3 On nations and global capitalism
3 On nations and global capitalism
3.1 On a social toxin called “ nation ”
Supplemented by the idea and practice of social partnership there exists the unparalleled Ideology of nations and nationality to keep people under control . Nations were artificially constructed by separating criteria , self- idealization , and exaltation for a common national cause . The hazy notion of a nation and the artificial “ WE ” came into being with the modern bourgeois state and made the masses dance and often march to the tunes of their national upper classes .
From the beginning of modern class formation the national question was essential for both sides . The imperial and colonial stakeholders of the European great powers needed the underclass populations following them into military adventures , wars of conquest and finally two World Wars . Intensive national propaganda and agitation aimed at making up the working class identify with the interests and intentions of the upper class . But you can hardly win over the common man when you exploit him at the same time in your production sites , make him suffer from unemployment and let him thus sink into poverty with his family .
In the second half of the 19 th century the national ideologies of the rivalling European powers were relentlessly unmasked by the leaders of the then revolutionary Social Democracy . They were demonized as knaves without fatherland and prosecuted for challenging militaristic and imperialistic national strategies . The Social Democracy was hated and stigmatized as a subversive party . Nevertheless large sections of the proletariat trusted and followed them . The political workers ’ movement always cherished humane ethics of solidarity . The General Rules of the International Workingmen ’ s Association ( 1864 ) had declared “ that all societies and individuals adhering to it [ the Rules ] will acknowledge truth , justice , and morality as the basis of their conduct towards each other and towards all men , without regard to colour , creed , or nationality .” When in 1889 467 delegates of more
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