Living in a Fascist and Statist EU Sector! Wayne John Sturgeon Interviews Dr

4WR Fourth World Review Issue 154 Spring 2012

LivingWayne John in Sturgeon a Fascist interviews and Dr. VernonStatist Coleman EU sector! See Page 9 In Defence of Aspiring Small States Small state! Big State! Both coexisted in history side by side Patriotism not size of the real estate That ought to define and guide The debate of statehood Instead of historical errors of olden kind It’s the sovereign rights of citizens To amalgamate or go separate Into statehood; and to arbitrate Otherwise against the wishes of citizens For pretexts of history, size and power Will certain to undo the fabric of state sooner or later History dealt heavy burden on smaller nations To deny them right of self determination When size of armies and cunning politics Robbed nations of birth or partitioned them for energetic Desires of power barons or loyal bureaucrats Yet such states for centuries do agitate to be a state. Culture, history, language and heritage Those very rich ideals which run strong in the veins Of nations aspiring to reach the plains Of statehood as they feel it’s to their advantage To be free and to breathe the winds of freedom Hence, let them be untied of excuses bordering boredom Jason

Page 2 Fourth World Review Fourth World Review Page 3 Fourth World Review PO Box 2410 Swindon 4WR SN5 4XN Fourth World Review Issue 154 SPRING 2012 Tel: 01793 772214

Joint Editors: FOR SMALL NATIONS Wayne John Sturgeon and Graham Williamson SMALL COMMUNITIES SMALL FARMS Founder, former Editor SMALL SHOPS and Editorial Board Member: John Papworth SMALL INDUSTRIES Editorial SMALL BANKS Secretary: SMALL FISHERIES Stella Grimes For Small nations & THE INALIENABLE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE Our Cover: JOHN PAPWORTH has previously noted that the main concern of 4WR is HUMAN SPIRIT to “make government smaller and operating from the base up in boundless THIS issue of 4WR features an interview with the well- local communities, rather than from the top down. Our concern must be to known anti-EU activist and author, Dr. Vernon disperse power; we must avoid becoming a vehicle of reformist policies that Patrons: Coleman. Like us, he is concerned about the size of leave our concerns untouched or increase our problems. However badly government – it is far too big and centralised to be Sir Richard Body our health service or our pensioners need to have more money, we don’t properly subject to genuine democratic control. join campaigns for national government to raise taxes or do anything else Dele Oguntimoju to answer these needs. Our concern is to transfer such problems - and the Kirkpatrick Sale If this is true for Westminster, it’s even more applicable power to solve them - where they belong: in at the local community level.” Sir Julian Rose for the trans-national monster that is the European Union. Thus we applaud his description of the EU as Therefore, this issue of 4WR includes interviews with the well-known anti- akin to living in “a Fascist and Statist EU sector.” EU activist and author, Dr. Vernon Coleman and Henry Law of the Land Local Offices: This brings us neatly to the subject of our powerful Value Taxation Campaign. Both men explicitly and implicitly support our Australia: cover design. In his 4WR Supporters Bulletin (of ideal that ‘Small is Beautiful!’ Jacques Boulet May 2012) John Papworth mentioned the cover and said “I can guarantee that it’ll be a case of ‘once seen, This theme continues with our major article, Panjaab – A Forgotten India: never forgotten!’” Palestine! A Small Nation Versus Indian Superstate by Jagdeesh Dr. Madhukar B. Nisal Singh. Similarly, our new series, Raising a Voice for Small Nations, New Zealand: He has got a very valid point here. Originally a 1933 includes updates from Sri Lanka and Sicily. Helen Dew poster advertising the film S.A. Mann Brand, it’s been adapted to portray our opposition to the EU. For us, Talking of small nations, we had considered standing an independent USA: the EU bears all the classical hallmarks of a fascist Thomas A. Naylor candidate for London's Mayor appealing to the large Diaspora's that live in state. It favours highly centralised forms of political the capital, many of whom have fled oppressive regimes that subjegate and economic rule and has no respect for the small nations. Sadly it was not possible to raise the finance in such a short aspirations of smaller nations and peoples. The EU – time but, if we focus on the 'nuts n' bolts' well in advance, we could consider like the USA - is also not adverse to meddling in the it again in four years? internal affairs of others.

With this in mind, we think that our portrayal of a As usual, we’d appreciate any feedback – or reviews – of this issue of 4WR. National Socialist Brownshirt carrying the EU flag is most apt! - Wayne John Sturgeon & Graham Williamson

Page 4 Fourth World Review Fourth World Review Page 5 depends and the destruction of personal and social relationships of local human-scale communities leading in turn to an explosion of human numbers so vast and rapid as to make death by starvation of many millions as inevitable as a sunset. Yet still this process proceeds apace, as though there is no need to worry, no tomorrow and no limits to further development in a world dependent on the availability of resources which are strictly finite.

The fact is there is no way the process can be halted within the framework of assumption of which the prevailing lifestyle is the fruit. As Einstein has remarked, you cannot solve a problem with the mindframe that has created it.

What confronts us is an economic drive which assumes the legitimacy of limitless expansion in a finite world. A drive which in current lifetimes is Editorial already showing signs of total collapse and of social breakdown. Whatever the technical aspects of this headlong process, whatever the Advertising technical merits of solutions being applied to exploding human numbers, to restrain global warming, to the dearth of oil, or of food or water, whatever THE PROBLEM of the age seems to be that all the millions of commercial the merits of proposals to reduce crime, drug dependency and other social enterprises across the entire world need to be inspired to expand, if they fail or physical ills which are filling our jails and hospitals to overflowing, there to be so inspired they are only too likely to go bust. is a need not to overlook that what confronts us is a moral crisis, a crisis stemming from a failure to act in accord with traditional moral wisdom and The ruling economic motive is thus focussed on growth at any legitimate an unreflective readiness to pursue courses which repudiate it. price as an alternative to going under. It does not matter if that price includes building motorways, chemicalising farming and having vast impersonal shopping malls in place of small family-run local shops. It does But morality itself is a function of relationships, a readiness to accept that not matter if that price includes destroying the rainforests and promoting TV the divine law to love our neighbours is a supreme consideration for living and tabloids which desecrate the sensibilities of millions where they might the good life; one of the dynamic tragedies of the economic process has otherwise be elevated, inspired and enabled to rub shoulders with cultural been to make it impossible to sustain such relationships. You cannot love greatness. your neighbour if you do not have one, and neighbourly relationships, where they still exist at all, are now subordinate to the power of economic and Our civilisation in its present form is the outcome of three or four centuries political institutions. Power relationships are now supreme whilst the normal of the promotion of economic and technological development above all relationship stemming from family and community life are either non- other considerations, a development which has been one of constantly existent or subordinate to power. Often I wonder, when is the penny going accelerating speed to a degree that today it is clearly out of control. to drop? When are all of us going to realise we are living fantasy lives? Or realise that to solve any of the many practical global problems confronting This economic and technological development has caused the massive us we have first to solve the moral problem, for it is the neglect of the moral poisoning of the land, the seas and the air across the planet, as well as the factor that has created them. Religion is not some marginal aspect of life exploitation and destruction of vast quantities of its mineral resources to the that can be pushed aside to give more focus to practical affairs; it is the extent that even of oil, which is a vital basic to the entire process, availability factor on which all else is dependent. is now reported already to have peaked. It has also caused the outright extermination of countless life species on which the survival of all species - John Papworth.

