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Worker Cooperatives and Revolution: History and Possibilities in the United States
Since the financial crisis of 2008 and the global popular protests of 2011, more people have begun to wonder and what's next for civilization? The economic, social, and political status quo seems unsustainable, but what can emerge to take its place? In this book, a historian examines the past and present to argue that the seeds of a more humane society are already being planted, on local and international scales. Whether they will bear fruit depends, ultimately, on grassroots initiative.
Focusing on the new worker cooperative movement in the West, this study not only contains the first systematic discussion of the solidarity economy in the light of Marxist theory; it also introduces a major revision of Marxism that both updates it for the twenty-first century and illuminates our historical moment. It includes an analysis of the history of cooperatives in the U.S., showing where they went wrong and how we can correct their past mistakes. It has a case-study of the successful new worker-owned business New Era Windows in Chicago, which has been celebrated internationally for its defiance of conventional paradigms. And it shows a way out of the age-old conflict between Marxism and anarchism, arguing that both are more relevant now than they have ever been. Which is to a gradualist "revolution" is, for the first time, within the realm of possibility.
Focusing on the new worker cooperative movement in the West, this study not only contains the first systematic discussion of the solidarity economy in the light of Marxist theory; it also introduces a major revision of Marxism that both updates it for the twenty-first century and illuminates our historical moment. It includes an analysis of the history of cooperatives in the U.S., showing where they went wrong and how we can correct their past mistakes. It has a case-study of the successful new worker-owned business New Era Windows in Chicago, which has been celebrated internationally for its defiance of conventional paradigms. And it shows a way out of the age-old conflict between Marxism and anarchism, arguing that both are more relevant now than they have ever been. Which is to a gradualist "revolution" is, for the first time, within the realm of possibility.
260 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 25, 2021
I suppose it's silly for the author to review his own book, but I have a couple of caveats to make about it. (I also want to plug my website, www.wrightswriting.com, which has a lot of related material. And here's a free copy of the book: https://libcom.org/library/worker-coo...) In retrospect, I think I may have been a little too optimistic about the socially transformative potential of worker cooperatives. In my defense, I was using cooperatives as symbols of the whole solidarity economy, which I continue to think will, of necessity, emerge on an ever-wider scale in the coming decades, as society slowly collapses into dysfunction. The state will retain enormous power, of course, and may even grow in power, but at the same time there will be more and more decentralization and fragmentation of the social order. The catastrophes of climate change and economic stagnation and depression, for instance, may herald the end of the centralized corporatist nation-state in the long run. New economic and political structures will emerge first in its interstices and eventually in the mainstream. Corporate capitalism, along with the nation-state, will succumb to its internal contradictions and catastrophic environmental consequences (and the popular resistance they'll engender).
In my opinion, the most interesting parts of the book are the 'theoretical' parts in the fourth and sixth chapters, where I deploy a revised Marxism to explain what this epochal transition may look like. (I consciously avoided academic jargon, but hopefully that doesn't detract from whatever merit the ideas themselves might have.) I argue against Leninism and for a more commonsense 'gradualist' model of revolution, which I also try to show is far more faithful to the inner logic of Marxism than a top-down, totally "ruptural," WILL-based "revolution" (or coup or insurrection) can be. The majority of contemporary Marxists are unaware of the conceptualization of revolution to which they're committed by the basic premises of historical materialism.
Not that the state plays no role in a transition out of capitalism. Of course it does. A very significant role. But the transition will happen over many generations and will be punctuated by innumerable political victories and defeats; it won't consist of a sudden seizure of the state by "the working class" (which isn't a unitary entity but contains divisions) to be FOLLOWED BY the social revolution, as leftists often think. This is a very idealistic, unrealistic, and therefore un-Marxist notion.
In short, it's time Marxists stopped worshiping formulations from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, conceived in contexts quite different from our own. We should be willing to engage in some creative rethinking of old dogmas. (Here's an article on the revisions to Marxism: https://bit.ly/3h1ZDTg.)
