Mortar: Revolutionary Journal of Common Cause Anarchist Organization: Volume 2

This is Volume 2 of a publication put out by Common Cause, an anarchist-communist organization in southern Ontario. I was given this copy for free and I believe a simple Google search will produce a PDF copy. 

Reading it was interesting and not quite what I expected.  Although I do not identify with anarchist-communist politics, many of the ideas discussed are reconcilable with my own politics. I did not expect to relate to the arguments presented as much as I did. 

The publication stresses direct action and participation in struggles (the class struggle) through formal organizations which operate as alternatives to state structures, but also warns against being too radical or trying projects which lack common sense, such as alternative medical-care structures which put people's health at risk.

Activists need to look beyond their universities, unions and workplaces to take a neighbourhood or community-style approach, the authors say. Community building seems to be a focus of the Common Cause. I came into this work knowing little to nothing about the organization. Perhaps this quote summarizes partly what their goals are:

“As anarchist communists, we imagine a post-revolutionary society as being composed of a decentralized network of autonomous, self-governing assemblies and councils, where decisions are made collectively by those most directly affected by their outcomes. These localized structures can be federalized when necessary, into larger decision-making bodies that could address issues of broader regional significance—such as water and waste management”(27).

Part of the publication is devoted to a discussion of sexual violence and how Common Cause deals with it within their group on the rare occasion when they are forced to. Significantly, the writers said that they use their politics to shape their policy. I liked these lines: "People who sexually assault others should be thought of less as “community members” and more as class traitors. They take advantage of the divisions in society...for their personal gain” (74).

The publication closes with a brief discussion of the risks of activism, and of opposing the structure and taking part in the class struggle. 

I would certainly recommend Mortar for any reader looking to expand their perspective beyond the mainstream view.