If you want to liberate your people and defend territory in today's world, you must have an understanding of two important aspects of modern society: class war and capitalism. The two are interconnected: one provides an important basis for understanding the society you live in, the other gives you the means by which to fight.
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system, although because the entire society is based on this economic system, it is better understood as a social system. Capitalism developed over hundreds of years and is primarily a product of Western Europe. It arose as a result of feudalism and the predominance of commercial trade as a basis of political power in Europe. As an economic system, capitalism is characterized by:
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system, although because the entire society is based on this economic system, it is better understood as a social system. Capitalism developed over hundreds of years and is primarily a product of Western Europe. It arose as a result of feudalism and the predominance of commercial trade as a basis of political power in Europe. As an economic system, capitalism is characterized by:
- ownership of production, land and resources in the hands of a few (the capitalists).
- the selling of goods and services in a free market.
- individual private property.
Under feudalism, all land and resources were owned by the nobility (as well as the Church), who allowed peasants to live on this land provided they worked, producing agricultural goods for the 'landlord' and at times providing military service. In exchange, the nobility not only allowed the peasant to live on this land and keep some of the food produced, but also provided military protection against predatory gangs (usually other competing members of the nobility).
Feudalism, however, was an obstacle to the emerging capitalists. As all land & resources were owned by the nobility, how could individual capitalists own the means of production and compete with one another on a free market? They couldn't.
The tension between these two systems increased as the Industrial Revolution expanded and the capitalists gained in power. Arguably the first capitalist revolution occured in N. America with the creation of the United States when the 13 colonies overthrew the British monarchy and established itself as a state system (American Revolution, 1775-83). This was followed by the French Revolution of 1789-99, during which the French nobility were overthrown and a 'democratic' nation-state established (the political system of capitalism as it enables individual competition, free markets, etc.).
Proclaimed as the liberation of the peasants, this revolution and its effect on other kingdoms did not 'liberate' the common people but instead forced them into a system of wage-slavery in which, in order to survive, they had to sell their labour to the capitalists (who owned virtually all land and resources).
This of course is the capitalist system of today. In order to survive, to have shelter and food, we must sell our labour or services to capitalists, who sell us the food (or rent us the shelter) we require to survive. Wage-slavery differs from other forms of slavery in that we are paid an hourly wage for our work.
This money forms the basis of the capitalist system in that we are also the consumers. Without us, nothing is produced and nothing is bought. And yet, production and consumption are the foundations of capitalism, the means by which the capitalists gain ever-greater wealth and power. Another way they gain wealth, of course, is through outright theft usually carried out with military violence (i.e., colonization).
Class
In regards to capitalism, class is about the division that exists in society between the common people and those in power. We (the people) are often referred to as the working class, in that it is we who produce the goods that the capitalists sell and profit from. The capitalists, on the other hand, are often referred to as the ruling class, in that they control the economic, political and social system. One of the important ways they do this is through the state, which organizes society in the interests of the ruling class, maintains social control, builds infrastructure such as roads, railways, ports, etc.
Another way the ruling class keeps control is through the middle-class, who are managers of the capitalist system. They may be factory or office managers, or well-paid professionals (such as doctors, professors, small business owners, union bosses, chief and council, etc.). The middle-class not only perform a managerial function for the system, but also work to impose its ideology and to strengthen its social control.
Class War
Class war refers to the ongoing struggle between the working class and the capitalists (or ruling class). Although there is always conflict between, for example, workers and bosses, class war develops when the workers become conscious of the means by which they are enslaved, exploited and oppressed, and when this consciousness leads them to identify their common enemy as the ruling class. A labour dispute between workers and their boss over wages or working conditions does not in and of itself constitute class war.
As in any war, the class war has an objective: the destruction of the ruling class and the re-distribution of all land and resources to the common people. Often termed communism, it is in fact an Indigenous way of life & social organization, from which European Marxists developed their theories of a classless, stateless, egalitarian society (i.e., Karl Marx and Frederich Engels in the early 1800s).
Feudalism, however, was an obstacle to the emerging capitalists. As all land & resources were owned by the nobility, how could individual capitalists own the means of production and compete with one another on a free market? They couldn't.
The tension between these two systems increased as the Industrial Revolution expanded and the capitalists gained in power. Arguably the first capitalist revolution occured in N. America with the creation of the United States when the 13 colonies overthrew the British monarchy and established itself as a state system (American Revolution, 1775-83). This was followed by the French Revolution of 1789-99, during which the French nobility were overthrown and a 'democratic' nation-state established (the political system of capitalism as it enables individual competition, free markets, etc.).
Proclaimed as the liberation of the peasants, this revolution and its effect on other kingdoms did not 'liberate' the common people but instead forced them into a system of wage-slavery in which, in order to survive, they had to sell their labour to the capitalists (who owned virtually all land and resources).
This of course is the capitalist system of today. In order to survive, to have shelter and food, we must sell our labour or services to capitalists, who sell us the food (or rent us the shelter) we require to survive. Wage-slavery differs from other forms of slavery in that we are paid an hourly wage for our work.
This money forms the basis of the capitalist system in that we are also the consumers. Without us, nothing is produced and nothing is bought. And yet, production and consumption are the foundations of capitalism, the means by which the capitalists gain ever-greater wealth and power. Another way they gain wealth, of course, is through outright theft usually carried out with military violence (i.e., colonization).
