Roads to Freedom · Chapter
International Relations explained
Russell examines the relationship between capitalism and war, arguing that while capitalism significantly contributes to modern warfare through financial imperialism and the concentration of power, its abolition alone would not guarantee pe
What happens
Russell examines the relationship between capitalism and war, arguing that while capitalism significantly contributes to modern warfare through financial imperialism and the concentration of power, its abolition alone would not guarantee peace due to deeper human instincts such as pugnacity and the desire for command. He critiques both Socialist and Anarchist views as overly simplistic, and warns that class-war-based internationalism may fail once the common enemy is defeated.
Themes in this chapter
War and International Relations
Central theme: Russell analyzes the causes of war, the role of capitalism, and the insufficiency of economic reorganization alone to prevent conflict.
Human Nature and Instincts
Russell argues that instincts like pugnacity and competitiveness are deeper causes of war, not fully addressed by abolishing capitalism.
Economic Inequality and Exploitation
Discusses how capitalist exploitation of weaker nations and the working class's complicity in imperialism perpetuate inequality and war.
Characters to notice
- J. A. Hobson
Quoted extensively on the economic taproot of imperialist expansion, linking capitalist pressure for markets and investments to modern war.
- Karl Marx
His internationalism based on proletarian unity is discussed; the Communist Manifesto is quoted, and his assumptions about the proletariat are critiqued.
Key passages
“The economic taproot, the chief directing motive of all the modern imperialistic expansion, is the pressure of capitalist industries for markets, primarily markets for investment, secondarily markets for surplus products of home industry.”
The main economic driver of modern imperialism is the capitalist need for new markets, especially for investment and surplus goods.
Russell uses Hobson's analysis to support the link between capitalism and war.
“Let the ruling classes tremble at a Communistic revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win. Working men of all countries, unite!”
Marx's call for a global proletarian revolution, based on the idea that workers have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Russell critiques this assumption, noting that Western workers are not as dispossessed as Marx assumed.