No War But The Class War
Encyclopedia
No War But The Class War (NWBTCW) has been used as a slogan expressing opposition to capitalism
, used by both anarchist
and communist
groups. It is also the name for a number of anti-authoritarian
, anti-capitalist groups.
during the 1990-1991 Gulf War
. The group dissolved after the war stopped. It included some people who were formerly part of the London based Class War
.
The second NWBTCW group appeared in London
during the 1999 Kosovo War
. This too dissolved after the war stopped. This group also included ex-members of Class War.
The third NWBTCW group appeared in London
following the start of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
in October 2001. Efforts, particularly by the Communist Workers' Organisation
, to turn this into a network of groups across the UK failed. A split in the group which was characterised as between theory and practice lead to the 'actionists' leaving to form the Disobedients, whose activities included an attempt to occupy Old Street roundabout along with Critical Mass
which was swamped by police much like all the other actions by this group. The 'theorist' section transmuted itself into the No War But The Class War Discussion Group, which eventually also dissolved.
above other political aimsand as a general anti-militarist slogan.
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
, used by both anarchist
Anarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
and communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
groups. It is also the name for a number of anti-authoritarian
Anti-authoritarian
Anti-authoritarianism is opposition to authoritarianism, which is defined as a "political doctrine advocating the principle of absolute rule: absolutism, autocracy, despotism, dictatorship, totalitarianism." Anti-authoritarians usually believe in full equality before the law and strong civil...
, anti-capitalist groups.
Group names
The first NWBTCW group appeared in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
during the 1990-1991 Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. The group dissolved after the war stopped. It included some people who were formerly part of the London based Class War
Class War
Class War is a UK class struggle based group and newspaper originally set up by Ian Bone and others in 1983. It subsequently mutated various forms, becoming specifically anarchist....
.
The second NWBTCW group appeared in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
during the 1999 Kosovo War
Kosovo War
The term Kosovo War or Kosovo conflict was two sequential, and at times parallel, armed conflicts in Kosovo province, then part of FR Yugoslav Republic of Serbia; from early 1998 to 1999, there was an armed conflict initiated by the ethnic Albanian "Kosovo Liberation Army" , who sought independence...
. This too dissolved after the war stopped. This group also included ex-members of Class War.
The third NWBTCW group appeared in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
following the start of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
in October 2001. Efforts, particularly by the Communist Workers' Organisation
Communist Workers Organisation (UK)
The Communist Workers Organisation is a British left communist group and an affiliate of the Internationalist Communist Tendency, formerly the International Bureau for the Revolutionary Party...
, to turn this into a network of groups across the UK failed. A split in the group which was characterised as between theory and practice lead to the 'actionists' leaving to form the Disobedients, whose activities included an attempt to occupy Old Street roundabout along with Critical Mass
Critical Mass
Critical Mass is a cycling event typically held on the last Friday of every month in over 300 cities around the world. The ride was originally founded in 1992 in San Francisco. The purpose of Critical Mass is not usually formalized beyond the direct action of meeting at a set location and time and...
which was swamped by police much like all the other actions by this group. The 'theorist' section transmuted itself into the No War But The Class War Discussion Group, which eventually also dissolved.
As a slogan
As a slogan, "No War But The Class War" been used by people not necessarily linked to any of the above groups. It is widely used by diverse Marxist groups as a means of underlining the priority of class struggleClass struggle
Class struggle is the active expression of a class conflict looked at from any kind of socialist perspective. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote "The [written] history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggle"....
above other political aimsand as a general anti-militarist slogan.
External links
- No War But The Class War - archive of texts by the various London NWBTCW groups.
- The story of this group (in its various incarnations) - article by the third NWBTCW group, looking at the history and limitations of the group.
- No War But The Class War: remembering and reflecting 10 years after - Reflective analysis on the first NWBTCW group by a former member.