Istalia

[dannypk]

Istalia begins making preparations as diplomatic events threaten its wellbeing
August 5558


In the past few years, the Istalian government under the LSI has seen a decrease in relations with Pontesi and Beiteynu, which, especially due to the latter, made the LSI consider making preparations for a possible attack from a foreign and even internal group, as well as economic effects on the nation. In order to do this, the LSI has begun a plan for the next few months and years that will help Istalia's economic self-sufficiency (with minimal dependence on foreign nations) as well as army capabilities. 

First of all, Casella and Carboni have been discussing with Publio Carvelli, the Minister of Defense, what to do with the army of Istalia. A few accords have been made: the LSI will not trust government bourgeois institutions like the state and the military-police, therefore a group of armed workers affiliated with the LSI will be created, led by Publio Carvelli. The proletariat affiliated with the LSI will be armed and organised through a slightly but not fully centralised paramilitary group. Proletarians not affiliated with the LSI will not be armed, for fear of not having abandoned their support for the bourgeoisie. Naturally, non-proletarians will not be armed either. This armed vanguard will be placed all throughout Istalia, especially at its borders, owning equipment sized from the military-police, while these are largely relegated from their tasks and assigned more minor tasks, such as paperwork. For as long as the situation requires it, that is, until the international conflict seems to be resolved, this will be how the LSI will organise its armed forces. In order to produce more equipment and ensure this goes to the armed vanguard, war industries will be mass nationalised. Some of these armed workers will also be part of Urban Defense Committees, which will be established in city strongholds of the LSI (for now, Romula and Bescara in Fidelia, and Villanedia and Verunnia in Trivendito). 

Carvelli has spoken on the function and tactics of the armed vanguard: 

Our plan is not to cause a direct confrontation with Pontesi and Beiteynu - or any other nation. We consider that declarations of war are methods of carrying out a rather violent and extreme form of imperialism by the bourgeoisie, desperate in its need to expand their resources. Since our goal is merely to spark up revolutions throughout Terra, we will not fall for imperialistic, bourgeois tactics. Our tactics will consist of what is known as asymmetric warfare: we are not going to use conventional soldiers and tactics, but rather proletarian militias loosely organised by a centralised group to coordinate properly. Guerrilla tactics will be our way to go. We are not seeking to destroy any nation, nor conquer it: we seek to defend ourselves and ensure the proletariat from the respective foreign nations are able to carry out their revolution by remaining alive to protect, aid and encourage them. We hope that the governments of Pontesi and Beiteynu will not resort to war against us, but were they to do it, we will not employ similar tactics, even if it means our demise from disadvantage. I repeat - we are not imperialists.

Additionally, on the topic of self-sufficiency, Casella and Carboni have talked of a plan of nationalisation of industries and farms. All businesses will be run by worker councils that will also be affiliated with the LSI - although the LSI will have no word in their decisions. A focus on war industry will be placed, in order to provide equipment to the armed vanguard without depending on aid from sympathetic nations, or in case there is no nation to aid us. Agricultural collectivisation will be done to ensure we can produce basic needs without the interference and sabotage of foreign bourgeois actions, which the Istalian communists argue that private businesses will likely be untrustworthy during these times as they will likely side with the governments of Beiteynu and Pontesi (and any other bourgeois nations) to sabotage the LSI. Casella has stressed that this would put in place a system of state capitalism, and that this does not signify a dictatorship of the proletariat. Istalia is and will continue being a bourgeois state, but for as long as the LSI rules and this conflict is in place, "the LSI will help the proletariat however necessary for as long as it rules, until the proletariat is ready to revolt and install a dictatorship of the proletariat." They have also in mind trading with like-minded nations, such as Xsampa and Baltusia, especially for as long as Istalia cannot thrive on its own.

Lastly, Casella has sent a message to the international proletariat:

Workers of the world, I am more disgusted than ever from this situation, because I am getting involved in events that might provoke certain consequences that might be detrimental to our cause... Hence why I must send this message to all of you: stand up against your oppressors! Istalia, the LSI will be there to support you however necessary, and we will not be the only ones. If you want to stop this madness, if you want to liberate yourselves from the claws of the bourgeoisie, it is now the time. Do not trust your governments, as they will begin making propaganda against us, painting us as evil, totalitarian, and as the aggressors. You will see, over time, who the real aggressor is. I just hope it is not too late by then. Especially the Beiteynuese and Pontesian proletariat: you are key in this, you must revolt against your governments and seize power! Only the international proletariat, united against the bourgeoisie, can create a new world free of chains and war.

Despite everything, it is unclear how everything will go. Elections are happening in two years from now. If the LSI does not manage to win elections, the Liberals would be able to do away with all these changes and likely negotiate with the governments of Beiteynu and Pontesi, in a way that could even be detrimental to the Istalian communists. However, the LSI has stated that they should not wait for new elections but start as soon as possible with the preparations, as, if they win the next elections, it could be very late to make the preparations effective.