Class
In regards to capitalism, class is about the division that exists in society between the common people and those in power. We (the people) are often referred to as the working class, in that it is we who produce the goods that the capitalists sell and profit from. The capitalists, on the other hand, are often referred to as the ruling class, in that they control the economic, political and social system. One of the important ways they do this is through the state, which organizes society in the interests of the ruling class, maintains social control, builds infrastructure such as roads, railways, ports, etc.
Another way the ruling class keeps control is through the middle-class, who are managers of the capitalist system. They may be factory or office managers, or well-paid professionals (such as doctors, professors, small business owners, union bosses, chief and council, etc.). The middle-class not only perform a managerial function for the system, but also work to impose its ideology and to strengthen its social control.
Class War
Class war refers to the ongoing struggle between the working class and the capitalists (or ruling class). Although there is always conflict between, for example, workers and bosses, class war develops when the workers become conscious of the means by which they are enslaved, exploited and oppressed, and when this consciousness leads them to identify their common enemy as the ruling class. A labour dispute between workers and their boss over wages or working conditions does not in and of itself constitute class war.
As in any war, the class war has an objective: the destruction of the ruling class and the re-distribution of all land and resources to the common people. Often termed communism, it is in fact an Indigenous way of life & social organization, from which European Marxists developed their theories of a classless, stateless, egalitarian society (i.e., Karl Marx and Frederich Engels in the early 1800s).
Indigenous People & Class War
Why should Indigenous people care about class war and capitalism? For one, we are living in a capitalist system (the result of colonization). To fight within such a system requires an understanding of how it is organized and how this affects us and our struggle. The problem we are confronted with is not that of a few bad, 'evil' people, or a system that can be fixed. The system is the problem and the system is capitalism.
Many Indigenous and non-Indigenous people are confused about the nature of the system and how to fight it. This is, in part, because they have no class analysis or understanding of capitalism. It's no surprise since we are not taught it in school nor exposed to it through the corporate entertainment or news industries (just like as Natives we are not taught the true history of colonization).
Many people are well-intentioned and sincerely want to see social change, an end to homelessness, racist oppression, etc. They rally behind politicians or union leaders or band chiefs who seem to express their desires for change. But in the end little change is really made because these same people are actually helping the capitalists by managing us and controlling us, to ensure we don't actually fight for real change.
Why is this? Because they are actually capitalists; they believe in capitalism and have a vested self-interest in maintaining the system. They might criticize the government or police, but in the end they actually defend and collaborate with them. We do not often come into direct conflict with the ruling class. More often, it is the middle-class managers and the repressive agencies of the state (i.e., police, intelligence and military forces).
Without a clear class analysis, we can be easily tricked into thinking these middle-class lackeys, even if Indigenous, are our allies. Likewise, without a clear class analysis, we can be easily tricked into thinking all non-Indigenous workers are our enemies.
While this type of black-and-white thinking may have been correct in the early stages of anti-colonial resistance, only a fool would think it is still all about race in today's global society. This doesn't mean race and racism aren't real. Rather, the means by which racist oppression is carried out today is based on capitalism (i.e., economic exploitation, policing, etc.).
Furthermore, capitalism is far more multi-national than most people realize. There is even a term for it: neo-colonialism, which means literally a 'new colonialism' characterized not by the white man giving orders on the plantation, but a complex global economic system in which a multi-national ruling class oversees production and social control throughout an international system of nation-states.
What is required under present social conditions is a multi-national resistance that seeks to unify all working class elements against our common enemy (the multi-national capitalist ruling class). This is based on a strategic analysis of the balance of forces at our disposal and the nature of the capitalist system.
Many people are well-intentioned and sincerely want to see social change, an end to homelessness, racist oppression, etc. They rally behind politicians or union leaders or band chiefs who seem to express their desires for change. But in the end little change is really made because these same people are actually helping the capitalists by managing us and controlling us, to ensure we don't actually fight for real change.
Why is this? Because they are actually capitalists; they believe in capitalism and have a vested self-interest in maintaining the system. They might criticize the government or police, but in the end they actually defend and collaborate with them. We do not often come into direct conflict with the ruling class. More often, it is the middle-class managers and the repressive agencies of the state (i.e., police, intelligence and military forces).
Without a clear class analysis, we can be easily tricked into thinking these middle-class lackeys, even if Indigenous, are our allies. Likewise, without a clear class analysis, we can be easily tricked into thinking all non-Indigenous workers are our enemies.
While this type of black-and-white thinking may have been correct in the early stages of anti-colonial resistance, only a fool would think it is still all about race in today's global society. This doesn't mean race and racism aren't real. Rather, the means by which racist oppression is carried out today is based on capitalism (i.e., economic exploitation, policing, etc.).
Furthermore, capitalism is far more multi-national than most people realize. There is even a term for it: neo-colonialism, which means literally a 'new colonialism' characterized not by the white man giving orders on the plantation, but a complex global economic system in which a multi-national ruling class oversees production and social control throughout an international system of nation-states.
What is required under present social conditions is a multi-national resistance that seeks to unify all working class elements against our common enemy (the multi-national capitalist ruling class). This is based on a strategic analysis of the balance of forces at our disposal and the nature of the capitalist system.
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