By Jonathan Fruhling
For six days in August, over 160 young members from the German and Austrian youth organisation, Revolution, along with members of the League for the Fifth International’s (L5I) German, Austrian, Swiss, and British sections, gathered for a summer school near Berlin.
There were also guests from Argentina, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, and France, members of the International Socialist League (ISL/LIS), with whom the L5I have been conducting discussions. In recent months, our discussions have developed very positively, with agreement on a common programmatic text to serve as a basis for discussion and adoption at our respective congresses this autumn.
We have also discussed steps for a transition to democratic centralism. The camp further increased the mutual respect and confidence between our organisations. Of course, the class struggle itself, and therefore revolutionary politics, is international by its very nature, so for good reason the camp’s name and unifying theme was ‘Internationalism’.
Analysis of the world situation and the tactics needed for combating the rise of the right and the wars wracking the world, both at a global level and in individual countries, were top of the agenda this year.
Over 60 workshops and plenaries discussed subjects like the United States under Trump, the development of Russian imperialism, the crisis of the European Union, plus the situation in China, Argentina, India and Sudan. Workshops also explored modern feminism and trans liberation, the history of anti-racist and workers’ struggles and the idea of transformative justice.
Additionally, we discussed the current crisis of capitalism and the EU, the challenges of AI for the working class, the development of left-wing parties in Europe, and our intervention into them. A series of other workshops dealt with the dramatic escalation of the environmental catastrophe, the Marxist analysis of war and revolutionary tactics, and the theory of permanent revolution and its relevance today.
We devoted an entire day to our work in schools, universities and workplaces. Some workshops focused on the theoretical foundations of our politics, such as ‘Historical Materialism’ or ‘What is Capitalism?’, and the origins of LGBT+ oppression. We also organised a panel discussion on the struggle against genocide in Palestine.
In order for organisations from different traditions to grow into an international community, it is important to exchange experiences. Everyone was able to refresh their foreign language skills, and we translated many of the workshops and conversations outside of them. Thus, we were able to gain important insights into the political ideas, experiences, and realities of old and new comrades.
As always there were caucus meetings for queer/non-binary people and those oppressed by racism, and meetings of reflection and training on how to fight racism and sexism wherever we encounter it.
However, the event would not have been a summer camp if it had not also included leisure activities and a cultural programme. With the temperature above 30C free time was spent swimming in the nearby lake or hiking through the forest, while others were practising martial arts.
There were also screen printing, poetry, outdoor games, an evening of short films and last but not least a party on Saturday, where the ‘rap battle’ will remain a highlight for many.
The camp was certainly memorable. Not only did new comrades visit the camp, but a number of them also joined the organisation or intend to do so in the coming weeks. Everyone contributed to making the six days of the camp a success.
This time together strengthened our inner social cohesion and allowed the participating individuals and organisations to grow closer together politically. Most of the newcomers were young comrades. Despite the general shift to the right in society, we are growing.
Making friends with comrades from around the world, who share our views and are taking action to advance them, is one of the most important factors of such a camp. We have taken another significant step towards greater international revolutionary solidarity.
We return to our countries and cities strengthened in our ability to resume the daily class struggle with the hope of victories ahead. As the Communist Manifesto says: there is a world to win!
