A photograph of masked participants in the black bloc in Seattle during the WTO protests, 1999.

WTO Anniversary Reading List

Today marks 25 years since anarchists and other protesters shut down the summit of the World Trade Organization in Seattle. This was the public debut of what journalists dubbed the “anti-globalization movement”—in fact, a global movement against neoliberal capitalism.

This analysis explores the origins of that movement and what it can teach us today:

https://crimethinc.com/wtoepilogue

***

For a strategic analysis of how anarchists and other rebels were able to successfully blockade the WTO summit, we recommend "Netwar in the Emerald City," included in our zine N30, which you can print here:

https://crimethinc.com/zines/n30-the-seattle-wto-protests

***

For a spirited account from the front line in the streets on November 30, 1999, read "The Power Is Running":

https://crimethinc.com/WTO

***

In 1999, opposing neoliberalism was an extremist position. Decades later, Donald Trump appropriated this narrative and rode it to victory. This was only possible because of reformist currents in the original movement—and because we hadn't overthrown capitalism ourselves.

https://anarchistagency.com/trump-and-the-legacy-of-the-anti-globalization-movement/

Studying the WTO protests, we can learn how a relatively small number of people can act effectively when they organize horizontally and ambitiously—and grasp the stakes of today's fights.

The struggle continues. 🏴

Public

A photograph of masked participants in the black bloc in Seattle during the WTO protests, 1999.

Notices where this attachment appears