National Question in the Stage of Imperialist Globalization
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Extent of National Question Has Narrowed

 

As the capitalism of free competition was switching to monopolistic stage, it caused imperialism to merge at the beginning of 20th century. Imperialism, the highest stage of capitalism, was not only monopolist capitalism. One of the five features of the imperialist system was the completion of the division of the world regarding land among a handful of developed capitalist state and colonialism's becoming a worldwide phenomenon as well.

When looking at the world at the beginning of 20th century, what is seen is a handful of capitalist country's having turned the large proportion of the world regarding lands and the nations constituting the majority of the population into their colonies.

“This domination by a handful of capitalists achieved full development when the whole world had been partitioned, not only in the sense that the various sources of raw materials and means of production had been seized by the biggest capitals, but also in the sense that the preliminary partition of the colonies had been completed. Some forty years ago, the population of the colonies stood at somewhat over 250 million, who were subordinated to six capitalist powers. Before the war of 1914, the population of the colonies was estimated at about 600 million, and if we add the countries like Persia, Turkey and China, which were already semi-colonies, we shall get, in round figures, a population of a thousand million people oppressed through colonial dependence by the  richest, most civilized and freest countries.” (Lenin, Report on the International Situation and the Fundamental Tasks of the Communist International, July 19th, 1920)

Fewer numbers of semi-colonies, on the other hand, were colonies on the half way.

However the stage of imperialism was also the stage of proletarian revolutions. October Revolution opened the path of national liberations of colonies.

Afterwards the revolutions of nations, which were invaded and colonized by the fascist imperialism, created a jumping development in overthrowing the imperialist colonialism.

Great victories of the antifascist revolutions dealt the widest ranged and irreversible blow to colonialism during the imperialism period. Yet, it didn't settle with this. It aggravated the liberation struggles of other colony nations against imperialist colony system.

Liberation revolutions of the colony nations which sped up during the following process which ended the imperialist colonialism. The liberation of last colonies of Portugal in Africa in 1975 and the victory of Vietnam revolution became the death notice of the imperialist colonialism.

Imperialists' very few number of remaining small sized colonies and oppressed/colonized nations in considerably widespread multinational neocolonies are now defining the extent of national question.

 

Question of Nations Which Are Under the Yoke of Annexationist / Colonialist Neocolony States

 

From Spain to Iran, from Indonesia to Sudan, liberations of oppressed and colonized nations in some considerably widespread multinational developed capitalist countries from this yoke are constituting the main part of the national question in the world.

These are the multinational states formed during the historical process in various forms and due to various reasons. Whichever the reason or the form they were founded with, one nation dominates the state in these multinational countries, rules the other nations and keep them under the annexationist and colonialist yoke by force. These multinational neocolony states had been turned into colonies and semi-colonies of the imperialist states during the stage of imperialism. Some had gained independence after the 2nd imperialist redivision war and become neocolonies of the imperialism. Philippines and Indonesia are two typical examples of this.

In the end, since then until today, the state belongs to the dominant nation in these multinational neocolonies. Dominant nation keeps others under annexationist and colonialist yoke.

For example, in Iran, dominant Persian nation sustains its annexationist sovereignty concession, which it took over from the former central feudal empire period, over other more than one nation – Azeri, Kurdish, Baluji, Turkmen, Arabic- and national communities. This annexationist heritage is, of course, sustained as an extension of the relations of capitalist imperialist system. Former Shah dictatorships were the social-political-military shores of imperialism in the region. For this reason, Persian bourgeois-feudal sovereigns got support from the imperialists when they maintained the annexationist yoke. Although this support weakened in the period of Mullah dictatorship, Persian Mullahs and bourgeoisie can sustain the annexationist and colonialist yoke through social-economic, political, and religious supports among Azeri, Kurdish, Baluji, Arabic and Turkmen sovereigns, but of course mostly through military force. National movements which was materialized in the foundation of Azeri and Kurdish autonomous republics in the past are known. It is also known that Kurdish national movement specifically with IKDP (Iran Kurdistan Democratic Party) and Komala grew too much. And for today, in the name of PJAK and IKDP, grown power of Kurdish national movement is known. Colonialist Mullah regime does not content itself with only executing tens of Kurdish militants and attacking to PJAK and HPG forces. It blocks the raising of national movement by giving death penalty decisions for thousands of Kurdish patriots.

National movement of Balujis, is being upheld by the leadership of Islamic tendency organization. It is a struggle in which executions and heavy armed actions are carried out reciprocally.

Hundreds of thousands of Azeri joined the protests against the racist publication of a chauvinist newspaper. Massiveness of these protests showed the democratic and large potential of national movement.

