Autonomism, or Autonomist Marxism is a left wing political movement and theory. Autonomism (autonomia) emerged in Italy in the 1960s from workerist (operaismo) communism. Later, post-Marxist and lifestylist anarchist tendencies became significant after influence from Situationism, the failure of the Italian revolutionary era in the 1970s and the emergence of a number of important theorists including Antonio Negri. It influenced the German and Dutch autonomen, the worldwide Social Center movement, and today is influential in Italy, the United States and some other English speaking countries. Those who describe themselves as 'autonomists' now vary from workerist marxists to lifestylist post-Marxists or (post-)anarchists.

Autonomist theory, in contrast to other forms of Marxism, emphasises the ability of the working class to force changes to the organisation of the capitalist system independent of the state, trade unions or political parties. It is less concerned with party political organisation, and with theoretical or doctrinal consistency, than other types of Marxist thought; instead it focuses on spontaneous action and continual development of its theoretical tools. Early theorists were Mario Tronti , Antonio Negri, Sergio Bologna and others in Italy in the 1970s. It has influenced Marxist academics including Harry Cleaver, John Holloway and Steve Wright.

Autonomism may also refer to the Dutch anarchist Autonomen movement from the 1960s which concentrated on squatting, or to the German Autonomen squats of the 1980s.

Due to the inspiration provided by the Autonomist marxist and Autonomen movements for some of the revolutionary left, some English language leftist groups with a fundamentally libertarian socialist bent describe themselves as Autonomists, for example, the British WOMBLES.

External links

• Aut-op-sy - Autonomist forum and texts

See also

• black bloc
• Disobbedienti
• Tute Bianche
• Ya Basta
• Zapatista