March 5, 2026. Alex V, Sozialistische Alternative (ISA Germany)<\/p>\n
Capitalism is a system maintained by state repression and\u00a0violence, but it also relies on nationalism and\u00a0patriarchal\u00a0norms. Through media, education, political rhetoric, and cultural discourse, it normalizes the idea that working-class people have an interest in \u2018defending one\u2019s nation\u2019.\u00a0Patriarchal\u00a0ideals like obedience, sacrifice, are imposed from above, but presented as shared values that protect society from external and internal enemies.<\/p>\n
In the current era of inter-imperialist conflict and war, these ideas have become an increasingly important part of the toolkit of the world\u2019s ruling classes, who seek to ensure that rising\u00a0militarism\u00a0is accepted or at least tolerated by the population. This means doubling down on all the reactionary ideological pillars of their system.<\/p>\n
The culture war against women, queer people, and transgender people is not simply a distraction tactic. It plays a role for the state in securing both the labor force it needs for war and the ideological consent necessary for the development of a militarized society. Where the far right is already in power, traditional gender roles are reinforced through propaganda and state violence, such as when Trump equates being trans with \u201cextremism\u201d and declares all trans people enemies of the nation.<\/p>\n
Crises and militarization go hand in hand with rising domestic violence and femicide. This is a consequence of the imperialist necessity for patriarchal order, control, and domination.<\/p>\n
In Germany, more than 126 women were killed by partners or ex-partners in 2024, and more than 180,000 cases of domestic violence against women and girls were reported in 2023 (according to the Federal Criminal Police Office). The actual numbers are probably much higher, as many women are unable to seek help or report incidents.<\/p>\n
While billions of euros are being poured into the German military and arms companies such as Rheinmetall are posting record profits, women\u2019s shelters remain underfunded, social housing construction is shrinking, and nursing staff, predominantly women, are working themselves to exhaustion.<\/p>\n
The Berlin Initiative Against Violence Against Women (BIG e.V.) already has to turn away 400 people seeking protection every month\u2014and this situation is set to worsen not only in Berlin, but throughout Germany. The state always finds money for the military, but not for social protection structures.<\/p>\n
Political and media discourse increasingly glorifies militarization\u2014the call for \u201cnational defense,\u201d the idealization of soldiers, the praise of \u201cdiscipline\u201d and \u201csacrifice.\u201d This ideology seeps into everyday life, reinforcing traditional gender roles. By normalizing military force and preparing for war, the state increases the risk of patriarchal violence in the home.<\/p>\n
The growing presence of the far-right AfD and other reactionary forces reinforces this trend. They exploit the fear of social decline and demographic change as a weapon to propagate an ideology of the traditional family that reduces women to their roles as mothers and caregivers, while denouncing feminism as a threat to the nation. In this climate, a \u201cheavy hand\u201d against women is normalized.<\/p>\n
In capitalist crisis mode, patriarchal violence becomes an ideological weapon. It reproduces the gendered division of labor and diverts fear and anger away from the ruling class and toward women, migrants, and queer people.<\/p>\n
The last three years have seen record global spending on arms, as well as increasing authoritarianism and setbacks for the rights of women and queer people.<\/p>\n
Nowhere has the link between war and patriarchal violence become clearer than in the last two years of genocide against the Palestinian people. In Gaza, women face catastrophic displacement and targeted violence, including sexual violence, while Israel continues its attacks despite the ceasefire. According to UN Women, over 70% of those displaced from Gaza are women and children, and maternal deaths have skyrocketed due to the collapse of medical infrastructure.<\/p>\n
In Ukraine, reports from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) show a sharp increase in domestic violence since 2022. Returning soldiers struggling with trauma and mental health crises, curfews and air raid sirens trapping women in potentially violent households, and rising unemployment and economic insecurity are exacerbating patriarchal violence. Displaced women are exposed to further risks in overcrowded shelters with no privacy, while power outages and attacks on energy infrastructure make public spaces and transportation more dangerous.<\/p>\n
The Russian and Chinese regimes actively promote \u201ctraditional family values\u201d as part of their ideological arsenal and suppress feminist and LGBTQ+ movements as \u201cWestern degeneracy.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, UN reports document widespread sexualized violence. In Sudan, women are affected by mass abductions and sexual slavery, and in Afghanistan, the Taliban\u2019s theocratic dictatorship violently excludes women from education, work, and public life.<\/p>\n
The newest front for patriarchal violence is digital. On YouTube, TikTok, and X, the \u201cmanosphere\u201d, a network of misogynistic influencers and right-wing extremists, spreads hateful ideology to millions of young men. Personalities such as Andrew Tate and Myron Gaines preach dominance, entitlement, and contempt for women\u2014closely linked to the militaristic goals of the ruling class. Tech billionaires allow these misogynists to continue their activities.<\/p>\n
Manosphere content reaches billions of views and serves as a recruitment portal for far-right movements. They combine misogyny with militarized nationalism and convey the message that \u201creal men\u201d control women and defend their nation with violence.<\/p>\n
The manosphere is not just talk. It is a cultural arm of patriarchal capitalism. It profits from anger and frustration, sells toxic masculinity as identity, and legitimizes authoritarian politics. The result is a generation radicalized in terms of both gender-based violence and militarism\u2014the \u201cperfect\u201d soldiers.<\/p>\n