*** Welcome to issue two of Red & Black Revolution. *** The idea of revolution is central to anarchism. In this issue we look at just what a successful revolution requires and in what conditions it is likely to occur. We bring news of work being done now to build a new anarchist movement in Russia and of the links being forged between anarchist organisations in Europe. Anarchism however does not sit and wait for the revolution. It fights today against all aspects of capitalist oppression. This means working alongside people who do not share our world view but who do wish to tackle some of the worst aspects of capitalism. We look at the way broad based projects, aimed at combating the worst elements of capitalism can become part of the mechanism ensuring social stability. Unions, community groups and unemployment centres all represent at least in part peoples' desire to fight back. Capitalism in recognising this has adopted two strategies. The earlier one was of direct attack, attempts to smash these organisations. As capitalist control mechanisms have developed and the need for stability increased new methods have been devised, ones that aim to incorporate activists into the control mechanisms of capitalism itself. So we have unions that argue for competitiveness, unemployed groups that argue for funding cuts and community groups in partnerships with the same companies that are devastating their communities. Anarchists involved in fighting alongside fellow workers today have to be aware of where these problems arise and how we can start to tackle them. ********** Contents *********** Incorporation Why is it that many single issue campaigns and community groups which start out with a radical program soon end up as little more than service groups? Conor Mc Loughlin, an activist of the now defunct Portobello Unemployed Action Group investigates. The road to revolution A complete transformation of society, revolution, is the goal of anarchism. Ray Cunningham looks at what is meant when anarchists talk about revolution, and what can be done to bring it closer. Rebels at Ruesta In August 1995 an international gathering of libertarian communists took place in Ruesta, Spain. A week of discussions took place and at the end a declaration was drawn up. We present here extracts from the WSM delegates' report on the week and the agreed declaration. Russian Anarchism: After the fal Although many classical anarchist theorists and figures came from Russia, the advent of the Soviet State effectively crushed the movement. Now anarchism is reborn in Russia. Laure Akai and Mikhail Tsovma write from Moscow to tell us a little about the trials and tribulations of the new Russian anarchist movement. Travellers fighting back Patricia McCarthy examines the history of Irish Travellers' struggle for civil rights and ethnic recognition. Their struggles have much in common with those of Indigenous people worldwide and with the struggles of Native Americans and Australian Aboriginals and also with the struggles of Gypsies, Travellers and nomads against racism and oppression. Chomsky on Anarchism Noam Chomsky is widely known for his critique of U.S. foreign policy, and for his work as a linguist. In a special interview with Red and Black Revolution, Chomsky gives his views on anarchism and marxism, and the prospects for socialism now. The two souls of the trade unions Union activists are facing new management attacks but the trade union leadership speaks only of partnership with the bosses. Des Derwin, member of the Executive of the Dublin Council of Trade Unions and of the Dublin Private Sector Regional Executive Committee of SIPTU gives his personal view on the two souls of the unions. The IRA cease-fire and republican politics. The 'Irish peace process' is now well into its second year. It has brought respectability for Sinn FŽin but little of consequence for the Irish working class - North or South. Gregor Kerr, a member of the National Committee of the Irish Anti Extradition Committee in the late 1980s, looks at events leading up to the cease-fire and Sinn FŽin's pan- nationalist strategy. *********** About the WSM *********** The Workers Solidarity Movement was founded in Dublin, Ireland in 1984 following discussions by a number of local anarchist groups on the need for a national anarchist organisation. At that time with unemployment and inequality on the rise, there seemed every reason to argue for anarchism and for a revolutionary change in Irish society. This has not changed. Like most socialists we share a fundamental belief that capitalism is the problem. We believe that as a system it must be ended, that the wealth of society should be commonly owned and that its resources should be used to serve the needs of humanity as a whole and not those of a small greedy minority. But, just as importantly, we see this struggle against capitalism as also being a struggle for freedom. We believe that socialism and freedom must go together, that we cannot have one without the other. As Mikhail Bakunin, the Russian anarchist said, "Socialism without freedom is tyranny and brutality". Anarchism has always stood for individual freedom. But it also stands for democracy. We believe in democratising the workplace and in workers taking control of all industry. We believe that this is the only real alternative to capitalism with its on going reliance on hierarchy and oppression and its depletion of the world's resources. In the years since our formation, we've been involved in a wide range of struggles - our members are involved in their trade unions; we've fought for abortion rights and against the presence of the British state in Northern Ireland; we've also been involved in campaigns in support of workers from countries as far apart as Nepal, Peru and South Africa. Alongside this, we have produced nearly fifty issues of our paper Workers Solidarity, and a wide range of pamphlets. In 1986, we organised a speaking tour of Ireland by an anarchist veteran of the Spanish Civil War, Ernesto Nadal, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the revolution there. As anarchists we see ourselves as part of a long tradition that has fought against all forms of authoritarianism and exploitation, a tradition that strongly influenced one of the most successful and far reaching revolutions in this century - in Spain in 1936 - 37. The value of this tradition cannot be underestimated today. With the fall of the Soviet Union there is renewed interest in our ideas and in the tradition of libertarian socialism generally. We hope to encourage this interest with Red & Black Revolution. We believe that anarchists and libertarian socialists should debate and discuss their ideas, that they should popularise their history and struggle, and help point to a new way forward. If you are interested in finding out more about anarchism or the WSM, contact us at PO Box 1528, Dublin 8, Ireland. *********** Re-printing ********** Permission is given for revolutionary publications to reprint any of the articles contained in this issue. But please do two things -> Tell us you are re-printing and send us a copy of the publication it appears in. -> If you are also translating an article please send us a copy of the translation on computer disk so we can add it to our electronic archive.A complete transformation of society, revolution, is the goal of anarchism. Ray Cunningham looks at what is meant when anarchists talk about revolution, and what can be done to bring it closer. *********** Submissions *********** Red & Black Revolution is published by the Workers Solidarity Movement. The deadline for the next issue is June, 1996. Submissions are welcome and should be sent either as 'text only' files on Mac or PC format computer disks or typed on plain white paper. Disks are preferred. Letters are also welcome. All correspondence should be sent to Red & Black Revolution, PO Box 1528, Dublin 8, Ireland.