In my opinion, the most interesting parts of the book are the 'theoretical' parts in the fourth and sixth chapters, where I deploy a revised Marxism to explain what this epochal transition may look like. (I consciously avoided academic jargon, but hopefully that doesn't detract from whatever merit the ideas themselves might have.) I argue against Leninism and for a more commonsense 'gradualist' model of revolution, which I also try to show is far more faithful to the inner logic of Marxism than a top-down, totally "ruptural," WILL-based "revolution" (or coup or insurrection) can be. The majority of contemporary Marxists are unaware of the conceptualization of revolution to which they're committed by the basic premises of historical materialism.
Not that the state plays no role in a transition out of capitalism. Of course it does. A very significant role. But the transition will happen over many generations and will be punctuated by innumerable political victories and defeats; it won't consist of a sudden seizure of the state by "the working class" (which isn't a unitary entity but contains divisions) to be FOLLOWED BY the social revolution, as leftists often think. This is a very idealistic, unrealistic, and therefore un-Marxist notion.
In short, it's time Marxists stopped worshiping formulations from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, conceived in contexts quite different from our own. We should be willing to engage in some creative rethinking of old dogmas. (Here's an article on the revisions to Marxism: https://bit.ly/3h1ZDTg.)
July 2, 2020
I love books that take me more deeply into a subject and/or challenge my ideas, and this book does both! I'm glad I didn't leave it out of my study of anarcho-syndicalism. In fact, all the books I've read were valuable, but this is probably my favorite (so far).
Wright reinterprets Marx, criticizing his statism. “Revolution,” he argues, "is not a matter of swiftly organizing a ‘new society’ from the top down.” Instead, it will be a long game, a slow building of connections and accumulation of resources. For revolution to occur, “A more rational or socially appropriate set of production relations has to already be spreading and attracting hundreds of millions of people worldwide who understand its superiority to the old economy.” Only now that statism is beginning to deteriorate, he explains, can the revolution occur. Previously, unregulated capitalism gave way to the Keynesian welfare state. But this time, states are too weak to mitigate the destructive effects of unregulated capitalism. Wright's maxim is, “When reform is possible, revolution is not.” His prediction: “As the networks accumulate capital and experience, as well as grudging support from political and economic elites… they will acquire such power that they undermine the foundations of the current society. The world-order will come to consist of a mix of cooperative and competitive social relations such that it is no longer clear what is the 'dominant' model of production.” In this way, gradually, comes revolution. Wright's explanation helps me to understand, along with Richard Wolff's, why revolutions in Russia and China failed (and why they were not true socialism).
This is also a good book if you are looking to read about the successes and challenges of cooperatives, and particularly on Chicago's New Era Windows.
Since there aren't many reviews for this book, I was a little worried that Chris Wright is some random crackpot, but I looked at his blog and he seems legit. In fact, he seems pretty brilliant to me--but then again, my shifting hormones render me easily impressed by intellectual men. I feel like every review I write should have the disclaimer, "This is probably mostly objective, but I may have been ovulating when I wrote it so who knows."
Wright reinterprets Marx, criticizing his statism. “Revolution,” he argues, "is not a matter of swiftly organizing a ‘new society’ from the top down.” Instead, it will be a long game, a slow building of connections and accumulation of resources. For revolution to occur, “A more rational or socially appropriate set of production relations has to already be spreading and attracting hundreds of millions of people worldwide who understand its superiority to the old economy.” Only now that statism is beginning to deteriorate, he explains, can the revolution occur. Previously, unregulated capitalism gave way to the Keynesian welfare state. But this time, states are too weak to mitigate the destructive effects of unregulated capitalism. Wright's maxim is, “When reform is possible, revolution is not.” His prediction: “As the networks accumulate capital and experience, as well as grudging support from political and economic elites… they will acquire such power that they undermine the foundations of the current society. The world-order will come to consist of a mix of cooperative and competitive social relations such that it is no longer clear what is the 'dominant' model of production.” In this way, gradually, comes revolution. Wright's explanation helps me to understand, along with Richard Wolff's, why revolutions in Russia and China failed (and why they were not true socialism).
This is also a good book if you are looking to read about the successes and challenges of cooperatives, and particularly on Chicago's New Era Windows.
Since there aren't many reviews for this book, I was a little worried that Chris Wright is some random crackpot, but I looked at his blog and he seems legit. In fact, he seems pretty brilliant to me--but then again, my shifting hormones render me easily impressed by intellectual men. I feel like every review I write should have the disclaimer, "This is probably mostly objective, but I may have been ovulating when I wrote it so who knows."