For example, Turkish nation was dominant in the bourgeois-feudal empire until recently and Turkey was a multinational state where Turkish nation was sustaining its annexationist concession and sovereignty over other -Balkan nations, Kurdish, Circassian, Laz, Georgian, Arabic, etc.- nations and national communities. After the 1st imperialist redivision war, it lost its sovereignty over Balkan  and Arabic geography. However, it kept this as an extension of relations of capitalist imperialism over Kurdish, Laz, Circassian, etc. nations and national communities. Parallel to its capitalist development, it transformed this into colonialist yoke.

Or South Africa Republic was a state which was colonized by Boer colonization, which experienced a process of war-concession dilemma during the imperialist English colonialism period. Afterwards, it lived through racist Apartheid colonialism which Boer white minority applied over black people.

Philippines, is a multinational state which switched from Spanish colonialism to some sort of colonialist yoke of USA at the beginning of 20th century and which became a neocolony of USA after the 2nd imperialist redivision war. It is a neocolonized country where Muslim and other nations are waging a liberation struggle in the island of Mindanao under the leadership off Moro National Liberation Front.

Indonesia, was a multinational neocolony state which was freed from colonialism at the end of 2nd imperialist redivision war. It was a state where dominant Malay nation oppress many other nation and religion. During the military fascist dictatorship period, it didn't make do with it. It invaded and annexed East Timor with the support of USA in 1975 and applied genocide.

It is known that people of Ache is carrying on an independence struggle under the leadership of GAM and in the end, the struggle resulted with autonomy. Free Papua Movement Liberation Army (TPN/OPM) is again, even though it got defeated many times, waging an armed struggle. There is also a national struggle in Maluku region.

India is a continent country and kind of a federation of states. Like in all bourgeois federations, the states of India also does not have the right of secession and does not have republics. Although the federation prevents national separations, there are movements waging armed struggle in Kashmir, Assam and Manipur. Islamists became dominant in the national movement in Muslim Kashmir. However, the organizations of other two nations, Manipur Revolutionary People's Front (PLA is the armed wing of this organization) and ULFA (United Liberation Front of Assam), are carrying out an armed struggle.

There is also a national movement of Gorkha's in North India which isn't an armed one yet, but whose social bases are expanding and again without a right to have a state or federation.

Ethiopia was a multinational state which switched from semi-colony to neocolony and annexed Eritrea for a while. National liberation revolutions was forming a main dimension of the revolutionary struggle in Ethiopia. This feature of the revolution was apparent in Eritrea, Tigray and Ogaden. The revolution in 1990's, shortly after the victory, was turned into another bourgeois backward regime through being bought by the imperialists. After Eritrea determined its own fate as in favor of independence, national suppression continues on a lowered level although other nations gained autonomy. There is a movement in Ogaden waging a national struggle.

Examples can be extended. But as a result, hegemonic nation in these and more multinational neocolony countries holds other under annexationist/colonialist yoke.

After imperialists were forced to switch to neocolonialism or liberation of colonies, if we leave countries like England, Spain and Canada beside, national question mainly occurs as national question in neocolonies. Today, this concrete situation continues. Oppressed and colonized national movements in multinational states as a question whose solution is well delayed are growing fast and spreading out.

First diagnosis: national question was mainly a question of colonized nations against imperialist colonialism between 1900-1975. It was actually the liberation struggle of colonized nations from the yoke of imperialist colonialism.

Before that, the question of oppressed and colonized nations had become a question bounded to the hegemony relations of imperialism (inside the Russian Tsardom, Austria-Hungarian and Ottoman Empire).

Today this situation has changed. National question has no longer been a worldwide question, it has become a question with narrower boundaries. It turned out on big proportion to be the question of the liberations of oppressed and colonized nations inside the multinational neocolony countries from the annexationist/colonialist yoke of bourgeoisies of hegemonic nations.

Secondly; struggle against the annexationist/colonialist yoke of bourgeoisie of multinational neocolony countries is a struggle with democratic content. Because if there is annexationist/colonialist suppression of dominant classes in these countries, this situation conditions regimes which are more antidemocratic, chauvinist, fascist and more militarist. This struggle against annexationist/colonialist yoke becomes a main component of the struggle for democratic freedoms.

Thirdly; struggles of colonized and oppressed nations against this yoke deal a blow to imperialism and progress towards a struggle against imperialism since the bourgeoisies of the multinational neocolony countries are parts of capitalist imperialist system relations.

 

Question of Indigenous People

 

Indigenous people, who suffered from genocides during the colonialism period in the continent of America, are living without their rights as minorities except for Bolivia. They are lack of their rights under the racist yoke of white and mixed race new nations. These nations, who had previously expressed their angers by widely joining the revolutionary struggles, have created direct indigenous organizations in the last decades and waged struggles by putting forth their national demands.

