Talking of Anarchy and Publishing with Ramsey Kanaan of PM Press

So, what you're saying is that "anarchy" might be a scary sounding term but it's actually something that we're quite familiar with and actually appreciate in action. You're from the UK. You had a chance to put your political activism into practice over there. What did you take on and what were you all able to accomplish?

[You're] not only familiar with, but - typically unwittingly - [you] actually practice it all the time! I'm very leery of the 'activist'/'normal person' dichotomy. I have never seen myself as an activist as such. The publishing and distribution, which I've always viewed as part my contribution to building a better world, is just something which I have somewhat of a knack for, even if that 'talent' is largely just perseverance! And I'm all for encouraging folks to do what they feel comfortable with, rather than criticizing and/or castigating them for what they are not doing (whatever that may be).

Outside of the propaganda world, I was active in various anarchist and strike/labor solidarity groups in Scotland, culminating in the anti-poll tax campaign. Briefly, that was a 6-year campaign against a particularly vicious law/tax, which resulted in the biggest mass movement of non-cooperation/breaking the law ever in British history. 50% of adults in the UK never paid the tax/broke the law....i.e., 17 million folks! 'Twas an honor, a thrill, and very exhausting to be a part of that!

I see what you're saying about the unsuitability of the activist/normal person dichotomy. Having said that, are you still involved, beyond your publishing and music, with what would be perceived as more political action?

Over the years, I've lent my body to picket lines, knocked on doors, marched down streets, volunteer as a guest host and producer at KPFA radio, that sort of thing.

That all counts. Speaking about forms of community involvement, what's your take on our new president?

He's not my president! Despite 'no taxation without representation,' us foreigners still can't vote! What surprises me about Obama is not how reactionary/business as usual/bail out the banks/increase foreign wars, etc. that he is, but how/why anyone thought he was in any way progressive. I mean, it's not like he claimed he was ever progressive, let alone radical. He promised hope and change. Pretty much what George Bush Jr. promised, and every other politician.

So, same old, same old. Let's go back to PM. Give our readers a sense of what kinds of books you offer. Maybe some of them are thinking, "Anarchist publishers - it's probably all bomb-making instructions and manifestos."

Firstly, it's probably fair - and accurate! - to say that while myself and several of the folks that work at PM and we publish are anarchists (and proud of it), the majority of folks are not. Which is absolutely fine. The labels - and definitions - don't concern me so much as the practice, the work and the results! To that end, we publish a wide variety of books (and CDs and DVDs). Fiction and non-fiction, history and politics, art and culture, music and film. The common thread that unites them all is that a) they're really good b) they're thought-provoking, stimulating, entertaining, and educational and c) they look really good!

I can vouch for that. Anything you'd like to add before we wrap up, Ramsey?

Thanks for the opportunity. And I would, of course, encourage folks to check out PM Press at www.pmpress.org, and humbly suggest that the Friends Of PM is a rather excellent way to discover a boatload of fantastic new literature. Rock on!

Rock on, indeed! Thanks for talking with me, Ramsey. It's been a pleasure.