Talk:Propaganda of the Deed

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This is a good start for this page. It will need an expanded section about how propaganda by the deed is also known as practical anarchism. This would describe a different take on the subject, different from its historical association with political violence. WikiSysop 19:01, 28 August 2007 (PDT)

Practical anarchism and direct action are very interwoven along the criteria of individual initiative. Because propaganda of the deed also emphasizes individual initiative, this could play a part in its definition. Both terms are of anarchist origin and both were proscribed as a response to the electorialism of social democracy, though it appears that propaganda of the deed was the only one that was offered as a general strategy by the Black International, with the implication that political violence was necessary. As there is no debate on what the term actually means and because the original definition is largely irrelevant to anarchists, this attempt would be a new attempt this is almost necessary to make this term necessary. I started a few OC blurbs in the "anarchist opinions on violence" (which will still due for my clean up) that was attempting to create a new criteria for what defines anarchist attitudes on violence. I think "precarity" instead of "desperation" plays a key role in how the term could be changed.brokendoor 21:57, 28 August 2007 (PDT)

Perhaps I wasn't being clear. There has been a significant use of the phrase "propaganda by the deed" in anarchist literature over the past 50 years to mean "practical" anarchism. The term isn't used much these days, in part because anarchists don't like the association with the 19th century meaning, but I've run across quite a few authors who use the phrase to mean practical anarchism. I guess we should dig out some quotes to flesh out additional sections. WikiSysop 22:30, 28 August 2007 (PDT)

I wrote this before your response, but figured I'd add it to clarify: Sorry, but maybe precarity and desperation isn't the "key" role, as it is based on criteria that is defined in response to capitalism. It does help give reason for why the classic definition no longer fits and attempting to fit this old criteria is out of sync with how things operate.brokendoor 00:29, 29 August 2007 (PDT)

• Anarchism in Sydney 1981-1982 The Jura Split - links to an "anti-profit bookshop" as propaganda of the deed.
• Report from the Free Store - links to an article on a Free Store as propaganda of the deed.
• Agenthellokitty defines it as "putting your ideas into practice" and "anarchists promote their ideas by putting their ideas into action."
• "the practical application of anarchist ideas in hopes that such actions will set an example and inspire others." is sourced here, but that source leads back to Infoshop's open wiki.
• A non-anarchist (maybe a former anarchist given the context?) use of the word in reference to the creation of computers, against putting deeds into practice, but also emphasizing altruism, relating the concept back to the idea of deeds inspiring others.
• Changing Employment In The Green Mountains suggests their co-op is propaganda of the deed.
• Review of Michel Foucault’s The History of Sexuality Volume I : An Introduction relates propaganda of the deed to Foucault's activism saying "Anarchists in partic- ular admire the propaganda of the deed ; thought emerges not from thinking but from living and struggling."
• Heart of an Anarchist implies either computer technology or helping in Katrina as propaganda of the deed.

All of this points to living exemplary lives and doing deeds worthy of immitation. I don't seem to get direct definitions, but that shouldn't slow down what seems to be a strong association.

• September 2nd edit complete. Definition seem to cover everything as before, de-emphasizing regicide (by placing assassination list and other information under "political violence") and emphasizing a more contemporary view of potd. Suggestions for further development welcome. brokendoor 14:24, 2 September 2007 (PDT)

I'll keep an eye out for more quotes and citations. We can create a citation section or just footnote stuff. We could also have a subsection of quotes. WikiSysop 20:26, 2 September 2007 (PDT)