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Title: Irish Nationalism Author: Joe King Date: 1994 Language: en Topics: Ireland, anti-nationalism Source: http://struggle.ws/ws/ws50_nation.html Notes: Thinking About Anarchism
Anarchists are for the defeat of British imperialism. We understand that
the root cause of the troubles in the six counties lies with the British
ruling class and the northern sectarian statelet. That is why we call
for Troops Out. But we want more, we stand for the creation of a new
society in the interests of the working class and against the bosses,
both orange and green.
This is very different from the politics of nationalism, of Sinn Fein.
We see the way forward as unity of Catholic and Protestant workers in a
common fight against capitalism. Nationalists look for alliances of
bosses and workers, they want co-operation with the SDLP and Fianna
Fail.
Because they see Northern Protestant workers as unpatriotic, as
"pro-British elements"; their interest seems to stop at who can best
control them. Hence Gerry Adams speech prior to the 1994 IRA ceasefire
which said that Protestants needed a De Klerk to lead them to
compromise.
Nationalism tells us that people of a particular nation have more in
common than they have dividing them. It is not supposed to matter if you
are rich or poor, low paid worker or millionaire boss; we're all Irish.
Anarchists are not nationalists, in fact we are completely against
nationalism. We don't worry about where your granny was born, whether
you can speak Irish or if you drink a green milkshake in McDonalds on St
Patrick's Day.
But this doesn't mean we can ignore nations. They do exist; and some
nationalities are picked on, discriminated against because of their
nationality. Irish history bears a lot of witness to this.
The Kurds, Native Americans, Chechins, and many more have suffered
also - and to an amazingly barbaric degree. National oppression is
wrong. It divides working class people, causes terrible suffering and
strengthens the hand of the ruling class. Our opposition to this makes
us anti-imperialists.
Today, in most parts of the world, nationalist movements no longer fight
for victory over their enemies. They seek compromise. The last few IRA
bombs have not been aimed at getting the British state out of Ireland,
they have been attempts to force the British to talk to Gerry Adams and
Martin McGuinness.
The last few years have seen this process, not only in Ireland, but in
South Africa, Palestine, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Chechnya. A major
factor in arriving at this position is an understanding that
'independent' capitalist states which can take real control of their
national economies are becoming a pipe dream.
$1.3 trillion moves around the world each day in search of the greatest
profit. It is a lot harder for big states to lay down conditions on the
rich, it is impossible for a small state. If they won't do what the big
bosses want, the investment money is moved to somewhere more
'co-operative'.
And despite sometimes using 'revolutionary' language, the nationalist
goal is essentially about maintaining capitalism with its division of
society into bosses & workers, rulers and ruled. Though fighting against
national oppression, the argument at the end of the day is about who the
rulers should be. There is no thought of tearing down the social pyramid
which puts most of us at the bottom, and few rich and powerful people at
the top.
Anarchists certainly don't want to reduce humanity to one grey mass. We
want to foster cultural diversity: languages, music, dress, lifestyles.
A rich tapestry of diversity which is a good thing and can enrich the
lives of everyone.
But using a national culture (and the 'traditionalists' should remember
that cultures are constantly evolving and changing) to feel superior or
to treat someone else less favourably creates suffering and plays into
the hands of our rulers who know that people who are divided are easier
to control and exploit.
So fight national oppression but look beyond nationalism. We can do a
lot better. Changing the world for the better will be a hard struggle so
we should make sure that we look for the best possible society to live
in.
We look forward to a world without borders, where the great majority of
people have as much right to freely move about as the idle rich do
today. A worldwide federation of free peoples - classless and
stateless - where we produce to satisfy needs and all have control over
our destinies - that's a goal worth struggling for.