March 9, 2019
This is an exceptionally well-written, well-argued book. Also, it’s accessible, given that the author is an academic. Succinctly, Wright argues that the socialist revolution will not be a sudden, cataclysmic event. Rather, it will occur organically and gradually as capitalism continues to eat its young. As capitalism is decaying, a necessary and worker-oriented means of productive relations must be in place to absorb the decay of capitalism. Worker Cooperatives are the base of a new economic system that is growing in parallel with capitalism’s decline. Meaning to say, in addition to direct action and militancy, which must continue, the left must focus on building a parallel economy based on cooperation and direct democracy. Something must be in place as an alternative to capitalism when it fails. Wright presents Cooperatives as examples of a growing movement beginning to build this alternative base. I have a book full of highlights and the reasoning is sound and makes sense. It also aligns with my life. I can’t beat capitalism, so I have noticed that I am opting out where I can (it takes discipline) and doing more “business” with local, cooperatively owned entities, or non-profits. As I opt out of large, elite corporations, where do I go? For example, when I opt out of Bank of America, I need a local credit union to turn to. This is Wright’s point, when capitalism hits it’s failure inflection point due to the logical failure of its internal design, there must be a landing pad for society. Socialism, with Worker Cooperatives as a corner piece, will continue to grow, slowly, inclining, as capitalism continues it’s decline. Wright adds that Marx had it right, he only didn’t see through history to realize that as capitalism failed, local, democratic worker cooperatives would be the second economic system to be there to land the revolution. I don’t do the book justice in my review. It’s an excellent book and helps me, personally, to find a bit more pace in understanding what’s happening.
June 13, 2015
If the person winning at monopoly does a great job, they will end up bankrupting all the other players. Is the right response to (1) chide the winner to be more kind and to better respect those being trounced, or (2) to overhaul the rules of the game so that -- somehow -- the winner is not able to run rampant over the others solely on account of having a lot of monopoly money? If you believe (1), then you should be for reforming bank regulations and wall street rules, and maybe furthering the services provided by government. But if you are ready for (2) and want to know more about the "somehow", then read this book. Short answer: begin the transition from transnational capitalism to democratically empowered worker collectivism. Of course other answers will be worth considering, but this book presents a clear and focused image of how things may change and why Marxist revolution is non-Marxist.
March 28, 2019
Author sets present struggle in historic context which gives hope: capitalism was a response and correction to feudalism so the persistence of capitalism is not inevitable. The revolution is moving forward by alternative visions, plans and organizing.
November 17, 2020
The Marxist theory of revolution purified
Author Chris Wright earned his PhD in US history and has published many articles in both academic and popular outlets such as New Politics, the Independent, ROAR Magazine, the Washington Post, Truthout etc. He has also published poetry and fiction as well as his three major volumes – FINDING OUR COMPASS, NOTES OF AN UNDERGROUND HUMANIST, and WORKER COOPERATIVES AND REVOLUTION. On his website he shares, ‘My major preoccupation now is concern over the fate of humanity, which is headed into a perfect storm of crises…I can only plead that, for some perverse reason unknown to me, I feel compelled to tell uncomfortable truths, which means flouting orthodoxies on the political right, center, and left. Society is upside-down: hypocrisy, stupidity, snobbery, cruelty, and general absurdity tend to define our world. We might as well be honest.’ His writing is grounded in Marxist humanism, the philosophy that offers the world some hope.
One of the many aspects that makes such an impact in reading this book is Chris Wright’s unapologetic stance in presenting his convictions. Even as the book opens his presentation is clearly stated: ‘The capitalist mode of production does not permit a socially efficient allocation of resources. Resource allocation is determined by the twin structural imperatives of having purchasing power (on the demand side) and of chasing profit (on the supply side). If one has a need but lacks the money to back up that need, as for example the billion children worldwide living in poverty do, one’s need will not be met by the market. Conversely, investors will pursue only those projects that have the potential to make a profit…Broadly speaking, the dynamic between capital and wage-labor, as well as that between millions of atomized units of capital each seeking profit at the expense of every other, makes for a very unstable and crisis-prone economy. Capital’s interests lie in paying the worker as little as possible and in preventing him from exercising control over the process of production, while the worker wants to be paid as much as possible and to exercise greater control over production…From the very beginning of its history, the manifold evils of capitalism have given rise to oppositional movements’…and with that springboard, Wright launches into one of the more convincing and illuminating discussions of the history of the cooperative movement, both globally and in the United States.