Page 6 Fourth World Review Fourth World Review Page 7 Meet the new Editors …

Living in a Fascist and Statist EU sector! Wayne John Sturgeon interviews Dr. Vernon Coleman IN HIS covering notes to Wayne John Sturgeon, (joint editor of Fourth World Review), Dr. Vernon Coleman said that “I've tried really hard not to be controversial. I'm too old to be GRAHAM WILLIAMSON originally hails WAYNE JOHN STURGEON lives in the controversial.” from Blackpool in Lancashire but has lived Southeast of England and has musical in Hornchuch, Essex, for 25 years. Here, he roots in the Anarcho-Punk musical scene However, as our readers will know, we’ve never shied away from ‘controversial’ characters. Indeed, many of them have very interesting views. Dr. Coleman is no different. His take on is Chairman of a local and influential and counter culture of the 1980s. He would describe himself as a Christian Anarchist vegetarianism, meat and diet will certainly spark a debate. So will his views on vaccines, community group, the Adamsgate Action vivisection and nuclear power. Group. with strong Progressive Nationalist and Left He is the co-author of the seminal work, A Libertarian/Agorist leanings. So who is Vernon Coleman – and what are his ‘controversial’ views. This is from his web-site Declaration and Philosophy of His writings have appeared in various www.vernoncoleman.com Progressive Nationalism. Graham says Anarchist, Libertarian and Counter Cultural “Vernon Coleman was an angry young man for as long as it was decently possible. He then that in A Declaration, his main aim was to publications including Alternative Green, turned into an angry middle-aged man. And now, with no effort whatsoever, he has matured “break free from traditional nationalist New Imperium and Steadfast. He has into being an angry old man. He is, he confesses, just as angry as he ever was. Indeed, he thinking which often lapses into racist or recently had articles published in the book may be even angrier because, he says, the more he learns about life the more things he finds to be angry about. reactionary dialogue. Progressive The Radical Tradition – Philosophy, Metaphysics and Conservative Nationalism, however, is the post-modern Cruelty, prejudice and injustice are the three things most likely to arouse his well developed Revolution (edited by Troy Southgate, alternative: radical, socially progressive and sense of ire but he admits that, at a pinch, inefficiency, incompetence and greed will do almost Primordial Traditions, 2011). inclusive.” as well. He does not cope well with bossy people, particularly when they are dressed in uniform Inspired by the writings of Tim Bragg, he Graham is presently a leading figure in the and attempting to confiscate his Swiss Army penknife. `Being told I can't do something has assisted in the development of Liveable always seemed to me sufficient reason to do it,' he says. `And being told that I must do new National Liberal Party – he is also Nation and the Facebook group English something has always seemed to me a very good reason not to do it.' editor of New Horizon the ideologicalGreen (as well as other groups such as the publication of the NLP - which brings The author has an innate dislike of taking orders, a pathological contempt for pomposity, Christian Anarchist and Libertarian hypocrisy and the sort of unthinking political correctness which attracts support from Guardian together a nascent Progressive Nationalism Fellowship and Left Rothbardians). with a much older liberal tradition as reading pseudo-intellectuals. He also has a passionate loathing for those in authority who do Since the mid 90s his most important and not understand that unless their authority is tempered with compassion and a sense of practised by figures such as Mazzini, ambitious project has been Albion Awake! responsibility the end result must always be an extremely unpleasant brand of totalitarianism. Lehman and Hoare-Belisha. Now in its second incarnation at He believes that multiculturalism on a global scale is perfectly appropriate but that individual He is also a human rights campaigner and www.albionawake.tk it aims to create a countries are best left to be individual. He regards the European Union as the most fascist a Consultant for a Public Relations creative synthesis of the historic English organisation ever invented and looks forward to its early demise.” company which specialises in formulating radical tradition with esoteric Christianity We were particularly interested in his description of the European Superstate (aka the European PR strategy, handling Press Relations and and British mythology. Albion Awake takes Union) as akin to living in “a Fascist and Statist EU sector.” We’d like to return to this theme in organising carefully targeted Mail Shots for its inspiration from people like William a later issue and interview Dr. Coleman in a little more depth about his anti-EU ideas. We’d campaigning non-profit making Blake, Dimitri Mitrinovic and John also like to find out about his post-EU views, given that he supports the concept that “in politics, organisations. Hargreave. smaller is more beautiful.”

Page 8 Fourth World Review Fourth World Review Page 9 Please could you introduce vegetarian. You’re also a committed Anyone who tells you vaccines are yourself? How you were inspired to animal rights campaigner and are safe and effective is lying. Here's become a writer on political opposed to vivisection and blood- the proof. We sent review copies to all themes? sports. However, as a doctor, do papers, magazines, TV and radio. you think a vegetarian diet is Total silence, of course. No one will I've been writing about medicine since healthier than a meat one? Is eating dare mention the issue let alone debate I was a medical student in the 60s - and meat always wrong or are you just it. Same thing goes for vivisection. writing about animal abuses such as opposed to how animals are reared, The vivisectors refuse to debate vivisection for as long. I gradually such as factory farming? because they always lose. came to realise that campaigning on any issue didn't make much difference Meat causes cancer. That's not an What do you think of ‘Global because all decisions are made by EU opinion it’s a fact. But it's hard work Warming’? Is it happening or is it a bureaucrats (and have been for some spreading the truth. The scientific ‘Globalist Con’? time). So I started evidence is on attacking the EU my website. I It's a con. The oil is running out. They and writing in think there are daren't tell us that. So they tell us we defence of 26 scientific have to cut down consumption to save England. This was papers there. the planet. They refuse to debate that useful because my Ads for my issue as well. The media have been attacks on the books have bought. The BBC is simply the state medical been widely voice. The con gives them the chance establishment and banned. Even to introduce tons of new laws so we are the international that nasty little busy and terrified. I reckon the time drug industry rag (and that’s wasted on daft EU rubbish rules costs hadn't made me my personal at least £20 billion a year. anywhere near view!) Private enough enemies. Eye banned Your books Oil Apocalypse, What them. Might Happens Next and 2020 claim we How would you upset the have until the 2020s before things describe your readers said its get really bad. How do you see political editor, Ian things going this decade? Is the position? Are Hislop. (Or, as I evidence for so called ‘peak oil’ you a personally call really that convincing or is it just Libertarian? him, ‘Milksop’). another ‘Globalist con’ to put up the A year or two ago I did have some fun price of oil? I'm definitely a libertarian. Freedom is with The Guardian and The Observer one of our most valuable human rights which had banned my ads. I bought The oil is running out. We are heading - and yet governments everywhere £60,000 worth of space. And then they into a major depression that will last want to take it away. Now that we live suddenly changed their minds and took generations. The only bright thought is in a fascist, statist EU sector it's difficult the ads they'd refused. that the EU will implode. What joy that to see how anyone who cares for will bring! Dr. Vernon Coleman freedom can avoid being an anarchist. As a doctor, what are your views on describes the European I'm totally opposed to all political the possibility of the compulsory What do you think about issues parties (for reasons I explained in fluoridation of our water supply? such as nuclear power and Superstate (aka the Bloodless Revolution) and regularly And what about the compulsory use Genetically Modified foods? European Union) as akin attack them all. I've been thinking of a of vaccinations on school children – to living in “a Fascist and follow up to my book Gordon is a particularly in the context of big I've long been opposed to all genetic Statist EU sector.” Moron and calling it Clegg pharmaceuticaland companies? engineering. It's dangerous and bad He also says that Cameron are Cretins. science. And unnecessary. Nuclear I've been opposed to both for over 40 power, on the other hand, is rather “in politics, smaller is I understand that you’re a lifelong years. My latest book is called necessary if people want to keep more beautiful.”

