CLASS WAR Benjamin Franks University of Glasgow, Crichton Campus b.franks@crichton.gla.ac.uk Paul Stott University of East London pvastott@yahoo.co.uk Word count: 1,615 Class War was a radical newspaper that developed into a formal anarchic grouping of the same name. According to Ian Bone, the principal originator of the paper, its first contributors were drawn from the London Autonomists, members of Red Action (a militantly anti-fascist Marxist faction), pre-existing London anarchist groups and sex workers based in West London (Bone, 2006: 130 and 143). Its first edition, which came out for May Day 1983, was marked by its combination of acerbic wit and aggressive working class politics; its humour distinguished the paper from the overly sombre papers of the orthodox Left, whilst its assertive class consciousness demarcated it from the then largely pacifist anarchist periodicals. The paper’s belligerent style was adapted from Bone’s earlier alternative newssheet Alarm. It was also a feature of Xtra, a London-based publication edited by Martin Wright, who joined Bone in producing Class War. Class War’s satirical tone also harked back to nineteenth century political newssheets like Johann Most’s Freiheit. Class War was distinguished from many rival anarchist publications of the period who found their audience, and thus their style, from within the once large anti-nuclear movement led by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, a pacifist and cross-class grouping, a movement Class War disparaged and disrupted (Class War, 1983: 4). The paper built up its reputation in the popular imagination by playing on the worst fears and prejudices of the 1980s’ the Thatcherite governing elite. It used the ignorance and naivety of mainstream journalists to full effect, with its writers, particularly Bone, being more than willing to engage with the mainstream press. Class War glorified everything that the dominant 1980s political culture – Thatcherism – condemned: working class solidarity, anti-market-communism, and violent hatred for the rich. Class War was not the only British anarchist group that recognised the importance of class struggle; there was also the long-standing anarcho-syndicalist group the Direct Action Movement (now known as the Solidarity Federation) and Black Flag magazine. However, as opposed to anarcho-syndicalists, Class War believed that, in terms of practical tactics, communities rather than workplaces were the centre of resistance to middle class forces. Workplace battles were still important (and Class War made brief attempts to organise industry-based supporters groups such as Class War Healthworkers), but the changes in the economy had restricted the effectiveness of industrial campaigns. As a result of this emphasis on community revolt, Class War was widely associated with the promotion of and involvement in urban rioting. Journalists for the mainstream press blamed CWF for starting the riots, which they denied originating, but celebrated and gleefully admitted to participating in (Bone, Pullen & Scargill, 1991: 12). As a result, the British media began to write of an ‘anarchist menace’ which was the equal of any ‘red scare’. For the first time since the Angry Brigade bombings of the early seventies, anarchism was perceived as a threat to the British establishment (Home, 1988, 95). Partly as a result of its populist tone and ability to court and manipulate publicity, Class War successfully linked up with groups that had not previously identified with anarchism. Close contacts were created between Class War and a group of Doncaster miners, in which the anarchists provided propaganda and financial support. In turn, Class War gained significant support from strikers because of its populist publicity in favour of miners’ autonomous activities outside of formal union structures. Although Class War never had more than 150 formal members it had significantly more supporters. By the end of the 1984-85 Miners’ Strike it was reputedly achieving sales of over 15,000 (Bone, 2006: 123; Class War, 1991: 4). This was followed by their direct involvement in picket-line resistance at Britain’s last major industrial conflict, the print-workers’ dispute centred on Rupert Murdoch’s Wapping plant in 1986. Class War also took part in the Stop the City (STC) demonstrations that took place from September 1983 to September 1985. STC involved disrupting the functioning of the financial districts of major cities through low-level sabotage, such as blocking up the locks of major institutions and gluing up bank machines. Class War also organised actions that would build up the solidarity of its supporters, scare the ruling class and gain media publicity for their brand of free-communism. These attention-grabbing happenings included a Bash the Rich demonstration held in the affluent Kensington area of London in May 1985, upsetting, to participants’ delight, local residents. This was followed by the disruption of the elite Henley Regatta a few months later, followed in September that year, by a repeat of the Bash the Rich demonstration in another affluent London suburb of Hampstead. However, this march was far less successful as the police had learnt how to control the mob, and many of the participants were detained or