Follow the author’s exploration and distillation of Marxism and discover aspects of labor and economy about which we know too little. This is a rich resource of information by which we may rethink our current status. ‘Worker and consumer cooperativism, the social economy, the solidarity economy, local participatory democracy, public banking, regional economic coordination – all this represents the future.’ This is a book that should be required reading for those framing tomorrow.
Author Chris Wright earned his PhD in US history and has published many articles in both academic and popular outlets such as New Politics, the Independent, ROAR Magazine, the Washington Post, Truthout etc. He has also published poetry and fiction as well as his three major volumes – FINDING OUR COMPASS, NOTES OF AN UNDERGROUND HUMANIST, and WORKER COOPERATIVES AND REVOLUTION. On his website he shares, ‘My major preoccupation now is concern over the fate of humanity, which is headed into a perfect storm of crises…I can only plead that, for some perverse reason unknown to me, I feel compelled to tell uncomfortable truths, which means flouting orthodoxies on the political right, center, and left. Society is upside-down: hypocrisy, stupidity, snobbery, cruelty, and general absurdity tend to define our world. We might as well be honest.’ His writing is grounded in Marxist humanism, the philosophy that offers the world some hope.
One of the many aspects that makes such an impact in reading this book is Chris Wright’s unapologetic stance in presenting his convictions. Even as the book opens his presentation is clearly stated: ‘The capitalist mode of production does not permit a socially efficient allocation of resources. Resource allocation is determined by the twin structural imperatives of having purchasing power (on the demand side) and of chasing profit (on the supply side). If one has a need but lacks the money to back up that need, as for example the billion children worldwide living in poverty do, one’s need will not be met by the market. Conversely, investors will pursue only those projects that have the potential to make a profit…Broadly speaking, the dynamic between capital and wage-labor, as well as that between millions of atomized units of capital each seeking profit at the expense of every other, makes for a very unstable and crisis-prone economy. Capital’s interests lie in paying the worker as little as possible and in preventing him from exercising control over the process of production, while the worker wants to be paid as much as possible and to exercise greater control over production…From the very beginning of its history, the manifold evils of capitalism have given rise to oppositional movements’…and with that springboard, Wright launches into one of the more convincing and illuminating discussions of the history of the cooperative movement, both globally and in the United States.
Follow the author’s exploration and distillation of Marxism and discover aspects of labor and economy about which we know too little. This is a rich resource of information by which we may rethink our current status. ‘Worker and consumer cooperativism, the social economy, the solidarity economy, local participatory democracy, public banking, regional economic coordination – all this represents the future.’ This is a book that should be required reading for those framing tomorrow.
April 15, 2020
Solid read on Worker Cooperatives for the first third of the book. Detailed examples and well researched and documented resources helps really grapple some of the issues and complexities of cooperatives.
The next two thirds of the book focuses on the history of the US labour movement, a little on cooperatives in America, and mostly about Leftist ideology, Marxism and revolution. I'm not going to lie, it's a bit of a slog! The narrative is thick and academic, and luckily not so ideological that you don't learn anything.
Towards the end there's a great little example of how a window making company was repurchased (after several years) by it's worker owners and repurposed as a cooperative. Great story, however I personally would have loved more detailed analysis - as a numbers person, I really want to figure out how to make a co-op work, who owns what, how to distribute, how to dilute ownership, how to finance. So many questions which unfortunately no one book has managed to answer.
I think the book does a good job altogether. It certainly makes the case for cooperatives both immediately and for in the future.
The next two thirds of the book focuses on the history of the US labour movement, a little on cooperatives in America, and mostly about Leftist ideology, Marxism and revolution. I'm not going to lie, it's a bit of a slog! The narrative is thick and academic, and luckily not so ideological that you don't learn anything.