Page 10 Fourth World Review Fourth World Review Page 11 playing with computers. Without We are living in a fascist country. A nuclear power (which is safer than all combination of statism and big the other realistic options) there won't business. That's Mussolini's definition. be any electricity. Actually I'm not He invented it. bothered about that. I've got windup torches, log fires and loads of books. Do you have any interest in The Internet has done more damage to monetary reform in respect to our the world than Hitler. Damit, it's done modern (‘fractional reserve’) more damage than America. banking system where all money is created, not just as a means of You have written a lot about the exchange, but as a commodity in threat of the European Superstate itself and as an interest bearing and in particular the Labour Party’s debt? involvement in both the progressive destruction of the English people Go back to the gold standard. (England Our England, Living in A Separate the two sorts of banking. A Natural Source Of Public Revenue! Fascist Country, The OFPIS File and Arrest and lock up all the current Gordon is a Moron) and banking bosses. Wayne John Sturgeon talks to Henry Law constitutional treason against of the Land Value Taxation Campaign British Sovereignty. What do you What are your current projects? think about the Tory government in Where can our readers find out HENRY LAW is the What is Land Value Taxation? Henry lives in Hon. Secretary of the Gothenburg, Sweden. this context and the current more about your books and where LAND VALUE TAXATION is a method of economic crisis in the EU? to buy them? Land Value Taxation raising public revenue by means of an Campaign and is the annual charge on the rental value of land. Please could you tell One of my theories is that whatever I'm always working on at least two first port of call for Although described as a tax, it is not really us a little bit about politicians and bureaucrats and books. The brand new one is called questions and a tax at all, but a payment for benefits yourself and your company bosses can do to screw up Do doctors and nurses kill more correspondence. received. It would replace, not add to, involvement with the existing taxes. Land Value Taxation they will do. Everytime. I find it's a people than cancer? (Yes they do!) Properly applied, Land Value Tax would sound basis for investment. The I used to write books for big publishers According to the LVTC Campaign? website - www.land support a whole range of social and economic crisis in the EU will get but they wanted me to keep writing the economic initiatives, including housing, worse. Greed and debt and same book over and over so I've self valuetax.org - he’s transport and other infrastructural I originally studied also “responsible forinvestments. It is an elementary fiscal chemistry but have incompetence. Cameron and Clegg et published in the UK for a while. I sell the running of the measure that would go far towards had several careers, al are cretins. They shouldn't be foreign rights to other publishers. correcting fundamental economic and LVTC web site. He social ills. including about 20 allowed out without adult supervision. took a degree in years as a town The ‘proper’ publishers and agents and Chemistry but The value of every parcel of land in Britain planner. I have been How can people protect their reviewers sneer at self-publishing. would be assessed regularly and the land subsequently worked value tax levied as a percentage of those interested in land children, freedom, privacy and civil Well ‘ya boo sucks’ to them! I've sold as a town planner assessed values. value taxation for liberties in a world of CCTV over two million books. One self- dealing primarily with ‘Land’ means the site alone, not counting many years, since an cameras, ID cards, micro chips and published novel turned into a £12 urban conservation any improvements. The value of buildings, argumentative increased police powers? million film. I mention this only and design. His writing crops, drainage or any other works which neighbour mentioned because I want to encourage people to people have erected or carried out on each has been published plot of land would be ignored, but it would it to me one day Keep off the Internet. Use cash. Fill in self publish. It's the only way. Cut out extensively in be assumed that all neighbouring around 1974, during a as few forms as possible. Stay the literary establishment. There are professional journals properties were developed as at the time of discussion about why secretive. (No one knows where we more wan**rs working there than in the valuation; other things being equal, a on architecture, vacant site in a row of houses would be none of the political live.) banking. Clegg would make a great planning and transport assessed at the same value as the adjacent parties could come up literary agent. Cameron would be a including Buildingsites occupied by houses. with effective Is modern day capitalism really free whizz PR person flogging cookery Design, Architect's The valuation would be based on market solutions to the enterprise in a free market or a form books by TV celebs. My books in Journal and theevidence, in accordance with the optimum country’s seemingly of liberal corporatism under state English are only available through former Council of use of the land within the planning intractable political regulations. If the current planning privilege in league with big www.vernoncoleman.com No ebooks Industrial Design's restrictions on the use were altered, the site and economic business? of course. Ever. n periodical, Design.”would be reassessed. problems.

