(en) Southern Africa, Tokologo #1* - Nationalist Politics Does Not Work for the Working Class By LAWRENCE ZITHA

What is a nation or a nationality? A nation or nationality is a group of people with the a 
common culture, history and background. ---- What is nationalism? This is the idea that 
your nation or nationality is more important than your class. That you have more in common 
with other members of the nation, regardless of their class position and therefore must 
unite as a nation. This nation should represent itself through its own national state. The 
state is seen as representing the will of the nation. (Nationalism is not the same as 
nationalization, which is when the state takes over industries). ---- What are the 
anarchist criticisms of nationalism? ---- Different classes in the nation do not have a 
common interest. National unity across the class divide is only possible if the working 
class and poor in the nation accept the role of being exploited by capitalists andthe state.

The state is part of the system of class rule.
Therefore it will not represent the majority of the
nation, which is the national working class.

While the national state and national ruling class can
play a role in opposing imperialism, they cannot do so
in a way that benefits the national working class.

When the nationalists are in state power and have
control, they consistently prove themselves to be
enemies of the working class people. An example,
President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe is against
British imperialism, that cannot be doubted, but he
severely oppresses his own people.

What happens in decolonization led by nationalists is
that the foreign ruling class is replaced by a new local
ruling class. This new local ruling class oppresses the
national working class. The radicals that join the state
will be changed. Their ideas and views will be changed.
The former liberators of the people will become their
oppressors. This is an iron law across the post-colonial
world.

Instead of nationalism, anarchists are for working
class internationalism. This is the political strategy
that is based on an idea that the working class and
poor internationally must unite to achieve a common
international class interest ? and not be divided and
confused by nationalism.
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* Anarchist Newslette