A-Infos (en) IAS News - Newsletter of the Institute for Anarchist Studies 002 - November 2003

[ias-news@anarchist-studies.org]

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In this Issue:
1 Welcome!
2 Perspectives on Anarchist Theory Vol. 7, No. 2
3 Perspectives Nominated by the Utne Independent Press Award
4 Support Radical, Anti-Authoritarian Scholorship
5 Black Anarchism
6 Post-Left Anarchy: Leaving the Left Behind
Welcome!
I am happy to report that Perspectives on Anarchist Theory, the biannual
newsletter of the Institute for Anarchist Studies, was nominated by the
folks at Utne for an Utne Independent Press Award in the category of
General Excellence: Newsletters! Please vote for Perspectives in the
UIPA Readers Choice Poll
(http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=45156298033).

And what better timing to receive this nomination: we recently finished
mailing the latest issue of Perspectives to our supporters. The new
issue of Perspective is an exciting one for us: it features a new
layout, an increased page count, an exciting focus on contemporary
South American political movements (with emphasis on Argentina), and
our regular features. It is now available on our web site for your
reading pleasure.

In other news, the New York IAS crew recently hosted a very successful
talk with IAS Board member Ashanti Alston on "Black Anarchism." People
who missed Ashanti's talk can now listen to it on-line (see below).

For those of you who are in the Paris, France, area be sure to drop by
the IAS table at the Libertarian Social Forum. The Forum will be taking
place between November 11 to 16.

As 2004 nears, we are working hard on raising the remainder of our 2003
fundraising goal of $23,000. We are already well beyond the halfway
mark, and we are certain that with the support of the global anarchist
community that we will be able to reach our goal. If you have not yet
made a donation to the IAS, please consider making one soon. Your
support, no matter how big or small, helps us in our effort to nurture
the development of the anarchist critique of domination and vision of
freedom. As a token of our appreciation for your support, we have gift
books and subscriptions to The New Formulation to give away (see
below).

Happy reading!

Michael Caplan




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Perspectives on Anarchist Theory Vol. 7, No. 2
-----------------------------------------------------------

Perspectives on Anarchist Theory, our biannual newsletter, is a unique
source of interviews, publishing news, and commentary pertaining to
anarchism and a means for keeping IAS supporters apprised of our
accomplishments. The fall 2003 issue is now available on-line. It
features the following articles:

*  Institute for Anarchist Studies Update
(http://www.anarchist-studies.org/article/articleview/31/1/6/)
*  2003 Summer Grants Awarded
(http://www.anarchist-studies.org/article/articleview/32/1/6/)
*  Grant Updates
(http://www.anarchist-studies.org/article/articleview/33/1/6/)
*  What's Happening: Books and Events
(http://www.anarchist-studies.org/article/articleview/34/1/6/)
*  Some Notes on the Argentine Anarchist Movement in the Emergency
(http://www.anarchist-studies.org/article/articleview/35/1/6/)
*  The Shock of the New: An Interview with Colectivo Situaciones
(http://www.anarchist-studies.org/article/articleview/36/1/6/)
*  The Institute for Social Ecology Needs Your Help
(http://www.anarchist-studies.org/article/articleview/37/1/6/)
*  To Think that Power Will Dissolve by Itself is an Absurdity:
Interview with Alfredo Vallota
(http://www.anarchist-studies.org/article/articleview/38/1/6/)
*  Libertarian Archives in South America
(http://www.anarchist-studies.org/article/articleview/39/1/6/)

Perspectives on Anarchist Theory: http://www.anarchist-studies.org/publications/perspectives



-----------------------------------------------------------
Perspectives Nominated by the Utne Independent Press Award
-----------------------------------------------------------

The Utne Reader, a US magazine of alternative ideas, announced the
nomination of Perspectives on Anarchist Theory for an Utne Independent
Press Award  (http://www.utne.com/uipa/) in the category of General
Excellence: Newsletters. Since 1989 these awards have showcased the
best from the Independent Press in categories ranging from reporting
excellence to personal life, cultural and international coverage.

"Perspective on Anarchist Theory stands out as an important independent
media voice. We are pleased to honor your accomplishments with an Utne
Independent Press Award nomination," said Editor Jay Walljasper.

The Utne Independent Press Awards, previously known as Utne Reader
Alternative Press Awards, recognize excellence in alternative and
independent publishing. Utne's editors select nominee publications
through their extensive reading process and careful examination, rather
than a competition requiring entry forms and fees. In this way, Utne
honors the efforts of small, sometimes unnoticed publications that
provide innovative, thought-provoking perspectives often ignored or
overlooked by mass media.

Take the UIPA Readers Choice Poll
(http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=45156298033)and register your
support for Perspectives on Anarchist Theory!

