Leader Central Committee | Ideology Trotskyism | |
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European affiliation European Anti-Capitalist Left International affiliation International Socialist Tendency | ||
International Socialists (Dutch: Internationale Socialisten) is a revolutionary, Trotskyist organisation in the Netherlands. It is part of the International Socialist Tendency led by the British Socialist Workers Party.
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Ideology
The IS believes that real change in the Netherlands can only come through revolution, although it is not opposed in principle to electoral work. It does not participate in such work at present, but believes in an activist party. The IS sees itself as standing in the tradition of people like Leon Trotsky, Vladimir Lenin and Rosa Luxemburg. It is anti-capitalist, anti-war and in general against "all ideas that put people against people", like racism, sexism and homophobia. Currently, the Internationale Socialisten are largely active in the anti-war and anti-racism movements, as well as in the resistance against the austerity measures of the rightwing minority government of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy of prime-minister Mark Rutte and the Christian Democratic Appeal, which is supported by the Party for Freedom of Geert Wilders and the Reformed Political Party.
Politically, the IS is located on the left of more mainstream leftwing parties like the Socialistische Partij and GroenLinks. It is part of the International Socialist Tendency, which also includes the British Socialist Workers Party and the German Linksruck.
Activities
Every year, the IS organises its own 'Marxism school', which is open to anybody interested, in which the more theoretical issues of socialism and activism are discussed. It also holds regular discussion meetings and is often present at political meetings organised by other groups, either invited or uninvited.
The IS has long worked together with the Socialist Party (SP), and in November 2005 decided to continue as an independent organisation but ask its members to join the SP as well and play an active role within that party. The SP, however, does not see the relationship in this way, and viewed the IS as a 'party within a party'. The SP responded by not allowing IS members to be a member of both the IS and the SP in fear of attempts to radicalize its membership by IS members. So far only two out of the nearly 170 local branches have allowed IS members to join the SP.
Internationally, the IS has taken part in the first two European Social Forums held in Florence and Paris, and is often active in international protests.