Customer Reviews

We Are Everywhere: The Irresistible Rise of Global Anti-Capitalism

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a wonderful little book--well, may be not so little at 500+ pages. It gives a good overview of the more radical end of the global justice movement (aka, the "so-called anti-globalization movement"), with its emphasis on openness to multiple viewpoints; direct, participatory democracy; direct action; etc. It's divided into six sections, each of which starts by an analytical but accessible essay by the collective members--"Emergence: An Irresistable Global Uprising", "Networks: The Ecology of the Movement", "Power: Building it Without Taking it", etc. Each section then follows with a number of brief pieces, interviews with or articles by people involved the global justice movement, from all over the world. If you are depressed about what a mess the world is in, this can provide some inspirational reading. It will also provide a good overview of the radical wing of the global justice movement, as much as one can provide an overview of something so complex. If you don't know much about the radical wing of the global justice movement, reading the analytical essays and some of the reports by activists from the field should give you a good feel for it. I say "should" because apparently one of the previous reviewers came away with the bizarre impression that the radical wing of the global justice movement is dominated by Marxist-Leninists. Marxist-Leninism is, thankfully, (mostly) dead. The writers in this book are inspired by anarchism, libertarian Marxism, Gandhianism, etc. The orientation is towards building radical, grassoots democracy and counter-institutions--not seizing state power; towards dialogue between multiple viewpoints--not silencing those who disagree with you; and a wariness of the trap of armed struggle, even among those who aren't pacifists--not shooting your enemies.

One of the few books i have read on the anti-capitalist movement that covers the wide network of resistance that i have come across. They are honest enough not to prescribe detailed solutions but give enough informed thought for the reader to understand and make their own minds up.

Designed in a novel landscape format, with hundreds of pictures to break up the short texts, it is at once intelectual while also managing to be clear and exciting to read.

If you buy one book about this movement of movements get this one, you will be amazed by its breadth and imagination.

first, the first reviewer obviously never read the book. the ideas in it are NOT communist or socialist, but ANARCHIST. a good number of the groups mention in the book are organized in a non hierarchal way.

this is a good account of the rising anti-globalization movement. with the fall of communism (and the "victory" of capitalism") came what was known as the end of history. the ant-globalism movement is bring about the end of the end of history. capitalists thought they had won when communism "fell" but all that happened was it gained a new enemy. the tatics used by the WTO, WB, IMF, and gang of 8 (G8) and multinational corporations have created an enemy multiple times larger then communism ever was; the people of the world.

people are pissed off at global capitalism, it ruins millions of lives all in the name of "progress" the elite are running scared of the people, this can be seen since J18, and N30. they now hold their summits in locations virually inaccessible to the people their policies effect. this book is a great documentation of the movement, and where the world is likely heading.

We are Everywhere can be considered an anthology about the current transnational anti-capitalist mobilizations by covering and drawing the connections between the diverse protest events on all five continents. Written from an activist perspective, it combines critical analysis by the authors with self-reports by movement participants. The book takes you on a journey from the harbinger of the movement to the various stages of the developing and permanently changing movement of movements.

The Zapatista uprising marked an historical point by providing new and creative ways of resistance struggle. Recognizing the global nature of their local problem, and by reaching out to a transnational social movement scene, the Zapatista movement created the embryonic cell for the emergence of a transnational network of grassroots resistance. Inspired and re-energized by the Zapatistas call for the creation of a transnational network of resistance, the emerging links among grassroots groups around the world led to the formation of the transnational network of Peoples Global Action. Through this network of loosely, anti-hierarchically, and informally connected grassroots groups, activists started to coordinate protest activities on a global scale. The Global Days of Action of concerted protest events has been an incredible manifestation of these transnational exchanges.

By chronicling the string of protest events from 1994 until 2002, the articles highlight the common and uniting features of the movement. The desire for change and the creation of a better world that does not impose a universal vision of how this world should look like, provides the glue that holds the movement together. Perusing to the fascinating and inspiring reports about movement struggles in all parts of the world, this is what the reader should take away: One of the great strengths of this movement of movements has been its capacity to rekindle the idea of a global political project defined by notions of diversity, autonomy, ecology, democracy, self-organization and direct action.

Kudos to the Notes from Nowhere collective for compiling this beautifully illustrated insightful anthology of essays about the global justice movement! Exploring a wide range of struggles (urban squats, communty gardens, independent media, union organizing, anti-war, anti-biotech, etc.) around the world (Argentina, India, Palestine, Mexico, South Africa, the United States, Italy and elsewhere), "We Are Everywhere" is an inspirational mosaic of stories about everday people working for gender equality, racial justice, economic democracy, environmental sustainability and peace. Another informative book from Verso!

this book is quite thick and contains ever so many examples of people fighting for themselves and for others and that which they care about. it tells the stories of people who fight against capitalism and the governments that have sworn themselves to perpetuate capitalism. this book is inspiring and has useful information for someone seeking additional information of anticapitalist movements. i am not certain it would be an enthralling read for someone who is not already interested in anticapitalism, but for someone who is, it is recommended with sincerity.

I am only at the beginning of we are everywhere...it's strength is that it gives many of us hope for working toward something better than neoliberalism and a global enconomic worldview. It also offers something better than a black/white and either/or view. One essay that provides that perspective so well is "The Sweatshop and the Ivory Tower." It sure got me thinking about the need to connect to humanity all over the world. The book sure doesn't present a cynical viewpoint so far anyway, and I need a good shot of that in the midst of U.S. political machinery.We Are Everywhere: The Irresistible Rise of Global Anti-Capitalism

This is the usual socialist happy-talk about improving justice, from each according to his ability, to each according to his need, etc. It is all a fundamental denial of human nature, a belief that mankind is inherently good, that only our social institutions cause corruption, etc. If they think this system is so good, why is the northern part of Korea pitch black at night, while the southern (capitalist) part is lit up like a beacon of freedom? Check the NASA nightime photo composite. It tells all.

These people want to give communism yet another chance, even though it has already killed over 100 million people.

The only reason I gave it one star is that I couldn't choose to give it zero.

Will the lunacy ever stop? There's a sucker born every minute.