assaulted. With this increase in activity and participation, Class War restructured itself into a formal membership organisation. Up until this point the production of the newspaper had circulated between the various factions, which resulted in editions of varying style and competence. Some were straightforwardly populist, while others were somewhat more theoretically sophisticated and lacked more general appeal. This tension between greater theoretical coherence and seeking a wider public engagement was to continue to cause turbulence within the group, and provide the basis for many criticisms of the paper from within and outside the movement. Whilst Class War began to also produce a theoretical magazine, The Heavy Stuff, it was nonetheless criticised for its patronising ‘anti-intellectual’ assumptions about the working classes (Aufheben, 1997: 40-41; Red Menace, 1986: 2-3), although even its critics recognised that the group had been successful in attracting a new constituency to anarchism. The attempts at greater group coherence led to the first formal splits with the organisation. However this did result in any immediate loss of vitality, as Class War organised, in 1987, a Rock Against the Rich tour (which featured Joe Strummer formerly of The Clash) and an entry into electoral politics, standing in the North Kensington by-election of 1988, carried out solely for propaganda purposes (Palmer, 1988e: 2). They also continued to grow as a result of their role in promoting direct opposition to the Conservative government’s change in local taxation which substantially increased the burden on the poor for the benefit of the wealthy. The mass non-payment campaign and the ensuing public insurrections, including a large riot in central London in 1990, led to the tax being abandoned and played a role in Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, falling from power. However, with the decline of mass industrial disputes and large scale popular protests, there were few opportunities for Class War to promote its paper and the organisation began to stagnate. By 1992, following greater tensions concerning the direction and structure of the group (which was now a Federation), Bone and many others, who had been responsible for their most imaginative stunts, had left. Tim Scargill then led a short-lived, tiny breakaway faction in 1993, the Class War Organisation (CWO). In 1997 the remainder of CWF split again. One side announced the closure of the organisation and produced an edition of the newspaper that was supposed to be the last: ‘Class War is dead... Long live the class war!’ (Class War Federation, 1997). This faction went on to become involved in the wider anti-capitalist movement and produced the short- lived Smash Hits magazine. The other side continued to produce a version of the paper in an attempt to reproduce its earlier vivacity. Despite some acrimony, members from both sides continued to work with each other in campaigns such as anti-monarchy activity and the June 18th 1999 Carnival Against Capitalism The small faction that continued to produce Class War were also involved in radical anti-fascism, helping to form the militant anti-fascist group ANTIFA. In addition, with Bone, Wright and others, they set up the Movement Against the Monarchy, which campaigned against the British royal family. It also continued to run an occasional newspaper. In 2005, members of the formerly Leninist Red Party (now libertarian socialist Red Star) became involved with Class War, and helped to partly revitalise the group. It now has a frequently updated website, and since 2006 launched a theoretical magazine, A Touch of Class. In 2007, following the re-involvement of Ian Bone, Class War also revived its March Against the Rich in Notting Hill, aimed at the Conservative Party’s leader David Cameron in particular and the gentrification of the area in general (Bone, 2007). This, however, met the similar heavy policing that it had faced 20 years earlier. SEE ALSO: Anarchist Federation, Anarcho-Communism, Angry Brigade, Anti-Poll Tax Rebellion 1989-1991, Insurrectionary Anarchism, Johann Most, Solidarity Federation REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED READINGS Aufheben (1997), ‘Intakes: Death of a paper tiger.... Reflections on Class War’, Aufheben, No. 6, 40-42. Bone, I. (2006), Bash the Rich: True-life confessions of an anarchist in the UK, Bath: Tangent. Bone, I. (2007), ‘Why I’ve Rejoined “Class War”’, Ian Bone, 8 December 2007, <http://ianbone.wordpress.com/2007/12/08/why-ive-rejoined-class-war/#comments>, last accessed 17th December 2007. Bone, I. Pullen, A. and Scargill, T. (1991), ‘Disorder Is Our Power’ in Class War: A decade of disorder, London: Verso. Class War (1983), ‘CND: Taking it Lying Down’, Class War (‘We Have Found New homes for the Rich’ edition August 1983). Class War Federation (1991), This is Class War: An introduction to the Class War Federation, Stirling: AK Press. Class War Federation (1997), Class War, Issue No. 73. Home. S. (1988), The Assault on Culture: Utopian currents from Letrrisme to Class War, London: Aporia Press and Unpopular Books. Palmer, T. (1988e), ‘Introduction: the Kensington By-Election’, The Heavy Stuff No.2, pp.2. Red Menace (1986), Anarchism Exposed!, London: Red Menace.