Morning Comrades!
I know, I know, not another piece on the so-called Holy Grail of revolutionary resistance in the face of Capitalism - I get it, I often feel the same way when the usual talking heads of the terminally online revolutionaries talk about “solutions” to the ever increasing crisis we are experiencing under Capitalism. I promise to make this one non-prophetic and as non-theoretical as possible. Additionally, and this is main reason I chose to write about this today, is that I am increasingly worried about our immediate future. Worried is a bit of an understatement to be honest, truthfully, I am increasingly understanding the perfect storm we are being driven into, or at least I think so, and unlike the past crisis’ we had to endure since 9/11 that our “oh so competent leaders” have ridden us into without consequences, I want us all to be be as prepared as we can be. This isn’t selling anything, this is me offering the best I can think of, today, for what will definitely come sooner than any of us would like.
Before that, a little housekeeping. Substack offers heaps of little cool tools that make these dispatches more engaging. For one, there is a Substack App that I can only recommend, I use it daily to read what I would like. Additionally, they have just launched a twitter copy for a lack of a better word called Notes that you can access through the app and the website, that I am also looking into. Especially, since the business genius Musk has all but banned any mention of Substack on twitter. No need crying about it, but here are other options for you to enjoy this work and platform.
Secondly, this usually would be a patreon-only post, but since its a birthday week this is for everyone, the subject matter demands it, truthfully. The regular schedule returns next week and if you can and would like to support this work here, below is a link for a 14 day Free Trial of it all. You get two additional dispatches a week, free art to download etc and my eternal gratitude.
The Endgame Question, Once Again
A few of you might remember a relatively long piece I shared here back in May of last year, entitled, End Game?! - here is a link to it for those that missed and I would recommend reading that. Not only are the questions posited the basis of this piece but it is something I think about a great deal, every day. The end game of the capitalist world order still appears to be unclear-ish, however, the material reality their “games” poses and will create for us is not. On the contrary, it is getting clearer by the day and hence my increasing worry.
Two other realities play into the need for this dispatch. One, the rate at which the power of the US based unipolar might rests on - global trade in and on the US Dollar - is being not challenged but made irrelevant is something I had not anticipated to happen as quickly as it is. The US was and somewhat remains a Global Hegemon, economically by means of the largest Armed Forces this planet has seen, post WW2. This influences everything but that again is a different topic. The fact that the US forced the majority of the planet to trade in their currency allows the government to finance limitless debts to itself which is used to create this insanely large and violent army, that in turn, since its inception, guarantees access and domination of natural resources, trade routes etc. around the world. It’s a self-serving system build on military might that in turn is built on a house of cards bound to topple. Again, everything rests on both violence and money. The end of the petro-dollar and its possible effects on the world have been a massive case of speculation, especially among the capitalists of the world for years, and if this is interesting to you, read this.
This isn’t a possibility to discuss in theory, this is happening, today. Point 1.
Point 2 is a book that I have been meaning to read but haven’t but luckily for us all, was reviewed by a smarter person than myself. As a disclaimer, I don’t agree with either authors all that much but they are utterly worth reading, as masters in their fields ( economics and politics ) under our current reality. The book I refer to is called “End Times” by Peter Turchin:
What you need to read is this review by Branko Milanovic here:
To cut a very long story, this book is a scientific work that chronicles and explains inequality, especially the financial kind and what happens because of it. It’s a tour d’force in terms of research and the conclusions are sobering, to say the least.
Combine the above the ever-increasing and present climate crisis, the current path we are being led on by the capitalists means one thing and one thing only.
Shit is about to hit the fan so hard they will need to reinvent the analogy.
As always, and this is my main reason for concern, realistically, those responsible for it and most likely those believing and upholding this bullshit ( the bloody bourgeoisie of course ) will survive this perfect storm, at best, but us workers will not. Not this time around. For every crisis’ since and including 9/11 here in the “West” our respective governments have paid some level of lip-service to supporting the working classes. Increasingly, since then, their fraudulent “support”, a mask to stop us from burning down their houses, is slipping and no longer needed. Again, they know shit is about to hit the fan and in classic panic mode, the bourgeoisie is more than happy to allow the capitalist class to unleash their hounds of feudalism, fascism and wrap it up as “loyalty” in a disney-fied stormtrooper outfit to beat us all into dank submission.
This is, again, already happening.
More importantly, if not the most important question then is, how do we not only survive this, again, but can build structures in progressive opposition to their reality? For the short to mid term we have no other choice than to look, understand and make Mutual Aid a reality. Today. Not online, but in our respective offline reality. Online is dead. Forget it. All it takes is for them to flip a switch and everyone’s “community” will disappear in heart beat, including this one. No. The cold hard fact is, without a real world community that understands and employs the idea of non-transactional Mutual Aid we are bound to be nothing but pulp in their machinery of doom. Quite frankly, I have had enough of that “panicy survival mode”, and Mutual Aid is the best I have on offer. Make no mistake, the long term goal is and will always have to be “revolution” but again, that’s a whole other book.
Mutual Aid
The idea of mutual aid has been around for a long time and is a natural aspect of human society. Mutual aid practices can be found in many traditional cultures and indigenous communities, where people work together to support each other and meet their collective needs.
In a modern context, the concept of mutual aid has been developed and promoted by various thinkers and movements. One of the most well-known proponents of mutual aid is the Russian anarchist philosopher Peter Kropotkin, who wrote extensively on the subject in his book "Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution." Kropotkin argued that mutual aid was a key aspect of human evolution, and that cooperation and mutual support were fundamental to the survival and flourishing of human societies.
