NATIONALISM AS A TOOL FOR PROGRESSION

Posted on December 14, 2021 by Norwich Radical in Inter|national, Perspectives and tagged cornish, cornwall, devolution, elitism, ethnostate, featured, independence, Kurd, land back, nationalism, onen hag oll, palestine, patriotism, refugee, refugees welcome, Rojava, Scotland, socialism, trespass, Wales.

by Sarah Edgcumbe

“Refugees Welcome” is a phrase commonly seen on placards at demonstrations held by the recently revitalised Cornish independence movement. Sometimes paired with other phrases such as “No More Second Homes”, “Fuck Yuppies” and “Tories Out”, the centrality of the statement “Refugees Welcome” at the forefront of the Cornish nationalism movement clearly flies in the face of conventionally liberal or left-wing wisdom, which automatically posits nationalism as right-wing and pernicious. We should instead recognise that “nationalism” doesn’t necessarily equate to ethno-nationalism, and that in parroting anti-nationalist rhetoric, we are likely regurgitating colonial propaganda. Anti-colonial movements fought for a collective nationalism defined by independence. Nationalism, then, cannot automatically be dismissed as a negative phenomenon.

LEGACY OF EMPIRE: DARKEST DAYS OF INDIAN DEMOCRACY

Posted on August 21, 2019 by Norwich Radical in Inter|national, Perspectives and tagged Anjum Zamrooda Habib, apdp, article 370, Azadi, BJP, british empire, communication, communicaton, Eid al Adha, extremism, featured, Gilgit-Baltistan, Gujarat, Hindu, imperialism, independence, India, islamophobia, israel, Jammu, jkccs, Kashmir, Kunan, Kupwara, Lord Mountbatten, Modi, Muslim, nationalism, Pakistan, palestine, Poshpora, propaganda, Rajputan Rifles, rape, terrorism, Tibet.

by Sarah Edgcumbe, Saba Azeem and Nidhi Suresh

CW: rape, torture

Since 5th August 2019, the Indian government has shut down Kashmir in the most repressive and terrifying fashion possible. 48,000 Indian troops have been moved into the state, making it, with 70,000 Indian troops already posted there, the most densely militarized zone on Earth. These troops are now operating under a “shoot-to-kill” policy and hundreds of Kashmiri human rights activists, academics and business leaders have been arrested. Meanwhile, the Indian government has simultaneously imposed a media and communications blackout, cutting off the internet and thus preventing Kashmiris from being able to communicate their suffering in real time to the rest of the world. Pakistan too revoked state subject rule from Gilgit-Baltistan (part of Pakistan occupied Kashmir) in 1974, in a move similar to India’s current strategy. However, in doing so, there was no media black-out nor curfews imposed. India, on the other , has jailed all Kashmiri leadership, transferring them to jails in New Delhi, as well as, according to a magistrate speaking on condition of anonymity, arresting and detaining over 4,000 Kashmiri citizens since 5th August.

CATALANS IN THE STREET

Posted on March 7, 2019 by Norwich Radical in Inter|national, Perspectives and tagged Catalan, catalan independence, Catalonia, civil unrest, demonstrations, independence, llibertat, occupation, protest, public space, referendum, separatist movement, spain.

by Joe Rutter

Even the pigeons know what’s going on now. They twig whenever they hear the roaring chants for llibertat!, the beating tambores, the whistles at fever pitch. Then they see the big flags streaming towards them, the mass of shuffling human walls, the yellow ribbons clinging to every urban limb. They move on when they sense a protest coming.

RHODESIA IN NORFOLK AND THE DANGERS OF BRITAIN’S IMPERIAL AMNESIA

Posted on January 21, 2019 by Norwich Radical in Inter|national, Perspectives and tagged Apartheid, Britain, colonialism, empire, featured, flag, imperialism, independence, norfolk, norwich, racism, rhodesia, Sladden, Southrepps, UDI, white supremacy.

by Josh Doble

The unassuming small parish village of Southrepps, twenty-two miles north of Norwich, is the surprising location for a memorial to the former pariah state of Southern Rhodesia/Rhodesia – now Zimbabwe. This is not necessarily a well-known site – it was stumbled across during a summer cycle – yet it represents an important space to demonstrate the wider political environment in rural Norfolk, and the area’s connections to right-wing pressure groups further afield. The memorial itself is opposite Southrepps Hall and is made up of an avenue of Tilia Cordata – small-leaf lime trees – and three flag poles hosting the Union Jack, the Rhodesian flag and the original Southern Rhodesian flag. The Sladden family are the ‘Lords’ and ‘Ladies’ of Southrepps Hall and have a close history with Rhodesia, historically being settlers themselves. It would appear that the Sladden family built the memorial to commemorate their connections to the former country and to celebrate its memory.

IS SPAIN FINALLY TURNING ITS BACK ON GENERAL FRANCO?

Posted on August 31, 2018 by Norwich Radical in Inter|national and tagged 20th century, anarchists, Álava, Basque country, Basque independence, Catalonia, Catalonian independence, Catalonian referendum, cold war, concentration camps, democracy, dictatorship, ETA, Europe, european history, european politics, fascism, featured, General Franco, government, history, Hitler, independence, monarchy, Naverre, police violence, politics, spain, Spanish Civil War, spanish history, spanish politics, state violence, Valle de los Caídos, Winston Churchill, World War Two.

By Robyn Banks

Content warning: fascism, mass state violence

Last week the Spanish government approved the exhumation of the body of General Franco, the fascist dictator who ruled over Spain for most of the 20th century. Whilst this may not seem like a huge deal on the face of it, it is massive news in Spain and to those with an awareness of Spanish politics. Franco’s ‘legacy’ has been hanging over Spain since his death in 1975. This decision marks a major point of departure for the country.

