The myth of national liberation and its relation to the class struggle.

Nationalism. Patriotism. It is known in many forms. From the outpourings of reactionary nationalist groups such as the English Defence League, American Tea Party, or the Pakistani Taliban. Through to the general belief that being born in the same country grants some kind of allegiance.

I (along with many other thinkers, anarchist or otherwise) disagree. 

Ones country of birth grants nothing except a similarity in language. (Even that is not guaranteed) ones culture and personal believes are often variant to those of The Nation. 

One thing that is the same, the world over, is the economic plight of the working class and the domination of the bourgeoisie and it is that which must addressed.

Not immigration, not economics, but liberty. Global liberty for the wage slaves, the poverty ridden and those oppressed by the machinery of the state.

Building revolution in a single county, region, state or country is not sustainable or desirable over a long term. 

Look at the French revolution, once the workers ceased the means of production; their surrounding neighbours cut them off and invaded out of fear.

In current times this danger would be even greater. With rapid global travel, and instant communication it is possible to orchestrate organised rebellion over large swathes of the world at once. The use of social media in the current "Arab Spring" revolutions is testament to this and will only grow more important. Likewise, it would also allow counter-revolution to do the same. The petty and corrupt will always seek to free themselves in the face of the will of the people.

Nationalism is a blockade, a dam in the river of liberty. It is a poisoned mind-set which turns us on our true comrades across the world. The Zapatistas of Mexico, those resisting in China, in France, Spain and Greece are all our comrades in this fight.

As are all people who sympathise with the pursuit of liberty for the common person. For Liberty, Equality and Fraternity without borders, whether they are the walls of a factory, the cubicles of an office, or the borders of a nation state.

All such boundaries must be torn down. So that we can finally be free.

last time modified: July 14, 2011, 11:35 a.m.