When the governing left wallows in unconditional support for the
rearmament desired by Emmanuel Macron, it is worth rereading the UCL
manifesto: "The goal of libertarian communism is a society free from
military and police control.[...]The end of borders and the threat of
war, for a world without barriers and totally demilitarized." It is
important, as libertarian communists, to support the struggles of the
people against colonization and imperialism without this translating
into support for the rearmament of NATO-friendly states like Ukraine,
much less for the rearmament of the French state.
But on the left, which organizations are currently making a strong case
for calling for an antimilitarist alternative in Europe? The Earth
Uprisings set an example by joining a coalition to "make war on war," or
more precisely, to disarm militarism by asserting, "It is up to us,
then, to strike, to desert, to disrupt, to dismantle the logistics of
their wars."[1]
The French State at the mercy of defense bosses
But if anti-militarism has so little political and media coverage in
France, it is, as feminist sociologist Andrée Michel has shown, because
the French state is intimately linked to the military-industrial
complex. The career of industrialist Serge Dassault alone is a prime
example: this billionaire, head of one of the largest defense companies,
has served as mayor, departmental and regional councilor, urban area
president, senator, and media magnate-all while being convicted of
corruption, money laundering, and indicted for vote-buying. It's no
surprise, in this context, to see successive French presidents become
salespeople for the sale of Rafale jets to numerous dictatorial states
such as Saudi Arabia. The arms race is, in fact, a tool used to maintain
the capitalist system and enrich corporate bosses.
The other major obstacle to any anti-militarist mobilization has been
the threat of military secrecy, used effectively by the French
government to prevent access to information about the ongoing struggles.
In this context, the Stop Arming Israel collective has carried out, not
without difficulty, important work to raise awareness of French
companies involved in the construction and sale of military equipment
used by Israel to commit genocide against the Palestinian people.
The French government bears its share of responsibility for the
Palestinian genocide, as well as for the militarist and imperialist
policies pursued in the Sahel, Kanaky, Mayotte, and Martinique in
particular. Against the people, the French state advocates the
maintenance of a colonial, racist, bourgeois, and sexist order.
Supporting oppressed peoples differently
But how can we support oppressed peoples rather than the militarization
of states? Feminist organizations, like trade unions, have shown the
way, for example, with the French inter-union movement's support for
Ukrainian workers for a just and lasting peace[2].
Against a virile arms race, we must build a revolutionary strategy for
peace. But this anti-militarism is not a blissful pacifism. Peace can
only be achieved after recognition of acts of aggression and just
reparations.
Anti-militarism must not be limited to a fight against rearmament, but
must also include opposition to the development of any military culture:
the fight against the National Service of the Army (SNU) and the return
of military service, the fight against large arms exhibitions and the
Bastille Day military holiday... There are many anti-militarist
struggles, and revolutionaries have a place among them!
Pierre (UCL Grenoble supporter)
Validate
[1]"War on War: A Coalition to Disarm Militarism,"
Lessoulevementsdelaterre.org.
[2]"For a Just and Lasting Peace! Solidarity with the Resistance of
Ukrainian Workers," February 19, 2025, joint union statement signed by
the CGT, Solidaires, and FSU unions.
https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?Guerres-Pour-un-antimilitarisme-revolutionnaire
_________________________________________
A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C E
By, For, and About Anarchists
Send news reports to A-infos-en mailing list
A-infos-en@ainfos.ca
rearmament desired by Emmanuel Macron, it is worth rereading the UCL
manifesto: "The goal of libertarian communism is a society free from
military and police control.[...]The end of borders and the threat of
war, for a world without barriers and totally demilitarized." It is
important, as libertarian communists, to support the struggles of the
people against colonization and imperialism without this translating
into support for the rearmament of NATO-friendly states like Ukraine,
much less for the rearmament of the French state.
But on the left, which organizations are currently making a strong case
for calling for an antimilitarist alternative in Europe? The Earth
Uprisings set an example by joining a coalition to "make war on war," or
more precisely, to disarm militarism by asserting, "It is up to us,
then, to strike, to desert, to disrupt, to dismantle the logistics of
their wars."[1]
The French State at the mercy of defense bosses
But if anti-militarism has so little political and media coverage in
France, it is, as feminist sociologist Andrée Michel has shown, because
the French state is intimately linked to the military-industrial
complex. The career of industrialist Serge Dassault alone is a prime
example: this billionaire, head of one of the largest defense companies,
has served as mayor, departmental and regional councilor, urban area
president, senator, and media magnate-all while being convicted of
corruption, money laundering, and indicted for vote-buying. It's no
surprise, in this context, to see successive French presidents become
salespeople for the sale of Rafale jets to numerous dictatorial states
such as Saudi Arabia. The arms race is, in fact, a tool used to maintain
the capitalist system and enrich corporate bosses.
The other major obstacle to any anti-militarist mobilization has been
the threat of military secrecy, used effectively by the French
government to prevent access to information about the ongoing struggles.
In this context, the Stop Arming Israel collective has carried out, not
without difficulty, important work to raise awareness of French
companies involved in the construction and sale of military equipment
used by Israel to commit genocide against the Palestinian people.
The French government bears its share of responsibility for the
Palestinian genocide, as well as for the militarist and imperialist
policies pursued in the Sahel, Kanaky, Mayotte, and Martinique in
particular. Against the people, the French state advocates the
maintenance of a colonial, racist, bourgeois, and sexist order.
Supporting oppressed peoples differently
But how can we support oppressed peoples rather than the militarization
of states? Feminist organizations, like trade unions, have shown the
way, for example, with the French inter-union movement's support for
Ukrainian workers for a just and lasting peace[2].
Against a virile arms race, we must build a revolutionary strategy for
peace. But this anti-militarism is not a blissful pacifism. Peace can
only be achieved after recognition of acts of aggression and just
reparations.
Anti-militarism must not be limited to a fight against rearmament, but
must also include opposition to the development of any military culture:
the fight against the National Service of the Army (SNU) and the return
of military service, the fight against large arms exhibitions and the
Bastille Day military holiday... There are many anti-militarist
struggles, and revolutionaries have a place among them!
Pierre (UCL Grenoble supporter)
Validate
[1]"War on War: A Coalition to Disarm Militarism,"
Lessoulevementsdelaterre.org.
[2]"For a Just and Lasting Peace! Solidarity with the Resistance of
Ukrainian Workers," February 19, 2025, joint union statement signed by
the CGT, Solidaires, and FSU unions.
https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?Guerres-Pour-un-antimilitarisme-revolutionnaire
_________________________________________
A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C E
By, For, and About Anarchists
Send news reports to A-infos-en mailing list
A-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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