[D66] The nation-state has become anachronistic

[René Oudeweg]

"Deutscher emphasizes that the nation-state is especially dangerous in 
an era of nuclear weapons, as it fosters conflicts that could lead to 
catastrophic wars. The sovereignty of nation-states, he contends, is 
incompatible with the need for global cooperation and disarmament."



In his essay *"Marxism, War and Revolution,"* Isaac Deutscher argues 
that the **nation-state has become anachronistic** in the modern era, 
particularly in the context of capitalism and socialism. His Marxist 
perspective leads him to view the nation-state as an outdated political 
form that obstructs progress toward internationalism and socialism. 
Here’s a summary of his key points:

1. **Historical Materialist Perspective**: Deutscher sees the 
nation-state as a product of bourgeois capitalism, which initially 
played a progressive role in unifying markets and breaking feudal 
barriers. However, in the 20th century, it became a hindrance to further 
economic and social development.

2. **Obstacle to Socialism**: He argues that the nation-state 
perpetuates divisions among the working class, preventing international 
solidarity. Capitalism, while global in its economic reach, remains 
trapped in nationalist politics, leading to imperialism, militarism, and 
war.

3. **Anachronism in the Nuclear Age**: Deutscher emphasizes that the 
nation-state is especially dangerous in an era of nuclear weapons, as it 
fosters conflicts that could lead to catastrophic wars. The sovereignty 
of nation-states, he contends, is incompatible with the need for global 
cooperation and disarmament.

4. **Need for Internationalism**: Following Marx and Engels, Deutscher 
advocates for a **socialist world order** that transcends national 
borders. He believes that only through proletarian internationalism can 
humanity overcome the destructive tendencies of capitalism and nationalism.

5. **Critique of Stalinism**: While Deutscher was a Marxist, he 
criticized Stalin’s "socialism in one country" as a retreat from true 
internationalism, reinforcing the very national-state structures that 
Marxism sought to overcome.

In essence, Deutscher views the nation-state as an outdated relic that 
must be superseded by a higher form of political and economic 
organization—socialist internationalism—to achieve peace and progress. 
His analysis aligns with classical Marxist thought but is updated for 
the Cold War context, where nationalism and superpower rivalry 
threatened global stability.

source: deepseek


https://archive.org/details/bwb_P8-ACW-840

  Marxism, wars, and revolutions : essays from four decades

by
     Deutscher, Isaac, 1907-1967


Publication date
     1984

Topics
     Communism -- History, World politics -- 20th century, Communist state

Publisher
     London : Verso

Collection
     internetarchivebooks; printdisabled

Contributor
     Internet Archive

Language
     English

Item Size
     988.8M