Constructive Anarchy: Building Infrastructures of Resistance

While there has been renewed interest in anarchist movements in recent years, much of it has focused on anarchism as a countercultural activity and neglected the role of anarchists in organizing around everyday labor and community issues. Shantz (Kwantlen Polytechnic U., Canada) aims to fill that gap with this sympathetic study of the organizational practices, strategies, and tactics that anarchists in English-speaking North America have utilized as they seek to build "infrastructures of resistance" within the realms of alternative media, anti-poverty campaigns, mainstream labor unions, border and immigration politics, and political education. Following the examination of anarchist activities, a general theory of "anarchist transfer cultures" is presented which describes how anarchists work to build institutions that meet everyday needs while working towards broader social transformation. Annotation c2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Jeff Shantz, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Canada