Nationalist Divisions

 

“The working class has no countries. The British do not own Britain any more than the Russians own Russia, the Georgians Georgia, the Armenians Armenia or the Serbs Serbia. We, who produce the world’s wealth, must cast off the chains of nationalist illusion. We have a world to win.”  Socialist Standard February 1992

The World Socialist Movement is totally opposed to Nation States and Nationalism.

These will not exist when rational Socialism has replaced Capitalism.

 Sovereignty and Nation State is traced back to the Treaty of Westphalia, 1648.

Given that a sufficient majority of the worldwide working class does not, as of yet, understand and want the transition to a saner society as of yet, realpolitik rules, OK?

So, to pose the question, is virtue signalling, or deliberately antagonising a dangerous bear a sensible thing to do? With the present tensions in and around Russia, acts which are the equivalent of poking an angry animal with a stick may not be the most well-thought-out of accomplishments.

A piece in RT, 10/12/22, headlined, “Moscow blasts Finland over ‘unacceptable’ stunt,” expressed Russia’s anger at what it called “desecration of the state symbol of our nation.” 

A group of protesters burned Russia’s national flag during a rally on Finland’s Independence Day (Finland celebrates its Independence Day on December 6 when the nation formally declared its independence from the Russian Empire in 1917, following the Bolshevik Revolution.)

The report notes that “The Nordic nation, which shares a 1,340km (832-mile) land border with Russia, has maintained military neutrality for decades. However, it applied to join NATO together with its neighbour, Sweden, in May, voicing concerns over security amid Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine. On December 5, Finland’s government submitted a bill on NATO membership for parliamentary approval.

Moscow has said the inclusion of Finland and Sweden in NATO would not make the European continent more stable and secure and has pledged to adjust its military posture in the northern region if the bloc adds two new members.

 Last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that the West was “digging dividing lines” in Europe instead of working towards collective security.”

Capitalists not only combine to oppress the working class but are in competition among themselves. The sabre rattling, and worse, currently being played out puts the world’s working class in a dangerous position.

Forget shilling for whatever country you think you owe allegiance to. You don’t.

Marx’s exhortation is even more relevant today. Workers of the world unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains!

Dave C.