Granted, I don't mean to suggest similitude between the Black Bloc and terrorists, but if they take inspiration from the Weather Underground, they must see some value in it or at least their tactics in a similar tradition. Also, these tactics of provocation have a long history in revolutionary and protest movements. Here, I think Lenin's recognition about Russian terrorism also fits for the Black Bloc: Their attempts to provoke state violence similarly, in Lenin's words, "reflects an utter failure to understand the mass movement and a lack of faith in it." Namely, the Black Bloc's tactics are indicative of their weakness rather than strength.
Sean
Sean Guillory seansrussiablog at gmail.com Sean's Russia Blog <http://seansrussiablog.org> Host, New Books in Russian and Eurasian Studies <http://newbooksinrussianstudies.com/>
On 11/11/2011 2:11 PM, Doug Henwood wrote:
> http://louisproyect.wordpress.com/2011/11/11/black-bloc-inspired-by-weathermen/
>
> > From The Black Bloc Papers
>
> An Anthology of Primary Texts
> > From The North American Anarchist Black Bloc
> 1988-2005
> The Battle of Seattle Through The Anti-War Movement
> Edited and compiled by David Van Deusen and Xaviar Massot of The Green Mountain Anarchist Collective
>
> The Black Bloc can trace its historical roots all the way back to when- and wherever people comprising an oppressed class or group militantly rose up against their oppressors. Elements of the particular tactics of the Bloc were previously utilized by the Weather faction of Students for a Democratic Society (the SDS) in North America during the “Days of Rage” in 1969.
>
> Another function of the Black Bloc is to push the protest at hand towards a more militant and socially comprehensive direction. Largely this was achieved by the Bloc positioning itself at the forefront of the demonstration and subsequently forcing an escalation between the State forces and the protesters. Simply by resisting arrest, refusing to remain on sanctioned parade routes, challenging police barricades and by actively directing its anger at corporate targets, the Bloc ensured that such an escalation would ensue.
>
> The purpose of such escalation in part lies in the belief that such conflict necessarily results in the unmasking of the brutal nature of the State. The subsequent brutality of the opposing police/military force is revealed. The idea is that by showing the larger population the violent means by which the status quo is maintained, a significant number of people will become further radicalized by this physical and visual demonstration of the nature of the State.
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