In recent years, mutual aid has become increasingly popular as a form of grassroots organizing and community building, particularly among marginalized communities and social justice movements. However, it is important to note that the practice of mutual aid is not the invention of any one person or group, but rather a longstanding and evolving aspect of human social life.
Non-Transactional Mutual Aid
Non-transactional mutual aid is a type of mutual aid that emphasizes support and assistance without the expectation of receiving something in return. In contrast to transactional relationships, which are based on an exchange of goods, services, or money, non-transactional mutual aid is based on the principle of reciprocity and a shared understanding that everyone has something to contribute to the community.
In non-transactional mutual aid, individuals come together to provide support and assistance to each other based on their needs and capacities. This type of mutual aid can take many forms, such as providing food, shelter, medical care, emotional support, or practical assistance with tasks like childcare or transportation.
Non-transactional mutual aid is often rooted in the principles of solidarity and collective action, and is seen as a way to build stronger, more resilient communities that are better able to withstand the challenges posed by systemic oppression, inequality, and crisis. By emphasizing mutual aid over individualistic transactions, non-transactional mutual aid seeks to create a more caring and compassionate society, based on principles of social justice and collective responsibility.
Tactics, Goals and Strategies
Mutual aid can be an effective tactic in the face of capitalism and fascism, as it offers a way for people to come together and build collective power outside of traditional power structures. Here are some reasons why mutual aid is an effective strategy in this context:
Resilience against systemic oppression: Mutual aid builds resilience against the effects of systemic oppression, such as poverty, racism, and discrimination. By pooling resources and supporting each other, people can help mitigate the effects of these oppressive systems and work towards building more equitable communities.
Solidarity and collective action: Mutual aid helps build solidarity and collective action among marginalized communities, allowing people to come together and fight back against the forces of capitalism and fascism. By working together, people can create a powerful force for change that is harder to ignore than individual actions.
Community building and self-determination: Mutual aid helps build stronger, more connected communities that are better equipped to resist the forces of capitalism and fascism. By prioritizing the needs and experiences of local communities, mutual aid efforts can help create a sense of self-determination and collective ownership over the future of the community.
Direct action and resistance: Mutual aid is a form of direct action and resistance against the forces of capitalism and fascism. By providing resources and support to those most impacted by these systems, mutual aid efforts can help challenge the status quo and create space for new ways of organizing and living.
Mutual aid can be successful when it is organized in a way that prioritizes the needs and experiences of the people involved and is based on principles of mutual respect, trust, and accountability. Here are some key factors that can contribute to the success of mutual aid:
Clear goals and shared values: Mutual aid efforts should have clear goals and a shared understanding of the values that guide the group. This can help build trust and solidarity among participants, and ensure that resources and efforts are directed towards meeting the most urgent needs.
Accessibility and inclusivity: Mutual aid efforts should be accessible and inclusive to all who need them, regardless of their background, identity, or ability. Efforts should be made to identify and address barriers to participation, such as language, transportation, or financial barriers.
Democratic decision-making: Mutual aid efforts should be organized in a way that allows for democratic decision-making and collective ownership of the group's activities. This can help ensure that everyone's voice is heard and that decisions are made in the best interests of the group as a whole.
Flexibility and adaptability: Mutual aid efforts should be flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances and needs. This can help ensure that resources and efforts are directed towards the most urgent and pressing needs, and that the group is able to respond to new challenges as they arise.
Sustainability and long-term planning: Mutual aid efforts should prioritize sustainability and long-term planning, rather than relying solely on short-term crisis response. This can help ensure that resources and efforts are directed towards building long-term resilience and addressing systemic issues that contribute to ongoing crises.
In short, it is utterly vital to be informed, prepared and not entertained by the bread and circus’ thrown at our feet by the lunatics in charge. As far as I am concerned we are heading into a perfect storm and all that will save us, is us. The above is a tested and real way of building a democratic, sustainable alternative to their Disney-Consume-Freedom-Fascism that has led us into this Jurassic Park sized pile of shit we called “Democracy”. That’s the best I have on offer, today. Get started, today. None of them will stop this, save us, nor will there be some mythical “leader” to turn this all around - god knows, we’ve had a fair share of them here in Europe and that’s not happening again on my watch - but us. You, me. Your neighbour, Us.
Much love to you all.
Yours, warmly,
V.
P.S.: A short further reading list on this subject:
Dean Spade: Dean Spade is a trans activist and legal scholar who has written extensively on mutual aid and community organizing. In his book "Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (and the Next)," Spade argues that mutual aid is essential for building stronger communities and resisting the forces of capitalism and oppression.
Silvia Federici: Silvia Federici is a feminist scholar and activist who has written extensively on mutual aid and its historical roots. In her book "Caliban and the Witch: Women, the Body, and Primitive Accumulation," Federici explores the role of mutual aid in resisting feudalism and the rise of capitalism.
David Graeber: David Graeber was an anthropologist and anarchist activist who wrote extensively on mutual aid and direct action. In his book "Direct Action: An Ethnography," Graeber argues that mutual aid and direct action are essential for challenging the status quo and building a more just society.
Mariame Kaba: Mariame Kaba is an organizer and prison abolitionist who has advocated for mutual aid as a way to build community resilience and resist systemic oppression. In her writing and organizing, Kaba emphasizes the importance of centering the needs and experiences of marginalized communities in mutual aid efforts.
Adrienne Maree Brown: Adrienne Maree Brown is a writer and organizer who has written extensively on mutual aid and community building. In her book "Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds," Brown argues that mutual aid is essential for creating a more just and equitable world, and offers practical guidance for how to build mutual aid networks and movements.