. Perha(s
tomorro, it ,ill ?e a--e(ted that there ,ere no gas -ham?ers in the NaEi
-on-entration -am(s. *-h a re+ision ,ill onl" reinfor-e -onfiden-e in serios
histori-al resear-h and the eternal +irtes of demo-ra-". The 9 stage setting ?"
,hi-h the modern ,orld ses the miser" and horror it (rod-es in order to defend
itself against a real -riti)e of that miser" and of that horror ;< ,ill ?" no means
-hange ?e-ase one element of its dS-or is ,ithdra,n M
0n 1949< it ,as essential that Socialisme ou Barbarie asserted that 1ssia ,as a
-a(italist -ontr". Thirt" "ears later< this o(inion is ,idel" held< e+en in the ,or> of
(eo(le ,ho donDt dra, from this an" re+oltionar" -on-lsions. Bt in order that
things are -learer toda"< in-lding in the heads of re+oltionaries< it ,as ne-essar"
to state that o(inion< against the -rrent< in 1949. That ,as a fndamental )estion
regarding the natre of a regime nder ,hi-h millions of ?eings li+ed. There is
nothing -om(ara?le in the )estion of the gas -ham?ers< a t"(i-al (rod-t of the
,orld of ideolog" and information. :ne -an raise s?+ersi+e )estions from the
natre of the '**1. 0n the )estion of the e3isten-e of the gas -ham?ers< there is
onl" the )estion of the e3isten-e of the gas -ham?ers.

Page 112
7he ultra-le"t
!eD+e alread" said that ,e ha+e nothing to modif" or add to the dis-orse of the
left< ,hi-h (ro+es e+er" da" throgh itDs a-tions and ideas that it ,or>s for the
-onser+ation of -a(italism. The ?orgeoisie tries to get ,or>ers to (arti-i(ate in its
attem(ts to e3it from the -risis. .is-ard tried this throgh demagog" (the
re+alation of manal ,or>)< ,hile Mitterand dire-tl" in+ol+ed the re(resentati+es
of la?or in the management of the -risis. Bo,e+er< (er(etall" atta->ing left and
right ,ing (arties and trade nions< ?" ma>ing ot that the" are -onstantl"
9 e3(osing ; their anti-re+oltionar" fn-tion< is to red-e the -riti)e of them to
the denn-iation of a s-andal< ,hile forgetting to e3(lain ,hat the s-andal is a
(rod-t of. This >ind of attitde (re+ents an" (rofond nderstanding of ,hat the
left reall" is.
The re+oltionar" mo+ement also has nothing in -ommon ,ith leftism< ,hi-h
de+otes itself to s((ort. !hat hasnDt it s((orted< from ,or>ers strggles to
Mitterand< (assing throgh Maoism on the ,a". . . 1e+oltionaries ha+e nothing to
s((ort. !here a strggle has a ni+ersal -ontent< the" -an find a -ommon
langage ,ith those -ond-ting it< and the a-ti+it" of re+oltionaries natrall"
(rolongs the strggles in ,hi-h the" re-ognise themsel+es. Bt ,ithin or ran>s
anti-leftism< s(read o+er (age after (age< ser+es all too often as a -on+enient
(rete3t for not fa-ing ( to an e3amination of the sitation of the (roletariat toda".
/eftism (resents the Commnist Part" and the trade nions as a s-reen standing
?et,een it and the masses. 1e+oltionaries donDt need to imitate this ?" ma>ing
ot that leftism is Ca(italDs ltimate ,ea(on< and that itDs ne-essar" to denon-e it
tirelessl".
Permanent denn-iation is h"(notised ?" the o?Ce-t of its -riti)e. 0t onl" goes to
sho, that "o are o+er-ome ?" the thing "o atta-> the most.
Criti)e of the left is meaningless if it Cst denon-es it on a dail" ?asis< e+en if the
left does (arti-i(ate in go+ernment. To nderstand the Po(lar %ront< or Molletism
or Mitterandism< on the one hand means nderstanding the ,a" in ,hi-h so-ial
-onfli-ts are -hannelled to,ards -a(italist and statist o?Ce-ti+es< and on the other
means going to the sor-e of the leftDs ideas< ,hi-h in their essen-e are in+ariant<
as &ro)ramme $ommuniste on-e sho,ed in a series of arti-les on the %ren-h la?or
mo+ement. The (ositions of the -ontem(orar" %ren-h left -an all ?e fond in Bgo<
\ola< Kares and so on. *o< for e3am(le< ,hen (eo(le tal> of strggle in the field of
ideas it ,old ?e ?etter to sho, the moral integration of the ,or>ers ?" -a(italism
in Les Misrables< than to trim(hantl" hold ( the m(teenth 9 s-andalos ;
de-laration of the Commnist Part". 0t is enogh to see ,hat the (eo(le of the left
tea-h< and ,old more and more li>e to see taght in s-hools A the re-ognition of
la?or ?" Ca(ital.
.ro(s li>e the HBordigistI PC0 or the 0nternational Commnist Crrent are se-ts
?e-ase< des(ite an"thing (ositi+e the" ma" sa" or do< their e3isten-e amonts to
a -ontinal demar-ation of themsel+es ,ith regard to the rest of the ,orld. The"
e3hort the (roletariat to -onstitte themsel+es as a -lass. Their (rin-i(al enem" is
al,a"s the gro( closest to them. The" li+e in and throgh -om(etition. 0n their
organisational life onl" their -rises are (ositi+e A for e3am(le that ,hi-h led BSrard
to lea+e the 0CC in 1964 to form Fne 0endance $ommuniste< or that ta>ing (la-e in
the PC0 toda".
9 The se-t sees the Cstifi-ation for its e3isten-e and its P(oint of honorP--
not in ,hat it has in common ,ith the -lass mo+ement ?t in the particular
shibboleth ,hi-h distin)uishes it from it. ; (Mar3< letter to *-h,eitEer<
:-to?er 13th 1858.)