Page 12 Fourth World Review Fourth World Review Page 13 What are the aims of the Land Value They argued also that to achieve the connecting Georgism with the tradition “The aim of the Land Value Taxation Campaign? best outcome for all, governments must of the seventeenth century Levellers Taxation Campaign is to ensure that everyone had equal access and the Diggers. Both recognise that The present campaign arose as a to the resources provided by nature, access to land is a human birthright. persuade the UK political pressure group in the 1980s, and to stand aside after that. But George was working at a time when government to implement when the other Georgist organisations, the Industrial Revolution had increased legislation which would lead such as the Henry George School of What passes for laissez-faire today is the power of human labour by orders of to the progressive Economics and the Economics and the idea that governments should just magnitude, whilst, paradoxically, the replacement of existing Social Science Research Association, stand aside altogether and let things great mass of the people were poorer were educational and their charitable work by themselves. That is the than their grandparents had been in an taxes on labour and wealth status precluded active campaigning. tyranny of the strongest and is not what agrarian economy. This was George’s creation by a charge on the the Physiocrats were suggesting. starting point. It owes more to the work annual rental value of land, The aim of the Land Value Taxation Equal access to natural resources for of Adam Smith, David Ricardo and J S as the main source of public Campaign is to persuade the UK all is a prerequisite for laissez-faire. Of Mill. government to implement legislation course the libertarian notion of laissez- revenue. This is usually which would lead to the progressive faire does not work because those who George added many insights of his referred to as Land Value replacement of existing taxes on labour control access to natural resources, own including an elegant Labour Taxation (LVT).” and wealth creation by a charge on the primarily the surface of the earth, have Theory of Value which turns on its annual rental value of land, as the main control over who can have this access head that of Marx. - Henry Law source of public revenue. This is and can set the terms on which it is usually referred to as Land Value given. That is a travesty of laissez- Is there any connection between Land Taxation (LVT). faire. But true laissez-faire is a Value Taxation and Distributism? prerequisite for true socialism – “The Distributists, under the Are you influenced by Henry otherwise people who are locked out of The Distributists, under the guidance of guidance of Chesterton, George? the bounty of nature are forced into Chesterton, never put forward a fiscal dependence on charity. Twentieth and legal framework which would have never put forward a fiscal I am strongly influenced by the ideas of century socialism was not true brought their ideas to fruition. and legal framework which Henry George but would not claim to be socialism. It was compulsory state However, the classic system of land would have brought their familiar with all of them. There is more charity, and as cold as charity. value taxation proposed by George ideas to fruition. However, to Henry George than most of his would develop naturally into a proponents are even aware of and … And John Locke (the famous Distributist economy and is, arguably, a the classic system of land much remains to be discovered from ‘Enlightenment’ English philosopher prerequisite. Classic LVT is also value taxation proposed by his writings. on classical liberalism) and property necessary for the Basic Income George would develop ownership? proposal that has been suggested by naturally into a Distributist What are your thoughts on the terms some Green economists. Basic economy and is, arguably, ‘laissez-faire’ and socialism? Enclosing land from the common and Income is a kind of reverse poll tax or declaring it ‘his’ is an act of theft, since national dividend, and LVT is the only a prerequisite. Classic LVT is The term laissez-faire was first used in it is depriving others of its use. A man means by which such a concept could also necessary for the Basic relation to economics by the French is entitled to secure occupation so that be financed. Income proposal that has Physiocrats in the eighteenth century. he is able to reap the harvest he has been suggested by some These were a group of intellectuals at worked to produce, but it does not You’re a Catholic. Is there any the court of King Louis XV in France. make the land ‘his’. In justice, the man relationship between your religious Green economists. Basic The Physiocrats were the first in should compensate the community for views and your social and economic Income is a kind of reverse modern times to put the study of his right of exclusive occupation, and views? poll tax or national political economy on a scientific footing, this is the principle on which land value dividend, and LVT is the only and they laid the foundations of taxation is based. As a Catholic, I naturally take heed of classical economics as developed by both scripture and the Social Teaching means by which such a Adam Smith, David Ricardo and John What’s the connection between of the Catholic Church. Texts such as concept could be Stuart Mill. The laissez faire systemGeorgism and the English Radical Leviticus 25 are key: financed.” that they advocated was not only about Tradition? the principle that governments should “The land must not be sold - Henry Law stand aside and let things happen. There is obviously a common thread permanently, because the land is mine Page 14 Fourth World Review Fourth World Review Page 15 and you reside in my land as foreigners about? and strangers.” Some countries already have it. It has There is no ambiguity there. Catholic existed in Scandinavia from time Social Teaching has tended to fudge immemorial. It is also found in parts of the issue by referring to ‘property’, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, which includes both land, the gift of the Singapore and North America. It is Almighty, and goods and chattels, the easy to implement from a practical product of human labour. Having failed point of view since it operates much like to make the distinction in Rerum existing property taxes. Novarum in 1891, subsequent encyclicals have tried to draw attention But it will not come about until there is to the social and moral dimension of a desire for economic justice, a property ownership without so far willingness to question long-held having spelled out the difference assumptions and people are able to explicitly. The latest, Caritas in Veritate detach their preoccupations sufficiently issued by Benedict XIV in 2009, puts from their own circumstances so as to the principal emphasis on the need for be able to grasp the bigger picture. economic justice, which provides us with a fresh starting point. What do you think of the Henry George Foundation? Political Progress What are your views on Georgism, Capitalism and Socialism? Like most people involved in this - by John Papworth campaigning we enjoy a good A Georgist economy would be very relationship and meet regularly different from a modern Capitalist one. together to exchange and develop our ON OUR immediate concerns, first own commercially motivated We should remember that capital is ideas and how we present them. The things first. If we are to make any propensities are only able to operate nothing more than the worker’s tools. present economic crisis has been an headway out of the morass that now by denying the significance of In a Georgist economy, anyone who opportunity to test and evolve our envelops all our lives it is imperative personal relationships and promoting wanted could become a capitalist in the thinking in new directions. that we have a clear theoretical impersonal relationships based not sense of owning his means of grasp of our problem and that we on any moral code but on power. production, that is, his livelihood. Of How can readers learn more about have a clear strategy for resolving it. This boardroom power now has course not everyone would want to take the Land Value Taxation Campaign? Currently we have neither. civilisation by the throat and has brought it to its knees. The key to its on that responsibility, but because it Do you have any personal sites The problem is one of power, power would be so much easier than today, you’d like to promote? capacity for the suicidal mischief it is out of control and largely in promoting lies not so much in its there would be so many more boardroom hands and which, even opportunities for work. Readers of 4WR can find out more manipulation of monetary though such power has now come to mechanisms as in its ownership and about the Land Value Taxation dominate all our lives, is itself in the Nobody could get away with paying Campaign by visiting this website: control of mass organs of information grip of propensities which recognise and opinion, a factor which enables it mean wages and treating employees www.landvaluetax.org no moral code of restraint and badly. There would be no desire to to make or break any political leader responsibility as it blindly pursues or reputation. replace such a system with statist I’ve also several personal blogs and goals of pecuniary profit. communism. However, depending on sites. They are: It is this crucial factor which destroys what the community wanted, a Georgist The key to its power is of course the the validity of any strategy to society could develop in which people Current affairs comment sheer scale which, on a mass basis, http://physiocrat.blogspot.com promote sanity and progress in any provided for all their own needs or enables it to ignore any moral code, field which is based on seeking to alternatively it could choose a system The case against high speed rail even though any such code must be mobilise mass opinion from one of cradle-to-grave welfare. We in the http://no2hs2.blogspot.com/ the operative basis of any civilisation centre as a means of implementing Campaign have no view one way or the that seeks to survive. It can do this progressive political action. other on the matter. Pictures http://www.flickr.com/ because morality is a function of How will land value taxation come photos/seadipper/ n personal relationships, whereas its That basic assumption was blown

