While i love Dean Spade's writing in general, i deeply distrust the approach he promotes in his books when it comes to conflict, in my opinion a central question. I agree with you on the crucial role that relationships play in our political praxis, and also with the point you make that they are sometimes messy, raw. The conflict averse and individualizing approach Spade promotes does not sound like a valid solution that works for everyone. I think Starhawk has done much better work on this topic. Her approach invites conflict, as a given, bound to happen, and instead offers tools for how to deal with them in constructive ways when they do occur (impact vs. intention, mediation, rage circles etc). Whereas Spade by and large seems to suggest to always find fault within oneself. Of course, critical self-reflection is always central, but if we sanitize our conflicts too much, we also miss out on a chance to go much deeper in our relationships. The risk and conflict adverse attitude that often reigns in our circles is a huge problem.
I guess I have a really different reading of Dean's work. He talks so often about agency, about being forgiving with ourselves, fighting to change the world but not expecting perfect outcomes. The only times I've heard him talk about guilt it's to criticize that whole paradigm.
I definitely agree with you about how the circles many of us organize in are extremely conflict-avoidant. I think it's one of our biggest problems!
Generally speaking, yes, it is all about agency and the things you mention. But when it comes to conflict, there's that whole part about “What Else Is True?”, where he suggests to look internally why something bothers you, instead of engaging in conflict with a person or group. I guess i am sensitive to the issue, because that part was quoted to me during a conflict that we had in a group. I feel more affinity to a more punk confrontational style, or even better a "southern european" style (cliche alert), confrontational but with heart, to then later self-reflect, apologize, yield, find common ground. To self-reflect first and avoid conflicts skips an important step. But younger generations seem incapable of that.
ismatu gwendolyn wrote an article recently which critiques the Black artist in general (and their role in upholding imperialism) and referenced it when asked about the halftime show. here is that article: https://www.threadings.io/the-mythical-black-artist-2/
I can't stop referencing this text but seriously- 'The Fall of Public Man' (silly dated title, 1979) by Richard Sennett had it really click for me why so much anarchist or anarchist-adjacent writing about relationships/relationality had rang hollow for me for so long. I know no one's gonna read this book so I made a sort of cliff notes of excerpts zine.
If, like me, you're feminized, and/or a mom, and people will always just project that you exist in the world primarily to illuminate and nurture relationships, or do 'care work', sooner or later you might get really burned out on the relentless churn of interpersonal pain, chaos, and all the expectations of work dumped reflexively at your feet no matter what else you try to do with your time. So it's been unbelievably helpful to de-naturalize the (western capitalist) cultural fixation on 'intimacy', 'closeness', 'presence', 'connectiveness' and 'the personal'. Especially the framing of destructive ecocidal forces of markets/states as 'impersonal' and that therefore, opposing them should entail a heightening and an even higher elevation of 'the personal'.
I comprehend the material importance of relationships: they can propel, grow, stall or destroy anything (any project, endeavor, location) they're attached to. But treating 'closeness' as the primary wellspring of meaning in the world, the ultimate goal of everything, distorts our ability to evaluate the material dimension of those same relationships. I feel like I see it everywhere now. A lot of writing about relationships falls apart for me also because it fails to consider whether the 'self' is possibly not really a real thing.
Anyway just dropping this here for anyone who's interested.
I loved your new video with Submedia. All the interviews were fantastic. I wish more people would speak about Landless workers movement. I first heard about them from Brazilian hardcore punk bands.
Hi Peter, thanks for sharing this post. I picked up your book (The Solutions are Already Here) at Burning Books in Buffalo, found it very refreshing and have now had my students read this as part of a seminar I teach on climate chagne and conflict. I'd love to connect if you have time to chat- I think my students would love to hear from you over Zoom! Please drop me a note: christopherpdavey@gmail.com
While i love Dean Spade's writing in general, i deeply distrust the approach he promotes in his books when it comes to conflict, in my opinion a central question. I agree with you on the crucial role that relationships play in our political praxis, and also with the point you make that they are sometimes messy, raw. The conflict averse and individualizing approach Spade promotes does not sound like a valid solution that works for everyone. I think Starhawk has done much better work on this topic. Her approach invites conflict, as a given, bound to happen, and instead offers tools for how to deal with them in constructive ways when they do occur (impact vs. intention, mediation, rage circles etc). Whereas Spade by and large seems to suggest to always find fault within oneself. Of course, critical self-reflection is always central, but if we sanitize our conflicts too much, we also miss out on a chance to go much deeper in our relationships. The risk and conflict adverse attitude that often reigns in our circles is a huge problem.
