An examination of the approaches of some anarchists in britain to the war in ukraine, the author argues what might previously have been a run-of-the-mill anarchist position *no war but the class war* has suddenly become unwelcome.
From the author:
“In February 2022, the Russian Armed Forces invaded Ukrainian territory, beginning an occupation and open warfare. This followed eight years of smouldering conflict between the Ukrainian state and Russian-backed separatists in the Donbas region of Ukraine, and the annexation of Crimea. Some anarchists, antifascists, and other anti-authoritarians in Ukraine decided to participate in the armed forces of the state to combat the Russian invasion. This was an organised, collective project with a political manifesto, under the banner of ‘The Resistance Committee’ and ‘Operation Solidarity’. Many anarchists in Britain responded with uncritical support for the project and began actively aiding the Ukrainian war effort, raising funds for military supplies and spreading war propaganda. A minority of anarchists, on the other hand, raised the banner of “no war but the class war”, opposing war itself while advocating for working class internationalism, against all factions of the ruling class. This latter position, previously an uncontroversial expression of anarchist-communist politics, was all of a sudden anathema.”
Revised text published online by Libcom and others and translated into both French and Czech languages so far. This pocketbook sets out the basic anarchist critique of war and militarism and asks “What’s going on?”.
Book details:
Author: Alex Adler
Publisher: Active Distribution
ISBN: 9781914567360
Published: 2023
Format: Pocketbook
Size: 4.1 x 5.8
Page count: 48
Subjects: Politics, History, Anarchism
