Maia Ramnath - Decolonizing Anarchism.pdf - Libcom

The New Social Movements
Acrucial effect oflooking at decolonization through
an anarchist lens is that the story changes from the
fo rmation of a nation-state to the ongoing process of
deconstructing hierarchies and exploitative power relationships,
no matter who the perpetrator. ) But it didn't
take an anarchist to see that. On the recognition of fo rmal
independence, it was obvious to anyone Left of the INC
that the visions of freedom that had inspired generations
of revolutionaries had not been fulfilled in the new
nation-states of India J.nd Pakistan. The rHost raJical elements
among South Asian freedom fighters (including
Ghadar, Kirti, and the HSRA) declared that their work
would not be done simply by eliminating British rule; not
until there was economic and social justice fo r all, not JUSt
the elite interests represented in the mainstream nationalist
movement. After the handover of power, the new
South Asian nation-states inherited the colonial state's
army, bureaucracy, revenue extraction mechanisms, and
disciplinary techniques. These then had to be confronted