As in any mass mobilization such as occurred in Spain recently, rumors are flying as to who is behind the action and in whose interest they act. Here's an article,submitted by someone calling self "anonim" saying that the 15m and Real Democracy Now movements were launched and are controlled by capital.[3]
Anonim declares that these movements were initiated by Spanish oligarchs. He cites Enrique Dans, who he says studied business at elite schools in the US, namely UCLA and Harvard, which are beyond the means of most. Dans then worked for Barclays Bank, and participated in conferences at the highest levels of finance. He also contribute to extremist right-wing media.
Anonim goes on to mention other people at the top of these movements with similar backgrounds.
I can't speak to any of this, but Anonim's information does raise suspicion.
He then goes on to say that an ex-intelligence officer confirmed the rumor adding that the demonstrations, organized on Facebook and Twitter, were run by the ruling party (PSOE). The goal, Anonim concludes, is to channel the growing dissent along a lines acceptable to capital. Essentially, he argues that capital commandeered the protest movements in order to undermine them. He cites information and analysis he found at an anarchist site.[4]
What he contends is plausible. Anyone who's tried to organize any kind of protest event knows that there are alway intelligence officials and law enforcement agents infiltrating the operation. I have no doubt that anything as massive as what we've witnessed in Spain has got the entire covert state apparatus mobilized. the theory is good, but Anonim is short on specifics. And one is left to wonder if this "ex" spook was really an "ex," and if so why he would be divulging such critical information to a radical like anonim. Perhaps anonim is an agent of the state sowing division and distrust among the leadership of the protests movements, and more generally trying to discredit the movements.
Time probably won't tell, that's how it goes in the world of political resistance.
[1] http://www.elperiodico.com/es/noticias/politica/los-indignados-sol-seguiran-menos-una-semana-mas-1014955
[2] http://madrid.indymedia.org/node/17403
[3] http://madrid.indymedia.org/node/17395
[4] http://acratas.net/
