How should anarchists respond to Brexit?
Daniel James Smith
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I'm kinda confused on this topic right now. I see liberal/socialist statist types bemoaning the results of the decision because of it's implications for black/brown people living in England and immigrants, however, I hear some anarchists talk about how this makes a potential revolution more expedient in Britain because of less outside influence.
I guess what I'm trying to figure out is, how do we capitalize on this result? How do we interpret this from an anarchist perspective? I think it remains to be seen about how this is going to affect the average, working class Brit,(I'm American BTW), however it looks like it may not be anything good.
So, how do we interweave our message into the awkward, pointless realm of state-based politics, without sacrificing our principles? It would seem to me that the EU is an attempt to encourage more cooperation among inherently self-serving entities, but given the massive failure of the organization, maybe people will reassess the legitimacy of their own states and the EU itself.
British Anarchists, can you offer anything to an ignorant American about this topic?
Daniel James Smith Sat 25 Jun 2016 2:07AM
Thanks for your response!
I think what I'm getting from that text is that British politics is dominated by two wings of a right wing political realm (Racist, nationalist right and neoliberal "left") and that true left-wing politics is dead.
I think that given the history of left-wing politics and the documented instances of betrayal of their own principles by these parties (Syriza, Pink Tide), it is pretty clear that left-wing politics has been a grave failure.
However, I don't think this post addresses the potential for an anti-authoritarian Brexit position, in which the left advocates for an exit from the EU based on the idea that revolution may be more easily attained without interference from the EU, which would undoubtedly attempt to inhibit a revolution.
I'm still curious about how this decision will affect the British working-class in the here-and-now. Most sources that I've read from say that the rise of fascist, working-class parties in Europe has been facilitated by the terrible economic prospects of the future and the precarious situations European working-class people are in right now. If this decision really sounds the death knell for the British economy, then membership to these parties will skyrocket. This would be a massive setback for the anti-authoritarian left. It just seems like, right-wing fascist parties have outcompteted us when it comes to exposing their ideas and gaining a platform.
Tyler Gallacher Sat 25 Jun 2016 3:59AM
I agree with you completely, on the failure of the political left. Brexit may mean that revolution is easier to attain, however no organisation that advocates this change as had a significant voice, and to the point of creating such an organisation I can't answer simply because to do so would be to answer out of ignorance. I also am not certain of how it would affect the British Working Class, however it could be presumed that because the result was achieved the right wing means it wouldn't be overly positive? But again I am not certain, and can't offer any expertise on the matter, to do would again be ignorant of me.
Nova Wed 29 Jun 2016 7:52AM
Personally I think that anarchists should disavow both Britain and the EU to advocate for the third option. Namely anarchy.
MB3CREW Mon 11 Jul 2016 4:28PM
I agree with Tyler Gallacher also Daniel James Smith. As an American I you can see that left wing politics is dead in Britain or slowly dying. But even worst in the United States. I actually thought the E.U. was good for Britain. A model for unification so to speak. I think the main problem was politics and the refugee crises. If they could have gotten over the racism part I'm pretty sure they could have been ok. Even used it to fix the corrupt political system
Tyler Gallacher · Sat 25 Jun 2016 1:46AM
This is something I saw on tumblr which is from a British Anarchist which may help in answering some of your (and my) questions on Brexit.
"The problem with the left-Brexit position is that, however pertinent its critique of the EU and radical its aspirations, it has no prospect of relevance at this stage, in this referendum. If there ever was a goal of developing a political platform in which a socialist argument against the European Union could even be heard, it has been left too late. The campaigns and their platforms have already been developed in the Left’s overwhelming absence (….) The debate already exists, and in Britain it is firmly structured by a fight between two wings of the Right, in which the Left has proved and is proving utterly unable to impart any radical or progressive content. This is, after all, not only a question of analysis, but of slogans, propaganda, agitation and social traction. If it lines up now behind Brexit, given the massive and overwhelming centre of gravity of the debate, what it is supporting is the actually- existing-Brexit, which has been defined by the racist, nationalist right. In the case of a win for this Brexit, it is those forces that have won, and those forces that stand to gain. This is not to say that a movement for left-Brexit could never be built – and there is an argument that that is a task that must, with immense care, begin. What is certain, however, is that at this moment, in the context of a public debate in which the running for exit is being made by the baying Europhobe right, there is no space for a radical position to be anything but utterly marginal. To join the campaign for this Brexit now would grant a life-long free pass to the Carnival of Reaction.
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Neither Westminster Nor Brussels (via class-struggle-anarchism)"