[imc-st.louis] RAT conference

[Mark!]

Anyone interested in attending? I am.
mark


RENEWING THE ANARCHIST TRADITION:
A SCHOLARLY CONFERENCE
September 24-26, 2004
Plainfield, Vermont

CALL FOR PROPOSALS / LOGISTICAL DETAILS

The Renewing the Anarchist Tradition (RAT) conference,
cosponsored by the Institute for Anarchist Studies and
Institute for Social Ecology, aims to provide a
scholarly space in which to both reexamine and
reinvigorate the social and political tradition of
anarchism.

RAT is meant as one contribution to the project of
developing a more rigorous as well as contemporary
theoretical framework for anarchism, and to assist in
nurturing new generations of anti-authoritarian public
intellectuals. Thus, as opposed to conferences that
attempt to create anarchist organizations, statements
of purpose, or focus on “lifestyle anarchism” or
how-to workshops, RAT brings together anarchist and
libertarian socialist scholars, activists, educators,
writers, organizers, students, and others to explore
how we make sense of our own tradition; how we
understand anarchism in the context of our lives,
movements, and present-day social conditions; and how
the conceptual tools that the anarchist tradition
provides can and need to be rethought.

Anarchism has tended to be a dynamic theory and
practice, and its influence in anti-capitalist
struggles around the world has become keenly apparent
of late. We are, as it were, inside history, and if
anarchism is to continue to be relevant to this moment
of global transformations, it must not only understand
the present but also scrutinize its own internal
taboos and tensions; it must not only be able to
describe contemporary forms of hierarchy and
oppression but also articulate openings for a radical
reshaping of social relations and material conditions
along ethical lines. The work that all of us attempt
to do now, the ideas and values we struggle to put
into words and practice, will have profound
implications for how this historical moment structures
the future. RAT is a modest addition to the grand
anarchist project of the present to ensure a freer
tomorrow for all.

As in the past, we hope that RAT continues to raise
difficult questions -- questions ranging from the
character of social change to the ongoing relevance of
categories such as class, community, and labor; from
the changing shape of the state and capital to
emergent forms of both domination and resistance in a
globalizing world; from anarchism’s relation to
geopolitical concerns such as terrorism and war to its
ability to grapple with issues of identity such as
race, gender, and sexuality; to a host of other
controversial, contested, or even uncharted subjects.

Alongside a participatory weekend of presentations,
panels, and debates in a supportive atmosphere, the
beautiful rural Vermont setting affords the
opportunity to meet other anarchists and radicals,
relax around a campfire, or enjoy the fall foliage.
RAT will also include a mini-bookfair, free literature
tables, and possible film screenings.

CALL FOR PRESENTATION AND PANEL PROPOSALS:
EXTENDED TO SEPTEMBER 1, 2004

We are now accepting proposals for individual
presentations and panels/panelists. People of color,
women, queer and transgendered people, those outside
academia, and others often excluded from scholarly
life -- due to gender, sexuality, class, and so forth
-- are especially encouraged to send in proposals.

We’re looking for individual presentations that
attempt to analyze and/or critique current social
relations and dilemmas; share work and ideas on
anarchism’s relevance and potential as a
political/social theory as well as a practice; grapple
with and constructively challenge/build on standard
anarchist notions in light of a radically changing
world; and cover a wide variety of perspectives and
scholarly disciplines.


POTENTIAL PANELS:

Race and Ethnicity

The issue of race has become an important issue for
contemporary anarchists. Magazines and journals are
filled with articles that question whether anarchism
is relevant for people of color. Further, questions
such as white privilege and the necessity of
organizing anarchists of color separately from the
mainstream anarchist movement have emerged. This panel
will explore how the anarchist movement has
articulated “race” and ethnicity, and how this relates
to building a movement. Questions may also include how
anarchists have historically understood “race” and
whether such definitions are inadequate to the
present.

Queer and Transgender People and Anarchism

What is the nature of the relationship between sex,
gender, and sexuality, and systems of power and
capitalism, and how does all this relate to – or
question and/or remake -- anarchism? This panel will
explore various ways of approaching a project around
sex and gender as anti-authoritarians,
anti-capitalists, and queer and transgender people.

Poststructuralism and Anarchism

This panel will look at themes relating to the
intervention of poststructuralism into anarchist
theory and practice. A number of books and articles
have been published recently advocating that
anarchists should take poststructuralism seriously.
Panelists will explore how the two are compatible
and/or offer criticisms.

Marxism and Anarchism

The Marxist and anarchist traditions have a long and
interconnected history. They both have articulated a
critique of the capitalism and even the state, and
have both suggested strategies to undermine capital
and the state. While there are similarities between
Marxism and anarchism, there are also many critical
differences. This panel will look at how Marxism and
anarchism have laid out different visions, critiques,
and theories in the past and present. Panelists should
give especially importance to explaining how Marxism
and anarchism differ or could relate today.

Anarchism and the Media

How does the mainstream media influence how the public
understands political issues? What successes has the
alternative media had in providing different, even
radical viewpoints? What does the media say about the
culture we live in? Anarchists view mainstream media
outlets with contempt. How has this contempt led to
actions and counter-institutions by anarchists, and
have these been successful?

