A Declaration of Class War Against War

As tensions between Iran and America grow and the threat of war might break out either by design or by accident, it is well that the Socialist Party explains its attitude towards war.

The Socialist Party reaffirms its allegiance to the principle of internationalism and working-class solidarity the world over, and proclaims its unalterable opposition to the war. Modern war as a rule have been caused by the commercial and financial rivalry and intrigues of the capitalist interests in the different countries. Whether they have been frankly waged as wars of aggression or have been hypocritically represented as wars of “defence” they have always been made by the ruling classes and fought by the masses. Wars bring wealth and power to the ruling classes, and suffering, death, and demoralisation to the workers. War breeds unreason and race hatred. War obscures the struggle of the workers for social justice and severs the vital bonds of solidarity between them and their brothers and sisters in other countries. War curtails their civic and political rights and liberties. The Socialist Party is opposed to the system of exploitation and class rule which is upheld and strengthened by sham nationalism and fake patriotism. We therefore call upon the workers of all countries to refuse support to their governments in their wars. The wars of the contending national groups of capitalists are not the concern of the workers. The only struggle which would justify the workers in taking up arms is the class war, that great struggle of the working class of the world to free itself from economic exploitation and political oppression. In support of capitalism we will not willingly sacrifice single life but in support of the struggle of the workers of the world for freedom we pledge our all.

Workers are oppressed and exploited. They produced enormous wealth but the bulk of it was withheld from them by the owners of the industries. The capitalist class of each country was forced to look for foreign markets to dispose of the accumulated “surplus” wealth. The huge profits made by the capitalists could no longer be profitably reinvested in their own countries, hence, they were driven to look for foreign fields of investment. The geographical boundaries of each modern capitalist country thus became too narrow for the industrial and commercial operations of its capitalist class. The efforts of the capitalists of all leading nations were, therefore, centred upon the domination of the world markets. The acquisition and the extension of spheres of commercial and political influence became the object of diplomatic intrigues and the cause of constant clashes between nations. The competition between the capitalist powers, their jealousies and distrusts of one another force each of them to arm to the teeth. The vast wealth and resources of material and labour that have been devoted to the armaments industries, the untold misery and sufferings, have not been for principles or ideals, but wanton offerings upon the altar of private profit. War can never be abolished by war. It is cant and hypocrisy to say that war is not directed against ordinary civilians.

The working class has no quarrel with the working class of any country. Working people are never consulted and have had no part in declaring war. They are plunged into war by the trickery and treachery of the ruling class through its political representatives, its demagogic militarists, and its servile media. We declare all war a crime against humanity. In all modern history there has been no war justifiable as humanitarian.

The end of war will come with the establishment of socialised industry and industrial democracy the world over. The Socialist Party calls upon all the workers to join it in its struggle to reach this goal, and thus bring into the world a new society in which peace, solidarity , and human fraternity will prevail.