I guess I have a really different reading of Dean's work. He talks so often about agency, about being forgiving with ourselves, fighting to change the world but not expecting perfect outcomes. The only times I've heard him talk about guilt it's to criticize that whole paradigm.
I definitely agree with you about how the circles many of us organize in are extremely conflict-avoidant. I think it's one of our biggest problems!
Generally speaking, yes, it is all about agency and the things you mention. But when it comes to conflict, there's that whole part about “What Else Is True?”, where he suggests to look internally why something bothers you, instead of engaging in conflict with a person or group. I guess i am sensitive to the issue, because that part was quoted to me during a conflict that we had in a group. I feel more affinity to a more punk confrontational style, or even better a "southern european" style (cliche alert), confrontational but with heart, to then later self-reflect, apologize, yield, find common ground. To self-reflect first and avoid conflicts skips an important step. But younger generations seem incapable of that.
Heaps of gratitude for your words, analysis, keeping it real, and being courageous + resilient amidst it all. Big love.
thanks so much!
some critiques of the half time show:
ismatu gwendolyn wrote an article recently which critiques the Black artist in general (and their role in upholding imperialism) and referenced it when asked about the halftime show. here is that article: https://www.threadings.io/the-mythical-black-artist-2/
cyree jarelle johnson's critique and critique of the critique: https://blackmedicineblackmagic.substack.com/p/black-leftists-black-liberals-and
chapstickpapi on Instagram also had a very solid critique: https://www.instagram.com/p/DF6ew1axTuv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Yay! I'm glad when people take my requests seriously!
I'm going to get to reading these, on the road now and then back to the grind as soon as I'm back, but I'll find the time!
I can't stop referencing this text but seriously- 'The Fall of Public Man' (silly dated title, 1979) by Richard Sennett had it really click for me why so much anarchist or anarchist-adjacent writing about relationships/relationality had rang hollow for me for so long. I know no one's gonna read this book so I made a sort of cliff notes of excerpts zine.
(For reading online: https://compulsories.noblogs.org/files/2022/01/sennet-readonline.pdf
For printing zine format: https://compulsories.noblogs.org/files/2022/01/sennet-zineformat.pdf)
If, like me, you're feminized, and/or a mom, and people will always just project that you exist in the world primarily to illuminate and nurture relationships, or do 'care work', sooner or later you might get really burned out on the relentless churn of interpersonal pain, chaos, and all the expectations of work dumped reflexively at your feet no matter what else you try to do with your time. So it's been unbelievably helpful to de-naturalize the (western capitalist) cultural fixation on 'intimacy', 'closeness', 'presence', 'connectiveness' and 'the personal'. Especially the framing of destructive ecocidal forces of markets/states as 'impersonal' and that therefore, opposing them should entail a heightening and an even higher elevation of 'the personal'.
I comprehend the material importance of relationships: they can propel, grow, stall or destroy anything (any project, endeavor, location) they're attached to. But treating 'closeness' as the primary wellspring of meaning in the world, the ultimate goal of everything, distorts our ability to evaluate the material dimension of those same relationships. I feel like I see it everywhere now. A lot of writing about relationships falls apart for me also because it fails to consider whether the 'self' is possibly not really a real thing.
Anyway just dropping this here for anyone who's interested.
Take about the halftime show I liked: https://youtu.be/42hduL6bDJs?
Article about Sudan I read a while back: https://freedomnews.org.uk/2024/04/22/barbarism-in-sudan-a-desperate-appeal-for-help-from-sudans-anarchists/
(The article is about a year old, so I don’t know how updated the info is)
More Sudan info: https://muntjacmag.noblogs.org/post/2025/02/11/hope-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a3%d9%85%d9%84-al-amal-1-2025/
I loved your new video with Submedia. All the interviews were fantastic. I wish more people would speak about Landless workers movement. I first heard about them from Brazilian hardcore punk bands.
Hi Peter, thanks for sharing this post. I picked up your book (The Solutions are Already Here) at Burning Books in Buffalo, found it very refreshing and have now had my students read this as part of a seminar I teach on climate chagne and conflict. I'd love to connect if you have time to chat- I think my students would love to hear from you over Zoom! Please drop me a note: christopherpdavey@gmail.com
'Fascism is organised mysticism'.
elements include "Traditional Values", "Family Values',
"The Nation as Family", "Blood & Soil"...
i'd thrown in "belief in the existence of 'viruses'' but that
would offend the Sensitives...