Leo Tolstoy — Patriotism or Peace?

As far as peaceful war generals go, Leo Tolstoy is near the top of the list. A little background on Tolstoy: he fought in the Crimean war in the 1850s, returned to his home in Russia, and began a career as a writer. His most renowned piece of work is his book War and Peace.

Tolstoy grew fond of anarchism, and seeing how the goals of anarchists are often in sync with the the goals of pacifists, it is only fair that we shed some light on our forgotten war general. Bear in mind, when I say “forgotten”, I mean it in the sense that Tolstoy is not given near as much credit, attention, or recognition in our education system as other war generals such as Ulysses S. Grant or Robert E. Lee.

Tolstoy is as eye-opening as any writer I have come across. In War and Peace, Tolstoy tells of the cruel nature of warfare. He writes that war is the most prestigious or “highest” class, one respected by everyone. “And he who kills the most people receives the highest rewards.”

Tolstoy’s 1896 letter to England entitled Patriotism or Peace is worth analyzing. Tolstoy begins this letter by explaining the ironic juxtaposition behind the egotism of private individuals and the egotism of the state. An individual who commits murder will undoubtedly be detained by police, yet when a country engages in organized, chaotic slaughtering, otherwise known as war, the outcome is very different. There is no power over the state, Tolstoy writes, and thus, no punishment. He then delves into the connection between patriotism and war.

“If an American wishes the preferential grandeur and well-being of America above all other nations, and the same is desired for his state by the Englishman, and a Russian, and a Turk, and a Dutchman…and all of them are convinced that these desires need not only be concealed or repressed, but should be a matter of pride…and if the greatness and well-being of one country or nation cannot be obtained except to the detriment of another nation, frequently of many countries and nations — how can war be avoided?”

To answer his question, I do not believe war can be avoided with the mindset of which he describes. Tolstoy questions the tendency people have to take pride in their country because of the ruinous effects that follow that practice. War is the result of displaying concern exclusively for one’s own nation — a concept known as patriotism. If we can eliminate patriotism, then we can eliminate war, but that is a difficult idea to instill in people. The reason for this is that most people do not see or view patriotism as an evil ideology.

Tolstoy also clarifies that the difference between egotism and patriotism is that egotism is a “natural sentiment” while patriotism is “artificially inoculated” into the hearts and heads of the human race. In other words, there is no evidence or proof that patriotism is an innate characteristic; we are taught to believe that our country or nation is the best and better than the rest. But if you can learn some form of hate, which patriotism qualifies for, then you can also unlearn that hate.

Tolstoy also argues against the claim that patriotism is a source of unity. “But the men are already united in states,” he writes. “The work is all done: why should men now maintain an exclusive loyalty for their state, when this loyalty produces calamities for all states and nations?” If patriotism unites one country, then it also pins that country against all other countries that are also unified by patriotism.

The Armenians and the Turks slit each other’s throats and acted “like wild beasts” as a result of patriotism. England and Russia did not even attempt to end the Armenian atrocities as a result of patriotism. The Abyssinians and Italians fought each other as a result of patriotism. And the Chino-Japanese War, the Turkish, the German, and the French wars? All results of patriotism. Invading Iraq after 9/11 was a result of patriotism. Bombing Syria was a result of patriotism. The list goes way on.

Tolstoy concludes his letter by offering his solution to war, which is to eradicate patriotism from our education. Patriotism is clearly the inseparable twin of war, and it is also therefore the catalyst for war. It is difficult to think of an instance of warfare in which the desire to benefit solely one’s own country was not an element. If we think people are selfish, and nations are composed of people, is there any reason to believe that nations are not selfish as well?

The letter also mentions what might be the single most important lesson in pacifism: educating younger generations to value the health and well-being of other people — other nations — is the key to ending war, rather than manifesting our “coarse egotism.” As Colman McCarthy eloquently phrases it, “it’s easier to raise a peaceful child than reform a violent adult.”

If you want to be proud of where you come from, why not be proud that you’re from planet Earth? This is true unification for there is no competition among the planets.

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