“Communists have always played an active role in the fight by colonial countries for their freedom, because the short-term objects of Communism would always correspond with the long-term objects of freedom movements.”
Image credits: John Mathew Smith 2001,”From Wash D.C. Longworth building October 4, 1994. Mandela’s first trip to the United States.”,CC BY-SA 2.0,Nelson Mandela 1994 – Nelson Mandela – Wikipedia
- July 18, 1918 – December 5, 2013
- Born in South Africa
- Politician, lawyer
- The first black president of South Africa, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for abolishing apartheid and building a democratic South Africa where multiple ethnic groups coexist.
Quote
“Communists have always played an active role in the fight by colonial countries for their freedom, because the short-term objects of Communism would always correspond with the long-term objects of freedom movements.”
Explanation
This quote highlights Nelson Mandela’s recognition of the role that Communist ideologies and parties played in anti-colonial struggles around the world. Mandela suggests that the goals of Communism, particularly its focus on class struggle and the overthrow of oppressive systems, often aligned with the long-term objectives of freedom movements in colonized countries. Communists, motivated by the desire to end exploitation, were natural allies in the fight for national liberation, as they sought to eliminate colonialism, which was seen as a system of economic domination and social inequality. The short-term objectives of Communism, such as redistribution of wealth and social justice, thus mirrored the broader, long-term goals of movements seeking freedom, equality, and self-determination.
Historically, this quote reflects the influence of Communist parties and left-wing movements in many anti-colonial struggles throughout the 20th century. Communist support was especially significant in the struggles of countries like Vietnam, Cuba, Algeria, and South Africa, where Communists and socialists aligned with national liberation movements to combat colonial powers. In South Africa, the South African Communist Party (SACP), of which Mandela was a member, worked alongside the African National Congress (ANC) and other anti-apartheid groups to challenge both racial and economic oppression. This alliance was based on the shared belief that freedom could not be achieved without also addressing economic exploitation and the creation of a just society for all.
In modern terms, Mandela’s quote speaks to the complex alliances formed during struggles for independence and social justice. While the Communist movement is often seen through a Western lens as ideological opposition to capitalism, Mandela’s experience suggests that, in the context of anti-colonial movements, it was the shared goals of equality and liberation that brought these movements together. In today’s political climate, this idea can be applied to understanding how global solidarity across different ideological spectrums can emerge when groups with shared goals work together for a common cause—be it anti-imperialism, economic justice, or human rights. Mandela’s acknowledgment of the role of Communists also highlights the importance of strategic alliances in fighting oppression, even when ideologies may differ in other contexts.
