Another place that Costa is excited to see anarchism is on the internet. There may be no finer example of anarchy in action. Still too vast to control, the internet is a place where equality, freedom of expression and self-governance exist. When it comes to modern anarchy in the city, Costa also mentioned ateneus (alternative social centres) in Barcelona, which are active in education and social outreach, such as Rosa de Foc (not the CNT bookshop) in Gràcia.
The anarchy that exists in Barcelona today is nothing like what Orwell witnessed, but it is still a present and dynamic force in the city. Over the years, anarchy as an applied ideology has metamorphosed and divided, adopting different labels and causes along the way. What has persevered is the core spirit: the concept that human beings are able to decide what is best for them without government interference.
Radical? Yes, it is. But at one time this idea was a real possibility in Barcelona, a revolutionary fact, and while it may never be adopted again as it was in the Thirties, anarchism is a part of the city’s history and is too important to be forgotten.
More info:
CNT: www.cnt.es
CGT: www.cgt.org.es
EcoSeny: http://ecoseny.blogspot.com
Ateneus for Anarchy: Rosa de Foc—www.ateneurosadefoc.org
Books on anarchy in Barcelona:
La CNT en la revolución española, by José Peirats. In English at www.katesharpleylibrary.net.
Homage to Catalonia, by George Orwell
Anarchist Book Shops:
Llibreria La Rosa de Foc, Joaquin Costa 34
Ciutat Invisible, Riego 35; http://laciutatinvisible.org/cooperativa
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A balanced perspective on anarchy
Posted by Xu Xu November 07, 2010 09:29:58