Although the question of American indigenous peoples from various national communities under racist suppression is not conditioning a complete national liberation revolution today, restitution of traditional fertile lands, political autonomy and ending of national-cultural assimilation come to the fore as primary demands.

Liberation of indigenous peoples from racist suppression is a question that can be solved on the basis of equality of national rights. Struggle of indigenous people against the racism of hegemonic bourgeoisie, liquidation of race inequality and struggle for gaining all of their rights are parts of struggle of gaining democratic freedom and have a democratic content.

 

National Question and Question of Race As Exceptions in the Imperialist Countries

 

Countries like England, Canada, Russia and China also have this question.

Scotland, Wales, North Ireland could only gain autonomy from England in 1990's as a result of IRA's struggle. The assembly of Scotland goes for independence referendum from time to time.

Federal Quebec state in Canada is also brought to independence referendum by its first party in the assembly, PQ.

Chechnya, Dagestan, Tatarstan, North Ossetia, Ingush, Yakutia and other regions have autonomy. Some of them are autonomous republics. But none of them has secession right.

It is known that Russia responded to the separation struggle of Chechnya with genocide. Russian bourgeoisie is limiting the authority of other autonomous republics which previously they had.

There are autonomous regions in China as acquisitions of revolution; there carried out actions from time to time with the goal of equality of national rights in regions like Tibet, Xinjiang-Uighur and Inner Mongolia where different nations live.

Imperialist countries, in spite of being federal, does not give the right of being an independent republic to their oppressed nations. For this reason, struggles of federations for the equality of national rights have a democratic content.

Racist suppression and lack of rights reflecting as inequality against the immigrant workers in Europe, USA and other imperialist countries also condition the democratic struggle of immigrant workers.

Struggles in imperialist countries objectively have democratic content. But, each concrete situation must be evaluated according to its own peculiarity. As much as they attach to an alliance with socialist revolution or become a direct part of it, the possibility of becoming reactionary through falling as substitutes to the opponent imperialists (especially, it is noticeable for the national movements in Russia and China which are seen opponents by USA and Europe) can be removed.

 

Question Created by the New Imperialist occupations

 

Starting from the '90's, under the conditions of a reactionary period and regression of world revolution, an increase was observed in the imperialist occupations. The occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq, imperialist air war to Libya and the war towards Syria launched directly by the hands of imperialists or collaborators of the region states. War interventions to Mali and some West Africa countries. Saudi's Yemen war . occupations of Lebanon by Israel. Some struggles can emerge during the resistances which  also have a national character against these occupations. However, ISIS in Syria and Iraq or various groups in Libya are not carrying out a national liberation struggle.

Apart from the struggle of Palestine against the Zionist occupation, there is happening also a civil war beside the the occupations and military attacks from outside in others. It is completely like this in Afghanistan. Collaboration of nations and beliefs, who suffered heavy oppression and genocide of Saddam, with USA caused a conflict between these forces and Sunni Arabs.

This, at the same time, is a new property which is probable to be seen in other imperialist occupations in the stage of imperialist globalization.

Imperialist monopolies became an inner phenomenon with the financial-economic colonialism which is created by imperialist globalization. They attach local capital oligarchy and big bourgeoisie to themselves and other exploiting bourgeoisie sections are depended upon the capital oligarchy. These facts objectively remove the material basis of resistances against the occupations to be 'national' wide and based. Therefore, positions of some interest groups and religious sects become decisive rather than being national.

 

Democratic Content Remains

 

With these conditions, objective democratic content of national question remains. We have already said that national question has predominantly become the question of liberation of oppressed/colonized nations in multinational neocolony states. Liberation of these nations from the annexationist/colonialist yoke, national freedom of them through struggling against the deprivation of national right and being governed by the sovereigns of other nations without their consent, struggling for equality of national rights and their self-determination for their own fate are carrying democratic content. These cause democratic movement to develop. The opposite is also correct. This annexationist and colonialist yoke generates reactionism, racism and fascism. It sustains the mistrust of peoples to each other. It prevents the formation of a trustworthy unity of workers and laborers in the class struggle. It causes workers and laborers from sovereign nation to follow the bourgeoisie of their nation especially by creating chauvinist poisoning.

National question in the imperialist countries also carries an objective democratic content. Right of self-determination of colonized and dependent nations in these countries  plays a democratic role.

Struggle of indigenous peoples and oppressed races for equal rights also democratic featured. It creates and grows democratic forces.