Towards the end there's a great little example of how a window making company was repurchased (after several years) by it's worker owners and repurposed as a cooperative. Great story, however I personally would have loved more detailed analysis - as a numbers person, I really want to figure out how to make a co-op work, who owns what, how to distribute, how to dilute ownership, how to finance. So many questions which unfortunately no one book has managed to answer.
I think the book does a good job altogether. It certainly makes the case for cooperatives both immediately and for in the future.
November 13, 2020
A fascinating look at the history of the American social system and how the emerging worker cooperatives (where businesses are owned and run by their members) could revolutionize the economy, for the better. Wright also informs on the history of the US labor movement, and his take on Marxism and revolution.
So are working cooperatives the answer in moving towards a post-capitalist America? Wright’s argument is definitely convincing, thanks to his accessible style of writing and well-researched examples. This certainly isn’t just a book for academics and it has inspired me to learn more about worker cooperatives and the impact they could have on modern society.
So are working cooperatives the answer in moving towards a post-capitalist America? Wright’s argument is definitely convincing, thanks to his accessible style of writing and well-researched examples. This certainly isn’t just a book for academics and it has inspired me to learn more about worker cooperatives and the impact they could have on modern society.
May 31, 2021
First, let me praise the author Chris Wright. He is an excellent writer with a good amount of knowledge and a good way of communicating. You can relate to each paragraph you read and that makes his writing special.
Coming to the book, I love books that give deep-rooted information about the subject and/or helps me pursue my ideas and writings, and this book does both! Adding it to my library was a great pleasure and I should accept it.
Mr Wright sets present struggle in a historic context which gives hope: capitalism was a response and correction to feudalism so the persistence of capitalism is not inevitable.
The best thing about the book is detailed examples and researched documented resources helps really grapple with some of the issues and complexities of cooperatives.
I'm an Indin and the book gave me a look at the history of the American social system and how the emerging worker cooperatives (where businesses are owned and run by their members) could revolutionize the economy, for the better.
Lastly, I'll say I disagree with some of the points of the author but I really acknowledge his view point.
Coming to the book, I love books that give deep-rooted information about the subject and/or helps me pursue my ideas and writings, and this book does both! Adding it to my library was a great pleasure and I should accept it.
Mr Wright sets present struggle in a historic context which gives hope: capitalism was a response and correction to feudalism so the persistence of capitalism is not inevitable.
The best thing about the book is detailed examples and researched documented resources helps really grapple with some of the issues and complexities of cooperatives.
I'm an Indin and the book gave me a look at the history of the American social system and how the emerging worker cooperatives (where businesses are owned and run by their members) could revolutionize the economy, for the better.
Lastly, I'll say I disagree with some of the points of the author but I really acknowledge his view point.
December 7, 2022
i really appreciated the author’s own review of this book because it touched upon a lot of the thoughts i was also having as i read this with 2022 vision (shoutout to him for including a free link to his book in his review also!!)—i'm ultimately not convinced that cooperatives will be the socially transformative mechanism that the book argues for, largely for caveats Wright concedes to and accepts, like the almost necessarily homogeneous makeup of co-ops for long-term success and their tendencies to fold to capitalistic structures and practices, as in the case of Mondragon.
but i appreciated this book for its thoughtful mediation upon and expansion of revolutionary theory much more than for its very optimistic arguments for co-ops being the vanguard of the future :^) chapter 6 in particular felt like the necessary and intuitive culmination of a lot of other readings i’ve been doing this year, and i personally buy into wright’s reworking of marxist theory—that “the spirit of anarcho-syndicalism is much closer to the essence of Marx’s thought than Leninism and statism are” (131)—completely.
some highlights:
“Far from capitalism’s being a straightforward expression of human nature, as apologists proclaim, it is more like the very antithesis of human nature, which is evidently drawn to such things as free self-expression, spontaneous ‘play,’ cooperation and friendly competition, compassion, love. The work of Marxist historians like E. P. Thompson shows how people have had to be disciplined, their desires repressed, in order for the capitalist system to seem even remotely natural: centuries of indoctrination, state violence, incarceration of ‘undesirables,’ the bureaucratization of everyday life, have been necessary to partially accustom people to the mechanical rhythms of industrial capitalism and the commodification of the human personality. And of course resistance continues constantly, from the early nineteenth century to the present day.” (81)
(if this resonates with you, read The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber & David Wengrow!!!!)
