Cluster discussion
The Italian state since its early history in XIX century developed its own militarism and played a role in imperialist and colonialist confrontation between state powers. Balkans and also Eastern Europe were with Africa and Mediterranean sea the terrain of aggressive projection of the Italian state.
The opposition to this war policies and antimilitarist struggle has been able in the past to stop military expeditions and to create revolutionary attempts like with the uprising in Ancona in 1920 against the military expedition to Albania.
Nowadays the Italian state has still a strong military presence in the Balkan region, after the intervention in the wars erupted in the 90s. The military presence is every time connected to more or less heavy financial and political interference.
The war in Ukraine has only push to implement the Italian military presence in the region. Under the signs of EU, NATO, or as Italian army. Thousands of soldiers, hundreds of vehichles and dozens of aircrafts are deployed by Italy in the Balkan region, in Bosnia, Kosovo, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania. We have always opposed the expansionist, militarist, exploitative policies conducted by the Italian state within and outside its borders.
At the discussion we also want to address the many times neglected issue of militarism in areas officially not at war but where instead war is being prepared, taking large swathes of territory away from the civilian population, polluting the environment with impunity and bringing disasters not only for the present but also for future generations. It is also intended to highlight how, especially since the end of the Cold War, many military sites have simply been abandoned without any remediation or possible reconversion, and how the governments, Italian and European, also thanks to the PNRR are passing off the barracks’ arrangement as an efficient and brilliant ecological transition of the military. This is shameless greenwashing that starts from the very name of the project “Green Barracks” and can lead to a dangerous mixing of military and civilian areas.
We think BAB2023 is an opportunity to find a common ground of solidarity and struggle with comrades who live in regions where the Italian military is present. An opportunity to exchange information, experiences, analysis and if possible to create the conditions for common initiatives.
Speakers:
Libertarian Initiative is an anarchist group that does political activity in Pordenone, FVG and beyond. It fights for emancipation from capitalism and authoritarianism, against the patriarchal system. Anti-fascist, anti-sexist and anti-racist, is active in many anti-militarist and ecologist struggles and in defense of migrants and all oppressed people.
