The subversion of politics : European autonomous social movements and the decolonization of everyday life

"A scholarly gem which is indispensable reading for anyone interested in how social change occurs, especially in the advanced industrial countries.”—Carl Boggs, National University "This book is an important corrective to the all-too-common view that global capitalism is triumphant, that there is no basis for opposing the values it promotes.”—Barbara Epstein, University of California at Santa Cruz Since the modern anti-globalization movement kicked off with the 1999 WTO protests in Seattle, a new generation has been engaging in anti-capitalist direct action. Its aims, politics, lifestyles, and tactics grow directly out of the autonomous social movements that emerged in Europe from the 1970s through the mid-1990s. In fact, today’s infamous “Black Blocs” are the direct descendants of the European “Autonomen.” But these important historical connections are rarely noted, and never understood. The Subversion of Politics sets the record straight, filling in the gaps between the momentous events of 1968 and 1999. Katsiaficas presents the protagonists of social revolt—Italian feminists, squatters, disarmament and anti-nuclear activists, punk rockers, and anti-fascist street fighters—in a compelling and sympathetic light. At the same time, he offers a work of great critical depth, drawing from these political practices a new theory of freedom and autonomy that redefines the parameters of the political itself. George Katsiaficas—Fulbright fellow, former student of Herbert Marcuse, and long-time activist—is Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, Massachusetts. Author or editor of more than 10 books, he is Managing Editor of the journal New Political Science. Since The Modern Anti-globalisation Movement Kicked Off With The 1999 Wto Protests In Seattle, A New Generation Has Been Engaging In Anti-capitalist Direct Action. Its Aims, Politics, Lifestyles And Tactics Grow Directly Out Of The Autonomous Social Movements That Emerged In Europe From The 1970s Through The Mid-1990s. From 1968 To Autonomy -- The European Context -- The Meaning Of Autonomy -- The Autonomen : An Invisible Movement -- Media And Marginality -- Italian Autonomy -- Worker Roots Of Autonomy -- The Women's Movement -- Student And Youth Roots Of Autonomy -- 1977 : A Year Of Crisis -- Repression And Resistance -- Sources Of Autonomous Politics In Germany -- The Autonomous Women's Movement -- The Antinuclear Movement -- Muslis And Mollis : From The New Left To The Punk Left -- The Elections In Berlin -- The Structure Of Spontaneity -- European Autonomous Movements -- Amsterdam -- Copenhagen -- Hafenstrasse : International Symbol -- The Guerrillas And The Movement -- The Red Zoras -- May Day 1988 : A Personal Note -- Photos -- The Autonomen In Unified Germany -- Neo-nazis And The State -- Autonomy And Antifascism -- The Battle For Mainzerstrasse -- The Contradictions Of Autonomy -- The German Problem -- The (anti)politics Of Autonomy -- Autonomy And The Greens -- Autonomy And The Left -- In Defense Of The Dialectic -- From The Fetishization Of Production To The Production Of Fetish -- The Centrality Of Patriarchy -- Neo-leninist Rectitude -- Strategic Concerns -- Toward A Rationality Of The Heart -- The Theory Of Autonomy -- Late Capitalism's Postmodern Features -- Colonization Of Everyday Life -- New Social Movements And The Politics Of Identity -- From The Invisibility Of The Private To Its Rationalization : A Reasonable Project? -- The Atomized Individual And The Constraint Of Autonomy -- The Autonomy Of Theory? -- Decolonization And Democracy. Georgy Katsiaficas. Originally Published: Atlantic Highlands, N.j.: Humanities Press, 1997. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 269-296) And Index. "A scholarly gem which is indispensable reading for anyone interested in how social change occurs, especially in the advanced industrial countries.Carl Boggs, National University "This book is an important corrective to the all-too-common view that global capitalism is triumphant, that there is no basis for opposing the values it promotes.Barbara Epstein, University of California at Santa Cruz Since the modern anti-globalization movement kicked off with the 1999 WTO protests in Seattle, a new generation has been engaging in anti-capitalist direct action. Its aims, politics, lifestyles, and tactics grow directly out of the autonomous social movements that emerged in Europe from the 1970s through the mid-1990s. In fact, todays infamous Black Blocs are the direct descendants of the European Autonomen. But these important historical connections are rarely noted, and never understood. The Subversion of Politics sets the record straight, filling in the gaps between the momentous events of 1968 and 1999. Katsiaficas presents the protagonists of social revoltItalian feminists, squatters, disarmament and anti-nuclear activists, punk rockers, and anti-fascist street fightersin a compelling and sympathetic light. At the same time, he offers a work of great critical depth, drawing from these political practices a new theory of freedom and autonomy that redefines the parameters of the political itself. George Katsiaficas Fulbright fellow, former student of Herbert Marcuse, and long-time activistis Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, Massachusetts. Author or editor of more than 10 books, he is Managing Editor of the journal New Political Science . George Katsiaficas's account covers the period 1968-1996 and pays special attention to the role of autonomous feminist movements, the effects of squatters and feminists on the disarmament movement and on efforts to shut down nuclear power, and the antifascist social movements developed in response to the neo-Nazi upsurge. In addition to providing a rare depiction of these often overlooked movements, Katsiaficas develops a specific notion of autonomy from the statements and aspirations of these movements. Drawing from the practical actions of social movements, his analysis is extended into a universal standpoint of the species, a perspective he develops by uncovering the partiality of Antonio Negri's workerism, Seyla Benhabib's feminism, and notions of uniqueness of the German nation.