"Compulsory examining of Marx's concepts: countermeasures for advancement"
A Radical Leftist Haven Transformed Weekend Gathering
The iconic "nd" building recently morphed into a hub for leftist learning and congregation. The Marxist Gathering - a four-day affair, held in Berlin-Friedrichshain, saw a myriad of attendees gathering outside the house to discuss, debate, and share ideas. Long queues formed near the food distribution point, with people lining up during lunch and evening hours. Over 1200 individuals took part in the event, exceeding all expectations, as one organizer gleefully shared. Young participants who had recently joined The Left party or were actively campaigning for them, made up a significant proportion of the attendees this year.
With a rich history dating back 18 years, the roots of the gathering can be traced back to the Linksruck group's disbandment. Many of its members later formed part of Marx 21, an annual organizer of the event. As a revolutionary network, Marx 21 is planning a relaunch, as highlighted in a position paper that circulated during the congress.
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The congress emphasizes a class politics that links together struggles against exploitation and oppression. It uses the example of labor disputes in hospitals and daycare centers to enforce its message, demonstrating how varied directions of the left movement intersect. Themes of anti-capitalism, anti-racism, and feminism were made tangible in real-world scenarios.
Several working groups delved into trade union renewal. One discussion focused on the potential of logistics workers at Amazon and similar companies being won over. Another panel analyzed future strategies for employees in the automotive industry, brainstormed ways to initiate a transport revolution, and considered how struggling car manufacturers could manufacture buses and trains instead.
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Ines Schwerdtner warned against the mirage that the party could perpetually maintain high campaign-level activity. She proposed delegating tasks to members that resonate with them personally, such as distributing newsletters or participating in tenant information events. The three women's remarks often prompted applause.
However, criticism was also voiced at the events. An ex-Left district chair from Hesse accused young party members of being excluded from decision-making and even bullied. Despite her plea for solutions, her question remained unanswered. Left MEP Özel Demirel also raised concerns, passionately advocating for a stronger antimilitarist stance within the party. Demirel pointed out the troubling correlation between increasing authoritarian tendencies in Germany and external militarization.
Although prominent party members, often with mandates, expressed support for NATO or arms exports to various countries, Demirel argued that isolation would cripple a truly societal Left. A query from the audience inquired about the logic of organizing as antimilitarists within a party supporting arms sales. Demirel responded that alienating oneself excessively could prove detrimental for a progressive political movement.
Plentiful theoretical discussions took place as well. Ingar Solty and Birgit Mahnkopf led multiple sessions, examining why the new militarism faces acceptance issues. The example of the Ukrainian working class's mass rejection of military service was cited, with no similar trend emerging in Russia.
The congress primarily concentrated on societal developments in Germany, focusing on constructing a local movement that effectively counters militaristic tendencies.
Insights:
Origin of Marx 21:Marx 21 is a network of revolutionary socialists within Die Linke (The Left), originally emergent from the broader left-wing movement within Die Linke. Die Linke itself is a descendant of the Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS), which evolved from the Socialist Unity Party (SED) from erstwhile East Germany. The PDS rebranded itself in response to the fall of the Berlin Wall, embracing democratic socialism to distance itself from its Marxist-Leninist past[1].
Recent Activities and Plans:Marx 21 has been actively involved in developing strategic partnerships between Die Linke, trade unions, and social movements. The network promotes grassroots organizing, conflict orientation, and power building through strikes. By leveraging the strengths of Die Linke's left-wing faction and local success stories, Marx 21 seeks to contribute to a broader, more radical left-wing movement in Germany, even if Die Linke remains a more moderate force[3][4]. The network's vision includes relaunching as a revolutionary network, deepening involvement in trade unions and social movements to position itself for a future mass revolutionary party[2].
1. In the realms of policy-and-legislation and politics, the congress hosted by Marx 21, a revolutionary network within Die Linke, underscored the importance of class politics and its intersection with struggles against exploitation and oppression, offering tangible examples of anti-capitalism, anti-racism, and feminism in action.
2. Amidst the general news of the event, debates and discussions centered around the gathering's future strategies, notably trade union renewal, as well as plans to form alliances between Die Linke, trade unions, and social movements, demonstrating a commitment to a broader and more radical left-wing movement in Germany.
