How do anarchists critical of activism define "activist"?

Answer 1

Activism — An activist is a person who is responsible to a defined issue and who helps address that issue through mobilizing a base of people to take collective action. Activists are accountable to themselves as moral actors on a specific issue. Democratic structures are a utilitarian consequence of activities designed to win on the defined issue.

Advocacy — An advocate is a person who is responsible to a defined issue and who helps address that issue through collective action that uses the instruments of democracy to establish and implement laws and policies that will create a just and equitable society.

Organising — An organiser is a person who is responsible to a defined constituency and who helps build that constituency through leadership development, collective action and the development of democratic structures.

Comments

hey sabotage - your definitions are interestingly sort of neutral in their language; leaving the reader to assume the critiques that someone might have. i'd be interested in your critique of the practices and/or roles that you delineate.

Answer 2

An activist is a specialist in the struggles of other people; a person who believes her_himself to be indispensable to that struggle; a person who believes her_himself to be an authentic representative of that struggle.
Synonyms: community organizer; union organizer; media spokesperson; police liaison...

Comments

could you point me out to any texts that have been written on this subject, i'd like a more thorough discussion..... thanks!

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http://www.reocities.com/kk_abacus/ioaa/ioaa.html