In the stage of imperialist globalization, the tendency which bears a reactionary reflexes against the financial-economic colonization of imperialist states is spreading in neocolony countries. And this is happening under the conditions in which socialism hopes are weakening. It brings this misconception: 'imperialism uses national movements for its own interest, so these movements are separatists'. With this logic, those having this reactionary tendency support the dirty colonialist wars and massacres against these movements. They fall exactly into the same line with racist fascist movements.

In fact, imperialists take advantage of national movements against opponent imperialists and against the governments they want to overthrow. Just like in often given examples of Yugoslavia and Iraq. However, rejecting the right of self-determination in these places because this is like that and evaluating the dirty war of sovereign bourgeoisie as righteous is just wrong. This is a social chauvinist viewpoint and attitude.

Imperialists, except for these exceptions, support or directly launch any kind of suppression and dirty war to oppress other national movements.

 

Under the Conditions of Imperialist Globalization

 

World capitalism has integrated in the stage of imperialist globalization. This concrete base requires more than yesterday, not separate political units of different nations, but the formation of voluntary unifications on various levels, yet with keeping their national freedoms. Economic development within larger unities on the basis of voluntariness by keeping their freedom is much more possible today as it is also in favor of proletariat.

Material basis to found regional democratic and socialist federations has strengthened today more under the economic integration conditions created by imperialist globalization.

Proletariat, both fights for the achievement of oppressed/colonized nations to their liberation and offers, today more than yesterday, the formation of larger unities of free nations on the basis of voluntariness with equal rights by keeping their national freedom, and it struggle to actualize it. It does this to achieve the tight unity of workers from every nation in the struggle for socialism through trusting each other more. Moreover, this prevents the hostility, friction, conflict and necking created by bourgeoisie among neighboring nations through regional democratic and socialist federations with the victories of revolutions.

Reactionary nationalism also shows itself in the opposite direction of this socialist and consistent democratic tendency against the results of imperialist globalization.

Development of neo-nazi movements and parties in imperialist countries reflects this tendency. Multiple fascist parties in European Union, which are hostile to immigrants, but at the same time, strengthened by the unemployment and poverty created by imperialist unity and globalization, are based on this tendency. Desire to protect the old days and old life standards plays role in this. National Front of Le Pen, fascist parties opposed to EU in England and Scandinavian countries, development of neo-nazi Pegida movement and AfD in Germany and Tea movement in USA are based on this tendency.

Again, development of nationalist reactionary movements in neocolony countries and of conservative, sometimes fascist politic-islamist movements in Muslim countries are based on this reactionary reflex. Many reformist and progressive movements', democratic mass organizations' being supporter of dirty wars against oppressed national movements is based on this reflex against the results of imperialist globalization.

This tendency, which took laboring masses relatively widespread under its influence during the process of transformation of neocolonies into financial-economic colonies, is especially an expression of the reaction against financial-economic colonization under the conditions of imperialist globalization. Protection of peculiar reactionary interests of bourgeoisies of financial-economic colonies also means binding behind the nationalist tendency. MHP (Nationalist Movement Party), Ergenekon ist generals (convicted then released putschist old generals of army) and Perinçek followers who are tied to them (Doğu Perinçek, a fascist politician who once was in the ranks of revolutionary organizations in the '70's), nationalist mass organizations and intellectuals are the representatives of this tendency and they are inside this tendency. AKP and Erdogan's neo-ottomanist expansion policy in the region, and support to these are also expressions of this tendency.

Development of radical Islamic movements in the struggle against imperialist occupations, especially the ones in the line of Al-Qaida, is another expression o this reactionary tendency. Despite the fact that these movements did actually join the struggle against the imperialist occupations most of the time, like in the example of Iraq, they grow a savage hostility towards people, communities from oppressed beliefs and nations.  They apply exactly theocratic despotism and fascism in the example of ISIS. It is observable that the tendency to go back to “nice old days” or the period of century-of-joy generates not only ideological regressiveness, but also political one.

Here, it is once more needed to mention the criteria of how much democratic or revolutionary the movements are in the struggle against imperialism and whether they should be supported by communists or not. It is not enough that these movements deal a blow to imperialist occupations. They must also be in a position with laboring classes and the oppressed, and in a manner of giving space to communists and revolutionaries to organize laboring masses. Only then, these movements can play a democratic and revolutionary role. Only then, they are supported by the communists -without looking at what they think philosophically.

Communists will continue supporting the democratic content of national movements of oppressed and colonized nations, and their right of self-determination unconditionally.

They will determinedly continue struggling against the wrecking consequences of imperialist globalization, against financial-economic colonialism and against new imperialist occupations. They will not settle with this, and also position against the reactionary tendency. And they will continue putting forth regional democratic and socialist federations based on voluntary unity of free nations as a revolutionary alternative program to imperialist financial-economic colonialism and occupations.
 

