Moribund Society and Anarchy · Chapter
XII: The Patriotism of the Governing Classes explained
This chapter exposes the hypocrisy of the governing classes' patriotism, arguing that it is a mask for economic exploitation and class interest.
What happens
This chapter exposes the hypocrisy of the governing classes' patriotism, arguing that it is a mask for economic exploitation and class interest. It uses political economists' own writings to show that war serves the interests of the ruling class—providing 'small profits,' suppressing internal opposition, and opening markets—while workers bear the costs in blood and taxes. The chapter condemns colonial expeditions as brigandage and highlights recent scandals of armaments betrayal and profiteering, concluding that bourgeois patriotism is a sham.
Themes in this chapter
Militarism and the State
The chapter argues that war is a tool of the governing class to maintain power, suppress opposition, and generate profits, exposing the state's militarism as a class interest.
Critique of Private Property
The text shows how the bourgeoisie uses war and patriotism to protect and expand their property and markets, while workers pay the costs.
Individualism and Solidarity
The chapter contrasts the individual interests of the governing class with the collective exploitation of workers, highlighting the false solidarity of patriotism.
Characters to notice
- Their Masters
The governing class whose patriotism is exposed as a cover for exploitation and war profiteering.
- The Workman
The worker who is manipulated by patriotic rhetoric and bears the burden of war and taxes.
- The Anarchists
Referenced as those who demonstrate the antagonism of interests between workers and the bourgeoisie.
- Anarchy
Mentioned in the context of capitalists declaiming against 'frightful Anarchists' who expose class antagonism.
Key passages
“It is the interest of the governing classes, of the preponderance which they hold and for which they are indebted precisely to a continuation of the state of war, which artificially maintains that state among civilized peoples.”
The ruling class benefits from war because it sustains their dominance, so they deliberately keep wars going.
This quote from a political economist reveals the self-interest behind war.
“War without implies peace within; that is to say, a period of easy government, during which the opposition is reduced to silence under pain of being accused of complicity with the enemy.”
War abroad allows the government to suppress dissent at home by branding opponents as traitors.
Shows how war is used to stifle internal opposition.
“Finally if war be cruel to the conscripts who, according to the forcible popular expression, furnish 'meat for the cannon,' the departure of these impressed troops, brought up to farm labor or in the workshop, by diminishing the supply of hands has the effect of increasing wages, and thus palliating the horrors of war to those who escape military service.”
War reduces the labor supply, raising wages for workers who remain, which partly offsets the suffering of those sent to die.
Highlights the cynical economic calculus behind war.