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Re: Libertarian SocialismLetters to The People (9/1996)



The People
September 1996
Vol. 106 No. 6


LETTERS TO THE PEOPLE
(SEGMENT)


'LIBERTARIAN SOCIALISM'

While browsing the Internet, I came across some material on the
subject of "libertarian socialism." What caught my attention
was the reference to the SLP. For your information, I have
enclosed a printout of the material.

Scott Hess
Beaverton, Ore.

Reply--
The matter enclosed by our correspondent described so-called
libertarian socialism as "essentially synonymous with the word
'anarchism.'" It went on to mistakenly clump "the Socialist
Labor Party of Daniel De Leon" together with several other
groups it identified with the term.

The phrase, "libertarian socialism," is a variation on another,
"anarchist communism," which dates from the 1890s. Back then,
someone (most likely De Leon) had this to say about it in THE
PEOPLE:

"It is impossible to give an accurate definition of 'Anarchist
Communists' because of the absence of any tangible body of such
people, the consequent absence of any official declarations
upon the subject, and the anarchy of expression in which these
people revel. Speaking generally, communism, in point of form,
implies small, independent, self-supporting societies; the idea
proceeds from ignoring the fact that the economic evolution
makes popular cooperating impossible except it is carried on
upon a national basis, and that even the boundaries of many a
modern nation, are not broad enough to embrace an independent
cooperative community that shall be abreast of modern
requirements."


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Article-ID: 04_1997&1343310
Score: 82
Subject: euphoria 3