Anti-capitalist uprising in Argentina: An analogy

(1) looting

The economic crisis forced the majority of the population into poverty, and forced those already in poverty into starvation. Thus it was only a matter of time before working class anger was to spontaneously erupt. The week prior to the insurrection a general strike was in progress and many roads were blockaded. Then food riots broke out across Argentina, with organised looting at many stores and supermarkets. Working class solidarity was very apparent with people fetching food for elderly people and those who did not want to risk defying the 35,000 cops on duty. Piles of nappies and baby food were placed on corners for parents to take.

(2) insurrection

Food riots quickly turned into massive anti-government demonstrations. Over one million people in Buenos Aires marched through the streets demanding an end to the neoliberal economic policies of the International Monetary Fund and the 2002 austerity plan. On the morning of 20 Dec. 2001 thousands of people made their way towards the Congress Square and forced the resignation of President De la Rua and his government. The crowds banged pots and pans (cacerolazo), chanting slogans against all politicians and demanding an end to debt repayments. De la Rua had to be airlifted to safety.
Then the Battle of Plaza de Mayo kicked off proper with thousands fighting the cops. Hundreds of barricades were erected, and banks and multinationals were destroyed, many of them set alight. The cops ran out of rubber bullets and began using live rounds. Motorqueros (people on motorbikes) formed a 'people's cavalry' and charged at the police. The battle lasted seven hours and left 26 dead. Similar class rage was being expressed all over the country.

(3) worker's councils

The uprising went beyond insurrectionary rage and into a more constructive phase when autonomous working class institutions called 'Popular Assemblies' or workers' councils were formed in neighbourhoods across Argentina (see article opposite). These assemblies are limited at the moment because they co-exist with the state & capital. However, they are potentially revolutionary because they could become the decision making organs (run by direct democracy) of the population as a whole if the state & capital were smashed.
Where to now? The Argentinean working class have themselves created the form that the social revolution needs to take to bring about a new classless and stateless society. The solution is already in existence: workers' councils. Yet some leftists want to create on top of the assemblies a new left-wing government ('Constituent Assembly') or a "workers' state" to rule over the working class and its assemblies. Why? Workers' councils aren't a popular stepping stone for the seizure of state power by a party elite, but are potentially revolutionary in themselves.

CONTENTS

from argentina to aotearoa

anti-capitalist uprising in argentina: an analogy

organising against capitalism in the 21st century

conference report

anarchy in the r.k

bac to smog

the 24 milion dollar minute

war is terrorism

aotearoa news round up