!ithot ?eing )ite so -onfined ,ithin politics< the ltra-left has (oorl" nderstood
the -riti)e ,hi-h /a 2ieille Ta(e on-e addressed to Po+oir :+rier. 4 ne,s(a(er
li>e 1%olution Sociale< in the stri-t sense< has no readershi(. *omething it has Cst
a->no,ledged ?" -easing to a((ear. This >ind of ne,s(a(er adds nothing to the
for-e of re+oltionar" ,or>< ?e-ase it onl" ta->les ?asi- )estions throgh the
medim of to(i-alit". 4nd it -annot rea-h all (roletarians< most of ,hom are
s-ar-el" ?rea>ing ,ith so-iet"< e+en thogh it is (rod-ed as if it ,ere to ?e read ?"
hndreds of thosands of them. 0t -ontains no satisfa-tor" theor"< nor does it
ad+an-e the mo+ement.
*-h gro(s li+e ,ithin the illsion of propa)anda. The re+oltionar" mo+ement
does not transform false ideas into tre. 0t sets ot the dire-tion of the so-ial
mo+ement of ,hi-h it forms a (art< and sets ot ,hat that mo+ement ,ill ?e
9 histori-all" -onstrained ; to do in order to s--eed< ,hi-h e3-ldes an"
e3hortation.
The (?li-ation of te3ts does not Cst -ir-late ideas. This is e+en their se-ondar"
fn-tion. The dissemination of ideas esta?lishes lin>s for something other than Cst
thin>ing. Bt this 9 so-ialisation ; is m-h ri-her if the theoreti-al -ontent has not
?een s>im(ed.
The re+oltionar" mo+ement is -aght ?et,een t,o tenden-ies ,hi-h it ,ill ?e
ne-essar" to go ?e"ond. :ne tenden-" -onstantl" resets its ,at-h< ,hile -asting a
retros(e-ti+e glan-e ?a-> o+er 1&7 "ears of Ca(ital< ,or>ing -lass and re+oltion. 0t
-on-ldes that there is a need to s(ersede the (ast. 0ts assessments al,a"s end
?" (osing 9 *o-ialism or Bar?arism ; < ,hether it ?e in 1914< 1916< 194& or 1983.
The other tenden-"< more traditional< al,a"s des-ri?es mo+ements ,hi-h ha+e
ended. Poland< PortgalY ea-h -ase demonstrating the limitations of (roletarians
and ,hat the" -old do< if onl"Y 0t -alls for ,hat has ?een done (re+iosl" to ?e
done ?etter.
The first attitde se(arates the (ast from the (resent. 0t (ts for,ard a (ast ,hi-h
,as radi-all" different from the (resent. The se-ond attitde re(eats ,hat it has
al,a"s said. The first effe-ts an histori- ?rea>. The se-ond has a )antiti+e
+ie,(ointA as it ,as ?efore ?t ne3t time m-h frther. The first ?rea>s ,ith all
filiation< the se-ond a->no,ledges and -laims it. 0t is the o((osition ?et,een
fonders and inheritors. These t,o tenden-ies -an ?e illstrated ?" ta>ing t,o
re-ent re+oltionar" ,or>s.
2n "inir a%ec le tra%ail et son monde (%inishing ,ith ,or> and its ,orld) ?" the
C1C1$ (no. 1 Kne 1982< no. 2 Je-em?er 1982) ,ell e3(resses the first attitde. 4
great man" remar>s< ,hi-h in themsel+es are tre< are sed to e3(lain and Cstif"
Page 114
e+er"thing. The failres of the (ast all had -ases ,hi-h ha+e no, disa((eared.
This is an argment -onstr-ted after the e+ent. The" admit no (ast or (resent
errors (either ?" themsel+es< or ?" s all). $+er"thing ha((ened as it had to. The"
dra, the meaning of their a-ti+it" from themsel+es. 0t means the -reation of a
9 ne, frame of referen-e ; < and a ne, +ie, of the ,orld. !e are not far from
(hiloso(h".
&oland 19!;(!N ?" Benri *imon (*(arta-s< 1982< $nglish translation Bla-> [ 1ed
198&)< is an em?odiment of the se-ond tenden-". 0t -losel" anal"ses the Polish
mo+ement< ,hi-h gi+es the te3t its great interest< ?t this does not (re+ent it from
-onfsing the (ressre e3erted on Ca(ital ?" la?or ,ith a )estioning of the
relation of Ca(ital to la?or. !e -annot ?e -ontent to sa" 9 ea-h strggle is onl"
one ste(< as long as Ca(ital sr+i+es ; ((. #). This is tre< ?t not e%ery strggle is
a ste( to,ards -ommnist a-tion.
%or *imon 9 To do (Y) something that ma>es oneDs ,or> and life easier< is a-ting in
oneDs -lass interest and ndermining the fondations of the -a(italist s"stem. ; ((.
85 Bla-> [ 1ed edition)
This senten-e sms ( a +ie, #hich should no lon)er )o #ithout sayin) in or
mo+ement. 9 Class a-tion ; -annot ?e solel" identified ,ith strggles for demands<
?t nor is it their o((osite< it does not e3-lde them. 1ather it is ?orn from and
against them< and is their s(ersession.
*imonDs ,or> also re(rod-es the ltra-left error ta>en ( ?" the *itationist
0nternational A 9 0n fa-t< ,hile maintaining its (osition and ((resma?l") (reser+ing
inta-t its re(ressi+e a((arats< Ca(ital had essentiall" lost all real (o,er. $+en the
ne, nion *olidarit"< (Y) ,as alread"< e+en ?efore fn-tioning as an a((arats<
red-ed to the same role as the (re-Kl" 1987 instittions. ; ((. 89 Bla-> and 1ed
edition)
1e+oltionaries ha+e diffi-lt" in ta>ing Ca(ital seriosl"< and in seeing its strength
,here it reall" lies A in its d"namism as m-h as in its for-e of inertia. The 9 real
(o,er ; of Ca(ital ndo?tedl" lies in ?oth these elements< as ,e -old see in
%ran-e in 1958 and in Poland in 1987. This is (re-isel" ?e-ase the re+oltion is not
a )estion of (o,er. Po,er arises from the relations of (rod-tion< from the natre
of Ca(ital as an omni(resent relationshi(. *o long as "o donDt -onfront it as a
so-ial relation throgh atta->s on the -ommodit" and on ,age la?or< so long as
"o restri-t "orself to o--("ing its terrain (%ran-e 1958)< or to ,anting to
organiEe the e-onom" ?etter< in a fero-ios ,a" -ertainl"< ?t ,ithot
-ommnisation (Poland 1987-81)< then "o donDt ndermine the (o,er of Ca(ital.
