And actually, I do want to hear your theories on What Went Wrong. I got thrownback into a big wtf happened spiral when I watched this.
My theories on What Went Wrong are all muddled in my feelings on what went wrong in particular in Toronto. Though I suspect what happened here also happened in other cities.
I already alluded to a lack of connection to movements in the Global South, even while the left here glorified those movements. But we were whining about the death of the anti-globalization movement while it was very much alive in other places (the mass demos in South Korea, for example) and failed to give those movements enough support, or listen to them, or get strategies from them.
There was September 11, obviously. But I think the western anti-globalization movement was already heading into Deep Fail by then.
There was also a lot of Strategy Fail. In general, mass protests are symbolic. They can do some good and they have a vital place in a political movement, but one needs to realize their purpose and limitations. The anti-globalization movement failed to do so. Seattle was kind of a fluke because the WTO, the city, and to a large degree the protesters themselves, were completely unprepared. But it conflated in the minds of young, inexperienced activists that mass demo=direct action, and also that any demo that did not shut the target down was a failure. When the numbers at demos started to decline for a variety of reasons, the movement essentially committed suicide when it really ought to have changed tactics.
Another failure was the increased polarization between young and old activists, white activists and everyone else, and progressives within and without mainstream institutions. Movements survive and win through historical continuity, but young suburban summit-hoppers didn't seem to want to have much to do with, say, folks in the labour movement or NGOs. And post-N30, the labour movement failed to seize the opportunity that events like Seattle offered. Accordingly, there was no history or genuine theory, which is what sustains movements through tough times. We probably lost a lot of folks who were just there for the excitement and never had a chance to learn why they should stay.
Related to the failures of strategy and the demographic gaps was the overestimation of techniques like summit-hopping and Black Blocs. It alienated practically everyone but young middle class white kids, and there weren't enough of those with the long-term commitment to keep the movement going.
There was also a real lack of structure, leadership, and direction. The fear of authority led to an inability to nurture transparent, democratic organizations (see also "Tyranny of Structurelessness"), and a bunch of people who knew what they were against but not what they were for. And while on a micro level, people did try to set up alternative institutions and lifestyles, it just wasn't enough.
I'm sure there are a lot of other reasons too. It makes me sad.
no subject
My theories on What Went Wrong are all muddled in my feelings on what went wrong in particular in Toronto. Though I suspect what happened here also happened in other cities.
I already alluded to a lack of connection to movements in the Global South, even while the left here glorified those movements. But we were whining about the death of the anti-globalization movement while it was very much alive in other places (the mass demos in South Korea, for example) and failed to give those movements enough support, or listen to them, or get strategies from them.
There was September 11, obviously. But I think the western anti-globalization movement was already heading into Deep Fail by then.
There was also a lot of Strategy Fail. In general, mass protests are symbolic. They can do some good and they have a vital place in a political movement, but one needs to realize their purpose and limitations. The anti-globalization movement failed to do so. Seattle was kind of a fluke because the WTO, the city, and to a large degree the protesters themselves, were completely unprepared. But it conflated in the minds of young, inexperienced activists that mass demo=direct action, and also that any demo that did not shut the target down was a failure. When the numbers at demos started to decline for a variety of reasons, the movement essentially committed suicide when it really ought to have changed tactics.
Another failure was the increased polarization between young and old activists, white activists and everyone else, and progressives within and without mainstream institutions. Movements survive and win through historical continuity, but young suburban summit-hoppers didn't seem to want to have much to do with, say, folks in the labour movement or NGOs. And post-N30, the labour movement failed to seize the opportunity that events like Seattle offered. Accordingly, there was no history or genuine theory, which is what sustains movements through tough times. We probably lost a lot of folks who were just there for the excitement and never had a chance to learn why they should stay.
Related to the failures of strategy and the demographic gaps was the overestimation of techniques like summit-hopping and Black Blocs. It alienated practically everyone but young middle class white kids, and there weren't enough of those with the long-term commitment to keep the movement going.
There was also a real lack of structure, leadership, and direction. The fear of authority led to an inability to nurture transparent, democratic organizations (see also "Tyranny of Structurelessness"), and a bunch of people who knew what they were against but not what they were for. And while on a micro level, people did try to set up alternative institutions and lifestyles, it just wasn't enough.
I'm sure there are a lot of other reasons too. It makes me sad.