... In contrast, complexity theory is teaching contemporary scientists that the best way to generate order in a complex system is by letting it self-organize in interaction with its environment. As a matter of fact, self-organization is a spontaneous behavior in complex systems, and the environment cannot be controlled. Self-organization, it appears, has been traditionally avoided in the history of social human systems, and diverse mechanisms have been developed to impede it. Thus, the idea of having leaders (in a strictly vertical sense) and governors dwindles in this scenario; top-down leaders become rulers, governors and commanders act as attractors that amplify negative feedbacks, as they inhibit the capacity of human social systems to generate their own adaptive order. https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/carlos-maldonado-and-nathalie-mezza-garcia-anarchy-and-complexity

Sun Tzu’s The Art of War is one of the greatest war theory texts ever written. If read critically it also holds wisdom useful for just about anyone, but especially those interested in strategy, tactics, and operational thinking. Even the bits that extol the virtues of a general can be partially transmuted to lessons about a forces’ cohesion. Regardless, it covers both core basics and clever innovations very succinctly. This is highly recommended reading. We will also be sharing relevant quotes here on our channel as we eventually work on relevant annotations for the whole of the text.

“Plan for what is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small. The most difficult things in the world must be done while they are still easy, the greatest things in the world must be done while they are still small. For this reason sages never do what is great, and this is why they can achieve that greatness.”—The Tao-te Ching

The purpose of the avant-garde as even Napoleon notes, is not to lead, but to maneuver.

A less cluttered version of The Art of War can be found here: https://web.mit.edu/~dcltdw/AOW/toc.html

A different translation of The Art of War that people might prefer.

The 36 Stratagems pairs very well with The Art of War, where the 36 Stratagems drops the Confucian reverence for virtues and State worship instead leaning into a sort of dark and cunning Taoist approach. Though of course Taoism is present in the wiser bits of Sun Tzu’s work.

John Boyd did wonders with Sun Tzu’s work. We’ll tease out these notes ourselves some day, but in the meantime if you name search Sun Tzu in this anthology you will not be disappointed.

And of course a good secondary source on John Boyd including his work with Sun Tzu is the Speed and Decisions chapter of Deceiving the Sky.

After some deliberation due to its intro that adds an additional lesson without getting into the weeds as well as it’s accessibility and succinctness we’re going to recommend this version over others.

One sample of wisdom from The Art of War that’s very important to those engaged in even low intensity asymmetric warfare, “All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.“

Our goal with this project is similar to the goal stated by folk singer Pete Seeger; to scatter some seeds around as we walk in hopes that some might grow.

To us macro-level analysis is important for avoiding dead-ends. Though of a specific moment and branching out of analysis of struggle in a specific location, this makes the case for this very well.

“China and America are merely two of the major portions of a single global economy riven with contradictions.”

https://chuangcn.org/2020/01/the-divided-god/

BECOME THE TERRITORY

practice practice practice, but keep it quality over quantity

There’s a lot of other people covering specific gear. We try and cover things others are neglecting, but here’s a good radio rundown.

An interesting analysis of the potential of riots and their relation to the ‘black radical tradition.’

https://illwilleditions.com/missed-insurrections/

also

Between Black Fugitivity and Revolutionary Intercommunalism: The Structured Vehicle of the Black Panther Party

Thursday, February 18, 5:30pm — 7:00pm EST

https://urbandemos.nyu.edu/event/between-black-fugitivity-and-revolutionary-intercommunalism-the-structured-vehicle-of-the-black-panther-party/

Nothing is really new about this though.