“The transition to a new society will take place over many generations and will involve every conceivable tactic, including radical political parties, frequent mass demonstrations, violent confrontations with armed personifications of authority, transnational federations of peasant and worker solidarity, pressures from the environmental movement to end destructive capitalist practices, and, crucially, the construction of new cooperative modes of production and distribution in the womb of the old regime. Activists should have a clear understanding that this is what we’re in for; this broad-based 'movement of movements' is what we should expect and embrace." (21)
“A (very protracted) social revolution—centered not around national states but around grassroots movements, municipal democratic experiments, regional networking, and transnational coordination of anti-capitalist resistance. It was always inevitable that this was how the revolution would happen, as opposed to un-Marxist fantasies of “the working class” taking over national states and directing economic reconstruction from above. Such a proletarian dictatorship has never happened and never can happen, as follows from the premises of Marxism itself.” (133)
“Fundamental to all these obstacles is the fact that the revolutionaries have to contend with the institutional legacies of capitalism: relations of coercion and domination condition everything the government does, and there is no way to break free of them. They cannot be magically transcended through political will. In particular, it is impossible through top-down directives to transform production relations from authoritarian to democratic; Marxism itself suggests that the state is not socially creative in this way.” (145)
“It was and is impossible to transcend the capitalist framework if the political revolution takes place in a capitalist world, ultimately because the economy dominates politics more than political will can dominate the economy.” (146)
“In fact, radicals should be resigned to the fact that the capitalist class will retain substantial control over society for a long time to come, until capitalism has virtually no reserves of power left—as the European feudal aristocracy had virtually none left in the early twentieth century, when its remnants were still frantically trying to maintain their hold on the reins of power. (It took two world wars to destroy all vestiges of feudalism in the West.) Revolution is not a matter of swiftly overthrowing the state, shooting all your opponents, and then organizing a 'new society' from the top down.” (244)
"The essence of Marxism always was anarchist in this way, since the idea of a national state organizing a radically new economy—abolishing class structures, ending authoritarian hierarchies, eliminating the exploitation of workers and an elite’s appropriation of the surplus they produce—is both a thoroughly “un-dialectical” notion and inexplicable in Marxian terms.”
“If my revision of Marx’s conception of revolution is justified, it follows that the ideas bearing his name have much more in common with anarcho-syndicalism than Leninist vanguardism, elitism, and statism. Anarcho-syndicalism is committed to the task of building the new society within the old, according to its understanding that 'every new social structure makes organs for itself in the body of the old organism,' as Rudolf Rocker writes. 'Without this preliminary any social evolution is unthinkable. Even revolutions can only develop and mature the germs which already exist and have made their way into the consciousness of men; they cannot themselves create these germs or generate new worlds out of nothing.'"
but i appreciated this book for its thoughtful mediation upon and expansion of revolutionary theory much more than for its very optimistic arguments for co-ops being the vanguard of the future :^) chapter 6 in particular felt like the necessary and intuitive culmination of a lot of other readings i’ve been doing this year, and i personally buy into wright’s reworking of marxist theory—that “the spirit of anarcho-syndicalism is much closer to the essence of Marx’s thought than Leninism and statism are” (131)—completely.
some highlights:
“Far from capitalism’s being a straightforward expression of human nature, as apologists proclaim, it is more like the very antithesis of human nature, which is evidently drawn to such things as free self-expression, spontaneous ‘play,’ cooperation and friendly competition, compassion, love. The work of Marxist historians like E. P. Thompson shows how people have had to be disciplined, their desires repressed, in order for the capitalist system to seem even remotely natural: centuries of indoctrination, state violence, incarceration of ‘undesirables,’ the bureaucratization of everyday life, have been necessary to partially accustom people to the mechanical rhythms of industrial capitalism and the commodification of the human personality. And of course resistance continues constantly, from the early nineteenth century to the present day.” (81)
(if this resonates with you, read The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber & David Wengrow!!!!)
