Nation Liberation

[FidelCastro]

I've heard this term before but I am not sure what it represents would someone care to explain this too me. Mainly, I'd like to know if it's left wing or right wing.

[STI]

National liberation occurs when a nation (a group of self-identifying people who share a common linguistic, ethnic, cultural, or historical background), not previously having self-determination, wins a war of independence against an imperialist power which was occupying it.

Some leftists support it because it causes a defeat for the imperialists of the developed world and allows the local bourgeoisie of the now-independent nation to modernize the economy much more quickly and humanely than would happen under imperialist occupation (a Leninist revolution is better for this, as they're better at standing up to imperialists, getting industrialization done quickly, and making a better lot for women, children, homosexuals, etc. They won't make a classless society, but they'll do more good than the local bourgeoisie, who would do more good than imperialist occupiers).

Some leftists are against it because the ideology of nationalism (which often, but not exclusively accompanies national liberation movements) is one which presents a common interest between the exploiters and the exploited in the dominated nation. The thing is, though, there is a common interest between the classes in that dominated nation. The bourgeoisie will benefit by finally being "top dogs" in that society, and the working class will benefit in that, with economic development comes the greater possibility for proletarian revolution.

We should critically attack the reactionary elements of national liberation movements, such as nationalism or Islamic fundamentalism, but support the effects of the success of those movments, even if that means giving our support to some people who we don't see eye-to-eye with.

[FidelCastro]

So are the IRA and PLO National Liberation?

[Morpheus]

Yes. That's their aim, anyway.