Who's Afraid of the Black Blocs? Anarchy in Action around the World

by Dupuis-déri, Francis; Lederhendler, Lazer

• ISBN13: 9781604869491
• ISBN10: 1604869496
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2014-09-11
• Publisher: PM Press

Summary

Faces masked, dressed in black, and forcefully attacking the symbols of capitalism, Black Blocs have been transformed into an antiglobalization media spectacle. But the popular image of the window-smashing thug hides a complex reality. Francis Dupuis-Déri outlines the origin of this international phenomenon, its dynamics, and its goals, arguing that the use of violence always takes place in an ethical and strategic context. This text has been translated into English for the first time and is completely revised and updated to include the most recent Black Bloc actions at protests in Greece, Germany, Canada, and England, and its role in the Occupy movement and the Quebec student strike. It lays out a comprehensive view of the Black Bloc tactic and locates it within the anarchist tradition of direct action.

Author Biography

Francis Dupuis-Déri is a professor of political science and a member of the Institut de recherches et d’études féministes at the Université du Québec à Montréal. He has been active in anarchist-leaning collectives in Quebec, France, and the United States. He is the author of several books on social movements, feminism, and anarchism. Lazer Lederhendler is a Canadian literary translator and academic. A four-time nominee for the Governor General’s Award for French to English translation, he won the award in 2008. They both live in Montreal.