[lbo-talk] NYT to Chávez : Drop Dead

[B.]

The point about purity is well-taken, but come on,
even discounting the substantial anarchist roles in
revolutions in Mexico (Mexican anarchist leader 
Ricardo Flores Magon died in a US prison in
Leavenworth for a reason), Spain, the Russian
Revolution (Ukraine) and in contemporary Argentina,
it's hard to say folks like Emma Goldman haven't had
an influence on real world politics. The IWW, though
nominally not anarchist, always had a greater
influence than its membership number might suggest,
and a lot of big battles over labor rights and more in
Europe and the USA historically had significant
anarchist components. It's hard to overestimate what
effect the anarchist role was in inflaming dissent and
unrest on important issues like the 8hr day
(Haymarket), women's suffrage, etc. It's had tangible
real-world effects, for the better of society.

-B.

Doug Henwood wrote:

"I suspect this attitude has something to do with why
Trostkyists and anarchists - two different kinds of
purists - have had so little impact on real-world
politics."