Hippy Bordigism

The author of this obscure pamphlet, Jacques Camatte, was originally a member of Amadeo Bordiga's "International Communist Party". He broke with it in 1966, setting up his own little group, with the dogmatic name Invariance. But, as the in-house joke went at the time among the few people in France who gave a damn: "The only thing certain about Invariance, is that it constantly changes". Some of Camatte's ideological wanderings are actually quite interesting, although not very original!

"The Wandering of Humanity" could be considered a relatively good introduction to Camatte's ideas. Unfortunately, the operative word here is "relative", since Camatte's language sounds like a strange blend of theoretical Marxism, Situationism and post-structuralism. Well, I think! He even references Bordiga, who - on most interpretations - didn't share Camatte's political perspectives. If read carefully, the author's perspective turns out to be similar to anarcho-primitivism, and even has a (somewhat subdued) "spiritual" trait. It's hardly a co-incidence that Camatte's works have been translated to English by Fredy Perlman, who was associated with the anti-authoritarian journal Fifth Estate.

Camatte's text starts off with a near-incomprehensible analysis of "capital", but I get the impression that he isn't really referring to something economical (at least not in the strict sense). Rather, "capital" seems to be the author's Marxist-sounding synonym for authoritarian structures or authoritarian thinking. These completely dominate modern human beings, something Camatte refers to (once again using a Marxist term in a different context) "the real domination of capital". Today, "capital" has become so strong and pervasive that it threatens not only our minds and activities, but even our biological survival. The future of humanity under "capital" is grim indeed, and almost looks like a science fiction dystopia: either a completely mechanized world ruled by machines, or a mutation turning Homo sapiens into something else, or perhaps a complete collapse of civilization. Or, in a really terrifying development, boring business-as-usual...forever?

Humanity must somehow regain its ancient sense of community, and combine it with a radical sense of both individuality and universalism. This is best done in a society that is a network of small, diverse communes. The communes should be semi-nomadic, something Camatte believes strengthens both body and soul. He even leaves room for mystical experiences and spirituality, although he never elaborates on this theme. Appropriate technology and the reconciliation of Man and Nature are other desirable traits of this utopian future. Thus, "communism" (the classless society) isn't built upon the technological foundations of capitalism, as Marx imagined, but is rather a radical rupture with everything that went before. Camatte doesn't seem to know how his ideal society should be set up, though. Perhaps he didn't know, or didn't care.

According to the International Communist Current (who hated Camatte), the author actually "took to the hills" and joined a survivalist commune in the Cevennes, a mountain range in southern France. The International Communist Party wasn't pleased with him either. I faintly remember reading somewhere that they sued the dangerous heretic for copyright violation when he attempted to publish a text by the late Bordiga! But enough gossip. I'm not sure who might profit from reading a somewhat exotic article like "The Wandering of Humanity" (also available free on the web), but something tells me they can be found in the milieu which believes that Alan Watts is still the man...