Page 16 Fourth World Review Fourth World Review Page 17 sky high when the masses were in organic structure of power which fact mobilised and when two million enables people’s moral and cultural ardent peace seekers marched judgments to prevail.This is of course Raising A Voice For Small Nations through the streets of our capital city the soft underbelly of centralised to register their opposition to the power; don’t seek to capture it, the – Updates from Sicily and Sri Lanka projected Iraq War. boardroom boys have got it first and you can only dislodge them by THOSE WHO support independence for the Statute of For all the effect they had they may as becoming like them – a lesson the Sicily are divided – and have largely been Autonomy) is not well have stayed at home in their modern history of Britain’s Labour so since the birth of the Italian Republic. working. beds. But of course if the assumption Party makes unambiguously explicit. Sicily needs freedom and independence, This organization that inspired their mobilisation was The party which was founded to proved false, it was based on another however, at the moment it is should be better than oppose capitalism is now an overwhelmed by colonialist oppression. all of the rest. It should assumption no less false; that such executive promoter of capitalism’s action was an effective lever for Our ‘leaders’ have also (with very few not be totally vote- scheme to subordinate Europe’s exceptions) let us down. They have been oriented (the vote in Sicily is persuading political leaders to independent national sovereignties to driven by personal goals. They prefer to always ‘irregular’ and is heavily respond in democratic terms to its profit promoting purposes. build their own political careers with influenced by illegal ‘vote exchange’ and people’s desires. It is an assumption ‘personal’, small organizations. They mafia interference). It should be a truly which fails to recognise that such At heart we are engaged in a battle prefer to deal with the system rather than unselfish organisation, cohesive and leaders are no longer calling the between the power of morality and aiming to replace it. identity-focused. shots. Far from being masters of the that of money. We can only win by political scene they are now the making the local community, the I am not calling, as many do, for a This organisation should be capable of satraps of the boardroom bosses who place where personal relationships grotesque ‘union’ (or indeed ‘reunion’) of taking advantage of the frequent states of own and control the media on which can prevail over impersonal mass autonomists, federalists and those who crisis that Italy finds itself in. This their own election now depends. power relationships, a significant core support independence. I am calling for organisation should be a truly democratic, of decision-making power. the rise of a single, strong organization, national, liberal, ecological party fighting Hence any strategy for change which which will point out that autonomy has for Sicilian independence! ignores these realities is irrelevant It is a conclusion demanding a vast been used to erase the fight for freedom and diversionary. Whether we seek educational effort to resolve the in Sicily, and ‘home rule’ (introduced with Roman Henry Clarke peace, social justice, ecological multitudinous problems involved in sanity or any other desirable social the restructuring of power in society AS I pointed out in the last issue of 4WR, whitewash the issues objective; if we play the traditional from the ground up rather than the top tens of thousands of Sri Lankan Tamil and didn’t even deal political game of mobilising the down. civilians (and thousands of Tamil rebels) with war crimes it masses from a single centre, or were killed by the Government of that made some useful seeking to influence political leaders, We may be permitted some modest pride in that Fourth World Review island in the last weeks of a 30 year old points. Up to now the we are simply putting our own heads military conflict that ended in May 2009. Sri Lankan authorities on the block. has been the only journal in the world wholeheartedly focused on this Some observers speculated whether had shelved the report This is the lesson of our failure to stop problem and this possible solution. It there might be reconciliation between the (as they do with all of them) the Iraq War from starting and why is imperative that its work is renewed communities. We have seen however an since even the minimal demands were such means have no hope of halting in fresh hands that will not be diverted upsurge of abductions, abuses, poverty too much for them! Whilst they are likely its continuance. It is also the reason from the programmes of vitally and an ‘ethnic cleansing’ of ancient Tamil to ignore the vote it will be a small step in why no elected leader can make any needed publications, lectures, study lands by Sinhalese (the majority encouraging the international community real moves to halt the rapid groups, conferences and other community). to apply greater pressure on Sri Lanka to expansion of European economic educational efforts to promote what mend their ways. For Tamils this must Fascism based in Brussels, despite one day will be a global democracy One piece of good news however was the ultimately end in a UN supervised the general unpopularity of its moves based on countless centres of recent passing of a resolution at the UN to abolish European national independent local community power Human Rights Council that demanded Sri referendum on self-determination. sovereignties. It underlines that a and responsibility. The alternative to Lanka acted on recommendations strategy for genuine democratic a policy of fragmenting the overlarge contained within their own ‘Lessons Mr. Sockalingam Yogalingam MP change can only be based on the and over-centralised power that Learnt Reconciliation Committee’ (Transnational Government of Tamil empowerment of countless local prevails today is to be destroyed (LLRC). Whilst this was supposed to Eelam) Contact: [email protected] communities so as to establish an by it. n Page 18 Fourth World Review Fourth World Review Page 19 states of Pakistan and India. Small supremacist Hindu political Panjaab did not have a say in this big organizations, do not permit talk of grand state construction. The ‘secession’ or ’independence’. Such separation of Panjaab has created a ‘extremist’ and ‘anti-state’ unjust and oppressive divide between campaigning is violently and a common people, who share a gruesomely suppressed, using single language, a common social specifically devised draconian laws. life, a history, common aspirations One such crackdown in 1984 resulted and identity as Panjaabis. in 100,000 civilian deaths in Panjaab. Indeed, in the words of the Supreme Thereafter, there was an exploitation Court of India, this was a brutal, of its water and agriculture resources sustained onslaught which was and its men-folk as high quality “worse than genocide”. Panjaab – A Forgotten Palestine! soldiers. Our - A Small Nation Versus the Big Indian Superstate territory was The indigenous divided and then Sikhs PANJAAB is a country the size of devastation and disempowerment in sub-divided to (concentrated Wales (in the United Kingdom) which Panjaab. Fear of the police, army and reduce our land in eastern borders Kashmir and Tibet. Its the state in general, defines our mass. Our Panjaab) have centuries of suffering and turmoil are people’s life. language was not led the struggle unknown and unrecognised. In short, recognised. Hindi for Panjaabi Panjaab – the land of five rivers – is a India, like Pakistan, was created in and Urdu were rights and self- forgotten Palestine! the undemocratic, hasty and superimposed determination. opportunistic British ‘Transfer of instead. State They are fired We Panjaabis are like the Kurds, Power’ in 1947. New elites replaced repression and with a radical Tamils, Chechens, Tibetans, the old elite. Power over a political genocide became and liberating Kashmiris, Baluch and many more territory the size of the European a way of Panjaabi philosophy of stateless - but authentic – peoples of Union passed from white British life under the heel life, initiated by the world. Around the world, and rulers to brown Indian rulers. The of India and Guru Nanak throughout history, small national ordinary people (numbering Pakistan. (1469-1539). This gives us a communities have been battling hundreds of millions) who lived in powerful sense of an independent against mighty political structures India and Pakistan were not Eastern Panjaab, like many small and distinct life. ‘Sikhi’ has directly which seek to subdue and subjugate consulted. There was no referendum. nations and countries, has been the opposed the domineering power of them. India, like China and Russia, The diverse cultural, social and ethnic victim of India’s aggressive and both Islamists and Brahmin-Hindu represent modern day empires! nations of South Asia (‘India’) – Sikh, superimposing policies of supremacists, who have dominated Naga, Assamese, Kashmiri, Baluchi, ‘Indianisation’. The Indian state has and ruled over the peoples of South The Panjaabis persevere in our quest Panjaabi, Tamil (identifiable by robustly and violently suppressed Asia for centuries. for recognition, in the face of India’s distinct language, territory, dress and Panjaab’s continuous aspirations of arrogant and obstinate denial of any religion, amongst other features) – internal home-rule (autonomy) and The story of Panjaab, is the story of a autonomous rights, let alone actual were simply tossed from the frying independence. Like all territories brutal and genocidal suppression of a independence. The situation in pan of British colonialism into the fire under its control, the empire of India people by a mighty aggressive state. Palestine has galvanised the of Indian imperialism. has sought to stamp its central and This state remains unchecked or attention of the world’s media and dominant authority on all the peoples unchallenged by the UN (or indeed governments for many decades. Panjaab, a wholesome country and and territories it controls. Indian the ‘international community’ of However, the suffering in Panjaab nation, subjugated into British India in ‘democracy’ is limited to rigged governments.) It is the story of how has been kept hidden from the 1849, was artificially partitioned in elections and routine political party big superstates like India, China, world’s attention. Panjaab is suffering that process. It was split, antics. The Indian state and its Pakistan, Russia and the USA control in silence! Take a close, earnest look, undemocratically and wholly unjustly, dominant political attitudes, led by the and oppress an array of small, natural and you will find a horrifying picture of between the two newly constructed Indian National Congress and nations. At the same time, these

