May 2015: New book: An Alternative Labour History, new film & more

Newsletter:

D. Azzellini, Eng

http://www.azzellini.net - facebook: Dario Azzellini

May 2015, Dario Azzellini's newsletter in English
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0. Before

1. New Books: "An Alternative Labour History. Worker Control and Workplace Democracy" (English) and "They Can't Represent Us!: Reinventing Democracy from Greece to Occupy" (English)

2. New Documentary: "Occupy, Resist, Produce – RiMaflow" by Dario Azzellini and Oliver Ressler, 34 min., 2014

3. Reviews (English/Deutsch)

4. Academic articles: Book chapters and journal articles (English/Español/Italiano/Deutsch)

5. Interviews and press articles (English)

6. Videos/Audios (Español/Ελληνικά)

7. Events (Athens/Berlin/NYC)

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0. Before

Hello!

I am happy to annouce that my second compilation on workers control, "An Alternative Labour History. Worker Control and Workplace Democracy" is about to be publised by Zed Books. It features chapters on council democracy, new work place take overs during the contemporary crisis, the Austrian Revolution, Japan after WWII, Brazil in the 1960's and 1970's, Mexico, Uruguay and more... see 1)

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I also just finished a documentary on the factory RiMaflow in Milan, Italy, recuperated by the workers: "Occupy, Resist, Produce - RiMaflow" together with Oliver Ressler . It is the first film of a series of films on recuperated workplaces in Europe. The second documentary on Officine Zero in Rome is in post production right now and for the third on Vio.Me. in Greece we did already the filming... see 2)

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I will be in NY at the Left Forum!

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All the best,

Dario

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1. New Books (English/Russian):

"An Alternative Labour History. Worker Control and Workplace Democracy"

Dario Azzellini (Ed.), Preface by Jeremy Brecher, 352 pages, ISBN: 9781783601547, £18.99 / $27.95,

The global financial crisis has led to a new shop floor militancy. Radical forms of protest and new workers' takeovers have sprung-up all over the globe. In the US, Republic Windows and Doors started production under worker control in January 2013, later that year workers in Greece took over and managed, on their own, a hotel, a hospital, a newspaper, a TV channel and a factory.

The dominant revolutionary left has viewed workers' control as part of a system necessary during a transition to socialism. Yet most socialist and communist parties have neglected to promote workers' control as it challenges the centrality of parties and it is in this spirit that trade unions, operating through the institutional frameworks of government, have held a monopoly over labor history.

Tracing Marx's writings on the Paris Commune through council communism, anarcho-syndicalism, Italian operaismo, and other 'heretical' left currents, this book uncovers the practices and intentions of historical and contemporary autonomous workers' movements that have been largely obscured until now....

Susan Moir, University of Massachusetts Boston:

"An Alternative Labour History is a must-read for those seeking fresh ways out of the current global morass. Azzellini and his contributors present a real and possible alternative to the twin corporate traps of monopoly capitalism and state socialism. There are lessons here for all who hold tight to the possibility for a future based on equality and social good."

Read more and see table of content: http://www.zedbooks.co.uk/node/20812

An Alternative Labour History: Worker Control and Workplace Democracy (Russian)

Dario Azzellini (Ed.)

Перед вами отрывок из новой книги Дарио Аццелини «Альтернативная история труда: рабочий контроль и демократия на предприятии», недавно опубликованной издательством Zed.

http://www.azzellini.net/uebersetzungen/alternative-labour-history-worke...
http://rabkor.ru/culture/books/2015/05/21/take-back-the-factory/

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"They Can't Represent Us!: Reinventing Democracy from Greece to Occupy"

By Dario Azzellini and Marina Sitrin, Foreword by David Harvey (Verso Books) Paperback, 192 pages, ISBN: 9781781680971

“The movements documented in this volume succeeded in shutting cities down through tremendous shows of force. And when you shut down a city, you can actually stop capital accumulation … Until we start building a truly democratic society, we will continue to see our good ideas co-opted by capital.” – from the foreword by David Harvey

Here is one of the first books to assert that mass protest movements in disparate places such as Greece, Argentina, and the United States share an agenda—to raise the question of what democracy should mean. These horizontalist movements, including Occupy, exercise and claim participatory democracy as the ground of revolutionary social change today. The new movements put forward the idea that liberal democracy is not democratic, nor was it ever.

http://www.versobooks.com/books/1433-they-can-t-represent-us
http://www.azzellini.net/node/2745

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2. New Documentary: "Occupy, Resist, Produce – RiMaflow" by Dario Azzellini and Oliver Ressler, 34 min., 2014

The Maflow plant in Trezzano sul Naviglio, located on the industrial periphery of Milan, was part of the Italian transnational car parts producer Maflow, one of the most important manufacturers of air conditioning tubes worldwide. Far from suffering consequences of the crisis and with enough clients to keep producing, Maflow closed in 2009 following fraudulent bankruptcy. The workers of the plant in Milan, Maflow’s main production facility, began a struggle to reopen the plant and keep their jobs. They occupied the plant and held spectacular protests on the plant’s roof. [...]

