Proletarian internationalism: Learning from socialist responses to war, yesterday and today

Eight-session study circle

As the war in the Ukraine dominates the nightly news, many people are asking, “Why is this happening?” “What will it take to end to such devastating conflicts?” In the Communist Manifesto, Marx and Engels called for workers of the world to unite, putting the idea of international solidarity at the very heart of socialism. This study circle will examine socialist responses to war, from tragic failures to foundational concepts that are central to the struggle today.

We’ll read and discuss the resolutions of the Second International on war and militarism as well as the ideas of Lenin, Trotsky, Karl Liebknecht, Rosa Luxemburg, Eugene Debs, James P Cannon, Clara Fraser and contemporary writers such as Andrea Bauer, Megan Cornish and Left Radical of Afghanistan.

Commences Wednesday 29 June and then every second Wednesday until 5 October.

Hosted by the Freedom Socialist Party
Contact: freedom.socialist.party@ozemail.com.au for more information or a copy of the study guide

Session #1 — Wednesday 29 June 2022, 7 pm
The Second International, war and militarism

Register here: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcqcu6qrjkpHtOwvTx-Oe0HN7pHzMHXWv-E

Session #2 – Wednesday 13 July 2022, 7 pm
Rebuilding internationalism from an opportunist collapse — Zimmerwald Left

Register here: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYud-2srzMpEt0ovgzGaR2jI_Hk2OCUkDCC

Session #3 – Wednesday 27 July 2022, 7 pm
Rebuilding internationalism after an opportunist collapse — Luxemburg and Debs

Register here: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMrfuirrzgoHtbLvVU6Y_NmNSXf0R-hjL4m

Session #4 – Wednesday 10 August 2022, 7 pm
Trotsky’s balance sheet on the eve of World War 2

Register here: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIlc-ivpzwsHteOS8HnbSR_aMr_MIdlOIRf

Session #5 – Wednesday 24 August 2022, 7 pm
The U.S. SWP during World War 2

Register here: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAucOqvqj8vEtw2s8c19oHsHacIhlhAKi53

Session #6 – Wednesday 7 September 2022, 7 pm
Making the connections
Korea and Vietnam — war, race and women’s liberation

Register here: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMofuCgpzssG9ew7GwEUgETomYfqzFw_on0

Session #7 – Wednesday 21 September 2022, 7 pm
Imperialism from Lenin’s time to ours

Register here: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUrdOmoqjgtGNy8BlM9xbvvv2gU7QT6sYu7

Session #8 – Wednesday 5 October 2022, 7 pm
Building on Marxist and anti-imperialist foundations
Fast forward to war in the Ukraine

Register here: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArf-2hrTwqHdU1cNxyCksl_JEn0BgUK7kk