A book about Big Flame
Some ex members have come together to develop a book project. Provisionally titled Big Flame: Re-appraising radical politics, it will probably be published in 2011. The book aims:
1. To present the history – or, more accurately, histories – of Big Flame, its theory, principles and practice. For this reason, while the book is authored, it includes dozens of contributions from ex-members of Big Flame, and the authors do not intend to paper over the many cracks in the organisation. There are many different perspectives then for understanding Big Flame and its relevance for today. By including many of them in this book, with contributions of very different lengths and in different styles from the more personal to the more analytic, we aim to convey something of this diversity.
2. To reappraise its politics and impact, and to review its contribution to the British Left as well to the lives of some of its members. While the authors are well disposed to their history in Big Flame, this book is not a panegyric: it recognises BF’s failures as well as its contributions.
3. To apply its politics and practice to certain contemporary political situations and struggles – and, thus, whilst the book does draw on histories, it looks forwards. The book intends to be of value to activists within the new social movements struggling against capitalist globalisation today.
The provisional structure is:
Introduction
Part I About Big Flame
Chapter 1 Capitalism under threat: The context in which Big Flame emerged
Chapter 2 What was Big Flame?
Chapter 3 New theory, new practice
Chapter 4 Intervention after Intervention: what BF did
Chapter 5 Case Studies
Chapter 6 What went right and what went wrong: assessing Big Flame
Part II After Big Flame
Chapter 7 Moving On: what Big Flame members did next
Chapter 8 Rekindling the Flame: Updating Big Flame’s politics in the 21st Century
Afterword
Help Required
We would welcome comments, suggestions or offers of help with the book. Contact us at: bigflame7084@googlemail.com.
Updates
This page will give occasional updates on progress with the book.
(last update: 6th June 2010)
