On Tue, 29 Apr 1997, Laura Simson wrote:

> Okay, gang, I want to get this straight once and for all. Please, if you will,
> provide a 4-line maximum definition to the following terms. My head is a grey
> mire of contradictory terms, euphisms, Orwellian doublespeak, and lies. Below
> are terms that I have seen employed various ways to describe various things,
> good and bad. In one essay/article/manifesto, I'll see one of the following
> terms emplyed one way. In another article, the same term will be used
> another.... Ready?
>
> 1) Libertarian Socialism
>
Libertarian socialism is another term for anarchism.

Anarchism is socialist because it means abolishing money and holding
property in common, and libertarian because it is based on equality (as
opposed to Leninism, which involves having a government making decisions
in everyone's 'best interests')

It's important to remember that 'Libertarian' doesn't refer to the
Libertarian Party.  In fact it's the other way round - the party copied
the name from the anarchists.
>
>
>
> 2) Council Communism
>
'Council Communism' is very similar if not identical to anarchism.
However, it has a different history: it started as a heretical version of
Marxism.  The most well known C Cs were the Situationists.
>
>
>
> 3) Neoliberalism
>
Neoliberalism is simply a revival of classical capitalist theory, as
opposed to the more 'warm and fuzzy' welfare state version of capitalism.
'Neoliberalism' is an American term.  In Australia the word 'economic
rationalism' is used to mean the same thing, and I think the Brits used to
use the word 'monetarism'.
Ayn Rand is fairly popular in the US I think.  She summed up the views of
neoliberals quite honestly: she said that good meant selfishness and evil
meant altruism (this sounds like I'm misquoting her but I'm actually not -
this is what these people believe)
Reagan and Thatcher were the classic neoliberal leaders, but all
capitalist governments are going that way.
>
>
>
> 4) Right Wing Anarchism
>
Some 'neoliberals' (see above) call themselves anarchists.  In fact, they
turn out to be in favour of keeping the police, the army and so on, but of
privatising them.  Also, of course, they don't believe in socialism.  So
really, the idea of right wing anarchism is bullshit, but a few people
claim to be right wing anarchists or 'anarcho-capitalists'
>
>
>
> 5) Leninism
>
Lenin was the leader of the Bolsheviks in Russia, and later became
dictator of the USSR.  He worked out various theories about 'Marxism in
practice'.  All the revolutionary socialist groups that aren't anarchists
are Leninist.
Leninists believe that dictatorship is OK as long as it's by the 'best
people' (as they put it, the vanguard), and that a dictatorship should be
ruthless with its own people 'if necessary'.  This is the difference
between anarchism and Leninism.
>
>
>
> 6) Anarchosyndicalism
>
Anarchosyndicalism is a strategy for acheiving anarchism.  It means
organising anarchist unions, which eventually would initiate a general
strike.  This would paralyse capitalism and usher in anarchism.  The word
comes from the French 'syndicat' (I think), meaning a trade union.
>
James Hutchings.