Direct action

Direct action is a term used in social history and describes direct intervention in economic and political contexts. In direct action no power to stakeholders, such as parliamentarians or courts is delegated. Sufferers take immediate action to enforce their interests. Examples of direct actions are self-organization, boycotts, strikes, sabotage, Smart Mob, sit-ins, demonstrations and occupations of houses, trees, farms, construction sites and fields.

Conceptual history

The term was coined in 1920 by William Mellor used in his book Direct Action after previously Voltairine de Cleyre had already written a text to, and Emma Goldman in a work of 1911 raised him from the economic to the general plane:

In Mellor's definition which refers to labor disputes, direct action is the use of an economic power of those who possess this power, both employers and employees. The means he counts next to lockouts and cartels strike and sabotage. In the Anglo-American world, the direct action is taken in a radical democratic understanding as Nonviolent Action. Examples are the actions of the suffragettes for women's rights, the U.S. civil rights movement and later the nonviolent actions of the peace movement. In groups, the peace movement and of " nonviolent direct action " ( nonviolent direct action ) is spoken.

Direct action and anarchism / anarcho-syndicalism

Direct action is essential as an action form of autonomous, anarchists and anarcho-syndicalists to be the principles of self-organization and domination needs. Since 1968 to be with the concept of direct action is often understood all actions that are practical and militant, and so the change of election posters and the blockade of rail tracks at about transportation of nuclear waste.

Historically meant by collective direct action, economic action, which - in contrast to negotiations - have a direct impact. Therefore, as a means of direct action often strike, boycott and sabotage called. In the anarcho-syndicalist theory of general strike is the central direct action. Connected to the appropriation of the means of production by the workers it represents the social revolution of the anarcho-syndicalists dar.

In contrast to the direct action the propaganda of the deed is an individualistic, not necessarily economic form of action that was historically applied by non- syndicalist anarchists, but also by other political currents, including nationalists. While the direct action is to be means to an end only, the " propaganda of the deed " should serve as a model. Therefore, not only historical assassinations, but also the establishment of municipalities and other self-managed structures are certainly to be considered as " propaganda of the deed ". In this respect, the development of alternative structures to fulfill the purpose of economic livelihood, this too can be understood as " Direct Action ".

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