0tDs (o,er lies neither in the street nor in the fa-tor"< let alone in go+ernment
ministries. Ca(ital is a so-ial relation ,hi-h is em?odied in a net,or> of
relationshi(s. *tarting to (rod-e a different relation ?" -onstitting a different
so-ial fa?ri-< this is ho, to atta-> the (o,er of Ca(ital.
Benri *imon re(eats the error made a?ot Portgal in 1964-& (nota?l" ?" the
*itationist 0nternational A see also la Guerre Sociale isse 2) A
9 %or a (eriod of eighteen months< Poland ,as no longer a real stateG
athorit" ,as -onstantl" s-offed at and the e-onom" seemed to ?e adrift. ;
((. 135 Bla-> and 1ed edition)
Bo,e+er the *tate ,as -ertainl" there< e+en if aslee(. :n Je-em?er 13th 1981 it
(ro+ed that at the right moment it -old a,a>e< all its (o,ers inta-t. Be-ase the
(o,er of Ca(ital had not ?een ndermined.
Proletarian (ra-tise hadnDt atta->ed ,hat ,as fndamental. 4nd it is the same for
-ommnist theor".
Page 115
Prospects
Prote-tionism doesnDt seem to offer a +ia?le e3it to the -risis< for the e-onom" has
?e-ome far too internationalised o+er the last thirt" "ears. The third ,orld has ?een
onl" s(erfi-iall" indstrialised< ?t dee(l" r?anised. 0t is not n-ommon for half
the (o(lation of nderde+elo(ed -ontries to li+e in -ities or on their (eri(her".
The ,or>ing -lass in these -ontries is more organised than one might imagine.
Nearl" 47L of Boli+ian ,or>ers are nionised. The 'nion Maro-aine d Tra+ail
nm?ered 27L of the ,or>ing (o(lation in 19&5. Bt (roletarian riots< li>e those
,hi-h ,ere -rshed ?" the arm" in $g"(t in 1961< seldom lin> ( ,ith mo+ements
?" ,or>ers. Ths dring the nrest in Casa?lan-a in Kne 1981< the initiati+e for the
a-tion -ame from high s-hool stdents and the nem(lo"ed.
4ll forms of a-tion ?" ,age ,or>ers are fond ,orld,ide. The Bara Ceans fa-tor" in
Thailand ,as o--(ied and re-started ?" the ,or>ers. 0n 1982 the free trade Eone
at Bataan in the Phili((ines ,as sha>en ?" a stri>e of s(er-e3(loited ,or>ers
(short-time ,or>ing< e3-essi+e ,or>-rotas< ,ages ,hi-h literall" -orres(onded to
the minimm ne-essar" for sr+i+al). 4t the start a mltinational -or(oration had
,anted to for-e 277 ,or>ers to ,or> on si3 looms ea-h< instead of for. 17<777
stri>ers s((orted these 277 re?els. The OM'< a trade-nion formed in 1987< too>
(art in this mo+ement. 1e(ression (ro+o>ed a res(onse so massi+e that the
mo+ement -old no longer ?e re(ressed throgh an"thing short of a general
massa-re< ?" firing on the -ro,ds< as at /ena in Tsarist 1ssia at the start of the
-entr".
The ?orgeoisie a?andoned the arrests and dismissals< ?t the ,or>ers did not ,in
either. %rom then on the" had to ,or> fi+e looms ea-h. The ftre ,ill sho, ,hat
remains of the (roletarian e3(erien-e of this stri>e< and ,hat ?e-omes of the OM'.
4fter the stri>e one of the res(onses -onsidered ?" the ?osses of Bataan ,as
atomation. 0n .erman"< after the great stri>es ?" ns>illed ,or>ers< and the
a-tions of Tr>ish ,or>ers in the fa-tories and streets in the 1967s< Ca(ital
res(onded ,ith e3(lsions and modernisation. BM! (shed ro?otiEation to a high
degree. 2ol>s,agen ,as the first to manfa-tre and em(lo" ro?ots in !est
.erman". The tenden-" is to,ards a red-tion in the role of ns>illed ,or>ers<
(erha(s ,ith their elimination as a strata in the +angard of (roletarians.
Throghot its histor" -a(italism has ta>en on the most h"?rid as(e-ts< and no-one
>no,s ,hat forms it might e+ol+e. The 9 se-ond serfdom ; in $astern $ro(e
(,hi-h ?egan in the 16
th
-entr") ,as not a retrn to the middle ages. The o,ners
of these ne, serfs ,ere not -a(italists< for the" ,ere not -on-erned a?ot
(rod-ing at the lo,est la?or -ost. Bt the" formed (art of a mar>et and -a(italist
s"stem. The" onl" s--eeded in stifling the alread" florishing mar>et e-onom"< to
their o,n ?enefit< inside their large estates. These mono(olies ,ere still at the
ser+i-e of an international s"stem that ,as indis(ta?l" -a(italist.
Toda" on-e again< -a(italism< a so-iet" of +ale in motion< sho,s e+iden-e of great
fle3i?ilit" of form< and in the redis-o+er" of old str-tres.
9 0n the first fa-tories as in -ertain fa-tories toda" this -olla?orati+e ,or>< in
,hi-h s>illed ,or>ers and ns>illed la?orers are harnessed to the -ommon
tas>< does not disa((ear in e+er" -ase A the o,ner (a"s the total (ri-e for
the ,or> and the ,or>ers organiEe it in their o,n ,a" (Y) a great freedom
for a ,age of miser". ; (Les 0emps Modernes< %e?rar" 1981< ((. 13&&-
13&5).
