A.B.C. OF ANARCHISM and started to develop her own industries ; a slow and painful process, but a wholesome necessity which will ultimately make Russia economically self-supporting and independent. The social revolution in any given country must from the very first determine to make itself self-supporting. It must help itself. This principle of self-help is not to be understood as a lack of solidarity with other lands. On the contrary, mutual aid and co-operation between countries, as among individuals, can exist only on the basis of equality, among equals. Dependence is the very reverse of it. Should the social revolution take place in several countries at the same time-In France and Germany, for instance-then joint effort would be a matter of course anp would make the task of revolutionary re-organisation much easier. Fortunately the workers are learning to understand that their cause is international: the ·organisation of labour is now developing beyond national bo.undaries. Itl is to pe hoped that the time is not far away when the entire proletariat of Europe may combine in a general strike, which is to be the prelude to the social revolution. That is emphatically a consummation to be striven for with the greatest earnestness. But at the same time the projlability is not to be discounted that the revolution may break out in one country sooner than in another-let us say in France earlier than in Germany-and in such a case it would become imperative for France not to wait for possible aid from outside but immediately to exert all her en_ergiesto help herself, to supply the most essential needs of her people by her own efforts. • Every country in revolution must seek to achieve agricultural independence no less than political, industrial self-help no less than agricultural. ·This process is going on to a certain extent even under capitalism. It should be one of the main objects of the social revolution. Modern methods make it pc;>ssible. The manufacture of watches and clocks, for example; which was formerly a monopoly of Switzerland, is now carried on in' every country. Production of silk, previously limited to France, is among the great industries of various countries to-day. Italy, without sources of coal or iron, constructs steel-clad ships. Switzerland, no richeT, also makes them. · Decentralisation will cure_society of many evils of the centralised principle. Politically decentraljsation means freedom ; industrially, material independence; socially, it implies security and well-being for the ,mall communities; individually it results in manhood and liberty. 94 81blioteca Gino Bianco
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTExMDY2NQ==