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---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Dan DiMaggio <dan.dimag...@gmail.com> Date: Sun, Dec 26, 2010 at 12:26 PM Subject: Fascinating debate in the Guardian on the left/student protests To: ty <tyt...@gmail.com>, Brandon Madsen <brandon.mad...@gmail.com>, Teddy <tyimenu2...@gmail.com>, Patrick Ayers <patrick.ay...@gmail.com> Hey, There is an excellent debate going on in the pages of The Guardian about the far left and the student protests in Britain. Laurie Penny, who has become one of the major voices of the demonstrations, writes about how the networks organizing the protests have gone far beyond the "narcissism of small differences" characteristic of the traditional left. At the same time, my understanding is that the "far left" has played a very important role in organizing these demonstrations. However, Penny also hits on an interesting point (if a bit demeaningly): "It is highly likely that even after a nuclear attack, the only remaining life-forms will be cockroaches and sour-faced vendors of the Socialist Worker. Stunningly, the paper is still being peddled at every demonstration to young cyber-activists for whom the very concept of a newspaper is almost as outdated as the notion of ideological unity as a basis for action." It seems to me that Penny is expressing the general sentiment of young people today who are flocking to these protests. At the same time, there's the danger of throwing out the need for organization in favor of "networks" which have their own limitations. Here's Penny's column: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/dec/24/student-protests-young-politics-voices Alex Callinicos has responded here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/dec/26/student-protests-laurie-penny I'd be interested to hear more on what is happening in the British student protests, the role played by various organizations, the direction things are headed organizationally, etc. Dan ________________________________________________ Send list submissions to: Marxism@lists.econ.utah.edu Set your options at: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
