A-Infos (en) Portugal: Appeal for contributions to "Caderno Luta Social", No. 2 [pt, fr]

The Luta Social Collective is making an appeal for contributions, in view of 
publishing the second "Luta Social" Review. ---- The chosen theme is the State, 
this complex construct, subject to the most varied evolutions, whose only 
invariable reference is to keep the power in the hands of the few. ---- We may 
ask ourselves about the reality and validity of "nation-States", multi-ethnic or 
multi-national bodies, or even about supra-national entities and regional 
powers, in such as legally constraining structures of peoples lives. ---- We can 
criticize the ideological view of the State as the guarantor of wealth 
distribution. The welfare State still invoked in speeches, has quietly 
transformed itself into the minimal State, aimed at containing the poor, be they 
pensioners, unemployed workers or students, categories of little interest to 
capitalist exploitation.

We may analyse particular cases such as the current transformations in health
services or education. How Social Security is being transformed into a coercive
system to force unemployed workers to accept any job, even one well below his
or her abilities, through blackmail? Or even how pensions have been rapidly
cut, on the fallacious pretext of an increase in life expectancy and a
reduction in the birth rate.

What is the role of armed forces and the security forces in general in the
present context, where the function of both is fused, in a schizophrenia
landscape of terrorist threats and criminality?

What new forms is the connection between capital and the State machine taking,
such as contracting, externalizations, privatizations, public-private business
sector partnerships, out-sourcing, etc.?

What is the State's role in the formation of the dominant ideology,
consumerism, the theology of the market, the sanctification of competition, the
atomization of individuals as workers, and their aggregation as a mass of
consumers?

Finally, we are also particularly interested in studies of the forms of
organisation that humanity can achieve without this body known as the State and
its capitalist economy. The study of organizational alternatives for production
and management in society, a clear form of Anarchist thought, can find
expression in the "Luta Social" Review, in a clear confrontation with the
various representations of the supposedly unavoidable role of the State, namely
those schools of thought that defend a regenerative change within the State.

In order that this "Luta Social" Review expresses the various angles from which
one can observe both present and historical aspects of the State, we appeal to
all those interested to send articles (or a commitment to write an article,
with a title and brief summary of the theme) for inclusion in the next issue of
the Review (we ask our contributors to read the publishing criteria below*).

Articles should be sent in their final form not after 30th April 2008 and can
be sent to: iniciativalutasocial@gmail.com

In solidarity
Luta Social Collective

*****************************

* "LUTA SOCIAL" Review - Publishing Criteria

1. The Review's contents should be in accordance with the aim and statutes of
the Luta Social Collective.

1.1. The Review aims to build an expression of the on-going class struggle and
anti-authoritarian struggle, providing a contribution to the thought and debate
on these, giving special attention to publicizing the voice of those that have
no voice;

2. Contribution to the Review is open to whoever wishes to, according to the
following rules:

2.1. Any text proposed for publication will be analysed by the Luta Social
Collective.

2.2. Any aspect that may be in contradiction with the collective's statutes and
principles will be the object of dialogue with the author of the proposed text;

2.3. The Luta Social Collective may add to the publication of this text any
commentaries that they find necessary, thus enhancing the collective's aims in
reflecting and debating;

2.4. If a text is refused for publication, the Luta Social Collective will
communicate the reasons for such refusal to the author of the concerned text.

3. Unsigned articles are the responsibility of the Luta Social Collective;
signed articles are the responsibility of their authors.

Luta Social Collective
http://www.luta-social.org


From: Luta Social Collective <iniciativalutasocial@gmail.com>
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