Since the election of the new leader of the opposition, Corbyn has been subject to headlines that could make army generals think they might be out of a job. But is Corbyn as much of a pacifist as the media say?
The biggest anti-war aspects of Corbyn’s policies come from his stance on NATO and the nuclear submarine programme, Trident. In an article for the Morning Star, he compared NATO to the eastern expansion seen with the Soviet/Communist Warsaw Pact, led by Russia, but in reverse stating that Russia’s intervention in Ukraine was “not provoked”. This implies the leader sees the alliance as outdated and unhelpful. He also wrote about it on his website, implying that British military spending and sovereignty is impeded by this alliance. Although this doesn’t make him anti-military, and exit from NATO could lead to far less British military intervention is he were to become leader.
Corbyn is strongly anti-Trident and opposes the renewal of the Trident nuclear programme. Although this doesn’t make him anti-military, critics have argued that a sans-nuclear UK would weaken it as a military force globally. This could indicate a shift in military power, allowing the UK to take less of a leading role in conflicts. Under a Corbyn government, a US-UK type military coalition may lessen as Britain would become less of a major military player without its nuclear deterrent.
Looking away for a moment from policy, Corbyn won the Gandhi International Peace award for for his “consistent efforts over a 30 year Parliamentary career to uphold the Gandhian values of social justice and non‐violence.”.
More recently, Corbyn has been strongly opposed to the proposal to start British air strikes in Syria. Opting to promote diplomacy and peaceful internvetion, this is a clear case study of what military action could look like under corbyn. Although he does not plan to make his peaceful attitude a Labour policy, made clear by giving his MPs a free vote on the issue, a Corbyn Britain would certainly look like a more peaceful one.
Finally, Corbyn himself had this to say about his stance on military intervention:
“I have always campaigned against neo-colonial wars that are fought for resources on the pretence of fighting for human rights. We need an understanding of our past and our role in the making of the conflicts today, whether it be the Sykes-Picot Agreement or our interventions in the Middle East post 9/11.
I argue for a different type of foreign policy based on political and not military solutions; on genuine internationalism that recognises that all human life is precious, no matter what nationality; and solidarity with the oppressed across the globe from the subjugated Palestinians to the displaced Chagos Islanders.”
Photos by: U.S Army Europe Images,Loz Pylock