UIPA Readers Choice Poll: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=45156298033



-----------------------------------------------------------
Support Radical, Anti-Authoritarian Scholorship
-----------------------------------------------------------

Since the IAS's inception in the spring of 1996 we have worked hard to
support radical, anti-authoritarian scholarship on contemporary social
contradictions and the possibilities of meaningful social
transformation. Although the anti-authoritarian Left has become an
increasingly important presence on the streets, radical theoretical
work is just as important now as it was seven years ago. We need to
clarify the anarchist alternative, deepen our critique of the present
society, and study the victories and dilemmas of our movement if we are
to build upon its accomplishments. The IAS is a means toward this goal.


Over these past seven years we have supported over forty projects by
writers from around the world, including authors from South Africa,
Nigeria, Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, the United States, Canada, as well
as other countries. We have funded movement research, translations,
historical studies, and even a play. Many of these projects would not
have been completed without our assistance.

The IAS has been able to keep fighting for all these years thanks to
the generous support of our comrades and allies around the world and we
need to ask for your support once again. Specifically, we must raise
$23,000 by January 2004 in order to keep awarding grants to radical
writers, continue our publishing efforts, and cover administrative
expenses. We are getting close, and with your support we can make it.

In appreciation for your support of the IAS, we are offering book gifts
care of the good people at Raven Books of Amherst, Massachusetts. All
IAS donors giving $25 or more are entitled to receive at least one
great book from their collection. Additionally, donors giving $50 U.S.
or more to the IAS during our 2003 fundraising campaign will receive a
complimentary annual subscription to The New Formulation: An
Anti-Authoritarian Review of Books, a bi-annual journal containing
comparative book reviews relevant to contemporary anarchist theory and
politics.

Donate Now!: http://www.anarchist-studies.org/support/donate



-----------------------------------------------------------
Black Anarchism
-----------------------------------------------------------

On Friday, October 24th more than 75 members of New York City's radical
community gathered to here a talk by Ashanti Alston entitled "Black
Anarchism." This talk was organized by the Institute for Anarchist
Studies, with the assistance of Hunter College's Student Liberation
Action Movement.

After a brief a introduction by IAS board member Lex Bhagat, Alston
took the floor. Alston, who is a former member of the Black
Panthers/Black Liberation Army and now an IAS board member, spoke about
his history in the black liberation movement, his first encounter with
anarchist literature in prison, the relevance of anarchism as a
critical approach to social change, and some of the issues that must be
considered if anarchism is to speak more fully to the dilemmas of black
people.

His forty minute presentation was followed by questions and comments
from the audience. The discussion, which was facilitated by IAS board
member Darini Nichols, touched upon many issues, such as the broader
meaning of anarchism, its relevance to the black community, and racism
within the left.

This event gave us the opportunity to have a important discussion about
how to build a truly expansive and anti-authoritarian movement for
social change, get out the word about the Institute for Anarchist
Studies, and meet like-minded folks. The local IAS board members who
organized the event feel that it was a great success.

An audio recording of the talk can be found here at NYC Indymedia.
(http://nyc.indymedia.org/front.php?article_id=79730)

NYC Indymedia: http://nyc.indymedia.org/front.php?article_id=79730



-----------------------------------------------------------
Post-Left Anarchy: Leaving the Left Behind
-----------------------------------------------------------

Theory & Politics, the IAS's semi-regular web column, features the
following new article by Jason McQuinn of Anarchy Magazine:

It is now nearly a decade and a half since the fall of the Berlin Wall.
It is seven years since Bob Black first sent me the manuscript for his
book, Anarchy after Leftism, published in 1997. It's over four years
since I asked Anarchy magazine Contributing Editors to participate in a
discussion of "post-left anarchy" which ultimately appeared in the
Fall/Winter 1999-2000 issue of the magazine (#48). And it's also one
year since I first wrote and published "Post-Left Anarchy: Rejecting
the Reification of Revolt," which appeared in the Fall/Winter 2002-2003
issue (#54) of Anarchy: A Journal of Desire Armed.

Aside from creating a hot new topic for debate in anarchist and leftist
periodicals, web sites and e-mail lists, one can legitimately ask what
has been accomplished by introducing the term and the debate to the
anarchist, and more generally radical, milieu? In response I'd say that
the reaction continues to grow, and the promise of post-left anarchy
primarily lies in what appears to be a continually brightening future.


Read more: http://www.anarchist-studies.org/article/articleview/43/1/1




-----------------------------------------------------------
That's all for this issue of IAS News. If you think any of this information
would be of value to a friend or organization, please feel free to forward
this newsletter.

Send suggestions and comments to: info@anarchist-studies.org

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Copyleft 2003 Institute for Anarchist Studies
http://www.anarchist-studies.org


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