The Zapatistas, anarchism and ‘Direct democracy’

The Zapatista rebellion of 1994 has become the 90’s equivalent of the Cuban and Nicaraguan revolutions. It has excited the imagination of a layer of active young. The balaclava and pipe toting Marcos is becoming the same sort of visual icon that the bearded and beret wearing Ché was 30 years earlier. And perhaps it […]

Local or global trade – debate in the anti-capitalist movement

We wanted this debate today (WSM Ideas & Action 31 March 2001) because we recognise that we share a considerable number of points of departure with those who advocate local sustainable development from an environmental rather then a nationalistic perspective. The idea for the session came out of a discussion I was having a couple […]

‘It happened in the Phoenix Park all in the month of May’

The political history of the Phoenix Park in Dublin. While the park hosts many of the symbols of power in Ireland – past and present – from the monument to the arch-reactionary Wellington, to the US-ambassador’s residence and the Garda Headquarters, it has also seen its fair share of opposition.

Shell to Sea escalates struggle in Mayo as pipeline ship approaches

After a quiet period the struggle against Shell’s attempt to impose a dangerous experimental gas pipeline in Erris, Co. Mayo has escalated once more over the last month. Shell are now attempting to bring the pipe ashore at Glenagad and over 20 people have been arrested to date resisting this. Shell’s Solitaire pipe-laying ship has […]

Prospects for anarchism after the 1991 collapse of ‘socialism’

Article from 1992 looking at the prospects for a growth in anarchism following the collapse of socialism. The tradition in which the anarchists stand is one that socialists need to identify with. For many on the left this will be a difficult process. They were weaned on a diet of slander when it came to […]

Legalise it

Article from 1994 arguing that possession of small amounts of all drugs should be de-criminalised. Anti- social drugs like heroin should be available on prescription from doctors at low cost to prevent junkies turning to crime to finance their habit. What is needed is a real debate on the control of the other drugs. It […]