SOCIAL PRESCRIBING – CURING LONELINESS IN OUR DISTANCING SOCIETY

Posted on May 21, 2018 by Norwich Radical in Community and tagged alcohol, bowthorpe, Brexit, Britain, capitalism, Community, domestic violence, drug use, economics, elderly people, environment, featured, food, Frome, globalisation, GPs, health, healthcare, horticultural therapy, illness, independence, internet, loneliness, mental health, nature, NHS, norfolk, nutrition, peer mentoring, personal debt, PTSD, recreation, relationships, social prescribing, society, Somerset, teamwork, The Grow Organisation, uk, voluntary sector.

By Nicholl Hardwick, for The Grow Organisation

In contemporary Britain, our lives are pervaded with unique health and economic pressures. Capitalism, globalisation, Brexit and the internet have all contributed to a new era of loneliness, community isolation and disconnectedness. We may go days at a time without speaking or having sentimental engagement with another person. In particular, elderly members of the community frequently fall to the wayside as our distancing society ceases to encourage them to function as active participants.

SPAIN AND THE LAW ON CITIZEN SAFETY

Posted on March 29, 2018 by Norwich Radical in Inter|national and tagged Carles Puigdemont, Catalan voters, Catalonia, constitution, Crown Prosecution Service, cyberactivism, featured, Gag Law, German law, government, independence, King, Law on Citizen Safety, Ley Mordaza, Lockerbie bombing, Mariano Rajoy, prison, protestors, public funds, rebellion, referendum, sedition, spain, Spanish police, stanstead, trial, voters.

by Gunnar Eigener

The Spanish government continues in its relentless pursuit of Catalonians who dared to seek further autonomy and independence. An international warrant was issued from Madrid for the arrest of Carles Puigdemont, the leader of the Catalan separatists, and his recent arrest in Germany has sparked new demonstrations, reigniting the Catalan debate. Puigdemont faces charges of sedition, rebellion and misuse of public funds – all of which means he could face the next 25 years in prison.

However, for him to be extradited successfully, German judges need to assess if the charges are punishable under German law. He could be extradited but only to face the charges that are criminal under German law. Five other arrest warrants for other separatist politicians have been issued; some already have been arrested in Spain and sent to prison awaiting trial. Continue Reading

AN INDEPENDENT CATALONIA: A SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIVIST ACCOUNT

Posted on October 29, 2017 by Norwich Radical in Inter|national and tagged authoritarianism, Brexit, Catalonia, EU, Generalitat, independence, Kosovo, nation, national sovereignity, politics, Puigdemont, Quebec, Rajoy, referendum, Scotland, social contructivism, solidarity, support, Wendt.

by Oliver Steward

September 27th 2017 will be remembered as a Day of Independence. A day of celebration, but also a day of possible mourning. I rejoice and also remain vigilant at the coming days since the Catalonian government’s decision to declare independence. Some would view this as a failure of democracy, and of politics more generally, to achieve a peaceful alternative that would recognise the cultural diversity of Catalonia within Spain. The compromise option would have seen Catalonia keep its devolved status, but within the context of Spain. The model that Quebec and Scotland have already taken.Continue Reading

THE FIGHT FOR INDEPENDENCE

Posted on October 3, 2017 by Norwich Radical in Inter|national and tagged Brexit, Catalan, identity, independence, India, iraq, ISIS, KRG, Kurdistan, nationalism, police brutality, politics, referendum, Scotland, South Sudan, spain, Syria, turkey, war.

By Gunnar Eigener

“Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide.”

Napoleon BonaparteContinue Reading

WHY THE LEFT SHOULD CARE ABOUT CELTIC INDEPENDENCE

Posted on November 28, 2016 by Norwich Radical in Inter|national, Perspectives and tagged anti-capitalism, anti-colonialism, anti-imperialism, Barry, Capel Celyn, capitalism, Celtic, clean energy, cymru, establishment, EU ref, flags, Gwynfor Evans, identity, imperialism, independence, industry, indyref, Ireland, jeremy corbyn, leanne wood, left, leftist, Llyn Celyn Reservoir, nationalism, nicola sturgeon, Plaid Cymru, politics, Scotland, snp, socialism, uk, unionism, Wales, westminster, working class.

by Tara Debra G

“Flags don’t build houses”, said Jeremy Corbyn last year, criticizing Scottish nationalism and the SNP. Well, no, they don’t, but neither does an unelectable party, so swings and roundabouts really. But he does have a point: nationalism as a political framework doesn’t inherently support leftist values, or the working class, or is particularly anti-capitalist.

In fact, the strongest argument I hear against Celtic nationalism from the English left is that it doesn’t solve the foundational economic equality at the heart of class oppression in the UK. I’m a Welsh nationalist and I agree. But the left shouldn’t care about Celtic independence because it’s intrinsically anti-capitalist, because it’s not that – the left should care because leftist ideals should encapsulate anti-imperialism.

independence

NATIONALISM AS A TOOL FOR PROGRESSION

by Sarah Edgcumbe

LEGACY OF EMPIRE: DARKEST DAYS OF INDIAN DEMOCRACY

CATALANS IN THE STREET

RHODESIA IN NORFOLK AND THE DANGERS OF BRITAIN’S IMPERIAL AMNESIA

IS SPAIN FINALLY TURNING ITS BACK ON GENERAL FRANCO?

SPAIN AND THE LAW ON CITIZEN SAFETY

THE FIGHT FOR INDEPENDENCE

WHY THE LEFT SHOULD CARE ABOUT CELTIC INDEPENDENCE

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