Patriotism: A Menace to Liberty

In this electrifying polemic, Emma Goldman tears into the myth of patriotism, arguing it is a state-crafted superstition that feeds militarism, enriches the powerful, and impoverishes the people. With piercing clarity, she tracks the soaring costs of armies and navies, shows how wars—from the Spanish–American conflict to the Russo-Japanese struggle—serve commercial interests, and reveals how flags, parades, and schoolroom drills mask coercion and conformity. Goldman exposes the human toll: soldiers degraded by barracks life, children molded into obedient subjects, and dissenters punished—epitomized by the case of Private William Buwalda. Her answer is international solidarity among workers who refuse to kill for the ambitions of the few. Narrated with vigor and precision by Gary Middleton, this audiobook delivers Goldman's arguments with urgency and contemporary resonance. For listeners exploring anarchist thought, interrogating nationalism, or seeking a fearless critique of war culture, this remains a provocative, essential listen.