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The Utopianism of the standpoint which expects an era of peace and retrenchment of militarism in the present social order is plainly revealed in the fact that it is having recourse to project making. For it is typical of Utopian strivings that, in order to demonstrate their practicability, they hatch 'practical' recipes with the greatest possible details. To this also belongs the project of the 'United States of Europe' as a basis for the limitation of international militarism.

Rosa Luxemburg#7

MilitarismPeacePolicy

About this quote

What does it mean?
Expecting peace within the current social order is utopian and relies on impractical detailed projects like a United States of Europe.
In plain terms
Thinking peace can happen under the current system is unrealistic and depends on impractical plans.
What can you take from it?
Avoid relying on detailed projects to limit militarism under the current order.

Where it applies

  • policy planning
  • political theory
  • debates

Putting it to work

  • critique utopian plans
  • analyze social order

Questions to consider

  • Is peace possible without systemic change?
  • Are detailed plans ever practical?

Another view

Some structured international agreements have shown partial success.

More from Rosa Luxemburg

  1. Plausible as the idea of the United States of Europe as a peace arrangement may seem to some at first glance, it has on closer examination not the least thing …

    Permalink to quote #8
  2. Militarism in both its forms - as war and as armed peace - is a legitimate child, a logical result of capitalism, which can only be overcome with the destructi…

    Permalink to quote #6
  3. The times when the centre of gravity of political development and the crystallising agent of capitalist contradictions lay on the European continent, are long …

    Permalink to quote #9

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