Workers have no country

Because the condition of the workers of all countries is the same, because their interests are the same, their enemies the same, they must also fight together, they must oppose the brotherhood of the bourgeoisie of all nations with a brotherhood of the workers of all nations.'- Engels, November 29, 1847.

Nationalism is anathema to socialists. The Socialist Party opposes nationalism and does not fall into the trap of the ‘progressive’ facade of nationalism. We have more in common with people like ourselves in other countries than with the privileged owning class of the country where we happen to live and work. The world-wide working class has a common interest, to end its exploitation and solve its problems, to join together to establish a world without frontiers in which the resources of the planet will have become the heritage of all. One world, one people, where cultural differences will still be celebrated, but where we’ll all be citizens of the world. Our opposition to the Scottish nationalism should not be interpreted as support for the Union or the parties that support it. We are not defending British nationalism and the unity of the United Kingdom in any way. That would be an endorsement for the status quo, something we do not support. So we do not argue that the present constitutional arrangement benefits ordinary people. We are just as opposed to them. A plague on both their houses is what we say. To adapt a slogan, "Neither London nor Edinburgh, but World Socialism".

The SNP tells us an independent Scotland, separate from the rest of Britain, there would be less unemployment, higher wages, more job security, better state benefits, a better health service and all the other things politicians keep promising. But it is patently absurd. This would be a purely political, not to say mere constitutional, change which would leave the basic economic structure of society unchanged. There would still be a privileged class owning and controlling the means of production with the rest having to work for them for a living. An independent Scotland would still have to operate within the constraints of the world capitalist system. It would still have to ensure that goods produced in Scotland were competitive on world markets and that capitalists investing in Scotland were allowed to make the same level of profits as they could in other  countries. In other words, it would still be subject to the same economic pressures as the existing UK government to promote profits and restrict wages and benefits.  Since it is this class-divided, profit motivated society that is the cause of the problems workers face in Scotland so these problems will continue, regardless of whether Scotland separates from or remains part of the United Kingdom.

A separate parliament in Scotland would be a capitalist parliament. It would not provide Scottish workers with any greater control over their own lives. Scotland would remain an integral part of international capitalism. An Edinburgh sovereign parliament will leave the workers in exactly the same position as before. Scottish nationalism is the reaction of one section of the Scottish capitalist class to what they perceive as the declining fortunes of British capitalism and their ‘unequal’ treatment within it. They seek to keep the taxes on North Sea oil revenues and create a corporate tax structure more suited to their own needs. The SNP advocate industrial harmony and an end to class conflict. Scottish workers are being asked to place their trust in the local employing class rather than in unity with other workers. Working-class unity cannot be easily achieved by insisting that there are supposed national differences in consciousness that distinguish Scottish workers from their English brothers and sisters. And certainly it is not aided by combining with particular Scottish bosses, which lead Scots working people to identify with Scottish businessmen and landowners on the basis of shared ‘nationality’. As an inducement, though, the nationalists entice Scottish workers with offers of a reformist programme and promises of more money and a better life. But no natural resources will be put to a sensible or beneficial use until the working class itself has gained control over the use of these valuable and non-renewable resources. A united working class enables us to combine our tactics for defending our class with the strategy of liberating our class.  Scottish nationalism does not strengthen the campaign for socialism or create a united, class-conscious working class, but fragments and weakens it.  Independence will not improve our condition one iota.  Only class struggle could do that. Success depends on close ties with the labour movements in England and elsewhere.  

The liberation for Scottish workers can only come about by overthrowing capitalism itself. If this is not done, no amount of separatism can ever succeed in bringing freedom. Instead of tragically wasting time fostering nationalism, workers should be struggling for a socialist society without national borders.