Big Flame: Building the Movements, New Politics
March 13 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm GMT
Join us for an evening with ex-Big Flamers Max Farrar and Kevin McDonnell, who will be discussing their new book, Big Flame: Building the Movements, New Politics, published by Merlin Press.
The libertarian socialist organisation Big Flame (active roughly between 1970 and 1985) is notable for its attempt to synthesise the concerns of the women’s liberation movement with its commitment to ‘rank-and-file’ workplace and community organisation and its rejection of Leninist vanguardism. The group was also central in bringing Italian Marxism to Britain, offering incisive libertarian socialist interventions into debates on the party, democratic participation, and questions of autonomy.
The Big Flame collection at MDR has always been central to understanding the history of the anti-authoritarian left in Britain, and their work and writings still have much to tell us about questions of organisation and movement building today.
There will be books to buy at the event.
About the book from Merlin Press:
This book, written by two former members, addresses the ideas and experiences of a small revolutionary socialist and feminist organisation.
It reflects on influences (among them Italian Marxism, libertarianism, feminism) and critiques (of Leninism and Trotskyism) that helped shape Big Flame and reflects on its successes and failures.Many other former members write about their experiences in lively times and in harder times, after Margaret Thatcher won the 1979 election.
They say: “our book is aimed at those in the radical movements of every type who are seriously interested in political ideas and their relationship to political struggle. It seeks to assist all those who continue to challenge racist, patriarchal capitalism and to organise for a future where love and equality will prevail”.