0n the %ren-h -lothing indstr" dring 1967-6&< some -om(anies installed assem?l"
lines ,ith fi3ed ,or> stations. 0n 196&-5 some e3(erimented ,ith 9 modles ;<
(artial self-organisation ,ith a rotation ?et,een ,or> stations. 4fter 1965< ,ith the
arri+al of the -risis< and as ,or> rates in-reased< some set ( ,or>-gro(s ,hi-h
e+en had the (ossi?ilit" of organising themsel+es otside the fa-tor". !e ths -ome
?a-> to a form of Co??ing ,hi-h e3isted ?efore the *-ientifi- Management of !or>.
These gro(s are set in -om(etition ,ith one another< transforming ea-h of them
into a -o-o(erati+el" rn la?or-Ca(ital< a form of organisation resem?ling that
seen among the 27<777 illegal Tr>ish and @gosla+ ,or>ers in the Paris region.
The de+elo(ment of Ca(ital does not ne-essaril" reslt in the de+elo(ment of the
most modern -a(italist forms. Colonialism generated regressi+e forms A -astes in
0ndia< (ri+ate (ro(ert" (re+enting the transformation of grond rent into Ca(ital<
(eonage in *oth 4meri-a. Ca(italism has reintrod-ed +ariants of serfdom or
sla+er". %ree la?or has mingled ,ith for-ed la?or. 0n 0tal" home-,or>ing has
e3(anded o+er the last ten "ears. 4--ording to some sor-es it em(lo"s ?et,een
one and t,o and a half million (eo(le.
:nl" in a distant ftre (if e+er) ,ill the so-iet" ,e are mo+ing to,ards ?e entirel"
ro?otised and ,ithot hman la?or. Bt the (ro(ortion of ,or>ers in the
(o(lation ma" (erha(s ?e -onsidera?l" de-reased< ,hile the mass of nem(lo"ed<
re-"-led and trainees< et-.< gro,s m-h greater.
0nstead of an im(ro?a?le (sh ?tton fa-tor"< ,e are mo+ing to,ards a sitation in
,hi-h ,hole se-tions of fa-tories are ro?otised ,hile others remain semi- or ?arel"
atomated. 1o?ots and the red-ed nm?ers of ns>illed ,or>ers -o-e3ist ,ithin
the same o(eration. To ,eld a front ss(ension to a -ar< instead of 4 ns>illed
,elders and 2 ns>illed la?orers -harged ,ith setting in (la-e and remo+ing the
(ie-es< there are no, 4 ro?ot ,elders and the 2 ns>illed s((l"ing the o(eration to
?e done. 0n engineering< the" (lan to >ee( the la?orers (-leanersY)< atomate the
areas ,here ns>illed ,or>ers are -rrentl" em(lo"ed (loading< handling< assem?l"
in (arti-lar and ma-hining)< and >ee( the s>illed ,or>ers (re-tifi-ation< fitting). 4t
1enalt-%lins< on the assem?l" lines ,elding the ?od" of the 118 ,hi-h ,ere
atomated in 1965< the" lost &5 ns>illed ,or>ers Co?s and gained 24 (eo(le
em(lo"ed in maintenan-e< )alit" -ontrol and reto-hing. 4t 1enalt-Joai< this
tenden-" has ?een ta>en m-h frther. Pegeot ,hi-h alread" has 377 ro?ots
installed en+isages ?ringing 2777 into ser+i-e ?" 1997.
0n 1968 an a-ademi- std" de-lared that 27L of the la?or for-e em(lo"ed in -ar
assem?l" in the 'nited *tates ,old ?e re(la-ed ?" ma-hines and atomation ?"
198&G and that 27L of all 4meri-an indstrial em(lo"ment ,old ?e restr-tred
?" 1989. 4--ording to a different fore-ast made in 1969< atomation ,old
eliminate 277<777 Co?s in %ran-e ?" 198&< in-lding offi-e Co?s (throgh Com(ter
4ided Jesign< o(ti-al -hara-ter reading and ,ord (ro-essing< the ele-troni- transfer
of fnds< t"(e,riters ,ith memories< fa3 ma-hines). 4--ording to the same std"
Page 118
&7<777 Co?s ,old ?e lost in %ran-e throgh ro?otiEation. Middle management and
s(er+isors ,old also ?e affe-ted ?" the 9 -ontra-tion of the traditional
hierar-hi-al str-tre ; (USment< (. 191). 1o?otiEation alread" affe-ts some
se-tions of -ar (rod-tion< forges and fondries< and the (rod-tion of hosehold
a((lian-es< large ma-hines and air-raft.
9 /astl"< it is to ?e feared that -onditions of ,or> regarding the s(er+ision
and maintenan-e of atomati- ma-hines of the ro?ot +ariet" is li>el" to
in+ol+e modifi-ations of ?eha+ior ?e-ase of the monoton" of the ,or>< the
isolation reslting from the ?rea> ( of so-ial relations and the ,eight of
res(onsi?ilit" arising from the signifi-an-e of the ris> of ?rea>do,n that
,old -ase a halt in (rod-tion.
The strategi- (la-e o--(ied ?" the ,or>ers and the ris>s of a deterioration
of ,or>ing -onditions ma" in the long term generate ne, -onfli-ts.
(Y) 0nstalled to s((ress as(e-ts of the so-ial and e-onomi- -risis< this
s"stem generates others and allo,s s to foresee a gloom" ftre for
ns>illed ,or>ers< dis(ossessed of their em(lo"ment (Y) ;
K. /e USment< /es 1o?ots< /a Jo-mentation %ranTaise< 1981< ((. 191 et
193.
9 (Y) half of the &777 so+iet ro?ots (rod-ed ?et,een 1965 and 1987
remain nsed ?e-ase of the refsal of the fa-tor" dire-tors to sto( the
assem?l" lines in order to install them. ;
/e Monde Ji(lomati)e< Je-em?er 1982< ?ased on a re(ort ?" .os(lan.
0n the indstrialised -ontries the ?orgeoisie and the state ,old li>e to
-om(ensate for the fall in em(lo"ment throgh a de+elo(ment of the ser+i-e se-tor
(ho,e+er this se-tor ,ill also ?e affe-ted)< and ?" re(atriating those indstries
,hi-h had (re+iosl" ?een relo-ated to the third ,orld in order to ta>e ad+antage of
lo,er ,ages and more fa+ora?le ,or>ing -onditions. This reindstrialisation of the
-a(italist metro(oles< ,hi-h has alread" ?egn in the 'nited *tates (ele-tri-al
engineering< ele-troni- e)i(ment)< has ?een made (ossi?le ?e-ase ro?ots are
less e3(ensi+e and more relia?le than foreign la?or. Bo,e+er nothing ,ill (re+ent
the mltinationals from esta?lishing ro?ots in the third ,orld if the" -onsider it
(rofita?le.
