Post-Scarcity Anarchism

Description

In a series of related essays, Murray Bookchin balances his ecological and anarchist vision with the promising opportunities of a “post-scarcity” era. Surpassing the constraints of Marxist political economy—which was rooted in an era of material scarcity and could not foresee the sweeping changes ahead—Bookchin argues that the tools necessary for the self-administration of a complex, industrial society have already been developed and have greatly altered our revolutionary landscape. Technological advances were made during the twentieth century which expanded production greatly, but in the pursuit of corporate profit and at the expense of human need, workers’ control and ecological sustainability. Through direct control of industry, and by incorporating an ecological and utopian vision for society, the working class can now dispel the myth that the state, hierarchical social relations, and political parties (vanguards) are necessary to their struggle for freedom. Bookchin’s analysis, rooted in the realities of contemporary society, remains refreshingly pragmatic. Perhaps his most influential collection of essays (including the legendary “Listen Marxist!” and “Ecology and Revolutionary Thought”), this third edition contains a new preface from the author. Introduction to the First Edition iii Introduction to the Second Edition xx Introduction to the Third Edition xxxvi Post-Scarcity Anarchism 1 Ecology and Revolutionary Thought 19 Towards a Liberatory Technology 41 The Forms of Freedom 85 Listen, Marxist! 107 :: Note on Affinity Groups 145 Discussion on “Listen, Marxist!" 147 The May-June Events in France: 1 France: A Movement for Life 165 The May-June Events in France: 2 Excerpts from a Letter 175 Desire and Need 185 References 197