 

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National Question in the Stage of Imperialist Globalization
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Extent of National Question Has Narrowed

 

As the capitalism of free competition was switching to monopolistic stage, it caused imperialism to merge at the beginning of 20th century. Imperialism, the highest stage of capitalism, was not only monopolist capitalism. One of the five features of the imperialist system was the completion of the division of the world regarding land among a handful of developed capitalist state and colonialism's becoming a worldwide phenomenon as well.

When looking at the world at the beginning of 20th century, what is seen is a handful of capitalist country's having turned the large proportion of the world regarding lands and the nations constituting the majority of the population into their colonies.

“This domination by a handful of capitalists achieved full development when the whole world had been partitioned, not only in the sense that the various sources of raw materials and means of production had been seized by the biggest capitals, but also in the sense that the preliminary partition of the colonies had been completed. Some forty years ago, the population of the colonies stood at somewhat over 250 million, who were subordinated to six capitalist powers. Before the war of 1914, the population of the colonies was estimated at about 600 million, and if we add the countries like Persia, Turkey and China, which were already semi-colonies, we shall get, in round figures, a population of a thousand million people oppressed through colonial dependence by the  richest, most civilized and freest countries.” (Lenin, Report on the International Situation and the Fundamental Tasks of the Communist International, July 19th, 1920)

Fewer numbers of semi-colonies, on the other hand, were colonies on the half way.

However the stage of imperialism was also the stage of proletarian revolutions. October Revolution opened the path of national liberations of colonies.

Afterwards the revolutions of nations, which were invaded and colonized by the fascist imperialism, created a jumping development in overthrowing the imperialist colonialism.

Great victories of the antifascist revolutions dealt the widest ranged and irreversible blow to colonialism during the imperialism period. Yet, it didn't settle with this. It aggravated the liberation struggles of other colony nations against imperialist colony system.

Liberation revolutions of the colony nations which sped up during the following process which ended the imperialist colonialism. The liberation of last colonies of Portugal in Africa in 1975 and the victory of Vietnam revolution became the death notice of the imperialist colonialism.

Imperialists' very few number of remaining small sized colonies and oppressed/colonized nations in considerably widespread multinational neocolonies are now defining the extent of national question.

 

Question of Nations Which Are Under the Yoke of Annexationist / Colonialist Neocolony States

 

From Spain to Iran, from Indonesia to Sudan, liberations of oppressed and colonized nations in some considerably widespread multinational developed capitalist countries from this yoke are constituting the main part of the national question in the world.

These are the multinational states formed during the historical process in various forms and due to various reasons. Whichever the reason or the form they were founded with, one nation dominates the state in these multinational countries, rules the other nations and keep them under the annexationist and colonialist yoke by force. These multinational neocolony states had been turned into colonies and semi-colonies of the imperialist states during the stage of imperialism. Some had gained independence after the 2nd imperialist redivision war and become neocolonies of the imperialism. Philippines and Indonesia are two typical examples of this.

In the end, since then until today, the state belongs to the dominant nation in these multinational neocolonies. Dominant nation keeps others under annexationist and colonialist yoke.

For example, in Iran, dominant Persian nation sustains its annexationist sovereignty concession, which it took over from the former central feudal empire period, over other more than one nation – Azeri, Kurdish, Baluji, Turkmen, Arabic- and national communities. This annexationist heritage is, of course, sustained as an extension of the relations of capitalist imperialist system. Former Shah dictatorships were the social-political-military shores of imperialism in the region. For this reason, Persian bourgeois-feudal sovereigns got support from the imperialists when they maintained the annexationist yoke. Although this support weakened in the period of Mullah dictatorship, Persian Mullahs and bourgeoisie can sustain the annexationist and colonialist yoke through social-economic, political, and religious supports among Azeri, Kurdish, Baluji, Arabic and Turkmen sovereigns, but of course mostly through military force. National movements which was materialized in the foundation of Azeri and Kurdish autonomous republics in the past are known. It is also known that Kurdish national movement specifically with IKDP (Iran Kurdistan Democratic Party) and Komala grew too much. And for today, in the name of PJAK and IKDP, grown power of Kurdish national movement is known. Colonialist Mullah regime does not content itself with only executing tens of Kurdish militants and attacking to PJAK and HPG forces. It blocks the raising of national movement by giving death penalty decisions for thousands of Kurdish patriots.

National movement of Balujis, is being upheld by the leadership of Islamic tendency organization. It is a struggle in which executions and heavy armed actions are carried out reciprocally.

Hundreds of thousands of Azeri joined the protests against the racist publication of a chauvinist newspaper. Massiveness of these protests showed the democratic and large potential of national movement.

