Being Anti-War Means Being Anti-Capitalist

As a former long arm of the American empire, Major General Smedley Butler once stated, “war is a racket.” War is rarely a noble cause. In reality, modern war is almost always about profit.

But if this is true, why do young men and women “voluntarily” risk their lives for these profiteers? Why would so many Americans support the imperialistic military and their actions? And why are parents so proud of their war fighting children? One word: Propaganda.

Propaganda is a tool of the powerful to maintain current power and to obtain more power. It is how the state molds the masses into parroting puppets believing they live in a “free country,” even though no such concept exists in reality. It often presents itself in a form that sways opinion on wars and nationalism, with a goal of instilling a sense of “pride” and desiring to be part of “the team.” The “enemy” must simply “hate us for our freedom” because jihad or something. Sound familiar? The parts about the economic empire involving itself in the business dealings and power structures of other nations (But for what cause? Oh yeah, profit) are always conveniently excluded from the propaganda talking points.

Anarchists are opposed to war (but not revolution), and generally opposed to propaganda, although we have our own versions of what I would call “reverse propaganda.” But to the point of war, if it really is generally about profit, why would an anarchist society built on a system of capitalism be expected to remain peaceful? Most Anarcho-Capitalists (AnCaps) advocate for the privatization of almost every function of the state, including the military. Would a conglomerate of wealthy business owners controlling a region of “AnCapistan” care about the non-aggression principle? If I had to assume, my assumption would be a hard “no.” Anarcho-Capitalists would argue that they wouldn’t stand for acts of aggression against another region. Yet, herein lies the problem: Propaganda.

As stated earlier, “propaganda is a tool of the powerful to maintain current power and to obtain more power.” What is power in a purely capitalist society if not wealth? Sure, Anarcho-Capitalists currently see through the state propaganda far better than most people. I believe this is characteristic of most individuals who oppose the state, as they are much more vigilant than the blind. However, comfort breeds complacency. Complacency leads to a lack of awareness. And a lack of awareness will cause the people to succumb to manipulation.

It’s a fully understandable cycle. Vigilance is tiring. Nobody wants to live with their guard up for their entire life. And when goals are achieved, it feels like nap time.

This to me, and most other anarchists, is just one of many examples of why capitalism creates unjust hierarchies. And all hierarchies should be continuously evaluated by the people to determine whether they are justified, or plainly oppressive.

The rich do not care, nor will they ever care about the NAP. And so long as there is power in wealth, propaganda will continue to exist. And as long as propaganda exists, the young, proud men of the land will continue to fight and die, unknowingly making the powerful even more so.

The answer to this problem is simple. Capitalism should be abolished along with the state. I wouldn’t suggest that another anarchist society would have any moral ground in aggressing against “AnCapistan” if such things ever come to fruition. The best solution is that current AnCaps will begin to see the lack of justification for the hierarchies that capitalism creates, and willingly step away from the ideology itself.

-ZG