“The Stakes Are Higher Now”: A Conversation with CrimethInc.

— It's Going Down

Filed under: Anarchist Movement, Featured, Interviews, Radio & Podcast, Radio/Podcast, The State

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In this episode of the It’s Going Down podcast, we again talk with someone from CrimethInc. as we look back at 2018, both in terms of how Trumpism played out in the streets and in the halls of power, and how anarchists and other autonomous rebels responded. If you aren’t familiar, CrimethInc. is a long running anarchist media collective that for decades has produced beautiful and amazing books, magazines, texts, posters, stickers, and more. In recent years, CrimethInc. has become a clearinghouse for both national and international reporting on autonomous social movements and revolts from the Yellow Vests to the Arab Spring. For the last several years, we’ve sat down at the end of each year to talk about what all has happened, both in terms of the anarchist movement, and the systems of domination and power.

#HappyNewYear2019 Here's to another year of aiding those in need, defying the police, undermining governments, fighting fascists, tearing down statues, and working towards the abolition of capitalism, the state, and all other forms of oppression. Here's to an anarchist future. pic.twitter.com/GYxR3bJTib

— CrimethInc. (@crimethinc) December 31, 2018

As our guest states at the start of our discussion, we live in an age where autonomous disaster relief has become “the new food not bombs,” as the crisis all around us deepens. And while Trump has done much to damage the ‘nationalist’ brand, our guest warns us that we should also be prepared for the emergence of Trumpism 2.0, as far-Right populism across the world attempts to present itself as a viable alternative to neoliberalism, and social democracy does the same.

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https://cwc.im/survival We're calling for a week of action around January 20, 2019 to promote survival programs, mutual aid initiatives, and other projects that meet the crisis of capitalism. With the 2017 #J20 charges dropped, we can focus on other forms of long-term solidarity.

A post shared by CrimethInc. (@crimethincdotcom) on Nov 29, 2018 at 2:22pm PST

Moreover, we discuss how once again we are entering a period in which a wave of revolts and insurrections across the world are poised to pop off, a reality foreshadowed by the emergence of mass revolts in Haiti, France, and beyond. But if we want to avoid the tail end of what happened after the end of the last cycle: bloody civil war, then we are going to have to hone our ideas, infrastructure, and networks – all the while articulating a clear anarchist proposal for broad social change, our guest argues.

The Yellow Vest Movement: Showdown with the State https://t.co/RLwwSsZO4J

Exploring the complexities and contradictions of the yellow vest movement, we present eyewitness reports from the clashes in Paris, around France, and across Europe. pic.twitter.com/99pc5UCRcv

— CrimethInc. (@crimethinc) December 14, 2018

While not making any predictions, our guest mentions how often the third year of any presidency is generally the most chaotic, and we must prepare ourselves for the very real possibility of mass collective action, as things continue to break apart.

More Info: CrimethInc. and CrimethInc. on Twitter

This post was written by It's Going Down