“The transition to a new society will take place over many generations and will involve every conceivable tactic, including radical political parties, frequent mass demonstrations, violent confrontations with armed personifications of authority, transnational federations of peasant and worker solidarity, pressures from the environmental movement to end destructive capitalist practices, and, crucially, the construction of new cooperative modes of production and distribution in the womb of the old regime. Activists should have a clear understanding that this is what we’re in for; this broad-based 'movement of movements' is what we should expect and embrace." (21)
“A (very protracted) social revolution—centered not around national states but around grassroots movements, municipal democratic experiments, regional networking, and transnational coordination of anti-capitalist resistance. It was always inevitable that this was how the revolution would happen, as opposed to un-Marxist fantasies of “the working class” taking over national states and directing economic reconstruction from above. Such a proletarian dictatorship has never happened and never can happen, as follows from the premises of Marxism itself.” (133)
“Fundamental to all these obstacles is the fact that the revolutionaries have to contend with the institutional legacies of capitalism: relations of coercion and domination condition everything the government does, and there is no way to break free of them. They cannot be magically transcended through political will. In particular, it is impossible through top-down directives to transform production relations from authoritarian to democratic; Marxism itself suggests that the state is not socially creative in this way.” (145)
“It was and is impossible to transcend the capitalist framework if the political revolution takes place in a capitalist world, ultimately because the economy dominates politics more than political will can dominate the economy.” (146)
“In fact, radicals should be resigned to the fact that the capitalist class will retain substantial control over society for a long time to come, until capitalism has virtually no reserves of power left—as the European feudal aristocracy had virtually none left in the early twentieth century, when its remnants were still frantically trying to maintain their hold on the reins of power. (It took two world wars to destroy all vestiges of feudalism in the West.) Revolution is not a matter of swiftly overthrowing the state, shooting all your opponents, and then organizing a 'new society' from the top down.” (244)
"The essence of Marxism always was anarchist in this way, since the idea of a national state organizing a radically new economy—abolishing class structures, ending authoritarian hierarchies, eliminating the exploitation of workers and an elite’s appropriation of the surplus they produce—is both a thoroughly “un-dialectical” notion and inexplicable in Marxian terms.”
“If my revision of Marx’s conception of revolution is justified, it follows that the ideas bearing his name have much more in common with anarcho-syndicalism than Leninist vanguardism, elitism, and statism. Anarcho-syndicalism is committed to the task of building the new society within the old, according to its understanding that 'every new social structure makes organs for itself in the body of the old organism,' as Rudolf Rocker writes. 'Without this preliminary any social evolution is unthinkable. Even revolutions can only develop and mature the germs which already exist and have made their way into the consciousness of men; they cannot themselves create these germs or generate new worlds out of nothing.'"
May 18, 2021
A very important book and very mind-opening details. Detailed examples and well-researched It will help to resolve some complexions in our modern world.
It had some good information about the history of USA Labour, Things I've never known, Talks about Marxism and revolution and I don't want to be a spoiler.
The author studies it very well, with proof and in an academic way.
You can Imagine the author is standing up there and trying to explain it on his own way as if you were in a class.
very important read.
It had some good information about the history of USA Labour, Things I've never known, Talks about Marxism and revolution and I don't want to be a spoiler.
The author studies it very well, with proof and in an academic way.
You can Imagine the author is standing up there and trying to explain it on his own way as if you were in a class.
very important read.
December 21, 2020
Chris Wright make a great case for worker cooperatives and while the writing felt a little forceful at times it made me feel like i was listening to him speak in person. Chris is confident and he has a way with words that could sway even the most determined capitalist.
December 29, 2020
Brilliant work! And the conclusion really aligns with my point of view on relations of production.
March 19, 2024
In "Worker's Cooperative and Revolution," the author delves into the complexities of collective decision-making within organizations, shedding light on its challenges and the hurdles of involving all workers in the process. Rejecting conventional notions, the book offers a fresh perspective on Marxism, advocating for a more authentic interpretation while delving into power dynamics and the essence of class struggle.
The book intelligently critiques Marx's concept of statism, emphasizing the importance of specialized knowledge and the constraints of time and apathy in decision-making. It skillfully navigates through various socio-economic issues, from the decline of organized labor to the privatization of public resources, providing a rich tapestry of analysis.
One commendable aspect of the book is its recognition of the persuasive power of materialism in the political writings of Noam Chomsky. This acknowledgment adds depth to the discussion, resonating with readers and sparking contemplation. However, the absence of specific examples or evidence weakens the argument's potency, leaving some room for improvement.
