Editing SG33SHS-T (section)

=== 31. Current International Trends ===

If we examine the current global reality, characterized by the emergence of highly interconnected economic relationships, can we not say that the facts before us eloquently explain the need to transcend nationalism and progress toward internationalism?

In his recent pamphlet titled ''National Socialism and Controlled Economy'', Hayashi Kimio 林癸未夫 writes: “While internationalism cannot be completely dismissed as an incorrect theory, I believe that as current Japanese citizens, it is only natural to act based on nationalism rather than internationalism. Japan is now facing a critical situation and international isolation, and in the face of the survival and peril of our homeland, it is not permissible to act based on internationalism.”<ref>Hayashi Kimio (1883–1947), ''Kokka shakaishugi to tōsei keizai'' 国家社会主義と統制経済 (Tokyo: Nihon Kokka Shakaishugi Gakumei, 1932), [https://tinyurl.com/pejw6j9s “National Diet Library, Next Digital Library”], accessed October 3, 2024. Hayashi was a professor of sociology at Waseda University from 1923. He specialized in social and economic policies and helped develop Japanese theories of “national socialism.” Note that in this case I have translated ''kokka shakaishugi'' as “national” rather than “state” socialism, as the emphasis for Hayashi is clearly on ethnic solidarity. While Seno’o is somewhat sympathetic to the concept of the worker’s state as a potential bridge toward international socialism (in the way of Marx), he has no time for the sort of ethno-nationalism arising at the time in Italy and Germany.</ref> We also agree that our homeland is currently experiencing “international isolation” and facing a “critical situation.” But what has caused this “isolation” and “critical situation”? Are they not the cursed results brought about by the capitalist nationalism of various countries around the world? The development of nationalism exacerbates the risk of international warfare, promotes the wasteful expansion of military armaments, and often leads to increased taxes and rising prices. These are inevitable consequences. This may present opportunities for a few industrial or financial capitalists to gain profits, but this is not a path to increased happiness for the general masses. On the contrary, they become the causes of misery and economic oppression for the majority, as theory and experience clearly demonstrate. But what makes all this possible in the first place? By viewing human history as a struggle between classes and ethnic conflicts, national socialism demands the suppression of class struggle in favor of ethnic struggle. However, ethnic conflicts in the modern era are an inevitable product of capitalism.

Therefore, the overthrow and transformation of capitalism necessarily involves the resolution of ethnic conflicts. And since the transformation of capitalism is the collective problem of the proletariat throughout the world, the international socialist movement is the true path to human liberation. In essence, the world is interconnected as a unified entity, where cultural and material forms should flow freely. This promise is increasingly being recognized in the present era of international relations. It is the delusions rooted in nationalism and associated ideologies that obstruct the development of human culture. Clearing away these ideologies is an urgent matter for humanity, and we believe that it can only be achieved through international socialist principles.

Let us consider the management of Manchukuo 満洲国 as an example.<ref>Manchukuo (Jp. ''Manshūkoku'') was the puppet state of the Empire of Japan formally established in 1932 following the Japanese invasion of the Chinese province of Manchuria.</ref> Manchukuo, said to be Japan’s lifeline, encompasses a vast territory of 77,000 ''ri'' 里, including 33,000 square ''ri'' of arable land and abundant natural resources; this is capable of accommodating over fifty million people.<ref>One Japanese ''ri'' is approximately 2.5 miles. Thus, 77,000 ''ri'' would amount to some 502,000 square miles, while 33,000 ''ri'' would comprise roughly 215,000 square miles.</ref> What makes the development of Manchukuo possible? Is it through military force? That can only be a temporary solution—those who rise by the sword will perish by the sword.<ref>Seno’o is alluding to Jesus’s words in Matthew 26:52: “All they that take up the sword shall perish by the sword.”</ref> The development of Manchukuo is only possible through an internationalist attitude that transcends self-centered calculations and through the economic cooperation and affinity between the Chinese, Japanese, and White Russian communities, among others. We may recall the words of Nanshū 南州,<ref>Nanshū was the pen name of Saigō Takamori 西鄕隆盛 (1828–1877), one of the samurai leaders of the Meiji Restoration of 1868 (though he later led the Satsuma 薩摩 Rebellion against the new government).</ref> which seem appropriate even today:

<blockquote>
Japan must engage with China on equal terms. Merely wearing Japanese clothing and standing before the Chinese people is not enough. Japan’s talented individuals should actively naturalize themselves in China. Through these individuals, China can be morally and splendidly uplifted as a righteous nation. Without such efforts, friendship between Japan and China cannot be achieved.<ref>I have not been able to locate the source of this quotation.</ref>
</blockquote>

Buddhism teaches the concept of interdependent co-arising, whereby everything is interconnected, and emphasizes a worldview in which people rely on others and struggle alongside them. The development of one country is the development of the world, and a global recession in turn affects individual nations.

This fact is evident in the relationship between Germany and other nations during the postwar reparations issue, where the nations agreed to reduce billions of dollars in reparations to a mere three billion marks and approved conditions that were close to debt forgiveness in an attempt to revive the global economy. Similarly, future issues such as war debts are also problems that can only be resolved through internationalism. Recently, the concept of self-sufficiency in the economy has been advocated, but it remains limited to certain sectors of production and is inherently impossible. Therefore, international control of the economy must increasingly be considered as a crucial issue.

Furthermore, when considering the issue of colonialism due to population growth, the necessity of internationalism is strongly felt. In such cases, proponents of reactionary nationalism may show willingness to establish their right to survival through the use of force, but such measures are by no means sustainable. Such deeds will once again trigger the evil behavior that led to world war. The world war, which lasted only five years, resulted in the deaths of millions, with around nine million soldiers killed, three and a half million disabled, and nineteen million injured, not to mention the destruction of approximately five hundred billion [yen] worth of resources. It is important to remember that the primary culprits responsible for such catastrophic damages were the very proponents of nationalist ideologies that undermined international cooperation. In a world interconnected like a chain, nation-centered nationalism eventually destroys the entire chain and, consequently, undermines the welfare of each nation. Hasn’t this fact been clearly demonstrated by the previous world war?