As we see ourselves. 

Work in Progress.

For over a year now, members of the German political communes movement have been working on a statement of common principles that to some degree defines the network.
A number of discussion meetings have taken place, there is an internal Internet forum, and the “Kommuja” periodical has also been used for an exchange of ideas and proposals.

The document presented below is a first attempt in this direction. It is still being discussed, both within the movement and within the individual communes themselves. Some of the wording is also still being discussed. (Bracketed words). Moreover, a number of themes have not yet been dealt with, and it is to be expected that a final statement of common principles will include passages dealing with the patriarchal nuclear family, equality, personal relationships, and our solidarity with other alternative and self managed projects that are attempting to get away from the capitalist system.

 
“As we see ourselves”: A draft theses paper formulated by representatives of the German political communes movement at the commune meeting in Kassel, May 2005.


The political communes want to change the (existing) social conditions. This change is a permanent and continual process, which we take part in conscious of the fact that the starting-point, the commune, constitutes just one possibility. Our alternative way of life, which we promote, is just as much a part of our political engagement as the action against repressive conditions.

The goal is a society with structures based on solidarity, emancipation and equal rights, (in which the self-determined development of the individual is made possible).

Capitalism is completely unsuitable for this.

Our way of understanding and decision-making is the principle of consensus. For a consensus group to function it is important (necessary, imperative) that the people involved listen to each other and deal with each other in a careful way.

As private property can lead to differences in power and to dependence, our communes are based on the common ownership of capital, real estate and the means of production.

We avoid the employment of wage earning workers and wish ourselves to be employed as little as possible as wage dependent workers.

We wish to free ourselves from the dominant way of thinking where people are valued through comparison and contrast with each other. We do not want to judge people by their so-called performance. (We wish to value social, manual and intellectual abilities equally).

Our goal is that a material and social provision for all is guaranteed, and that all (socially) necessary activities can be conducted in a self-determined way.

We find ourselves within a process that gives rise to a community culture, which is based on solidarity, reliability and a consciousness of responsibility. Each and every one of us is required to look after his and her interests and at the same time to have awareness of the others.

We wish for ourselves a fundamental willingness for discussion and debate, both on a personal and on a factual level. Communication and participation by all is important for a lively group process. Communication, good will, and the careful handling of ones self and others are the personal responsibility of all of us.

Ecological behaviour is, for us, the consequence of global solidarity and the solidarity between generations, and not an additional contradiction that will automatically disappear when capitalism is overcome. Communes are a framework, which offer support in the personal coming to terms with traditional habits, and with the question, ”What do I really need in order to be able to behave ecologically in the future?”
A common approach to dealing with materials and financial resources makes it possible to live more economically and to be able to favour ecologically sustainable products. In decision making and dealing with problems, taking ecological aspects into consideration is just as important as considering the social, economic and cultural standpoints.