For example, Turkish nation was dominant in the bourgeois-feudal empire until recently and Turkey was a multinational state where Turkish nation was sustaining its annexationist concession and sovereignty over other -Balkan nations, Kurdish, Circassian, Laz, Georgian, Arabic, etc.- nations and national communities. After the 1st imperialist redivision war, it lost its sovereignty over Balkan  and Arabic geography. However, it kept this as an extension of relations of capitalist imperialism over Kurdish, Laz, Circassian, etc. nations and national communities. Parallel to its capitalist development, it transformed this into colonialist yoke.

Or South Africa Republic was a state which was colonized by Boer colonization, which experienced a process of war-concession dilemma during the imperialist English colonialism period. Afterwards, it lived through racist Apartheid colonialism which Boer white minority applied over black people.

Philippines, is a multinational state which switched from Spanish colonialism to some sort of colonialist yoke of USA at the beginning of 20th century and which became a neocolony of USA after the 2nd imperialist redivision war. It is a neocolonized country where Muslim and other nations are waging a liberation struggle in the island of Mindanao under the leadership off Moro National Liberation Front.

Indonesia, was a multinational neocolony state which was freed from colonialism at the end of 2nd imperialist redivision war. It was a state where dominant Malay nation oppress many other nation and religion. During the military fascist dictatorship period, it didn't make do with it. It invaded and annexed East Timor with the support of USA in 1975 and applied genocide.

It is known that people of Ache is carrying on an independence struggle under the leadership of GAM and in the end, the struggle resulted with autonomy. Free Papua Movement Liberation Army (TPN/OPM) is again, even though it got defeated many times, waging an armed struggle. There is also a national struggle in Maluku region.

India is a continent country and kind of a federation of states. Like in all bourgeois federations, the states of India also does not have the right of secession and does not have republics. Although the federation prevents national separations, there are movements waging armed struggle in Kashmir, Assam and Manipur. Islamists became dominant in the national movement in Muslim Kashmir. However, the organizations of other two nations, Manipur Revolutionary People's Front (PLA is the armed wing of this organization) and ULFA (United Liberation Front of Assam), are carrying out an armed struggle.

There is also a national movement of Gorkha's in North India which isn't an armed one yet, but whose social bases are expanding and again without a right to have a state or federation.

Ethiopia was a multinational state which switched from semi-colony to neocolony and annexed Eritrea for a while. National liberation revolutions was forming a main dimension of the revolutionary struggle in Ethiopia. This feature of the revolution was apparent in Eritrea, Tigray and Ogaden. The revolution in 1990's, shortly after the victory, was turned into another bourgeois backward regime through being bought by the imperialists. After Eritrea determined its own fate as in favor of independence, national suppression continues on a lowered level although other nations gained autonomy. There is a movement in Ogaden waging a national struggle.

Examples can be extended. But as a result, hegemonic nation in these and more multinational neocolony countries holds other under annexationist/colonialist yoke.

After imperialists were forced to switch to neocolonialism or liberation of colonies, if we leave countries like England, Spain and Canada beside, national question mainly occurs as national question in neocolonies. Today, this concrete situation continues. Oppressed and colonized national movements in multinational states as a question whose solution is well delayed are growing fast and spreading out.

First diagnosis: national question was mainly a question of colonized nations against imperialist colonialism between 1900-1975. It was actually the liberation struggle of colonized nations from the yoke of imperialist colonialism.

Before that, the question of oppressed and colonized nations had become a question bounded to the hegemony relations of imperialism (inside the Russian Tsardom, Austria-Hungarian and Ottoman Empire).

Today this situation has changed. National question has no longer been a worldwide question, it has become a question with narrower boundaries. It turned out on big proportion to be the question of the liberations of oppressed and colonized nations inside the multinational neocolony countries from the annexationist/colonialist yoke of bourgeoisies of hegemonic nations.

Secondly; struggle against the annexationist/colonialist yoke of bourgeoisie of multinational neocolony countries is a struggle with democratic content. Because if there is annexationist/colonialist suppression of dominant classes in these countries, this situation conditions regimes which are more antidemocratic, chauvinist, fascist and more militarist. This struggle against annexationist/colonialist yoke becomes a main component of the struggle for democratic freedoms.

Thirdly; struggles of colonized and oppressed nations against this yoke deal a blow to imperialism and progress towards a struggle against imperialism since the bourgeoisies of the multinational neocolony countries are parts of capitalist imperialist system relations.

 

Question of Indigenous People

 

Indigenous people, who suffered from genocides during the colonialism period in the continent of America, are living without their rights as minorities except for Bolivia. They are lack of their rights under the racist yoke of white and mixed race new nations. These nations, who had previously expressed their angers by widely joining the revolutionary struggles, have created direct indigenous organizations in the last decades and waged struggles by putting forth their national demands.