Anarchism and Ecology

Whereas the ecology issue was significant in
reinvigorating the anarchist movement of the 1980s and
early 1990s, most anarchists today have been less
interested in exploring this connection and using it
as the basis of critique. This panel will look at
various ways that anarchists have understood the
connection to ecological concerns, and raise questions
such as, Should radical ecology still be an important
issue to anarchists today, and Why has the “green”
anarchist movement declined and/or changed in recent
years?

What Is Direct Action?

This panel will examine the meaning of direct action
as articulated by anarchists past and present. How has
the meaning changed and evolved over time, and have
such changes been useful? Does direct action imply
violence or nonviolence, or at least a certain degree
of militancy? Are specific tactics considered more
legitimate than others?

History and Anarchism

How have anarchists understood the anarchist
tradition? How is “history” in general understood, and
what relevance has it had for contemporary anarchist
ideas? How has the history of anarchism and
revolutions defined what anarchists find important?

Anarchism’s Relation to Other New Social Movements

The new century has witnessed the emergence of
thousands of social movements throughout the world.
Ranging from anti-globalization, social justice,
environmental, labor, human rights, and a host of
other broad categories, many of these social movements
incorporate much of the anarchist organizational
methods (although they do not identify themselves as
such). What relationship does anarchism have to such
movements, and to what degree should anarchists engage
in such?

Reconstructive Visions; What is Revolution?

Anarchists have always constructed visions of what the
world should look like “after the revolution.” Such
attempts are considered by some to be naive or
utopian, while others see them as absolutely essential
if the anarchist movement is to become relevant. This
panel will debate the issues surrounding
reconstructive visions. But it will also look at the
concept of revolution; has this concept changed or
evolved over the years, and is it still relevant
today?

Anarchism and Art

This panel will examine anarchism’s relationship to
art. Anarchism has historically had a rich connection
to the arts (symbolists, surrealism, dadaist,
situationists, and so on), and has manifested itself
in the fine arts, literature, popular culture, music,
and other avenues. The panel will look at both the
history of the connection as well as offer critiques
of art’s use in contemporary anti-authoritarian scenes
and movements, as well as interrogate art’s relation
to culture more generally.

The State in the Global Economy

With the emergence of a globalized economy, questions
surrounding the state’s relevance have arisen. This
panel will consider whether the state is becoming less
important or is undergoing fundamental transformations
in the new global economy, and whether anarchists need
to “update” their critique of statecraft. Questions
that panelists might raise include, Is globalization
really occurring, and if so, in what ways? and Has the
globalized economy changed the way the we understand
the nature of the state?

Fashion and Anarchy

The question of fashion for anarchists is one that is
rarely explored. Questions discussed informally among
ourselves about whether anarchists have a “dress code”
(Why do anarchists wear so much dark clothing?) have
long perplexed us. Beyond the dress code issue, we
would like to encourage panelists to think about how
fashion relates to being an anarchist. Should
anarchists be “fashionable” or should they reject
fashion as a bourgious practice? Panelists are
encouraged to have fun with this one.

The United States Today

What is wrong with the United States? Panelists will
briefly investigate various parts of what today
constitutes the United States, at home and globally –
from notions of empire, to militarism and the “war on
terror,” to racism, to  consumerism, and so forth).
Panelists are encouraged to explore the power of the
United States in relation to other geopolitical
entities, and the dynamics of the upcoming
presidential election.

The Anarchist Experience

While most of us have not had the privilege to
participate in an anarchist revolution, we all have
experiences in anarchist groups and movements. This
panel was suggested for people to discuss what the
experience within these groups has been. Have they
been frustrating or invigorating? Has working with
anarchist groups in other parts of the world changed
your understanding of anarchism? How might anarchists
do better, both inside groups and movements, and
reaching out beyond them to a other, wider
communities?



While you can also propose a full panel, including all
panelists, please consider simply proposing yourself
for a panel topic or two and we will put the panel
together based on a diversity of viewpoints.
Specifically, we would like to see panelist proposals
for the following topics: globalization; the role of
anarchists in international solidarity work; the
changing character of statism/anti-statism,
capitalism/anti-capitalism, or class/labor today;
movement building and anarchism’s relation to other
social movements; anarchism and Marxism; anarchism and
poststructuralism; anarchism and identity (in
particular, race, gender, and sexuality); anarchism
and ecology; anarchist responses to contemporary
concerns such as terrorism and the “war on terrorism,”
new legal regimes and policing, war, the rise of
fundamentalism and nationalism, or the U.S.
presidential elections; and anarchism and its relation
to its own history. Please feel free to propose other
ideas, of course.