Ths a (rofond modifi-ation of the e-onomi-all" a-ti+e (o(lation< and of so-ial life
in the (re+iosl" indstrialised -ontries< is ta>ing (la-e ?efore or e"es. There
might e+en ?e a -hange in ,or>ing time. 0n or arti-le on Poland ,e (ointed ot
that in %ran-e the demand for a 3& hor ,ee> had not s--eeded in mo?ilising
,or>ers. 0n 1968 there ,as a (o,erfl mo+ement demanding a 3& hor ,ee> in
the .erman metal,or>ing indstr". Bt this remained the e3-e(tion in a glo?al
-onte3t ,here intermediate demands are (lanned ?" Ca(ital (and ?" the trade
nions ,here the" are strong enogh to im(ose themsel+es on -a(italist
management). Peo(le o(timisti-all" e+o>e the for da" ,ee> (for eight hor da"s)
in the 'nited *tates< ,ith ,or>ers (arti-i(ation in the reorganisation of ,or>. :n
this latter (oint at least< there is no -a(italist (rogress A things are still as the" ,ere
in 1937 or in 19&7. There is no ,or>ers (arti-i(ation to s(ea> of (e3-e(t in (eriods
of -onfli-t ,hen it is sed to di+ert strggles onto the le+el of self- or -o-
management). !age ,or>ers are ,ar" of this right to (arti-i(ate in the rnning of
the enter(rise A a?o+e all the" -ontine to demand more mone" and less ,or>.
:nl" the nion re(resentati+es >no-> themsel+es ot to de-i(her the a--onts
,hi-h the ?osses agree to sho, them.
0n an" -ase< a for da" ,ee> ,old not ?e a 9 (roletarian gain ;. The ten hor da"
and the s((ression of -hild la?or< a-hie+ed in $ngland in the 19
th
-entr"< also
?enefited the most modern Ca(ital< ,hi-h introd-ed ma-hiner" to sa+e on la?or.
The 8 hor da" ,hi-h ,as o?tained after 1918 also fa-ilitated the generalisation of
relati+e sr(ls +ale and the *-ientifi- Management of !or>. 4 red-tion in
,or>ing da"s ,old ?e ?oth a concession ?" -a(italism and consistent ,ith it< (aid
for throgh a firmer gri( o+er or entire li+es. The %ren-h ?orgeoisie has resisted
it ?e-ase it >no,s that it is ,ea>er than its ri+als.
To the nem(lo"ment -ased ?" the -risis< ,ill ?e added that -ased ?"
restr-tring. 1o?otiEation in+ol+es s-h reser+es of (rod-ti+it" that e+en an
in-rease in demand and in otlets ,ill not lead to a -orres(onding rise in
re-ritment. 0t ,ill not (re+ent a red-tion in the ,or>-rotaDs of those in
em(lo"ment< ?t there ,ill still ?e little or no sharing ot of the so-iall" a+aila?le
,or>. The C%JT ,ill >ee( its reformist to(ia to itself.
Crrentl"< ,hile ,aiting for the slo, indstrial reorganisation to ?e (t in (la-e< t,o
(lanned (roCe-ts aim at mastering the dangeros re?ellios margin. The first of
these (roCe-ts has t,o tra->s. 0t C3ta(oses a modern e-onomi- se-tor alongside a
traditional se-tor ,ith a 9 more -on+i+ial and -on+entional ,a" of life ; -a(a?le of
9 -shioning the ?lo,s ; (re(ort for the %ren-h 8
th
Plan nder .is-ard). 4nd it
,old mlti(l" the instittions for managing those ,ho are reCe-ted ?" e-onomi-
gro,th A "oth< migrant ,or>ers< the handi-a((ed< the old< -hildren 9 at ris> ;.
This (roCe-t (res((oses an o(en li?eral e-onom"< ,hi-h sa-rifi-es -ertain so-ial
strata ?t then s?se)entl" gi+es them assistan-e.
The se-ond (roCe-t ,old integrate the dangeros strata and gro(s. This
a--om(anies a more statist and (rote-tionist e-onomi- strateg"< ,ith ,or>ers
(arti-i(ation in the rnning of the state< throgh the trade nions and left ,ing
(arties.
The first soltion o(enl" di+ides so-iet" ?et,een those ,ho -an -o(e and the rest.
The se-ond (retends to ?ring e+er"one together< from the ?oss to the immigrant.
0n ?oth -ases it is ne-essar" to manage a highl" nsta?le minorit". *tate as
(oli-eman or *tate as (ro+ider< -or+"are State or -el"are State.
0n the same ,a"< -onfronted ,ith the trmoil in the third ,orld the ?orgeoisies of
the de+elo(ed nations -ond-t t,o interlin>ed (oli-ies A either indstrialising and
assisting these -ontries throgh (romoting modern rling -lasses< or ?arel"
indstrialising them to the minimm ne-essar" for ,estern and Ka(anese
e3(ansion< throgh (romoting ar-hai- and -om(rador rling -lasses. The se-ond
tenden-" (re+ails ?e-ase it -orres(onds ?etter to realit". 0t res(onds ?etter to the
needs of ,orld Ca(ital< ?e-ase the right manages Ca(ital ?etter. The first strateg"
is that of the so-ialist international as s--essfll" em(lo"ed in 9 re+oltionar" ;
Portgal in 1964-&< and ta>en ( on-e again ?" the -rrent %ren-h go+ernment< in
(arti-lar in Central 4meri-a. 0t is less -a(a?le of a((li-ation< ?e-ase it
(res((oses that the less indstrialised -ontries are a?le to master their
-ontradi-tions and a-hie+e demo-ra-". Bo,e+er demo-ra-" im(lies a so-ial
e)ili?rim ,hi-h doesnDt e3ist an",here in the third ,orld. The 9 north-soth
Page 127
dialoge ; and the rights of man in their li?eral or so-ial demo-rati- +ariants<
remain as ideologies intended to a?sor? tensions. 1eagan massa-res and Mitterand
de(lores the massa-res< ,hi-h is more a ,a" of (re+enting the start of massa-res
than of (tting an end to them.
