This is the chapter three of Occupy Vision, which is the second volume of the three volume set titled Fanfare for the Future

The following is an excerpt from Volume One of Fanfare for the Future, titled Occupy Theory. It is the introduction.

Does saying we are the 99% obscure more than it reveals. Will it ultimately misdirect more than focus the movement?

If there is one thing we have done well, it has been to truly challenge the narrative that there is no alternative

We build this movement through the firm and fearless declaration that another world is possible, and that anything less is unacceptable

We win when we build diverse movements led by the most oppressed people in society

Michael Albert Parecon lecture at Birmingham University, 26 October 2010

Parecon is not wage slavery

Comment on what happened on March the 26th at the massive "March For The Alternative" protest in London, some context from a previous UK protest, and some pointers for the future.

In these tough economic times, working people are being asked to "pay their fair share." However, what about the rich? They caused the crisis. They should pay.

An introduction to an alternative economic model, participatory economics, and a brief exploration of strategy how to get there.

A Book Review of Ted Rall's The Anti-American Manifesto

The following is my contribution to an informal round-table discussion organised by The Equality Trust. The Equality Trust was set-up as a not-for-profit organization to educate and and campaign on the benefits of a more equal society.

We all desire a socialist society and we all likely agree that socialism has four essential factors: (1) a classless society; (2) social ownership and planning of the economy (this includes workers and consumers); (3) workers control over their wo...

Parpolity is a proposed model for a political system of a good society. It is a type of direct democracy, using a system of nested councils. Everyone would be a member of a primary council, which would be small enough for face-to-face decision mak...

This essay seeks to explore the issues that would face a participatory democratic society when relating to other countries. It is assumed that some of the other countries the participatory society deals with are not participatory societies. It is...

Contribution to the Reimagining Society Project hosted by ZCommunications

International law in a new society wouldn't exist. Allow me to explain. Let's say the goal of reimagining society is to create something that is more participatory: self managed in line with the values of parecon and parpolity.

What sorts of decision-making institutions and practices would be appropriate for a good society?

On Wednesday, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez convened state governors, city mayors, and legislators from the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) to discuss the next stage in the construction of “21st Century Socialism,” following two...

This piece examines the use of state means by the "Yes" block in the campaign for the removal of term limits in Venezuela.

Developing And Defending A Participatory Legal System.

This essay seeks to explore the issues that would face a participatory democratic society when relating to other countries.

This piece examines current attitudes regarding the Venezuelan Community Councils and their relationship with government funding.

An extensive interview about the polity in Venezuela, held with Julio Chavez, Mayor of Carora and prominent activist in all dimensions of the Bolivarian Revolution, especially concerning the Communal Councils.

At some point a revolution will transform the U.S. economy, polity, kinship, and culture - and similar revolutions will transform other countries too. Such a revolutionary process will include diverse movements and organizations working together f...

It is understandable that, despite the wealth of material about participatory society, no one has written at length of the legal vision suggested by this new society. Lawyers are not a sexy subject for many activists to talk about: they reside in ...

In early November, 1999, ZNet posted an article by Michael Albert entitled Assessing Libertarian Municipalism. This page is devoted to discussion of that article. It includes messages received and rejoinders and explorations that ensued, as best w...

On a recent speaking tour to Montreal (1999) a number of folks asked me my reactions to Libertarian Municipalism-a vision for politics emanating from the "School of Social Ecology." Others put it to me more specifically: How did I react to the rej...

UTOPIAS HAVE A LONG, mixed history in Left movements. Sometimes they have propelled our imagination toward what better worlds might look like. Other times they have trumpeted heaven on earth, a world for angels rather than mortals, a far fetched l...

The book is a collective effort to spell out vision and strategy for a feasible and desirable transformation of society’s defining institutions. It explores how to get there along with concrete examples and lessons taken from past and present Left...

Power Shift to Economic Justice and Democracy: Why the Environmental Movement Should Aim to Abolish Markets and Embrace Democratic Planning of the Economy

It is often said that how a society treats those it punishes graphically displays how civilized and humane that society is. If we look at how criminals are treated we see a portrait of a society’s moral soul.

Current times make an argument that contemporary political structures are decrepit and redundant. Every day hammers home the realization. My own country, the U.S., arguably has one of the most democratic political systems now operating.

Why should we be interested in thinking about what the political system of a good society might look like?

Presidential campaigns may prove more or less pivotal to radically transforming society. In either case, considering the issues highlighted in the 1992 campaign — economics, education, health, drugs, foreign policy, and ecology — what would be a g...

The title of this panel is "Real Utopia: Paths to a Participatory Society," and is inspired by a book I am editing for AK Press (April, 2008). However, a conference like RAT presents challenges for how to approach the topic of vision for a partici...

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise. -- "Blackbird," The Beatles

Latin American - delusion and reality

Michael Albert, born in 1947, is an author and political activist of the anarchist-syndicalist movement, living in Boston (Massachusetts / USA). He is editor of the internet platform "ZNet" as well as co-editor and co-founder of the political Z Ma...

In his latest project, Realizing Hope: Life beyond Capitalism, Michael Albert argues that there is more to creating a decent society than just having a good economic system. Other spheres of humanity are also present and must be taken into account...

{ This paper was prepared for the June 1 - 7 2006 first Z Sessions on Vision and Strategy, held in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. These sessions gather activists from around the world to share...

We cannot say much about human affairs with any confidence, but sometimes it is possible. We can, for example, be fairly confident that either there will be a world without war or there won't be a world -- at least, a world inhabited by creature...

In Search of Economic Justice

A viable and desirable strategy for transcending capitalism will certainly include leaving capitalism behind. Capitalism is despicable. It will also include, however, attaining something worthwhile in capitalism's place. What we win must be de...

(This draft benefited from conversations with many people, but especially Michael Albert and  Cynthia Peters, and from feedback at a panel discussion in Porto Alegre on political vision and from very helpful comments from studen...

It’s been just over one year since the Vancouver Parecon Collective came into existence. It was sometime in September 2003 that a few of us Vancouver Pareconistas stumbled upon one another. Since then we have created a project that has far...

To engage the state one must answer two key questions. What do we want now? What do we want later?   Regarding now, we want improvements in people's l...

The following is an interview between Stephen Shalom and Matt Grinder of the Vancouver Participatory Economics Collective. Introduction: In the 2003 World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Stephen Shalom presented a "rough draft" essay entit...

Parecon Interview

Ralph Nader is the only candidate who supports Universal Healthcare for all as a human right. Health, not merely illness should be a public concern. We could save at least $36 billion a years if we had a "paperless hospital system." As Business We...