Solarpunk vs Nation States
I was told I should post a bit about Solarpunk again, so let me talk about another thing that I think a Solarpunk future cannot and should not have: Nation states.
These days we consider them a very normal part of life, but let me remind you that for most of history they did not exist. Even in the middle ages nothing like states would exist - not in the way we see them today. Sure, there were kingdoms and duchies, but for most people it did not really matter in what kingdom they lived in, as it was not part of their identity.
The nation states we have today, meanwhile, were created by colonialism and are a product of colonialism more than anything else. And this is why they have to go.
Because here is the thing: Even if we tried to decolonize, pay reparations and what have you... As long as the nation states still exist, some of the effects of colonialism will never cease to exist. Effects like the uneven distribution of riches and things like that. Effects, too, like the political instability of the global south at large.
See, in the global south some of the nation borders have been drawn intentionally to destabilize regions. By putting tribes or religious groups into one nation that the colonizers knew would not get along. And at times splitting tribes apart, who belonged together as well. Splitting cultures apart.
Meanwhile in the "west" the nations are used to keep riches within certain groups. Over here in Europe it is super noticable. I live in Germany, a rich nation, but right next door we have Poland, a considerably poorer nation. And whenever people from Poland or other eastern Europe come to Germany to work, people will fearmonger about the people "fleeing into our good economy".
So, yeah. Nation states are used to destabilize, exploit and keep people apart. If we really want to have a Solarpunk future, we have to get rid of them. They never were a good idea to begin with.













