Non-Violent Aspects of the Guerrilla Fighter

Che Guevara has indisputably written the most in-depth analysis into both the consciousness and behaviour of the guerrilla fighter (Guerrilla Warfare, Ocean Press, 2006). Guevara presents focused insights about the state of mind and socio-political actions of guerrilla fighters in their mission for ‘liberation.’ Guevara’s theoretical teachings present the guerrilla as an active revolutionary-force that focuses beyond the more sensational aspects of violent-combat and evolves toward positive social change(s). The essence of the guerrilla band is that they are agents for the facilitation of social reformation. Reformation must present social-political-economic benefits for oppressed group(s), whom the guerrillas directly represent.

The guerrilla must focus her/his anger toward dominant societal institutions that actively oppress, repress, ignore, and exploit the lower classes (ex. – policing systems, legal systems, businesses & owners – economic systems, political systems, educational systems, health systems, etc.). Oppressive institutions and organizations are the main focus of the guerrilla fighter’s indignation.

“A revolutionary guerrilla army must rely on non-combatant organization for a range of extremely important auxiliary missions” (126).

Violence alone cannot facilitate positive social change and Guevara cleverly alludes to this idea. All successful revolutions need to attain the approval of a large mass of people (majority) before any reformatory action can become successful. Violence has the potential to either polarize or rally the masses (this is a question of temperament), whereas non-violent social protest and political activism is always widely accepted (particularly in liberal democratic states).  The more objective, and subjectively accessible, revolutionary momentum of the liberation-struggle exists in the ability to actively destroy systemic violence within social institutions. Therefore, reformation does not need to rely purely on a violent insurrection. Violence breaks out when all other political options have failed and the oppressed group becomes totally alienated from the workings and functionalities of the state.

It is evident that Guevara is able to speak indirectly to/for Aboriginal masses that are housed in ethnic ghettos and inner-city slums across Canadian urban centres. It is economically, culturally, politically, and socially obvious that the Aboriginal masses are the most oppressed group of peoples throughout Canada; also North and Latin America. There is a long, and destructive, history of oppressive actions partaken by state-sponsored institutions against Aboriginal communities across Canada. At present, Aboriginal communities are suffering from mass poverty, under-education, poor health/malnutrition, inadequate housing, communal violence, social-unconsciousness, inadequate political representation, and overall social injustices. Therefore social reformation is imminent among Aboriginal communities, particularly urban.

The Aboriginal masses have nothing to lose but their chains

Aspects of the Guerrilla Fighter

• “We must come to the inevitable conclusion that the guerrilla fighter is social reformer, who takes up arms as the embodiment of the angry protest of the people against their oppressor; guerrillas fight in order to change the social system that keeps all their unarmed brothers and sisters in ignominy and misery. They launch themselves against the conditions of the ruling institutions at a particular moment and dedicate themselves with all the vigor that circumstances permit (in order) to smash the mold of the institutions” (17).
• The guerrilla fighter is a social agent and a reformer who attempts “to change the old with something new” (49).
• “(T)he guerrilla fighter, as the conscious element of the vanguard of the people, must display the moral conduct of a true priest of the desired reform” (49). An ‘ascetic’ personality is suggested and this means that the guerrilla must maintain a strong moralistic stance in regard to their main objective.
• “The guerrilla fighter (is) a kind of guardian angel who has dropped into the zone (and is) always helping the poor” (50). This represents the true purpose and will of the guerrilla, i.e. – fighting for those people that are at the bottom of both the societal order and the division of labour.
• The guerrilla fighter oversees the equitable distribution of private property and goods so that all benefit from the wealth; “Private property should acquire a social function” (50) or clearly stated, whatever is gained individually should be shared among the communal masses in order to lift the burden placed upon the severely oppressed. Poverty relief is the main purpose of shared wealth.
• “As social reformers, guerrilla fighters should not only provide an example in their own lives, but should also constantly give an orientation on ideological issues, explaining what they know and what they wish to (accomplish)” (51). This is to say, that the guerrilla fighter needs to engage themselves and their communities/comrades in purposeful and useful education and study. The guerrilla needs to attain a decent level of education (and intelligence) and then she/he must teach those that need to be educated. It is statistically likely that impoverished classes of people will be more under-educated than the middle and upper classes of a society.
• The guerrilla fighter should “preferably be an inhabitant of the zone” (52), in other words, members of the local communities make the most effective reformers as they clearly understand the most urgent communal needs.
• “The guerrilla fighter should be audacious and(…) always ready to take an optimistic attitude toward circumstances and to see reasons for a favourable outcome even at times when the analysis of the adverse and favourable conditions does not appear to be positive” (53).
• The guerrilla fighter must adapt and identify with the environment in which they live, to take a part of it, and to take advantage of it as an ally. (54). Different places and peoples will demand different strategy and intentions based on the issues, surroundings, and situations.
• Guerrilla fighters are comprised of all genders and women are not to be treated unequally among the comrades. “Women are capable of performing the most difficult tasks, of fighting beside men; and despite current belief, (women) do not create conflicts of a sexual nature among the troops” (106). Women are equal to their male counterparts in all regards and respects. Women should be among the leaders. Women physically make-up the majority of all communities and their voice is essential in a political struggle.
• The guerrilla fighter needs to fight the battle of ideology with words that can convict, and convince, the masses to join the struggle of the oppressed. “The ideas of the revolution should be disseminated through whatever media is available, as broadly as possible… (and) in the long run truth is the best policy” (119). The internet is the most easily accessible medium to date.
• “Nothing helps the (guerrilla) combatant forces more than correct intelligence” (121). This ‘intelligence’ comes directly from local people as they will have the most accurate information pertaining to the conditions of oppression. Keep current regarding the pressing political and social issues that keep people in a vulnerable state of being.

The guerrilla fighter is an agent of social justice above everything else.

References

Guevara, Ernesto “Che”. (2006). Guerrilla Warfare. Ocean Press: New York.