Horizontalism : voices of popular power in Argentina

Chosen by Rebecca Solnit for her "Secret Library of Hope: 12 Books to Stiffen Your Resolve" (Dec. 2007). “The movements in Argentina have been among the most creative and inspirational in recent years. Marina Sitrin’s collection allows us to learn from the activists themselves and continue the experiments in autonomy and democracy they have begun.”—Michael Hardt, co-author of Empire “...a fascinating account about what is fresh and new about the Argentine uprising.”—John Holloway, author of Change the World Without Taking Power The popular rebellion that began in December 2001 in Argentina with the IMF melt-down and subsequent capital flight sparked a process of creativity that continues to this day. Different from so many social movements of the past, this rebellion rejects political programs, opting instead to create directly democratic spaces on street corners, in factories, and throughout neighborhoods. Many have come to call this new social relationship, “horizontalidad.” Horizontalism is an oral history of the exciting transformations taking place since the popular rebellion. It is a story of cooperation, vision, creation and discovery. It is a history told by people in the various autonomous social movements, from the occupied factories, neighborhood assemblies, arts and independent media collectives, to the indigenous communities and unemployed workers movements. Marina Sitrin is a New York City-based lawyer, writer, and activist who has spent large portions of the past three years in Argentina. Her work has appeared in Left Turn and Perspectives . Chosen by Rebecca Solnit for her "Secret Library of 12 Books to Stiffen Your Resolve" (Dec. 2007). The movements in Argentina have been among the most creative and inspirational in recent years. Marina Sitrins collection allows us to learn from the activists themselves and continue the experiments in autonomy and democracy they have begun.Michael Hardt, co-author of Empire ...a fascinating account about what is fresh and new about the Argentine uprising.John Holloway, author of Change the World Without Taking Power The popular rebellion that began in December 2001 in Argentina with the IMF melt-down and subsequent capital flight sparked a process of creativity that continues to this day. Different from so many social movements of the past, this rebellion rejects political programs, opting instead to create directly democratic spaces on street corners, in factories, and throughout neighborhoods. Many have come to call this new social relationship, horizontalidad. Horizontalism is an oral history of the exciting transformations taking place since the popular rebellion. It is a story of cooperation, vision, creation and discovery. It is a history told by people in the various autonomous social movements, from the occupied factories, neighborhood assemblies, arts and independent media collectives, to the indigenous communities and unemployed workers movements. Marina Sitrin is a New York City-based lawyer, writer, and activist who has spent large portions of the past three years in Argentina. Her work has appeared in Left Turn and Perspectives . "December 19th and 20th, 2001, marked the beginning a popular rebellion in Argentina. After IMF policies led to economic meltdown and massive capital flight, millions of Argentinians poured into the streets to protest the freezing of their bank accounts, the devaluing of their currency, and the bankruptcy of their state." "The social movements that exploded in Argentina that December not only transformed the fabric of Argentine society but also highlighted the possibility of a genuinely democratic alternative to global capital. Horizontalism: Voices of Popular Power in Argentina is the story of those movements, as told by the men and women who are building them."--BOOK JACKET Contents 6 Translating we walk 8 Acknowledgements 12 introduction 14 Historical context 18 Unemployed workers' movements 19 Rebellions 21 Neighborhood assemblies 23 The assemblies change form ... 23 Relationships among autonomous movements 26 Recuperated workplaces 27 New movements' internationalism 28 Intention of and approach to this book 30 context and rupture: December 19 and 20, 2001 34 horizontalidad 50 autogestion 80 autonomy 120 creation 144 power 172 repression 190 women 212 protagonism 228 dreams 252 index 265