A-Infos (en) Anarchist Communist Statement On The Global Economic Crisis And G20 Meeting

International anarchist communist statement on the global economic crisis and 
G20 meeting, endorsed by Alternative Libertaire (France), Federazione dei 
Comunisti Anarchici (Italy), Melbourne Anarchist Communist Group (Australia) and 
Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Front (South Africa). ---- 1.The current crisis is 
typical of the crises that regularly appear in the capitalist economy. 
"Overproduction", speculation and subsequent collapse are inherent to the 
system. (As Alexander Berkman and others have pointed out, what capitalist 
economists call overproduction is actually underconsumption: capitalism prevents 
large numbers of people from fulfilling their needs, and so undermines its own 
markets.)

2.Any solution to the crisis prepared by capitalists and governments will remain 
a solution within capitalism. It will not be a solution for the popular classes. 
Indeed, as in every crisis, the workers and the poor are paying – while 
financial capital is being bailed out with huge sums. This is likely to 
continue. No change within capitalism can resolve the problems of the popular 
classes; still less can such a solution be expected from individual politicians, 
such as Barack Obama. The most such politicians can do is play a part in 
offering the capitalists a way out, and perhaps in throwing the working class 
some crumbs.

3.The bank bailouts show not only whose interests the state serves, but the 
hollowness of capitalist commitment to free markets. Throughout history, 
capitalists have stood for markets when it suits them, and state regulation and 
subsidies when they need it. Capitalism could never have existed without state 
support.

4.In the US, the UK and elsewhere, the bailouts have taken the form of 
nationalisation of troubled financial institutions – with the full support of 
capital. This shows that capitalists have no fundamental problem with state 
ownership, and that nationalisation has nothing to do with socialism. It can 
also be a method of screwing the working class. We ourselves, not the state, 
need to take control of the economy.

5.Owing to the globalisation of capital under neo-liberalism, the ruling class 
recognises that the solution must be global. The G20 is meeting from 15 November 
to discuss the crisis. This is significant. The rulers of the US, Europe and 
Japan are coming to realise that they cannot handle the crisis on their own; 
that they need, not only one another, but other powers, notably China (which is 
emerging as a top industrial producer, and is on its way to becoming the world's 
third-biggest economy). India, Brazil and other "emerging" economies will have 
seats at the table. This may mark a recognition – under discussion for some 
years – that the G8 alone are no longer the world's economic decision makers. It 
is likely to signal a shift in the running of the global economic system.

6.We place no hopes in the inclusion of new capitalist powers. China's rulers 
may claim to be socialist; others, such as Lula of Brazil and Motlanthe of South 
Africa, may present themselves at times as champions of the poor. But in fact, 
all are defenders of capitalism, exploiters and oppressors of the people of 
their own countries, and, increasingly, imperialist or sub-imperialist 
exploiters of the people of other countries.

7.If the crisis is to lead to anything other than complete defeat for the global 
popular classes, poverty, exploitation and war, the popular classes must 
mobilise. We must demand bailouts, not for the capitalists, but for us. We 
anarchist communists will fight for those who got homes on subprime mortgages to 
be bailed out and keep their homes. We will continue to engage in and support 
struggles for jobs with better wages and shorter hours, housing, services, 
health services, welfare and education, protection of the environment. We fight 
for an end to imperialist wars and to repression of our class and its struggles.

8.We present these demands in response to the G20 meeting, and will continue to 
present them in the future. Through such demands, and through direct action to 
bring them about, we will work towards building a global movement of the popular 
classes that can put an end to capitalism, the state and the crises they create.

Signed:
Alternative Libertaire (France)
Federazione dei Comunisti Anarchici (Italy)
Melbourne Anarchist Communist Group (Australia)
Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Front (South Africa)
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