municipalisme

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Libertarian municipalism is a political theory that developed out of the writings of American social theorist and philosopher Murray Bookchin. It advocates for establishing direct democratic systems within municipalities, such as towns and cities. It envisions these local communities as the foundation for an ecological society, where citizens actively manage social and economic affairs directly rather than relying on representatives. This approach encourages municipalities to join in confederations to collectively address larger regional issues, creating a network of interconnected communities focused on cooperation and mutual aid. Rooted in principles of direct democracy, decentralization, and libertarian communalism, this system is intended to serve as an alternative to centralized nation-states and corporate capitalism. Bookchin argues that libertarian municipalism offers a pathway to address the ecological crisis by confronting the systems of domination embedded within current governance and resource distribution models. He contrasts this approach with past attempts to create a stateless society, critiquing traditional anarchism for its focus on non-political arenas like factories or cooperatives. In Bookchin's view, the municipality represents the ideal setting for building a true public sphere, revitalizing active citizenship, and strengthening community bonds. Ultimately, his concept of social ecology evolves into a coherent political theory emphasizing direct democracy, municipal organization, and a networked confederal system. Carter in his booklet "How to Build Municipalist Communes" highlights that building municipalist communes involves creating local, self-governing communities using direct democracy, cooperative economics, and prefigurative politics to challenge state/capital power, focusing on neighborhood-level transformation through base-building, citizens' assemblies, and shared resources like community land trusts, often inspired by radical ideas of the "right to the city" and collective self-management.