!e donDt need to (t so-ial -onfli-ts nder the mi-ros-o(e. Past and (resent histor"
sho,s it all A the e3traordinar" -a(a-it" of Ca(ital to digest dissent< s-h as the
dissent that the so-ial mo+ement (,hi-h is sometimes -ommnist) al,a"s gi+es
rise to on-e again. $+er"thing is in -risis< and "et e+er"thing remains the same.
$+er",here the most im(ortant for-e -ontaining the re+oltion< the mediation
?et,een Ca(ital and la?or< is ndermined. 0n the 'nited Oingdom the /a?or Part"
has diffi-lt" in retaining its ,or>ing -lass +oters. 0n .erman" the *PJ is losing
,or>ing -lass mem?ers and +oters. 0n the 'nited *tates the trade nions are onl"
ma>ing head,a" in the -i+il ser+i-e< the" remain ,ea> in the ser+i-e indstries
,hi-h form an in-reasingl" large (art of the e-onom". (Ma-donalds has more
em(lo"ees than '* *teel). The 4%/-C0: has ?een ns--essfl in limiting im(orts
and has lost grond ,ithin the Jemo-rati- Part". 0t is (oorl" esta?lished in the ne,
Eones of de+elo(ment in the *oth and *oth-!est.
The retrn of the %ren-h Commnist Part" into the go+ernment -oalition in 1981
arosed no-one< either in %ran-e or else,here. The 4meri-ans didnDt initiate a
glo?al (ress -am(aign against the 9 -ommnist mena-e ; in %ran-e. Conser+ati+e
o(inion (la"ed on old fears ?t it had to for-e itself to do so and no-one seriosl"
e3(e-ted a (rofond -hange ,ith the arri+al of the left into (o,er. Militants sa, in
it onl" a s(ring?oard for something to ?e done later on< sin-e for them e+er"thing
-omes do,n to -reating the ?asis for real -hange throgh (er(etal (re(arations
for the follo,ing da". The enthsiasm of Ma" 1981 doesnDt -an-el ot the loss of
the /efts re(resentation of itself. 0n modern demo-ra-"< ,here all (rogrammes
resem?le one another< ea-h (art" li+es ?" the ,a" it re(resents itself. 0f its
(rogramme -eases to a((ear sffi-ientl" different from the others< it no longer has
a (rogramme. The /eft has more +oters than in 1957< ?t it has Cst as m-h
diffi-lt" in (resenting a different image to that of the 1ight. 0n 1981 ,or>ers did
not +ote for nationalisations< ?t against the effe-ts of the -risis.
*o-ial demo-ra-" and the Commnist Part" feed on the +ital energ" ,hi-h
(roletarians gi+e them< and ,hi-h the" dra, from them. The C%JT em?odies a l-id
and im(ossi?le reformism in the midst of this ?loodless and +am(iri- /eft 8 and not
Cst (oliti-all"< for on the dire-tl" so-ial le+el the left also feeds on the limited
strggles ?" ,or>ers. 0n the short term the C.T is more -onser+ati+e than its ri+al<
it ?etter re(resents indstrial la?or at the e3(ense of total Ca(ital. The C%JT
raises the (ro?lem of total Ca(ital. Bt it does not "et form the leadershi( of
te-hni-ians or the ser+i-e se-tor A its main federation is that of the metal,or>ers. 0t
see>s the means of ensring standard -onditions for ,age la?or in %ran-e< ,hile
(reser+ing glo?al sta?ilit". Ben-e its inter+entions in the third ,orld and the $ast.
The %ren-h Commnist Part" and the C.T ha+e no other long term interest than
the -on)est of the state and nit" ,ith $astern-?lo- state -a(italism< something
that is no longer the -ase for the 0talian Commnist Part".
The de-line of the C.T in the trade nion ele-tions and es(e-iall" the ,ea>ening of
its inflen-e o+er militant a-ti+it" ?" ,or>ers< still donDt (re+ent it from -linging on.
The general de-line in the (o,er and soltions of the left< ,hether or not this is
a--elerated ?" its (resen-e in go+ernment< is a (rofond (henomenon< ,hi-h ,e
,ill onl" see the e3tent of it ,hen it is -om(leted. 0ts internal -olla(se ,ill still hold
some sr(rises. The effe-ts ,ill ?e a lot more +iolent than in 1958. !e -annot
assess the im(a-t of a ftre mo+ement ?" loo>ing at -rrentl" +isi?le (henomena.
The fondations of all instittions are ndermined. Bo,e+er that still lea+es
something ,hi-h is not an instittion< e+en thogh it also has a formal e3isten-e A
demo-ra-". Than>s to it the rling minorit" at the head of all the anti-re+oltionar"
instittions (arm"< (oli-e< ?osses< trade nions< (arties< et-.) ,ill attem(t to e3(loit
the inertia of the silent maCorit" against the minorit"< ,hi-h toda" is often red-ed
to silen-e.
Parliamentar" and trade nion demo-ra-" are dis-redited. Bt demo-ra-" as a
mode o" social relations is not< ?e-ase it -orres(onds to -a(italist so-iet".
Ca(italised man enters into relation ,ith the ,orld throgh the needs that he
satisfies (+ia the mar>et). Jemo-ra-" meets a need< li>e mone"< and offers the
same illsor" freedom. The ,age ,or>er is free to se his ,ages to ?" ,hate+er
he ,ants. Jemo-ra-" also offers him a -hoi-e< Cst as limited as that offered ?" the
s(ermar>et. Bt the illsion of -hoi-e doesnDt (re+ent either the reality of the
need< or its )estiona?le ?t effe-ti+e satisfa-tion. 4fter all< there is undoubtedly a
differen-e ?et,een Co-a-Cola and Pe(si. There is a -orres(onden-e ?et,een
demo-rati- freedom and demo-ra-" as an as(iration< on the one hand< and the
freedom to ,or> and the e3-hange and e3(enditre of mone" on the other< a
str-tral relationshi( ,hi-h does not in+ol+e (s"-holog"< ?t arises from the ,a"
in ,hi-h men and things enter into relation ,ith one another nder -a(italism.
