David Graeber on radiobubblenews

On Saturday 9 June 2012, we hosted American anthropologist David Graeber on the @radiobubblenews show. The American author, researcher, and one of the pioneers of the Occupy Wall Street movement, shared his thoughts on global capitalism as well as on the potential of citizen movements to radically change the current status quo.

What follows is a “listener’s guide”, which will enable you to listen to whatever specific part of the interview you would like to hear. We thank all members and non-members of radiobubble’s community for their participation – the interview/discussion was a collective endeavour.

In the booth, together with David Graeber, were @risinggalaxy @IrateGreek @csyllas. Enjoy the broadcast, which is in both Greek and English. The translation of the listener's guide was provided by @iptamenos33. 

06:40 - 08:17 | We ask Graeber what has changed in Athens since his last visit (2010)

08:18 - 14:06 | David tells us about the discussions he has had with US and European political and economical executives, and how worried the economical and political elites are about the current economical developments (at the Federal Reserves for instance, they estimate for instance that the system will collapse within 2-3 years, especially if no debt remission will be offered to those indebted)

14:09 - 18:32 | We start the discussion about the Occupy Wall Street movement: we ask whether the movement has fulfilled its initial objectives. Graeber tells us that OWS managed to bring back the class-issue to the centre of interest after almost 50 years. He explains the organizational procedures of the movement.

18:33 - 29:02 |  Who were involved from the beginning in the OWS movement and how did it develop. What was the history of the basic slogan  (“We are the 99%”), and what was the character of the discussions on the creation of a broader political framework. 

34:10 - 43:07 | Graeber  answers questions about the future of the movement and explains its origin and funding. He comments on the discussions and the internal differences, and he distinguishes the core of the OWS-movement from various other “branches”. He describes strange political “mixtures” and mentions communication tools of the movement, such as the people’s microphone.

43:24 - 48:54 |  About police repression in the U.S. and Europe. How repression increased after various groups, which originated from the reservoir of “liberals”, abandoned the movement. 

49:10 - 51:08 | On the extent to which the initial “central” assemblies developed locally. 

51:19 - 53:50 | On the birth of subversive movements within capitalism and their global influence. 

53:51 - 56:30 |  About Trotskists, Ron Paul and their “right-winged” positions.  

1:01:15 - 1:04:40 | Graeber explains the nature of wealth by distinguishing the “human economies” from the “commercialized economies” ( in his book Debt: Τhe first 5000 years).

1:04:41 - 1:13:10 | Graeber analyzes why it is very well possible that the capitalist system may not exist within a generation from now. He comments on what people can do on a personal level, with the appropriate level of awareness. He points out the importance of the creation of a global movement for information and action.

1:13:11 - 1:18:13 |  Discussion about violence: the black bloc and how its meaning differs in various countries, the anti-democratic nature of Chris Hedges’ pacifist logic – “hierarchical structures can be implemented only through force”.

1:18:14 - 1:27:00 |  Graeber explains his stance on how a member of the movement responds to a sexist attack (on the occasion of his article here)

1:27:00 - 1:33:00 | The example of Madagascar: the relations between people and the state, the autonomous communities and the uprisings against attacks by companies or the state. 

1:37:48 - 1:42:02  | On SYRIZA

1:42:59 - | What it means to Graeber to be an anarchist.