Unsettling Developments: An Examination of the Recent Predicament
Year after year, the Italian National Holiday parade snakes its way through Rome's Imperial Forums, brimming with flags, medals, soldiers, dogs, horses, weaponry, and fighter jets – a confusing spectacle of militarism on June 2nd. It's hard to swallow the sight of mayors marching alongside armed troops, tanks, and fighter jets, trying to add a touch of civility to the proceedings. Sounds like the new politically correct stance is blurring the lines between peace and war.
This approach was paved by NATO's "humanitarian" war in Kosovo in 1999 and its repeated performance in Libya in 2011. President Sergio Mattarella's desire for "peace for the next generation" seems fair, but the old imperial motto "si vis pacem, para bellum" (If you want peace, prepare for war) may be the driving force behind Italy's defense policies.
The European left-wing media landscape may be small, but it shines a light on international and national developments from a progressive perspective. Publications like France's "L'Humanité," Switzerland's "Wochenzeitung" (WOZ), Italy's "Il Manifesto," Luxembourg's "Zeitung vum Lëtzebuerger Vollek," Finland's "Kansan Uutiset," and Prague's "Náš Pravda" all keep us informed. ND has been partnering with these media outlets for a long time, collaborating on content that matters to us.
Here's where things get difficult: Italy spends over €87 million daily on weapons and the military. Approval for the export of Italian weapons is increasing, particularly to countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Turkey, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates – petro-regimes known for repression and brutal wars. The government seems happy about it, given the boost it gives to the GDP, but we're the ones who will feel the consequences down the line.
In 2024, global military spending reached a staggering $2,718 billion, an increase of 9.4% compared to 2023. The top five military spenders – the United States, China, Russia, Germany, and India – account for 60% of the world's total spending. Europe saw a 17% increase, buoyed by Western Europe's military budget, which jumped by 24 percentage points.
The communist daily "Il Manifesto" remains a crucial beacon for the Italian left. Founded in 1971, independent of parties and publishers, this groundbreaking cooperative newspaper was instrumental in labor struggles during the "red decade" at Fiat and other companies. With a current print circulation of around 15,000 copies, Il Manifesto continues to pave the way for progressive journalism.
But we seem to be stuck in an endless cycle of militarization and the increased risk of war, with nation-states chasing the elusive "security" for themselves while denying it to their alleged enemies. War breeds more war and must continue. Or, as Donald Trump put it, "arm yourselves and buy weapons from me!" So we double our military spending to support NATO and contribute to its dangerous eastward expansion, fueling conflicts like the Russian-Ukrainian quagmire, where Putin's aggression is a genuine concern.
The EU is also investing heavily in militarization, making the "European defense" budgie seem more like a duplicate Atlantic cost. With Germany's troubling mega-armament, the EU Commission encourages state-owned companies across countries to produce weapons. Meanwhile, essential services like healthcare, education, and social services are being cut, and workplace safety is at risk.
We stand there with weapons, reaping the consequences of conflicts we ourselves ignited: from former Yugoslavia to Iraq and Afghanistan, from Libya to Syria (unity and peace with those terrorists of Al-Qaeda?). Was this "world order" we mourn the loss of really the one we cherished?
It's time to acknowledge the role we played in disrupting peace, especially in Palestine, where Gaza and the West Bank – occupied territories since 1967 – are now a nightmare for millions. We celebrate June 2nd as the birth of our republic and the adoption of our republican constitution. Yet, we consistently violate its Article 11, which rejects war as a political instrument and a way to resolve international disputes. It's high time for these militaristic triumph parades to fade into the past.
The European left-wing media, such as Italy's Il Manifesto, continues to shed light on international and national developments from a progressive perspective, often critiquing the blurring lines between peace and war as seen in Italy's defense policies and its increased military spending. Despite the European Union's investment in militarization, it is crucial to revisit and uphold the ideals of peace outlined in Article 11 of Italy's republican constitution, rejecting war as a political instrument and a means of resolving conflicts.
