The Radical Activist Network was formed at the beginning of 2004 by a group of activists largely drawn from the movements against war, racism and corporate globalisation. Over the preceeding few years, we had all come to some similar conclusions about the wider movements we were involved in.
Firstly, we saw that they often lacked democratic channels for participation, accountability and decision making. We can't advocate these things for wider society and then fail to enshrine them in our practice.
Secondly, we believed that pluralism is a virtue that should be fostered within our movements. Too many organised political groups celebrate diversity in the abstract, whilst their political practice ends up marginalising all but a core of the membership and alienating potential allies. Our network doesnt proclaim any party line let alone expect our members to adhere to one. The basis of our unity, beyond the brief set of principles that we drew up when we formed the network, is respect for each other as human beings and as activists, and we value the mix of individual priorities and political backgrounds within the group.
The third thing we shared was a desire to cultivate useful activism while holding true to these principles. We didnt want to join the legions of former activists who, from disillusionment with the stale forms of radical politics, have wound up on the sidelines of struggle.
How RAN works
One of the refreshing aspects of RAN is that all members have an equal say in any decisions made. For practical purposes, some individuals have taken on responsibility for particular functions, such as treasurer and secretary, but these roles are not leaders and are open to any member in a regular election. Proposals for activities can be made by any member in the network but it is the group as a whole that decides which ideas we want to take forward.
Although we prefer to organise fairly informally, we decided early on that we needed a system of membership to help cover the costs of our activities and to provide a basis for decision making. We mostly work by consensus and we take this goal seriously sometimes discussing issues over a number of meetings until we find a solution that is acceptable to everyone. But on the rare occasions when this isnt appropriate, we think decisions should be taken by those who have a commitment to the network. Democratic debate is helped by the trust that develops among a stable membership.
RAN and the movement
In the last few years, radical challenges to the existing order, as formulated by the global justice and anti-war movements, have rocked governments and won popular support at levels not seen for decades. The February 15th global protests against war on Iraq and the existence of the World Social Forum, together with its regional offshoots, are only the most prominent signs of these changing times. But if the left has fresh opportunities to grow, then it also faces daunting challenges in the form of the 'War on Terror', with its attendant destruction, racism, and attacks on civil liberties, together with yawning global inequalities and all the horrors which they bring with them. We need to maintain a sense of optimism about what can be achieved, whilst making an honest assessment of how far the global movement has come and how far it still has to go.
In seeking to build vibrant movements for social and economic justice ready to meet these challenges, we think democracy, pluralism and respect are pretty vital. We don't think that the Radical Activist Network is the answer, but it is proving a rewarding space in which to discuss politics one free of the dogma, hostility to new ideas, and delusions of grandeur that plague much of the left. At the same time, we've also pulled off a series of very successful events.
Read the principles we drew up when we formed RAN.
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