The -rrent retreat of the e3treme-left< the la-> of interest in 9 re+oltion ;<
1eaganDs ele-tion< the 9 retrn to -onformism among "ong (eo(le ; and all the
other se-ondar" (henomena ,hi-h are e3aggerated ?" fashiona?le o(inion 8 ,e are
not ?othered a?ot these things. *-h a sitation -an trn itself arond +er"
s,iftl". The (ro?lem lies rather in the se-lar tenden-" of the (roletariat to rise (
,ithot -onstitting< in an" more than an em?r"oni- state< 9 the mo+ement ,hi-h
a?olishes the -onditions of e3isten-e ;. Perha(s it ,ill trans(ire that this is a false
)estion ,hi-h needs to ?e (osed differentl". Toda" the minimm re)irement is to
not a+oid as>ing it< for that ,ill onl" re?ond on those ,ho a+oid doing so.
There is nothing nsal a?ot the annihilation ,hi-h the minorit" ,ith
re+oltionar" am?itions has ?een s?Ce-t to. 4fter 1914-18< it had to learn that the
,hole of the ,or>ers mo+ement ser+ed Ca(ital< in-lding the 9 -ommnist ;
organisations of the Third 0nternational. The (rogression of the 1ssian re+oltion
to -onter-re+oltion< and the li)idation of an" re+oltionar" (ers(e-ti+e ?"
*talinism< ,as also diffi-lt to a--e(t. 4fter ha+ing (ronon-ed the s(rema-" of
the ,or>ers mo+ement< (eo(le sa, it -olla(se in .erman"< the -ontr" ,here it
,as strongest< "ielding ,ithot resistan-e in the fa-e of an o(enl" rea-tionar"
mo+ement ,hi-h >ne, ho, to gi+e itself a (o(lar ?ase.
Ca(italDs a?ilit" to ma>e ,ar from 1939-4& ,ithot en-ontering ,or>ing -lass
resistan-e< and the s--ess of the (ost-,ar re-onstr-tion< ,hi-h ,as a-hie+ed
,ithot m-h (hea+al< ,as another n(leasant sr(rise. Toda" ,e see a different
realit" ,hi-h is also hard to s,allo, A the non--onstittion of an organised
mo+ement ,hi-h is in an" sense -oherent< and the a?sen-e of the lasting lin>s
,hi-h one might ha+e ?elie+ed -old ha+e ?een forged after 1958. This a?sen-e of
Page 122
a -oherent mo+ement< e+en in em?r"o< is all the more diffi-lt to gras( ,hen ,e
ta>e note of the )alitati+e lea( in the theoreti-al gras( of -ommnism and the
re+oltion.
Bet,een the organised gro(s of re+oltionaries and the n-lei of radi-al
(roletarians< fe, in nm?er ?t -a(a?le of inter+ening ,ithin their o,n milie< there
are (ra-ti-all" no lasting relations. *in-e roghl" 1962< gro(s of re+oltionaries
ha+e a?o+e all ?een (?lishers. Nearl" all of their a-ti+it" -onsists of distri?ting
theor"< ,hi-h the" get a-ross throgh leaflets or magaEines. Commnists do not
ha+e to s((ort so-ial a-tion. The" form (art of it and either reinfor-e it or else<
gi+en the -ir-mstan-es< the" hold aloof. To gi+e s((ort ,old ?e to on-e again
see re+oltionaries as 9 otsiders ; in relation to a milie ,hi-h the" mst
9 (enetrate ;. Bt toda"< as an a-ti+it"< theorising is more -t-off from so-ial life
than in 1958-62< ?e-ase so-ial life itself is more se(arated< -om(artmentalised
and -t off from its o,n roots.
Proletarians< and (roletarian ,or>ers in (arti-lar< ha+e lost neither their nmeri-al
im(ortan-e< nor their -entral role in re+oltionar" a-ti+it". $+en in the de+elo(ed
-ontries< ,age la?or ,ill ne+er ?e em?odied solel" in the ser+i-e se-tor (Cst as
not all ,or>ers ?e-ame ns>illed ,or>ers). !ho lies at the heart of so-iet" #
%a-tor" ,or>ers< ?t also those em(lo"ed in -ommni-ations< the s((l" and
distri?tion of ele-tri-it" (in %ran-e the $J%) and of ,ater< hos(ital ,or>ers< and so
on. 0f the" sto( ,or>< e+er"thing -omes to a sto(. The" -an ?ring so-iet" to a halt
and -an ?rea> it ( from the inside.
4t the -on-lsion of this histor" of the last fifteen "ears< ,hi-h is also or o,n
histor"< a sitation +er" different to 1958 (resents itself. 4 transformation has not
?een s--essfll" -om(leted. 4 so-iet" ,hi-h is still ?ased on ,age la?or has ?een
for-ed to modif" it and to e3-lde one (art of the ,or>for-e. The -r-ial (oint is to
determine ,hether the inter+ention of the (roletariat in this transformation ,ill ?e
the o--asion for a re+oltionar" assalt.
Ca(italDs strength is s-h that some (eo(le are led to see nothing more ,ithin
so-iet"< and ths ,ithin the a-ti+it" of (roletarians< than -a(italism< and the"
reread the histor" of the last 1&7 "ears< in-lding the (roletarian assalts< as a
series of -a(italist transformations. These (eo(le onl" ado(t the o((osite (oint of
+ie, to the -ommon ltra-left ha?it of inter(reting e+er"thing as a ste( to,ards the
re+oltion. There isnDt a ni)e s?Ce-t of histor". Neither the de+elo(ment of the
(rod-ti+e for-es< nor the sear-h for -ommnit"< nor the (roletariat are the sole
engine of histori-al e+oltion. The mo+ement of histor" is neither a s--ession of
ada(tations to Ca(ital< nor of (roletarian strggles< ?t a totalit" ,hi-h in-ldes all
of this. Ca(italist so-iet" li+es on the -ontradi-tor" Ca(ital-la?or relation< ?t it -an
also die from it. :ne dri+es the other to a-t< and +i-e +ersa. Crises are those
moments ,hen this nit" is -alled into )estion< ?efore ?eing reinfor-ed if the -risis
does not ha+e a -ommnist ot-ome. 1e+oltion is the soltion to this
-ontradi-tion. To (res((ose in ad+an-e that the ne3t great so-ial -risis ,ill ?e
resol+ed in Ca(italDs fa+or< is to reason on -a(italist lines< and to s(ea> for it.
