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The Internationalist Archive

The humanity around us shrinks, cratered by regimes and empires, looking after their own gains. In such times — when people reach out a hand, crossing borders, nationalities and religion, and stand together in solidarity — internationalism becomes more than lip-service. 

We’ve witnessed this in South Africa, which has boldly held Israel accountable for its ongoing genocide in Palestine. Similarly, when legislators from around the world condemned the unjust designation of Cuba as a “state sponsor of terrorism,” it was internationalism in action.

In this spirit, internationalism stands as a beacon of hope. 

The Internationalist's issue #100 brings together political theorist, Dr Jodi Dean; research scholar, Selma Lendelvo; sociologist, Dr Ayşe Arslan; and historian and political organiser, Dr Ammar Ali Jan, to reflect on this crucial question: Why do we need internationalism today?

Jodi Dean

Internationalism, the internationalism of workers and peasants, has always been at the core of the communist vision. The abolition of exploitation requires the end of imperialism and the creation of a world where strong countries no longer plunder and de-develop weaker ones, no longer use international law to support occupation, apartheid, and genocide, and no longer sanction, blockade, threaten, and bomb in order to coerce sovereign people's to bend to their will.

The order of trade and finance protecting corporations, wealthy asset holders, and capitalists as a class is international. We must be, too — resolutely internationalist and anti-imperialist as we build the power necessary to fight and win. At stake is nothing less than the future.

Selma Lendelvo

Internationalism has the power to bring together voices and stories from across the world, highlighting issues that impact communities at a grassroots level. In this vein, The Internationalist enables broader visibility and deeper understanding of global challenges, consolidating diverse perspectives into a unified space. 

We need internationalism because it fosters the exchange of ideas, support, and potential partnerships. Internationalism demonstrates that local issues have global significance, championing a vision for a united world, where shared narratives and collaborative solutions contribute to addressing common issues for the well-being of our planet and all its inhabitants.

Ayşe Arslan

We, the oppressed of the world, need internationalism because no system of oppression and exploitation occurring in any one land exists in isolation from others across the world. We, who desire and fight for the emancipation of the oppressed, need to learn from and build alliances with one another because that is what we can most rely on; because we cannot be entirely free and equal unless all of us are free and equal; because we cannot leave anyone behind.

Ammar Ali Jan

Today, imperialist forces have captured the terrain of internationalism. The term "globalization" signifies the internationalism of bankers, fossil fuel profiteers, racist states, and NATO-backed militaries, all geared towards exploiting, excluding and eliminating vast sections of humanity. Gaza is perhaps the most potent, and tragic, convergence of these disparate reactionary forces that seek to limit our choices between perpetual Apartheid or genocide.

The task of building a new internationalism is urgent, both in terms of developing transnational solidarities against the counterrevolutionary offensives of the Far Right, as well as strengthening the capacities of local struggles. The Internationalist is playing a pivotal role connecting movements, creating ideological unity through political education, and introducing intellectuals and activists of concrete movements to key lessons that transcend differences. Such intellectual labor, rooted in the principles of solidarity and resistance, is a key weapon in our fight against the merchants of hate who seek to rob us of our common humanity.

The Internationalist Archive