The Role of the Revolutionary Organisation

The Role of the Revolutionary Organisation

Glossary

The following terms will be used in this pamphlet:

Affiliation
Associated with, or a member of, a group or organisation.

Agitation
The arousing of public concern about an issue and pressing for action on it. This could be through propaganda or direct action.

Anarchism
An economic and political system based upon removing oppressive and exploitative structures in society (such as capitalism and the state), and building a society where everyone has an equal input into decisions that affect their life.

Autonomous
An individual, group or region having the freedom to govern itself or control its own affairs free from outside control.

Capitalism
An economic and political system based around exploiting those forced to sell their labour, in which a country’s trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit.

Class
A set of people given a shared title based on something they hold in common. Anarchists often talk of class in terms of an economic relationship, which this pamphlet will examine.

Communism
An economic and political system based around common ownership of the means of production (such as factories, fields and workshops), where goods are made available based upon need and ensuring the well-being of all.

Economy
The system used to work out how goods and resources are produced and allocated to people. The current economy is capitalist, but other forms of economy are possible.

Equalitarian
Another term for egalitarian. A person who believes in the equality of all people

Hierarchical
The nature of hierarchy. A system in which members of an organisation or society are ranked according to relative status or authority.

Infallible
Incapable of making mistakes or being wrong.

Institutional
Of, relating to, or characteristic of an institution. For example: Institutional racism.

Intersections
The points at which different things come together. Often used in anarchist text to talk about the interaction between multiple systems of oppression, discrimination and/or privilege.

Insurrection
A violent uprising against an authority or government.

Internationalist
A policy or practice of cooperation going beyond the notion of being divided by nation, especially in political and economic matters.

Leftist
Used to refer to authoritarian or hierarchical left-wing organisations (such as trade unions and political parties), or their members.

Libertarian
One who advocates maximising individual rights and minimising the role of the state.

Oppression
The state of being subject to oppressive treatment. The exercise of authority or power in a harmful or unjust manner.

Propaganda
Information or deeds used to promote a political cause or point of view.

Revolutionary Consciousness
An awareness of the fact that to overcome the systems of exploitation and oppression in our lives we will need to fundamentally change in how society functions.

Social Revolution
A revolution undertaken by the majority of the working class that removes all class divides. Not to be confused with a political revolution, where the people at the top may change but a class structure remains in place.

Solidarity
The act of undertaking supportive activity towards other people which does not come with the expectation of reward, but instead comes from a sense of mutual aid or common interest.

State, The
The collected institutions that create and enforce laws created by a small minority of people within a given territory. Through laws the state claims that only it has the right to grant the use of violence. The state uses the law to justify and protect a capitalist economy.

Vanguard
A group of people leading the way in an authoritarian and prescriptive manner. Often used to describe the approach of Leninist groups.