!hat gi+es s ho(e< and en-orages s to a-t< is a -om(le3 realit" in ,hi-h<
ine+ita?l"< the -a(italist element is -rrentl" dominant. The erosion of +ales and
the de+alation of ideologies s(ares nothing. The 9 refsal of ,or> ; is a (ol"+alent
realit"< the sign of something ne, ?oth for Ca(ital and for -ommnism. The 9 ne,
so-ial mo+ement ; is em?odied in the different +arieties of misa((ro(riation and
reCe-tion of ,or>< ?t also in -landestine ,or>< in the ?la-> e-onom"< in shared
,or>< in home-,or>ing< in tem(orar" and s?-ontra-ted ,or> and so on. 4ll of this
had e3isted in the (ast ?t has ?een rene,ed ?" -risis and restr-tring.
Peo(le 9 no longer ?elie+e ; in ,or>< ?t this s(e-ta-larl" dis(la"ed disaffe-tion
-onts for less than the nderl"ing fa-t A that the old -riti)e of the or)anisation of
,or> is no, mi3ed ( ,ith a -riti)e of its basis. The former is the ,or> of
(roletarians ,ho ,ant to re-laim ,or>< and along ,ith it ,age la?or. The se-ond
a?andons ,or>< -onsidering it as a (rison for man>ind. The first see>s to reorganise
the (rod-ti+e a-t< the logi- of ,hi-h es-a(es (roletarians 8 and ,hi-h ,ill still
es-a(e from them e+en ,hen reorganised. The se-ond see>s to destro" the
o?sta-le ,hi-h this (rod-ti+e a-t re(resents for the hman a-ti+it" ,hi-h it
-onfines. !hi-h of these t,o -riti)es ,ill (re+ail #
The positi%e affirmation of -ommnism does not -onsist of re(la-ing theor" ,ith
life. Te3ts li>e A -orld -ithout Money or ,or a -orld #ithout Moral Order -onsider
the origins of the (ro?lems ,hi-h -a(italism (oses for hmanit"< and sho, not onl"
ho, those (ro?lems -an ?e sol+ed< ?t also ,hat (hea+als ,ill (res((ose and
lead to that soltion. 4t that time 9 the negati+e trl" in-ldes the (ositi+e ;
(Mar3). 'ntil no, the (ositi+e has remained a?stra-t< and ,as al,a"s -onstr-ted
some,here else (to(ia). The (ra-ti-al rgen-"< ,hi-h first a((eared at the start of
the 19
th
-entr"< rea((ears toda". 4lread" some formlas sond false. To s(ea> of
the 9 di-tatorshi( of the (roletariat ; or e+en of the 9 a?olition of ,age la?or ;
,ithot referring to the (ro-ess of -ommnist re+oltion< is merel" to em(lo"
slogans< and to imitate leftism.
$3(anding the theoreti-al horiEon means attem(ting a nitar" -riti)e ,hi-h does
not (ri+ilege the (ast at the e3(ense of the (resent< or the $astern ?lo- at the
e3(ense of the !est. The histori-al ar- of indstrial -a(italism< -hara-terised ?" the
emergen-e of the traditional la?or mo+ement and its s?se)ent disa((earan-e<
(that is to sa" from 1689 or 1848 to date)< en-om(asses a hman realit" that is too
restri-ted to allo, s to gras(< not Cst ,hat -ommnist re+oltion is< ?t e+en
,hat has ha((ened sin-e 1689 or 1848. There is no need to em?ra-e Ben in order
to re-ognise that re+oltionar" theor" has remained too ero--entri- and too
-on-erned ,ith the (eriod from 1848 to 1914.
'nitar" -riti)e -on-erns time as ,ell as s(a-e. The traditional la?or mo+ement
needed heroes< it treated the (ast in the mode of m"th A the fonders (Mar3 or
Ba>nin)< the mur des "d8res< the mart"rolog"... 4fter 1916 the re+oltionar"
mo+ement neither ,anted nor ,as a?le to ?rea> ,ith this m"tholog". 0t ,as too
,ea> to dra, its imaginati+e resor-es from ,ithin itself. *o the -ommnist left and
the li?ertarians maintained the m"tholog"< all the ,hile ?elie+ing that the" ,ere
o((osing real re+oltionar" mo+ements to the -onter-re+oltion ,hi-h had
trim(hed in the name of so-ialism or -ommnism. %inall"< the radi-al re-o+er"
sin-e 1958< (in (arti-lar in the *itationist 0nternational)< has largel" tended to
o((ose *talinism and leftism ?" means of anti-?rea-rati- m"ths A 1861< Ma>hno<
Bar-elona 1935 and so onG and ,hile this ,as ine+ita?le to ?egin ,ith< it ,ill
ndo?tedl" ?e ne-essar" to go ?e"ond this. .enerall" the gaEe -ast on these
e+ents generates a )antiti+e rather than )alitati+e -riti)e< as if at those times
(roletarians had onl" needed to -ontine on,ards instead of sto((ing in their
tra->s. 0n realit"< the road itself ,as mined. :n the other hand the tem(tation to
Page 124
reinter(ret e+er"thing as a moment of ada(tation to Ca(ital is -ontent to ado(t the
o((osite of these ltra-left legends. /et s ta>e the (ast for ,hat it ,as< and not
e3alt it for or o,n ends< ,ith the sole aim of filling the -rrent +a-m ,ith
illsions. :ne of the signs of the re?irth of a -ommnist mo+ement ,ill ?e the de-a"
of all m"tholog"< ?e-ase there ,ill no longer ?e an" need for it.

La Banquise - Recollecting Our Past

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re-collecting our past

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