Page 20 Fourth World Review Fourth World Review Page 21 superstates expect these nations to beginning of history. Powerful Commonwealth games. Amritdharis, that most victims of conform, comply and merge into the monarchical empires like Rome, state-based lethal violence were political order which the state directs Persia, Mongol, Mughal, Panjaab has fought its way through young males of military age, and that upon them. (This usually takes the Chandragupta, operated as all- centuries of colossal oppression and police, although claiming to carry out form of a single, centralising powerful totalitarian states. Ordinary genocide – from the Mughals, a focused counterinsurgency against language, state driven ‘national’ days folk suffered and endured the whims Afghans, British and currently the members of the militancy, ended up and ‘heroes’, state loyalty and state of the ruling elites which operated Indian state. Panjaab has established killing and disappearing a sizable glorifying public celebration.) The these all-mighty, mass power two periods of independent number of individuals who were not small nation is pushed into the structures. We saw the gradual statehood, first 1710-1716 and then known to have any links to the ground in the process. It is reduction and crumbling of these 1780 to 1849. Panjaab can realise its militancy." submerged and subsumed, and any gigantic structures, into smaller but proper and full potential, once it assertion of grassroots national still mighty monarchical centred attains those fundamental freedoms 2010 Human Rights Report: India, identity, language, religion and states. We saw inter-state conflict. which are intrinsic and essential to USA Department of State aspirations is challenged by the state We saw grassroots rebellion. We grassroots national empowerment – as ‘separatist’, ‘extremist’, ‘anti- then saw the era of the more recent self-determination, independence, By Jagdeesh Singh, 1984 national’ and ‘seditious’. colonialist empires: British, French, statehood, international recognition GENOCIDE COALITION, Slough, Spanish and Portuguese. Today, we and inclusion. United Kingdom The corrupt, opportunistic and have reached a still imperfect era of [email protected] personality driven politics of the the modern state, which seeks power “This is now the plight of India's 07827-321036 n whole of South Asia (India, Pakistan, for itself and not for the people. Sikhs. In the early Eighties, armed Sri Lanka and Bangladesh), further Human elites (sometimes a coterie of separatist groups demanded an stymies and stagnates the mutually gaining groups), skilfully, independent state of Khalistan. To progression of grassroots national strategically (e.g. divide and rule, destroy the movement, security rights across South Asia. Mainstream bribery, rigged elections) and forces were given a free hand, Panjaabi politicians are compliant violently control these states to their leading to the worst kinds of abuse. with the Indian state, and happy to benefit. For example, the Nehru- India, grappling with new battles in ensure their own security of position Gandhi family has single-handedly Kashmir and the Northeast and and the colossal, comfortable lifestyle ruled India consistently from its coping with religious conflict leading that comes with that, than to stick formation in 1947. to the Mumbai riots of 1992-1993 and their neck out for Panjaab and its the Gujarat pogrom in 2002, has ordinary people. Panjaab forms part of the global and largely forgotten the crimes in historic movement for true Punjab. Each of these problems has This is the agonising story of small democracy through grassroots piled a new layer of dirt on the long- natural units of social life across the empowerment. From the basic village standing and still simmering problem globe. The real, authentic ‘nation’ (as level to the district, to the regional to of the Sikhs.” against state invented ‘nation’) is the state-wide level, Panjaab intrinsically a small body of people, deserves to be a state in its own right. Dead End in Punjab, by Brad Adams, brought together as a collective unit Thus it should be able to make its Human Rights Watch, 2004 of life; defined by territory and various own decisions through village socially integrating factors like councils, district, regional and country “The government made no progress language, social interaction, common wide parliaments. It should have its in holding officials accountable for history, common feelings and own laws, its own constitution, its own abuses that occurred during the common aspirations. currency and its own independent period of the Punjab representation in international forums counterinsurgency between 1984 The struggle between local and dialogue (including the United and 1994. grassroots society, people and Nations and other similar bodies.) It nation, and superimposing should have its own people …more Amritdharis (or baptized institutions of rule and power is the participating in international sports Sikhs) were the victims of state- story of human life since the forums, like the Olympics and attributed lethal violence than non- Jagdeesh Singh

Page 22 Fourth World Review Fourth World Review Page 23 The Strange Case Of Tory Anarchism

By Peter Wilkin. Libri Publishing, Faringdon, Oxfordshire, England. ISBN 978 1 907471 10 0. 2010. £12.00

Reviewed by Wayne John Sturgeon Reviews THE phrase "Tory Anarchist" was multiculturalism rather than first coined by George Orwell to defending traditional English culture describe a historical tradition of and good taste. Ethics, From Tory-Anarchist to Anarcho-Dandyism, Towards an popular dissent he claimed started Albion Imperium & the Decline of the American Empire with Jonathan Swift the author of This shallow complicity also finds Gulliver’s Travels. The term in its expression in both the progressive broadest sense describes someone erosion of civil liberties and the Crisis And Recovery who is both a radical individualist "dumbing down" of the general with introductions from Archbishop and traditionalist. A figure who populace via the mass hive Dr Rowan Williams and from Larry looks both backwards and forwards mindset of popular media, Elliot. in protest at the erosion of consumerism and CCTV cameras PALGRAVE MACMILLAN standards of behaviour in all etc. Peter Wilkins concentrates on www.palgrave.com classes of public life in the form of tracing the Tory Anarchist tradition ISBN 978-0-230-25214-1 bad manners, rudeness and the through the late 20th century giving watering down of the English reference to figures as diverse as Reviewed by John Papworth. language. A culture, that has Evelyn and Auberan Waugh, Spike imported a vulgar Americanised Milligan, Chris Morris, Peter Cook IF YOU want to know why we are in Fortunately there is a lot of good proletarian conformist culture, and with particular reference to such deep trouble listen to this, from stuff between the covers of this which has turned Britain into a popular satire such as The Goon one of our leading economic volume. I specially liked Phillip nation of illiterates and idiots. Show, Monty Python’s Flying servants. In this day and age, with Blond’s pleas for a moral society in Circus, Brass Eye, and Monkey things collapsing around us from our economies although he makes The Tory Anarchist is thus Dust. market greed, and another no particular proposals for creating presented as embodying a form of economist Zac Goldsmith in this it. But that is a problem nobody, if fogeyish elitism through the The concept of anti-establishment case, reminding us, ‘‘We areone includes Kohr, Schumacher, cultivation of style and taste. This satire is also developed in relation exhausting nature’s capital, and Kirk Sale and others, has seriously tends towards the emergence of a to periodicals such as Private Eye, Mother Nature doesn’t do bailouts”. tackled. But here and there the form of "Anarcho -Dandyism" The Oldie, The Idler and The A Mr. Will Hutton ends his authors of the various essays are though always carried with a sense Chap. The book briefly mentions particular essay with, “Let’s not nibbling at it. One day there will be of black humour and compassion. figures such as Ray Davies of the make it even more difficult by a collective drive, religious, Peter Wilkins portrays this tradition 60s British pop band The Kinks making a blinkered morality rather economic, social, journalistic, of libertarian English eccentricism and Mark E Smith of the British than economics the compass for perhaps even scientific shouting in the context of a rapidly punk band The Fall but sadly these what the next government does”. from the rooftops the need, so fragmenting British culture and way are not developed. (What about What he is saying of course, is let obvious and imperative, for local of life that is slowly dying. A Britain John Lydon, Vernon Coleman and the market have its head, never community power to be the basis of that is in danger of being absorbed Nigel Farange?) Also, concerning mind the disaster it has already everything in society. How long, O into a European Superstate Orwell’s patriotism, Wilkins draws created. Lord, how long? embracing political correctness and attention to the distinction Orwell

