RAIR EXCLUSIVE: American Marxists Unite in EU Parliament to form Global Communist Alliance

• Marxist Groups from America and Europe meet in EU Parliament to form an alliance they refer to as “Internationalism”
• American Marxists are working with communist organizations such as the “Maoist” Belgian Workers’ Party to form “organizing strategies.”
• EU and American Marxists endorse Bernie Sanders for President
• America’s shift to socialism described as a “beacon of hope among the European Left”

On April 4 2019, America’s top socialists were invited to discuss the future of socialism in America, their glowing endorsement of Bernie Sanders, and “the need for a new progressive internationalism.”

The gathering was organized by the Party of the European Left, a bloc of mainly communist and some socialist parties operating in the European Parliament in Brussels, including the European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE-NGL), which brings together socialist MEPs in the European Parliament.

Invitees included Maria Svart, head of America’s largest Marxist organization Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Foreign Policy Advisor to Senator Bernie Sanders Matt Duss, Longtime DSA leader and Political Director of Our Revolution David Duhalde, Executive Director of Progressive Democrats of America & DSA Member Alan Minsky and Alexandra Rojas, the Executive Director of Justice Democrats.

In a “DSA ReportBack” posted by David Duhalde from the event, the editor explains:

“With the new far-right threat a reality in most European capitals, DSA stands with Left parties against what Bernie Sanders has called the continent’s ‘authoritarian axis.’ We’re thrilled with this report from a visit to the European Parliament, just as we’re about to publish our Summer issue on creating a socialist internationalism.”

As an aside, note that the word  “Progressive” is interchangeable with the word “Socialist,” but oftentimes, “socialist” can also be described as “left-wing”. During the panel discussion, Maria Svart deliberately makes the distinction while speaking of the “YDSA,” or the “Young Democratic Socialists of America:”

“Our youth wing is now the only campus organization frankly whether progressive or left-wing that’s capable of standing up to the far right.” (emphasis added)

Duhalde stated that in addition to the various meetings, the American socialists “met for three hours with MEPs and EU parliament staffers” and “held two talks and numerous meetings with our European left-wing peers”.

He writes:

“In a rare moment, the United States is viewed as a beacon of hope among the European Left. Bernie Sanders is the firmly established frontrunner in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, and the American left is growing in strength, both from an electoral and social movement perspective. It seems that the US could be poised for a genuine, and nationwide, progressive leap forward.”

Duhalde continued to praise the “Maoist” Belgian Workers’ Party for their grasp on “organizing strategies.” He writes:

“Of the groups present, the Belgian Workers’ Party (PTB) appeared to have the best grasp of these new organizing strategies. Maoist in origin, the PTB moved away from its cadre roots to become a more grassroots and community-based organization. Without changing ideologically, the PTB has adopted distributed organizing tactics like those outlined in Becky Bond’s Rules for Revolutionaries. (Bond was a senior advisor to the Sanders campaign in 2016 and is also served Beto O’Rourke’s presidential team.) Using these distributed organizing techniques, the party has grown its share of the vote from one or two percent to potentially as high as ten percent.”

American Marxists pose with ‘Maoist’ Belgian Workers Party April 2019 Photo: DSA website

For its part, the European Left also wrote about the gathering:

“In the spirit of Bernie Sanders’ recent call to begin building an ‘international progressive front’, the European Left invited leaders from the US Left to Brussels to develop concrete working relationships.

Over two productive days, Maria Svart, National Director of the Democratic Socialists of America, David Duhalde, Political Director of Our Revolution and Alan Minsky, Executive Director of Progressive Democrats of America, met with leaders of the European Left and GUE/NGL, as well as with representatives from civil society, ETUC, and national parties across Europe.

We look forward to working together to combat the domination of the 1% and the rise of what Sanders calls the ‘new authoritarian axis’, and to developing positive alternatives together.”

Stay tuned for a RAIR Foundation USA exclusive video highlighting key moments from the conference, where DSA Maria Svart reveals how her organization is poised to impose socialism on America.