Individual presentation and panel proposals should be
no more than one typed page each; remember, you can
also propose yourself as a panelist and let us set up
the panel itself. Please include a presentation or
panel title and brief description, a few sentences
about yourself and/or other proposed panelists, and
complete contact information (address, phone, and
e-mail). Indicate if you feel comfortable having your
presentation/panel audiotaped, and if so, if you would
be amendable to post-conference “publication” of such
audio on a Web site or CD. Keep in mind that
presenters are asked to limit individual presentations
to about 30 to 40 minutes, and end by framing a
question or two for the participants in order to
facilitate another 30 to 40 minutes of discussion.
Panelists should each prepare about 10 to 15 minutes
of material, leaving time for discussion as well. Our
intent with the panels is to stimulate lively, but
friendly debate, so again, a variety of perspectives
on each panel is encouraged.

Proposals are due by or before September 1, 2004, and
should be e-mailed to both co-organizers:

John Petrovato at jpetrovato at hotmail.com, and
Cindy Milstein at cbmilstein at yahoo.com.

If you don’t have access to e-mail, mail two copies of
your typed proposal(s) to Cindy Milstein,
19 French Street, Barre, Vermont 05641. We will inform
you about your proposal soon after we receive it.
Please note: all presenters must also register and pay
for the conference, and space is limited, so don’t
delay.

CONFERENCE LOCATION

This year’s RAT will take place on the Goddard College
campus in Plainfield, Vermont, about nine miles east
of Vermont’s capital, Montpelier. We will also utilize
the nearby Institute for Social Ecology’s facilities
for camping (weather depending) and socializing.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

RAT will get underway mid-afternoon on Friday,
September 24, followed by dinner and then an opening
panel at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, September 25, will be
filled with multiple, simultaneous presentations and
panels throughout the day. Presentations and panels
continue until 5 p.m. on Sunday, September 26, when we
close the doors on another RAT conference.
Descriptions of presentations and panels TBA (stay
tuned to www.homemadejam.org/renew, or if you would
like to be added to our occasional e-announcement
list, please send us your e-mail address for updates).

MINI-BOOKFAIR

A number of bookstores and publishers, such as Raven
Used Books and AK Press, will be present at RAT as
part of this year’s mini-bookfair. Tables are
available for bookstores, publishers, and infoshops
throughout the weekend for $35, but you must reserve
and pay for a table in advance. Tables will also be
available at no charge for free literature.

GETTING TO RAT

Plainfield is accessible by car. From the South or
North, take I-89 to the Montpelier (Vermont) exit,
then take Route 2 East to Plainfield. Goddard College
is on your left just before you enter Plainfield
Village. Park in the first lot on your right and
follow the signs to RAT.

Both Amtrak and Greyhound/Vermont Transit offer train
and bus service, respectively, to Montpelier. Limited
pick-ups and drop-offs will be available, or you can
call a taxi during the daytime hours. Please check
with us about your travel arrangements before assuming
that a pick-up or drop-off is possible.

There is an airport in Burlington, Vermont, about an
hour’s drive from Plainfield. We will, however, be
unable to do any airport pick-ups or drop-offs. If you
fly to Burlington, please arrange your own ground
transportation (limited bus service to Montpelier or
rental cars).

COST

You must register and pay in advance, as conference
space is limited.

* SLIDING-SCALE REGISTRATION FEE: $20 to $40 (for
those who can afford it, the higher registration fee
will go toward our scholarship fund to assist others;
see below).

* OPTIONAL:

* MEALS: $48 covers two breakfasts, two lunches, and
two dinners, with a variety of vegetarian and vegan
options prepared by the New England Culinary
Institute. Food or meals can also be purchased
separately in Plainfield; there are three restaurants,
a small food cooperative, and a convenience store.

* HOUSING: $30 per night/per person for a single, $23
per night/per person for a shared double, and $15 per
night/per person for a shared triple (dorms rooms are
at Goddard College, and include towels and linens;
there are a limited number of single and triple
rooms). Camping, weather permitting, is also available
on the nearby Institute for Social Ecology’s campus
for $10 night per one- or two-person tent (bring your
own camping equipment and supplies). There are motels
and B&Bs in the area as well.

SCHOLARSHIPS

A limited number of partial scholarships are available
to subsidize RAT conference fees for those with
limited resources. Please inquiry early and we will do
our best to offer assistance. These scholarships are
made possible because of the generosity of other RAT
participants. If you can afford to pay the higher end
of our sliding-scale registration fee, or want to
donate more beyond that, we will pass along the extra
funds to those needing financial aid to attend RAT.

REGISTER AND PAY IN ADVANCE

Space is again limited for RAT -- though this year,
RAT is limited to about 200 people instead of our
usual 100 or so. Thus, please register and pay in
advance to ensure your participation. Send a check,
made out to Cindy Milstein (unofficial RAT treasurer),
to: Cindy Milstein, 19 French Street, Barre, Vermont
05641. Include your name, address, phone, e-mail, and
an itemization of what the check covers (registration,
meals, housing, donation beyond registration toward
scholarships for others, and/or a mini-bookfair
table).

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? WANT RAT UPDATES?

Feel free to contact either of the co-organizers, John
Petrovato (jpetrovato at hotmail.com) or Cindy Milstein
(cbmilstein at yahoo.com). Or check out the RAT Web site
at http:/// www.homemadejam.org/renew. Or send us your
e-mail address and we’ll add you to our very
occasional RAT e-announcement mailing list.




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