Page 24 Fourth World Review Fourth World Review Page 25 makes between nationalism and highly recommend this book as a order allegorical to the three reach a progressive unfolding and patriotism and while suggesting that very entertaining and stimulating functions of the human body such synthesis and the divine Sophia this is highly problematic does not read and as an invaluable resource as the metabolic, circulatory and would be finally realised within all of tell us why - although he does on a much neglected and little nervous systems which, when creation. conclude that patriotism is not understood, were akin to the three understood feature of English always the same thing as systems within society of Mitrinoviç thus brought together a conservatism. Nevertheless I do counter cultural life. production, distribution and creative fusion of the Hegelian consumption. Thus the Three Fold dialectic, Christian and Eastern Dimitrije Mitrinoviç - A Biography State would comprise of Mysticism and the radical economics, politics and culture. individualism of Nietzsche and Max This would be organised on Stirner. Nevertheless Mitrinoviç By Andrew Rigby. William Sessions Syndicalist lines but co-ordinated by was also pragmatic and his idealism Limited, York, England. ISBN 1 85072 what Mitrinoviç referred to as "The did result in very down-to-earth 334 6. 2006. £9.99 Senate" or "Third Force" - a kind of templates for what he referred to as libertarian and universalised British "The Organic World Order" House of Lords. proposing the formation of a Triune Reviewed by Wayne John Sturgeon. Western Alliance of the Atlantic, But this vision, if it was to be he would later meet up with and join consisting of America, Britain and realised, could only become Russia. Europe would comprise forces with A.R Orage, editor of the inspired if organised from the highly influential New Age three federations "The Europa bottom up rather than the top down Noricum" made up of Britain, periodical. Writing under the name and the individual could never be Scandinavia and the Benelux of M.M. Cosmoi he advocated the sacrificed on the altar of State countries which would look to the spiritual and cultural unity of Collectivism be it Communist or Europe, led by Britain, but based on Fascist. This template for a new USA, "The Europa Latina" a Bakunist model of decentralised society was all placed in the context consisting of France, Italy, Spain and regionalist European and understanding of the world as a and Portugal which would be federalism. Intrinsic to this political orientated towards Africa and South and economical devolution was developing organism - one great mind in the process of becoming America, and finally "The Europa DIMITRIJE MITRINOVIC was a both radical monetary reform or Scythia" which would include the Serbian social philosopher and Social Credit and Guild Socialism. both self-aware and spiritualised into the divine image of its creator. Balkan peninsula extending to the visionary political activist who Baltic and which would be protected moved in the intellectual and artistic He would later develop these ideas Mitrinoviç understood this process circles of London in the 1920s. His in his own periodicals, New Britain to consist of three great ages within by Russia. influences were in both Eastern - For Western Alliance and the history. (Similar to that of the Orthodox Christianity, particularly Social State and New Albion - For medieval mystic Joachim of Fiore.) Mitrinoviç died at the age of 66 in the ‘Sophia’ mysticism of Vladimir British Renaissance and Western The first was the revelation of the 1953. His life mission may be Solovyov and the Theosophic Alliance. These publications would divine in the natural order, of which considered akin to the political Synarchist leanings of Rudolf provide the basis for the formation the philosophical expression was esotericism of Saint-Ives d'Alveydre Steiner’s ‘Threefold of two organisations, The New the Vedanta. The second was the but he remains sadly obscure within Commonwealth’. Britain Group and The New revelation of the divine humanity in most if not all contemporary Europe Group which both the single person of Jesus Christ. progressive circles. May Andrew After a youth spent in revolutionary advocated a British-led pan- The third revelation was to be of the Rigby’s excellent book seek to national liberal circles in Serbia he Europeanism in the form of the divine being revealed within all address this and introduce his ended up in exile in London at the "Three Fold State". This was based human beings, thus all three great profound insights to a new start of the First World War. Here on the concept of an organic natural historical epochs or ages would generation.

Page 26 Fourth World Review Fourth World Review Page 27 Why America Failed: discount the fact that we are $16 Not only that, but we have acquired The Roots Of Imperial Decline trillion in debt and wiped out $14 a host of evils and sorrows along trillion in household wealth in the with material prosperity. Berman last crash), full of comforts and compiles a whole raft of rather By Morris Berman. John Wiley & Sons conveniences, food and shelter and depressing facts that show what the Inc., Hoboken, New York, USA. ISBN plumbing and heat for most, high- downside of the technocommerial 978 1 118061 81 7. 2012. US$28.56 tech gadgetry and systems, a society is: mass unemployment, developed (if crumbling) foreclosures, increasing poverty for infrastructure coast to coast, the the many (with corporate bailouts Reviewed by Kirkpatrick Sale largest military in the world, the and bonuses for the egregious few); world’s fall-back currency, an a criminal culture with the highest WHY AMERICA FAILED, which inhabitants, is and always has been unmatched service industry, and all rate of homicide in the world and a this book is not about, is an ever-expanding economy— the rest of what makes up a modern corrections system that contains 25 nonetheless a devastating and affluence—and endless industrial capitalist nation. per cent of all the world’s prisoners; eviscerating critique proving technological innovation— a high incidence of violence convincingly that America has “progress.” A nation of hustlers, But what Berman shows, in throughout the culture, including failed, and abominably, even writes [Walter] McDougall, a people fascinating detail, is that with all that crime, domestic violence, and tragically. That makes it a very relentlessly on the make.” concentration on hustling, which warfare, along with movies, TV, and important book that I hope will find makes up our entire lives for our video games; a social numbness an attentive audience, particularly From the very start, from the lives, is that we have lost a sense of and clinically diagnosed “empathy among those of the media and Puritans’ shining “city on a hill” and the public good in the face of private deficit disorders”; consumption of intelligentsia who need to the Jamestown settlement’s interest, an understanding of two-thirds of the global market in understand its truths and rid conquest and exploitation of Indian community in the face of antidepressants with at least 164 themselves of the increasingly lands, this country has been about aggravated individualism, a sense million users; a rank on the common idea that there is some making and taking, a business of spiritual well-being in the face of worldwide Happy Planet Index in kind of palliative that will reform and culture with a commercial material pressure and stress, an 2009 of 150th; fully 25 per cent of restore American government to orientation, devoted to growth and appreciation of the simple life in the American households had only one some imagined efficient and power, wealth and property, private face of technological complexity, person, a rate of aloneness democratic past. (Please copy, advancement and profit, militarism even a true sense of republicanism probably the highest in the world. Occupiers, Tea Partyers, Tenthers, and materialism, expansion and and the political commonwealth in Or, as Berman puts it at one point: and all Democrats,etc.) empire. John Adams saw it at the the face of manipulative and beginning: the U.S. was “more intrusive oligarchy and political The culmination of a hustling, I cannot overemphasize how Avaricious than any other Nation individual wealth. Much of what we laissez-faire capitalist culture is that essential this wisdom is to any that ever existed.” Or as de still think of as in some way everything gets dumbed down, that comprehension of America today, Tocqueville was to say later: “As valuable—stability rather than all significant questions are ignored, or tomorrow, or how powerfully one digs deeper into the national progress, face-to-face instead of and that every human activity is Morris Berman (an academic character of the Americans, one on-line, family and friends instead of turned into a commodity, and historian who has emigrated to sees that they have sought the networks and “friends,”anything goes if it sells. What we Mexico) makes his case. It is not a value of everything in this world only craftsmanship instead of mass have is domination by corporate long book (196 pages, plus in the answer to this single production, virtue and tradition and media, politics via poll-driven sound backmatter), but it is replete with question: how much money will it honor and simplicity rather than bites, a foreign policy based on overwhelming evidence to support bring in?” egotism and modernity and self- unilateralism and preemptive the thesis, as he puts it on his first interest and multi-tasking, strikes, a failing newspaper page: Let it be acknowledged that, given gemeinschaft instead of industry, a poorly informed this as its goal and ideal, this nation gesellshaft—much of that has been citizenry, the unemployed winding “The principal goal of North has done pretty well. It is in most quite lost in the dominant hustling up destitute, weak (or no) mass American civilization, and of its terms rich and powerful (let us culture. transit systems, and a health care