“Occupy, Resist, Produce – RiMaflow” follows the workers in their day to day activities and discussions as well as in their political and strategic debates.

The film is the first in a series of short films on occupations of workplaces and production under workers' control in Europe.

Watch:
http://www.azzellini.net/en/filme/occupy-resist-produce-rimaflow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyhVdoK1g10

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3. Reviews (English/Deutsch)

May 2015: Marina Sitrin and Dario Azzelini (2014). They Can ’ t Represent Us! Reinventing Democracy From Greece to Occupy . London & New York

Interface : a journal for and about social movements, Volume 7
Reviewed by Nils C. Kumkar

The eruption of mass protests after the so called ‘Arab Spring’came as a surprise for many. While some had wondered why the Great Recession that shook most of the worlds’ largest economies did not lead to mass-protests in the years before, it now all went really fast: The ‘Arab Spring’ was followed by mass protests in Greece and Spain, and in September 17th 2011 Zuccotti Park in New York City was occupied by a group that was later commonly referred to as “Occupy Wall Street” (OWS)...

http://www.azzellini.net/node/2872
http://www.interfacejournal.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Iss...

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2015 - Book Reviews: 'An Alternative Labour History - Worker Control and Workplace Democracy,' & ' Towards A Science of Belief Systems'

Edited by Dario Azzellini. Zed Books.

This is a collection of articles describing – and advocating – ‘workers control’ at various points in history and in various places, particularly Latin America, today. The authors see workers spontaneously taking over workplaces as the way to a new society without private or state capitalists.

http://www.azzellini.net/buecher/buecher-von-dario-azzellini/rezensionen...
http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/socialist-standard/2010s/2015/no-1330...

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March 2015 - The struggle for democracy: occupations, horizontality and political narratives after the events of 2011

Alot of ink has already been spilled on Occupy movements. Since the new wave of protest movements attained a global dimension in 2011, aca- demics and activists have focused on their demands, their organization and their political implications. Yet, today, over 3 years after the events of 2011 – when it might seem that the occupations of public squares and the people shouting ‘We are the 99 per cent’ have disappeared – there are still unexplored questions in need of addressing.

http://www.azzellini.net/node/2862
http://www.azzellini.net/node/2745

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TERZ, Februar 2015 - Die endlich entdeckte politische Form

Fabrikräte, Arbeiterselbstbestimmung oder Selbverwaltung sind als Thema nicht gerade brandneu. Die Geschichte der Emanzipation kennt zahllose Anläufe, wenn auch nicht viele erfolgreiche oder besonders nachhaltige Versuche von Selbstaneignung. Dennoch, es bleiben die Momente der Emanzipation, auf die es ankommt.

http://www.azzellini.net/buecher/buecher-von-dario-azzellini/rezensionen...
http://www.terz.org/texte/texte_1502/politische_form.html

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4. Academic articles: Book chapters and journal articles (English/Español)

“Venezuela’s social transformation and growing class struggle.”

In: Crisis and Contradiction: Marxist Perspectives on Latin America in the Global Economy. Susan Spronk and Jeffery R. Webber (Editors). 2015. Leiden: Brill Press. 138-162.

Since the late-1990s much of Latin America has experienced an uneven and contradictory turn to the Left in the electoral arena. At the same time, there has been a rejuvenation of Marxist critiques of political economy. Drawing on the expertise of Latin American, North American, and European scholars, this volume offers cutting-edge theoretical explorations of trends in the region, as well as in-depth case studies of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Venezuela.

http://www.brill.com/products/book/crisis-and-contradiction
http://www.azzellini.net/node/2828

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Contemporary Crisis and Workers Control, Chapter taken from “An Alternative Labour History” | Edited by Dario Azzellini and published by Zed Books

During the first decade of the current century, factory occupations and production under workers’ control seemed to be limited mainly to South America, with a few exceptions in Asia...

http://www.azzellini.net/node/2851
http://theoccupiedtimes.org/?p=13729

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Dario Azzellini and Oliver Ressler “A Preview of the Future. Workers’ Control in the Context of a Global Systemic Crisis.” In: Ines Doujak and Oliver Ressler (Editors). Utopian Pulse: Flares in the Darkroom. Pluto Press. London. 130-145.