Although the question of American indigenous peoples from various national communities under racist suppression is not conditioning a complete national liberation revolution today, restitution of traditional fertile lands, political autonomy and ending of national-cultural assimilation come to the fore as primary demands.

Liberation of indigenous peoples from racist suppression is a question that can be solved on the basis of equality of national rights. Struggle of indigenous people against the racism of hegemonic bourgeoisie, liquidation of race inequality and struggle for gaining all of their rights are parts of struggle of gaining democratic freedom and have a democratic content.

 

National Question and Question of Race As Exceptions in the Imperialist Countries

 

Countries like England, Canada, Russia and China also have this question.

Scotland, Wales, North Ireland could only gain autonomy from England in 1990's as a result of IRA's struggle. The assembly of Scotland goes for independence referendum from time to time.

Federal Quebec state in Canada is also brought to independence referendum by its first party in the assembly, PQ.

Chechnya, Dagestan, Tatarstan, North Ossetia, Ingush, Yakutia and other regions have autonomy. Some of them are autonomous republics. But none of them has secession right.

It is known that Russia responded to the separation struggle of Chechnya with genocide. Russian bourgeoisie is limiting the authority of other autonomous republics which previously they had.

There are autonomous regions in China as acquisitions of revolution; there carried out actions from time to time with the goal of equality of national rights in regions like Tibet, Xinjiang-Uighur and Inner Mongolia where different nations live.

Imperialist countries, in spite of being federal, does not give the right of being an independent republic to their oppressed nations. For this reason, struggles of federations for the equality of national rights have a democratic content.

Racist suppression and lack of rights reflecting as inequality against the immigrant workers in Europe, USA and other imperialist countries also condition the democratic struggle of immigrant workers.

Struggles in imperialist countries objectively have democratic content. But, each concrete situation must be evaluated according to its own peculiarity. As much as they attach to an alliance with socialist revolution or become a direct part of it, the possibility of becoming reactionary through falling as substitutes to the opponent imperialists (especially, it is noticeable for the national movements in Russia and China which are seen opponents by USA and Europe) can be removed.

 

Question Created by the New Imperialist occupations

 

Starting from the '90's, under the conditions of a reactionary period and regression of world revolution, an increase was observed in the imperialist occupations. The occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq, imperialist air war to Libya and the war towards Syria launched directly by the hands of imperialists or collaborators of the region states. War interventions to Mali and some West Africa countries. Saudi's Yemen war . occupations of Lebanon by Israel. Some struggles can emerge during the resistances which  also have a national character against these occupations. However, ISIS in Syria and Iraq or various groups in Libya are not carrying out a national liberation struggle.

Apart from the struggle of Palestine against the Zionist occupation, there is happening also a civil war beside the the occupations and military attacks from outside in others. It is completely like this in Afghanistan. Collaboration of nations and beliefs, who suffered heavy oppression and genocide of Saddam, with USA caused a conflict between these forces and Sunni Arabs.

This, at the same time, is a new property which is probable to be seen in other imperialist occupations in the stage of imperialist globalization.

Imperialist monopolies became an inner phenomenon with the financial-economic colonialism which is created by imperialist globalization. They attach local capital oligarchy and big bourgeoisie to themselves and other exploiting bourgeoisie sections are depended upon the capital oligarchy. These facts objectively remove the material basis of resistances against the occupations to be 'national' wide and based. Therefore, positions of some interest groups and religious sects become decisive rather than being national.

 

Democratic Content Remains

 

With these conditions, objective democratic content of national question remains. We have already said that national question has predominantly become the question of liberation of oppressed/colonized nations in multinational neocolony states. Liberation of these nations from the annexationist/colonialist yoke, national freedom of them through struggling against the deprivation of national right and being governed by the sovereigns of other nations without their consent, struggling for equality of national rights and their self-determination for their own fate are carrying democratic content. These cause democratic movement to develop. The opposite is also correct. This annexationist and colonialist yoke generates reactionism, racism and fascism. It sustains the mistrust of peoples to each other. It prevents the formation of a trustworthy unity of workers and laborers in the class struggle. It causes workers and laborers from sovereign nation to follow the bourgeoisie of their nation especially by creating chauvinist poisoning.

National question in the imperialist countries also carries an objective democratic content. Right of self-determination of colonized and dependent nations in these countries  plays a democratic role.

Struggle of indigenous peoples and oppressed races for equal rights also democratic featured. It creates and grows democratic forces.

