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War, Peace, and Justice
May. 14th, 2024 11:32 amOn Sunday I hosted a Bi Luo Chun Yum Cha for the ACFS, which was well-attended and a great deal of fun. It was great to have a number of my friends in attendance, and I am especially thankful for the efforts of Tower L., in providing the tea and preparing much of the food. Representatives of the Chinese consulate were present who are, as always, exceptional in their diplomatic politeness. Appropriately, and in stark contrast to the vitriolic chest-beating that occurs in some circles, I also attended a Labor Academy event earlier in the week, "Peacebuilding in a World of War". From the keynote speakers, John Langmore presented quite a reasonable argument advocating a liberal international order (increased international developmental aid, international treaties, etc). In contrast, I almost felt sorry for Peter Kahlil, MHR and Chair of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Intelligence and Security, in trying to make an argument that the AUKUS submarines purchase was part of the international peace-building. That argument has been pretty soundly demolished even within the Labor Party by Labor Against War.
With my own "political anarchist" leanings (synonymous with "libertarian socialism" and differentiated from both "lifestyle anarchism" and "social anarchism") I identify war as a function of the State. As per the "realist" school of international relations, there is no global state or enforceable international law (with the exception of Chapter VII of the UN Charter), which means that each State attempts to expand its power and influence at the expense of competitors and ultimately seeks monopoly rule. Within the State, each State attempts to enforce its own model of political economy and property rights and its own legal code. The military is thus the ultimate weapon used by the State against external competitors as the police are the ultimate weapon against internal competitors. "Peace" is something that exists between States as a form of a temporary détente and within States with the legitimation of civil rights and a just distribution of resources, a temporary détente in class war. In other words, "Peace with Justice" (to use the title of Clinton Fernandes' book on Noam Chomsky), as opposed to an authoritarian peace established through fear and oppression.
I make these words also in recognition of the passing of Helen Hill last week. Helen was a tireless activist and academic for the idea of self-determination and peace with justice especially for the people of Timor-Leste and also the South Pacific and Tanzania. For Timor, as the official Timor-Leste government statement notes, her work began in 1975 with her first publication on the subject, "The Timor Story", released in 1976. Helen stuck with the Timorese people in solidarity right through those violent and difficult years of occupation from 1975-1999 when so often activists were bluntly told that the cause was impossible and could never succeed. But eventually, it did, and while nation-building after independence has been no walk in the park, it has been their journey for which people like Helen showed the practical meaning of solidarity. Deskansa Em Paz, Dr. Helen Hill.
With my own "political anarchist" leanings (synonymous with "libertarian socialism" and differentiated from both "lifestyle anarchism" and "social anarchism") I identify war as a function of the State. As per the "realist" school of international relations, there is no global state or enforceable international law (with the exception of Chapter VII of the UN Charter), which means that each State attempts to expand its power and influence at the expense of competitors and ultimately seeks monopoly rule. Within the State, each State attempts to enforce its own model of political economy and property rights and its own legal code. The military is thus the ultimate weapon used by the State against external competitors as the police are the ultimate weapon against internal competitors. "Peace" is something that exists between States as a form of a temporary détente and within States with the legitimation of civil rights and a just distribution of resources, a temporary détente in class war. In other words, "Peace with Justice" (to use the title of Clinton Fernandes' book on Noam Chomsky), as opposed to an authoritarian peace established through fear and oppression.
I make these words also in recognition of the passing of Helen Hill last week. Helen was a tireless activist and academic for the idea of self-determination and peace with justice especially for the people of Timor-Leste and also the South Pacific and Tanzania. For Timor, as the official Timor-Leste government statement notes, her work began in 1975 with her first publication on the subject, "The Timor Story", released in 1976. Helen stuck with the Timorese people in solidarity right through those violent and difficult years of occupation from 1975-1999 when so often activists were bluntly told that the cause was impossible and could never succeed. But eventually, it did, and while nation-building after independence has been no walk in the park, it has been their journey for which people like Helen showed the practical meaning of solidarity. Deskansa Em Paz, Dr. Helen Hill.
