Steve J. Shone, "Dangerous Anarchist Strikers" (Brill, 2023)
Nov 25, 2024
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Steve J. Shone, a Political Science lecturer and author, dives into the lives of radical women like Virginia Bolten, Helen Armstrong, and Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, exploring their crucial but often overlooked roles in labor activism. The discussion highlights how their legacies challenge conventional narratives around strikes and feminism. Shone also reflects on the contributions of anarchists like Tom Barker and Kōtoku Shūsui, illustrating the global fight against oppression and the continuing relevance of their ideas in today’s movements.
The podcast highlights the critical role of forgotten radical women like Virginia Bolten and Helen Armstrong in shaping labor movements and challenging societal norms.
It critiques traditional notions of democracy by arguing that mere electoral systems do not ensure justice or equality, as evidenced by historical labor struggles.
Deep dives
Anarchism and Feminism: A Serious Consideration
The podcast addresses the often-overlooked intersection of anarchism and feminism, emphasizing that both ideologies offer critical perspectives on democracy and societal structures. It highlights the works of various forgotten anarchists and feminists, advocating for their recognition and the validity of their ideas. A central theme is the critique of traditional voting as a measure of democracy, suggesting that the presence of voting alone does not guarantee justice or equality. The discussion raises important questions about the state of democracy today, arguing that many nations, despite having electoral systems, do not meet true democratic standards.
The Role of Virginia Bolton
Virginia Bolton's contributions to anarchism in Latin America are examined, underscoring her radical approach and reformative ideas. The analysis draws from her extensive writings, presenting Bolton as a potent voice within anarchist thought, known for advocating violence and critiquing political systems that perpetuate injustice. The speaker emphasizes the importance of examining original documents to dispel myths surrounding her influence and legacy. This exploration positions Bolton as a significant figure, challenging traditional narratives that overshadow her impact.
Helen Armstrong's Activism and Legacy
Helen Armstrong's role in the Canadian labor movement and her opposition to World War I are critically evaluated, revealing her significant yet often underrepresented contributions. As a labor organizer during the Winnipeg general strike of 1919, Armstrong worked tirelessly to support striking women and improve their conditions, despite being overlooked in historical accounts. Her activism extended to advocating for the rights of impoverished women, emphasizing the harsh realities they faced in a cold climate. The discussion contends that Armstrong deserves greater recognition in labor history and that her efforts were crucial to the fight for workers' rights.
Tom Barker and Global Unionism
Tom Barker's life as an international labor activist is highlighted, illustrating his commitment to creating a global union for sailors and his fierce opposition to military conscription. Despite facing numerous legal challenges and eventual deportation, he persisted in advocating for workers' rights across several countries, including Australia and Latin America. The podcast details Barker's successful campaigns against conscription and his subsequent involvement with radical unions. His narrative serves as a testament to the struggles faced by labor organizers and the importance of solidarity in the fight for workers' rights.
Dangerous Anarchist Strikers (Brill, 2023) explores the ideas of three largely forgotten radical women who participated in labor union strikes in Argentina and Uruguay, Canada, and the United States: Virginia Bolten (c.1876-1960), one of the most militant anarchists of southern South America; Helen Armstrong (1875-1947), a major leader of the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919, whose involvement in that important event in Canadian history was, for a long time, obscured by accounts that emphasized the accomplishments of men; and Elizabeth Gurley Flynn (1890-1964), the Wobbly leader who directed many industrial strikes throughout the United States, and was one of the founders of the American Civil Liberties Union, who eventually became the leader of the Communist Party, USA. It also examines the contributions of two similarly neglected anarchist men who participated in labor union strikes and industrial action in New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Argentina, and Japan. Tom Barker (1887-1970) was an anarchist who eventually became a socialist who worked to promote labor unionism on four continents and who tried to create a global One Big Union for sailors. Kōtoku, Shūsui (1871-1911) was a liberal who became a socialist and finally an anarchist. An opponent of governmental imperialism and ecological mismanagement, he studied and translated the works of Western thinkers and sought to apply what he learned from other cultures to the development of Japan.
Steve J. Shone is Lecturer in Political Science at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. He received his Ph.D. (1992) in political science from the University of California-Riverside. He has taught at Winona State University, Gonzaga University, and the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley. He is the author of Lysander Spooner: American Anarchist(Lexington Books, 2010), American Anarchism (Brill, 2013), Women of Liberty (Brill, 2019), and Rose Summerfield: Australian Radical (Lexington Books, 2022).
Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube channel. Twitter.