Patriotism/Internationalism

[highway star]

TKP(Communist Party of Turkey) opened a front-line to imperialism in Turkey called Patriot's Line. But isn't there a contaradiction between patriotism and internationalism. I think we can discuss over this topic...
I think all communist parties in world have to struggle against their bourgeois class in their country. Because there are inequalities among countries, all countries includes specifities in their own and communists who are in that country can recognize the conditions better than the others. And they can be more organize in their country. I said "their country". Communists haven't got countries, our homeland is world but that i mentioned before there are special conditionsa. Capitalism in world has been determining the conditions and there are nation-countries and we have to fight on this conditions.But...
If we struggle against imperialism, isn't it wrong to make this on patriotism? Because patriotism wides anti-imperialist fight. Imperialism isn t only on Turkey or Iraq... Everywhere... Patriotism can go to nationalism.. And even we agree with that, i think patriotism wont manage to win this fight. I think if we want to win, we need an international community.
Waiting for ur replies...

[redstar2000]

It would help if you could tell us exactly what the Turkish CP is saying.

The word "patriot" may have been just an unfortunate choice in terminology.

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[bed_of_nails]

Patriot comes from the latin word "Patria" which means "Fatherland".

Sorry, I just wanted to throw in that tidbit of information.

I would be interested in this Turkish occurance. From what I can gather, it reminds me of the 1933 (I think that is the date... I am having trouble remembering though) Reichstag elections, and we all know how those went.

[Anti-Fasist]

I agree with highway star. According to me there is no difference between Turkish people and others. There are differences between proletarian and bourgeis classes. But we mustn't forget that for a communist world first we must work in our "country".

[Paradox]

TKP(Communist Party of Turkey) opened a front-line to imperialism in Turkey called Patriot's Line.

Like redstar said, maybe it was just a bad choice of a name. Then again, they very well could be nationalists. Do you have any more information about this?


But isn't there a contaradiction between patriotism and internationalism.

Yeah, pretty much. People can be patriotic and still care about and help people in other nations, but "to what extent will they go?" is probably a better question. How much will they sacrifice to help "those foreigners?" And of course, you've got those extreme nationalists who don't give a damn about anyone else. Kind of reminds me of the movie Head of State where Chris Rock's character runs for president against that other guy who always says "God bless america, and no place else." In any case, nationalism doesn't mix with Communism, as Communism is Internationalist. Nations -which now compete with each other- will work TOGETHER once Communism is realized. People I think, must work on a global scale, aiding each other in the struggle for Communism, but as has been mentioned, people will struggle within their "own countries," as they are best aquainted with the conditions in those areas. In the end, once Communism has been acheived, countries/nations will no longer exist, and names of former countries or states will remain for strictly geographical purposes. That's pretty much all I can think of at the moment.

[refuse_resist]

Aren't the TKP revisionists?

[rice349]

Aren't the TKP revisionists?
I believe so, i've been under the impression they are.

[highway star]

You can find more information----->>>> http://www.tkp.org.tr

[redstar2000]

In English...

http://www.tkp.org.tr/index.php?kat=591

Ok, I think I see what the Turkish Communist Party is doing with their "Patriotic Front" initiative...opposing Turkey's admission into the EU.

It doesn't seem to have anything much to do with traditional Turkish nationalism...unless I misunderstand what they're saying.

They express active soidarity with the Iraqi resistance, with Cuba, etc. And they meet with other left groups in Europe in solidarity with their resistance to the EU.

They point out that the EU is an imperialist coalition...with plenty of disadvantages for the working class as the EU expands.

I don't read Turkish (:P) and I have no idea how this party operates in Turkey, conducts struggles, etc.

But on this issue, I'm inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt.

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