In the stage of imperialist globalization, the tendency which bears a reactionary reflexes against the financial-economic colonization of imperialist states is spreading in neocolony countries. And this is happening under the conditions in which socialism hopes are weakening. It brings this misconception: 'imperialism uses national movements for its own interest, so these movements are separatists'. With this logic, those having this reactionary tendency support the dirty colonialist wars and massacres against these movements. They fall exactly into the same line with racist fascist movements.

In fact, imperialists take advantage of national movements against opponent imperialists and against the governments they want to overthrow. Just like in often given examples of Yugoslavia and Iraq. However, rejecting the right of self-determination in these places because this is like that and evaluating the dirty war of sovereign bourgeoisie as righteous is just wrong. This is a social chauvinist viewpoint and attitude.

Imperialists, except for these exceptions, support or directly launch any kind of suppression and dirty war to oppress other national movements.

 

Under the Conditions of Imperialist Globalization

 

World capitalism has integrated in the stage of imperialist globalization. This concrete base requires more than yesterday, not separate political units of different nations, but the formation of voluntary unifications on various levels, yet with keeping their national freedoms. Economic development within larger unities on the basis of voluntariness by keeping their freedom is much more possible today as it is also in favor of proletariat.

Material basis to found regional democratic and socialist federations has strengthened today more under the economic integration conditions created by imperialist globalization.

Proletariat, both fights for the achievement of oppressed/colonized nations to their liberation and offers, today more than yesterday, the formation of larger unities of free nations on the basis of voluntariness with equal rights by keeping their national freedom, and it struggle to actualize it. It does this to achieve the tight unity of workers from every nation in the struggle for socialism through trusting each other more. Moreover, this prevents the hostility, friction, conflict and necking created by bourgeoisie among neighboring nations through regional democratic and socialist federations with the victories of revolutions.

Reactionary nationalism also shows itself in the opposite direction of this socialist and consistent democratic tendency against the results of imperialist globalization.

Development of neo-nazi movements and parties in imperialist countries reflects this tendency. Multiple fascist parties in European Union, which are hostile to immigrants, but at the same time, strengthened by the unemployment and poverty created by imperialist unity and globalization, are based on this tendency. Desire to protect the old days and old life standards plays role in this. National Front of Le Pen, fascist parties opposed to EU in England and Scandinavian countries, development of neo-nazi Pegida movement and AfD in Germany and Tea movement in USA are based on this tendency.

Again, development of nationalist reactionary movements in neocolony countries and of conservative, sometimes fascist politic-islamist movements in Muslim countries are based on this reactionary reflex. Many reformist and progressive movements', democratic mass organizations' being supporter of dirty wars against oppressed national movements is based on this reflex against the results of imperialist globalization.

This tendency, which took laboring masses relatively widespread under its influence during the process of transformation of neocolonies into financial-economic colonies, is especially an expression of the reaction against financial-economic colonization under the conditions of imperialist globalization. Protection of peculiar reactionary interests of bourgeoisies of financial-economic colonies also means binding behind the nationalist tendency. MHP (Nationalist Movement Party), Ergenekon ist generals (convicted then released putschist old generals of army) and Perinçek followers who are tied to them (Doğu Perinçek, a fascist politician who once was in the ranks of revolutionary organizations in the '70's), nationalist mass organizations and intellectuals are the representatives of this tendency and they are inside this tendency. AKP and Erdogan's neo-ottomanist expansion policy in the region, and support to these are also expressions of this tendency.

Development of radical Islamic movements in the struggle against imperialist occupations, especially the ones in the line of Al-Qaida, is another expression o this reactionary tendency. Despite the fact that these movements did actually join the struggle against the imperialist occupations most of the time, like in the example of Iraq, they grow a savage hostility towards people, communities from oppressed beliefs and nations.  They apply exactly theocratic despotism and fascism in the example of ISIS. It is observable that the tendency to go back to “nice old days” or the period of century-of-joy generates not only ideological regressiveness, but also political one.

Here, it is once more needed to mention the criteria of how much democratic or revolutionary the movements are in the struggle against imperialism and whether they should be supported by communists or not. It is not enough that these movements deal a blow to imperialist occupations. They must also be in a position with laboring classes and the oppressed, and in a manner of giving space to communists and revolutionaries to organize laboring masses. Only then, these movements can play a democratic and revolutionary role. Only then, they are supported by the communists -without looking at what they think philosophically.

Communists will continue supporting the democratic content of national movements of oppressed and colonized nations, and their right of self-determination unconditionally.

They will determinedly continue struggling against the wrecking consequences of imperialist globalization, against financial-economic colonialism and against new imperialist occupations. They will not settle with this, and also position against the reactionary tendency. And they will continue putting forth regional democratic and socialist federations based on voluntary unity of free nations as a revolutionary alternative program to imperialist financial-economic colonialism and occupations.