Originating in a bold exhibition at the Secession in Vienna, this book examines moments in social and cultural life where there are glimpses of utopia, where other possibilities of being are imagined and even partially realised

http://www.azzellini.net/node/2852
http://utopian-pulse.org/

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Prokla, Dezember 2014, No. 177, 44.4: 495-512

Dario Azzellini: Ein Epochenbruch. Die neuen globalen Proteste zwischen Organisation und Bewegung.

Seit Ende 2010 haben sich eine Reihe Massenproteste und Revolten in verschiedenen Ländern rund um den Globus ereignet. Trotz aller Unterschiede zwischen den diversen Bewegungen und Gesellschaften in Bewegung weltweit lassen sind derart viele Parallelen zwischen Inhalten, Formen und Akteuren ausmachen, dass von einem globalen Phänomen auszugehen ist. Jede dieser Bewegungen hat Demokratie zur praktischen Frage gemacht. Diese Bewegungen verweigern sich der Priorisierung ökonomischer und finanzieller Interessen gegenüber politischen und sozialen. Das Aufkommen und die Praxis dieser neuen Bewegungen stellen einen Bruch mit vormals dominanten Formen der Organisierung und Mobilisierung sowie sozialer Beziehungen dar. Im folgenden Beitrag wird argumentiert es handele sich um einen Epochenbruch. Es entstehen neue Formen der Organisierung und neue kollektive Subjektivitäten, die nicht mehrheitlich von bestehenden Praktiken, Organisationen und Institutionen absorbiert werden, wie in den vergangenen Jahrzehnten. Die daraus resultierenden gesellschaftlichen Veränderungen sind tiefgreifend und weitreichend....

http://www.azzellini.net/akademische-veroeffentlichungen/die-neuen-globa...
http://www.prokla.de/2014/12/02/editorial-prokla-177/

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5. Interviews and press articles (English)

Telesur, 29.04.2015

Revolutionary May Day in Berlin: It Began with a Riot

May Day is International Workers Day. It is celebrated every year by tens of millions of people in most countries around the world. It is an official holiday in all but a few countries, the US being one of the few to not recognize it...

http://www.azzellini.net/node/2863
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/opinion/Revolutionary-May-Day-in-Berlin...

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ISA 2015 blog, 20.04.2015

Persecution and Exile of Austrian Sociological Authors During Fascism

Hundreds of Austrian sociological authors were persecuted and exiled during fascism between 1933 and 1945, most of them Jews, but also a large number of non-Jewish liberals, democrats, socialists and communists

http://www.azzellini.net/node/2853
http://isaforum2016.univie.ac.at/blog/

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6. Videos/Audios (English/Español/Deutsch/Ελληνικά)

The Laura Flanders Show: They Can't Represent Us!
Telesur, 16.05.201, 28 min.

with Marina Sitrin and Dario Azzellini

http://www.azzellini.net/node/2868
http://multimedia.telesurtv.net/web/telesur/#!es/video/laura-flanders-show-388344

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Cuadriga: Muerte en el Mediterráneo: ¿la UE culpable?
Deutsche Welle Latinoámerica, 23.04.2015, 45 min.
Más de 1000 muertos en una semana. Éste es el balance de los últimos naufragios en el Mediterráneo. Personas que huyen de la guerra, del terror, del hambre, de la muerte. Las ganas de dejar de sufrir en su país son mayores que el miedo al naufragio o la deportación. Todo por un futuro en Europa. Pero, ¿puede ayudarlos la UE?, ¿o acaso no quiere? ¿Es su deseo mantenerlos fuera de las fronteras?

http://www.azzellini.net/node/2859
http://www.dw.de/cuadriga-muerte-en-el-mediterr%C3%A1neo-la-ue-culpable-...

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Cuadriga - Dos años sin Chávez: ¿Venezuela se colapsa?
Deutsche Welle Latinoámerica, 05.03.2015, 45 min.

Este jueves 5 de marzo se cumplen dos años de la muerte del expresidente de Venezuela Hugo Chávez. Durante su gobierno, Chávez acumuló críticas, pero el país gozaba de estabilidad económica. Ahora con Nicolás Maduro la economía está por los suelos, según cifras oficiales. La alta tasa de asesinatos y el cierre de más medios de información contribuyen a la crisis. ¿Qué futuro tiene el país?

Discuten: Dario Azzellini, Mayte Carrasco, Ivo Hernández

http://www.azzellini.net/node/2839
http://dw.de/p/1Earf

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Interview mit Dario Azzellini nach dem Vortrag zu "Ihr repräsentiert uns nicht!" Soziale Bewegungen vom 15M bis Occupy

freie-radios.net, 27.05.2015, 18:51 min.

