--
Ten Years After:
 The Re-emergence of Anarchism in Chile

 

From: No Middle Ground: Anti-Authoritarian Perspectives on Latin America and the Caribbean
No. 2 Fall, 1983

[Note: The following article about libertarian socialists/anarchists in Chile
was translated from the Summer, 1983 issue of the German magazine Trafik.]

      
     

    It's encouraging to realize that the anarchist movement is reborn, even in Chile, where a 
    U.S.-backed military coup and dictatorship had seemed to have completely obliterated it, 
    along with everything else. Yet, in spite of the pitiless, on-going repression, 
    accompanied by deep economic depression--for which the military authorities are, to a 
    large extent, to blame--Chilean anarchists have begun to organize together.

    In 1979, a new federation of various anarchist tendencies was founded. It goes by the 
    name Socialist ideas and Action (PAS). Here, long-time anarchist militants were joined 
    by libertarian socialists who, during the presidency of Allende (1970-73), had been 
    independents in the Unidad Popular coalition and later members of the socialist party 
    called MAPU. Immediately following the economic and military destruction of the Chilean 
    revolution and reform government, the socialist movement completely collapsed and 
    broke down into various factions. Some of these factions, having experienced the break-
    up of the Unidad Popular and their inability to organize effective resistance to the 
    dictatorship in the years immediately following the coup, decided to unite with the PAS.

    In July '82, at a national conference, held in Santiago, the PAS worked out a 
    "Declaration of Principles" which clearly addressed libertarian themes. They declared 
    their goal to be "the destruction of the capitalist State and the abolition of capitalism's 
    mass misery through the creation of a new social order based on the free federation of 
    the people for mutual aid and cooperation in the production of social wealth, its collective 
    distribution and egalitarian consumption, and its public control."

    The PAS remained flexible as to strategies and tactics. They left it open how and where 
    to intervene or propagandize. They also made clear that no individual who doesn't agree 
    with an action decided to by a majority would be required to participate. In the section of 
    their declaration entitled "International Experiences of Revolutionary Unionism," the PAS 
    proclaimed the necessity of a break "with the political bullshit of bourgeois democracy," 
    as well as "with the crap of the traditional, bureaucratically-structured unionism." The 
    PAS defines their own unionist strategy as "collective action; on-going, critical analysis 
    of real social development; direct action, which requires each person to be a responsible 
    activist in struggle; the continual oversight and immediate recallability of all brothers and 
    sisters who take on leading roles in elective bodies."

    Given the existing conditions, Chilean anarchists are forced to carry out an underground 
    struggle. And the requirements of this struggle have imposed on them the "choice" of a 
    secure type of organization. Collective decision-making takes absolute precedence over 
    spontaneous actions by individuals. None of the PAS militants can permit themselves 
    the luxury of individual political initiatives, which may endanger the safety of the other 
    members.

    In a document worked out in Nov. '82, the PAS analysed the current situation of the 
    Pinochet regime. They concluded that the junta has marched to a crossroads. They 
    must either accept bourgeois democracy and a new capitalist social consensus or else 
    heighten the potential for a new Chilean revolution by continuing on the road of 
    intensified oppression and exploitation. Without pretending to have a crystal ball, the 
    PAS militants feel that an attempt at re-establishing bourgeois democracy is most likely. 
    Even if this direction is taken by the junta and the bourgeoisie, it will not undermine the 
    movement to destroy capitalism. The PAS feels that it may simply lead to a greater 
    explosion, as the revolutionary movement re-emerges into the open, as the flame hits 
    fresh air.

    The PAS is decidedly opposed to all so-called "democratic" politicians, who would make 
    deals with the junta while they ride on the backs of the people.

    The PAS appeals for the further development of the autonomy of the people in their 
    unions and neighborhood groups, in the struggle against the junta.

    "No to Fascism! No to Phony Bourgeois Solutions! Strengthen the Popular 
    Organizations! The people must organize themselves to fight for a socialist, 
    revolutionary and free Chile!"

 
 

Use your back button to return to your previous page

 Or visit

 The Anarchist Encyclopedia Index

Daily Bleed Calendar

The Anarchist Timeline

@nti-CopyRite 2000-3000, more or less
The Stan Iverson Memorial Library
Corrections, additions, suggestions to
BleedMeister David Brown

Visit the complete Stan Iverson Memorial Library

The Stan Iverson Memorial Library is freely produced for your use or abuse by Recollection Used Books