Page 28 Fourth World Review Fourth World Review Page 29 system that ranks thirty-seventh in down perceptively. In fact that arenas,” to which he adds, “Nothing Well, it may take a generation, but I the world. civilization will always take steps to could be more obvious.” don’t think so. The collapse will marginalize it, even destroy it if come sooner than we realize — I The emperor, and the empire, have necessary, a fact that Berman In a rare moment of optimism he have predicted within a decade — no clothes. illustrates in a chapter on the goes on to say, “Collapse could be and it will open up secession (or antebellum South. He shows how a good thing” if it could ultimately some equivalent such as city-states Berman spends a good deal of time the South was “the one example we or medieval walled cities) as the talking about the “alternativehave of an opponent of [the “open the door to the alternative culture” to all this, includingdominant] “a ideology that had real tradition,” a process he admits is “a only possible opportunity for a new commitment to craft, community, political teeth,” and blatantly opted long shot.” And here he suggests, society with new human-scale the public good, the natural for a life premodern (indeed and wins my heart as he does so, alternatives. I’m not predicting it, environment, spiritual practice, and “neofeudal”), agrarian, slow,that one means to that is secession, mind you, I’m just saying it’s the the ‘simple life,” and he shows that conservative, and honoring which holds promise precisely only way to go. its adherents and champions have tradition, honor, chivalry, and because it has given up on trying to existed all along, though of course hospitality more than making a buck change the industrial society as a Kirkpatrick Sale is the author of a overwhelmed by the dominant or inventing a gadget. This dozen books, including Human Scale culture. He cites, for example, ultimately the increasingly industrial whole, across the nation, and picks and Rebels Against the Future: The Thoreau, Melville, Henry Adams, and expansive North could not instead smaller places (such as Luddites and Their War on the Veblen, Sinclair Lewis, Henry stand and so began a war to Vermont) where some version of Industrial Revolution, and is the Demarest Lloyd, Ruskin and Morris destroy it. “The treatment of the the alternative tradition might be Director of the Middlebury Institute for and the craft movement, Eric South by the North,” Berman says, realized. the study of separation, secession, and Fromm, Lewis Mumford (on whom “was the template for the way the self-determination. he justly spends many pages), the United States would come to treat At the present time, he says, “this Southern Agrarians, Robert any nation it regarded as an enemy: project doesn’t have a hope in hell,” Re-printed with acknowledgements to Counterpunch, PO Box 228, Petrolia, CA Redfield, Vance Packard, William not merely a scorched earth policy, but “in thirty or forty years, it may A. Williams, Marcuse, Ellul, Roszak, but also a ‘scorched soul’ policy’” 95558, USA. Schumacher, Lasch, Wendell that it would use in Hawaii, the not seem so far-fetched.” [email protected] Berry, and more recently Jerry Philippines, Cuba, Japan, Vietnam, Mander, Langdon Winner, Neil Iraq, Afghanistan, and anywhere Postman, and somewhat else it could achieve it. surprisingly Ted Kaczynski. This is a distinguished bunch, and they are Which is why in the end Berman known today because the work they concludes that nothing will ever did was careful and trenchant and change our hustling civilization and The National Liberal Party (www.nationalliberal.org) is sponsoring a pressure group called exposed powerfully the ills of a all attempts at trying to replace it are Nations without States to highlight the plight of peoples who aspire to nationhood. These material society, but, as Berman fruitless: “I regard the fantasy of a might be based on peoples or tribes based within a state or even across borders that may notes when talking about Mumford, recovered future as pure drivel.” He or may not have been independently organised in the past. They might have a linguistic in the end “you can’t get takensees, instead, that it is headed separateness from their neighbours or fellow citizens. All will aspire to recognition, seriously if you point this out.” How toward inevitable collapse, and not autonomy or independence.These might be based on peoples or tribes based within a well I know. too many decades away. He state or even across borders that may or may not have been independently organised in quotes a U.S. intelligence report the past. They might have a linguistic or historical separateness from their neighbours or And so the alternative culture, from the Washington Post that fellow citizens. All will aspire to recognition, autonomy or independence.oples who aspire to nationhood. These might be based on peoples or tribes based within a state or even though it has always existed on the predicts “a steady decline” in across borders that may or may not have been independently organised in the past. They fringe, and still does even now, has American dominance in the coming might have a linguistic or historical separateness from their neighbours or fellow citizens. never seriously derailed the decades, the country eroding “at an All will aspire to recognition, autonomy or independence. steamengine of the hustler accelerating pace” in “political, If you want to contribute to the debate or simply learn more join their facebook group civilization nor in fact even slowed it economic and arguably, cultural Nation without States!

Page 30 Fourth World Review Fourth World Review Page 31 Can You Help? JOHN PAPWORTH’S article Political Progress notes that we need to institute “a vast educational effort to resolve the multitudinous problems involved in the restructuring of power in We’re now on Facebook! society from the ground up rather than the top down.” SINCE OUR relaunch - late last year - 4WR is anxious to help promote this we’ve made slow but steady progress in “vast educational effort” via a dual raising the profile (and promoting the approach. message) of 4WR. Firstly, we need to produce a leaflet Our latest improvement is the that’ll raise the existing profile of 4WR. introduction of a Facebook page! It can The number of magazines that seek be used for 4WR-relatedchange is becoming legion. We need announcements and debates. Why now to show that 4WR is radically different check it out? If you’re on Facebook, from the rest! We also need to win the battle of ideas! Thus we need to build simply type in Fourth World Review in the circulation of 4WR and promote an the ‘Search’ bar at the top of your home intellectual argument for our ideal of page. ‘Small is Beautiful!’ Hopefully, a 4WR web-site will follow in Secondly, we need to produce due course. We’re also planning 4WR hundreds – if not thousands – of local TV, which will operate via Youtube. publications which’ll help popularise our More details will follow. ideas. Therefore, we are looking for people who would be willing to help with the financing, writing, production and Read the Euro Realist distribution of these newsletters. Newsletter. However, we’re particularly interested in speaking to anyone who has THE Euro Realist is published fundraising experience. We realise that we’re not going to be able to produce monthly on a non-profit making these local publications without basis by Derek Bennett. substantial funds. Subtitled ‘Campaigning for an Would you be willing to kick-start this EU free Britain & Parliamentary campaign by making a donation to our sovereignty’ it provides news fighting fund? This is being co- about the EU and anti-EU ordinated by Belfast-based supporters of 4WR. Therefore, please make any events. Cheques/POs payable to Glenwood Publications and send to Glenwood For further information, e-mail: Publications, First Floor, 316 Shankill Road, Belfast, BT13 3AB. [email protected] Please mention Fourth World Review (In your covering note please say that in any correspondence. your donation is for the 4WR promotional campaign.)

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