"In ihrem neuen Buch “They Can’t Represent Us! Reinventing Democracy from Greece to Occupy” geben Marina Sitrin und Dario Azzellini einen Einblick in die verschiedenen sozialen Bewegungen in Spanien, Griechenland, den USA, Argentinien und Venezuela. Sie zeigen die Gemeinsamkeiten auf und diskutieren die Unterschiede in den Ländern. Was ist von ihnen geblieben? Auch nachdem vieler dieser Bewegungen aus den Medien verschwunden sind, lebt ihr Erbe weiter. Sitrin und Azzellini beschreiben, wie aus ihnen zahlreiche Basisinitiativen entstanden. Dario Azzellini diskutiert mit uns, ob diese Bewegungen einen Epochenbruch hervorgebracht haben."

Interview mit Dario Azzellini

http://www.azzellini.net/interviews/interview-mit-dario-azzellini-nach-d...
http://www.freie-radios.net/70681

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"Ihr repräsentiert uns nicht!" Soziale Bewegungen vom 15M bis Occupy

Freie Radios Net und Radio Corax, 27.5.2015, 20:28 min

Interview mit Dario Azzellini

http://www.azzellini.net/interviews/ihr-repraesentiert-uns-nicht-soziale...
http://www.freie-radios.net/70681

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“Ihr repräsentiert uns nicht!” Soziale Bewegungen vom 15M bis Occupy

Konferenz "Marx ist Muss" 16.05.2015, 85 min.

In ihrem neuen Buch “They Can’t Represent Us! Reinventing Democracy from Greece to Occupy” geben Marina Sitrin und Dario Azzellini einen Einblick in die verschiedenen sozialen Bewegungen in Spanien, Griechenland, den USA, Argentinien und Venezuela. Sie zeigen die Gemeinsamkeiten auf und diskutieren die Unterschiede in den Ländern. Was ist von ihnen geblieben? Auch nachdem vieler dieser Bewegungen aus den Medien verschwunden sind, lebt ihr Erbe weiter. Sitrin und Azzellini beschreiben, wie aus ihnen zahlreiche Basisinitiativen entstanden. Sie diskutieren mit uns, ob diese Bewegungen einen Epochenbruchhervorgebracht haben.

https://soundcloud.com/mdbergfeld/dario-azzellini-ihr-reprasentiert-uns-...

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Κόσμος Εν ΚΙνήσει, ERT Thessaloniki

http://www.azzellini.net/node/2860
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwNKmNQElR8&feature=youtu.be&t=1h29s

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7. Events (Athens/Berlin/NYC)

08. Mai 2015 | 17:30 - 19:00 | Navarino-Park | Athens
Commune or nothing: Dual power and popular self-organization in Venezuela and Latin America
With Dario Azzellini and Marina Sitrin

http://www.azzellini.net/node/2854
http://www.enallaktikos.gr/ar14346el_oi-politikes-toy-neoanarxismoy-kai-...

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09. Mai 2015 | 17:30 - 19:30 | social centre Aftonomo Steki | Exarcheia, Athens
Social movements and the fight against authority
With Dario Azzellini and Marina Sitrin

http://www.azzellini.net/node/2858

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“Ihr repräsentiert uns nicht!” Soziale Bewegungen vom 15M bis Occupy

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Is Post-Chavez Venezuela Still Leftist?

In the aftermath of the death of Hugo Chávez, the key question for the left is whether his successors have been true to his legacy, or whether the “revolutionary process” has now stalled or, even worse, been thrown into reverse

http://www.azzellini.net/node/2856

http://www.leftforum.org/content/challenges-facing-latin-america%E2%80%9...

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Book launch: An Alternative Labour History. Worker Control and Workplace Democracy

Presentation of "An Alternative Labour History: Worker Control and Workplace Democracy" (Zed Books) edited by Dario Azzellini. The global financial crisis has led to radical forms of protest and new workers’ takeovers have sprung up all over the globe. In the US, Republic Windows and Doors started production under worker control in January 2013

http://www.azzellini.net/node/2855

http://www.leftforum.org/content/book-launch-alternative-labour-history-...

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With, Against and Beyond Left Governments?

The election of SYRIZA in Greece and rising popularity of Podemos and similar local parties in Spain has again opened the question for autonomous movements as to how change can be made in society. This panel will argue that change is made from below, but at the same time bring into question if change from above can make more space for those from below. The focus will be on concrete experiences of popular base movements, where the panelists have had direct experience, including in Spain, Greece, Argentina, Uruguay and Venezuela.

http://www.azzellini.net/node/2857

http://www.leftforum.org/content/against-and-beyond-left-governments

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Dario Azzellini

www.azzellini.net

Institute of Sociology, Department of Politics and Development Research
Johannes Kepler Universität (JKU) Linz