Moreover, the book adeptly acknowledges the limitations of collective decision-making, acknowledging the practical challenges it poses. While proposing viable alternatives or solutions would enhance its credibility, the mere acknowledgment of these constraints is commendable.
On the downside, the book briefly touches on debates within Marxism, dismissing them as unproductive. A more balanced critique could have enriched the discourse, offering a deeper exploration of these debates and their implications.
Similarly, while the book argues for the positive aspects of conflict in the workplace, it could have delved further into potential negative consequences. A more nuanced analysis would have provided readers with a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.
In conclusion, "Worker's Cooperative and Revolution" offers valuable insights into collective dynamics within organizations and Marxist theory. While it excels in many areas, a more balanced and nuanced approach would elevate its discourse. Providing evidence, examples, and exploring counterarguments would enrich the analysis, making it a more compelling read for scholars and enthusiasts alike.
The book intelligently critiques Marx's concept of statism, emphasizing the importance of specialized knowledge and the constraints of time and apathy in decision-making. It skillfully navigates through various socio-economic issues, from the decline of organized labor to the privatization of public resources, providing a rich tapestry of analysis.
One commendable aspect of the book is its recognition of the persuasive power of materialism in the political writings of Noam Chomsky. This acknowledgment adds depth to the discussion, resonating with readers and sparking contemplation. However, the absence of specific examples or evidence weakens the argument's potency, leaving some room for improvement.
Moreover, the book adeptly acknowledges the limitations of collective decision-making, acknowledging the practical challenges it poses. While proposing viable alternatives or solutions would enhance its credibility, the mere acknowledgment of these constraints is commendable.
On the downside, the book briefly touches on debates within Marxism, dismissing them as unproductive. A more balanced critique could have enriched the discourse, offering a deeper exploration of these debates and their implications.
Similarly, while the book argues for the positive aspects of conflict in the workplace, it could have delved further into potential negative consequences. A more nuanced analysis would have provided readers with a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.
In conclusion, "Worker's Cooperative and Revolution" offers valuable insights into collective dynamics within organizations and Marxist theory. While it excels in many areas, a more balanced and nuanced approach would elevate its discourse. Providing evidence, examples, and exploring counterarguments would enrich the analysis, making it a more compelling read for scholars and enthusiasts alike.
May 18, 2021
I have had a peripheral interest in the American labo(u)r movement for some time; a movement full of hope and innovation but often struggling to achieve significant power. What I especially appreciated in this work was the balancing of past, present, and future commentary; it never feels too theoretical, speculative, or focused on fighting past battles. I do not claim to have read a great deal of similar literature, so I cannot say this authoritatively, but it feels fresh and not too dogmatic compared to other works.
I’m not sure how confident I am in the overall argument; of the coming dominance of local bottom-up initiatives as opposed to the top-down solutions seen in the 20th century. This, however, is not a condemnation of the book itself but rather my own limits of knowledge. I’m certainly intrigued by it, and I appreciate the self-awareness shown throughout, especially in the closing admission that abstract thinking, such as this book, cannot birth a new world alone.
There are footnotes throughout, but I would have a appreciated a bibliography. Otherwise, I consider this an excellent work that many with an interest in these topics will appreciate.
I’m not sure how confident I am in the overall argument; of the coming dominance of local bottom-up initiatives as opposed to the top-down solutions seen in the 20th century. This, however, is not a condemnation of the book itself but rather my own limits of knowledge. I’m certainly intrigued by it, and I appreciate the self-awareness shown throughout, especially in the closing admission that abstract thinking, such as this book, cannot birth a new world alone.
There are footnotes throughout, but I would have a appreciated a bibliography. Otherwise, I consider this an excellent work that many with an interest in these topics will appreciate.
August 31, 2021
Revolution is the new black. The concept has been used, abused and even turned into a commodity to sell products (we saw what you did there, capitalism!). As the planet faces a major climatic crisis brought about by the forces of capital, we need to bring together the new and the old, and be bold in our search for solutions. This book serves these purposes, challenging the reader to revise ideas about socialism, class warfare and the economy in the 21st century with a thorough analysis. Dreamers and realists welcome!
March 4, 2022
It's reliable and fast
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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