Anarchism in the Czech Republic
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[edit] Anarchist History
See Main Article: Czech Anarchist History
Anarchist tendencies in what is now the Czech Republic can be seen as far back as the 15th century with Jan Hus and the Hussites, a radical Christian sect which emphasized following the life of Jesus. One manifestation of following Jesus' teachings was organizing communally and denouncing private property.
In the 19th century anarchism came to the Czech Republic mostly from Czech immigrants in the United States who were introduced to anarchist politics during their time there. Some of these immigrants were sent back to their homeland where they brought with them their anarchist convictions.
From the momentum of mining strikes in Northern Bohemia the Czech anarchist federation (Česká anarchistická federace, ČAF) was founded around 1904. The federation, with several hundred members, formed to clearly define and disseminate anarchist ideas. Other anarchist groups and magazines emerged during this period of syndicalist activity. Anarchists in this period also took part in struggles against the military and immense control the church wielded at the time.
The anarchist movement was dealt a large blow in World War I when anarchist organisations and their magazines were prohibited, and confiscation of property and internment of many activists occurred. The war also divided the movement because of anarchists' inability to agree on a single response to the war. Some remained staunchly anti-military and unwilling to participate party politics. Others, however, saw the war as the only opportunity to achieve national sovereignty and joined forces with state socialists.
It wasn't until the fall of Bolshevism in 1989 as well as the rise of punk that anarchism again emerged in the Czech Republic. During this time anarcho-punk bands formed, political zines were printed and anarchist ideas once again began to take hold. The anarchist magazine A-Kontra found its start during this period and continues to publish anarchist news and opinion today.
The Czechoslovak anarchist association (Ceskoslovenske anarchistke sdruzeni), was founded in October 1989 in Prague, a month before the change of regime. Involved in the Leva alternativa they tried to coordinate anarchist activities. They were organising anti-militarist demonstrations and very soon street fights with the fascist skinheads started, culminating in a huge battle at Letenska in Prague in 1992, which ended with a victory for the anarchists. Anarchists also protested against the abandonment of the original ideals of the "velvet revolution", the creation of a new elite and restoration of market capitalism.
An important event in the Czech anarchist history was the September 2000 IMF and World Bank meeting in Prague. Anarchists together with Trotskyists, radical environmentalists other organisations formed a platform Iniciativa proti ekonomicke globalizaci (INPEG) and were intensively involved in the protests. The protests culminated in a demonstration of 12,000 people and running battles with the police.
[edit] Anarchist Groups
Czechoslovak Anarchist Federation
Priama Akcia
Federace anarchistických skupin (Federation of Social Anarchists)
Uherskohradištské anarchistické sdružení
Anarchofeministická skupina
Antifašistická akce
Solidarita
Reclaim the Streets!- Praha
[edit] External links
Anarchist Yellow Pages: Czech Republic
Abolishing the Borders from Below (Eastern European Anarchist Newspaper)
Alternative Network for Eastern Europe (Alter-EE)
