Progressive International Explained

Progressive International
Colorcode:
  1. EE204D
General Secretary:David R. K. Adler
Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla
Founded:11 May 2020
Abbreviation:PI
Ideology:Progressivism
Internationalism
Anti-imperialism
Anti-capitalism
Post-capitalism
Position:Left-wing
Slogan:Internationalism or Extinction
Blank1 Title:Purpose
Colors: red and black
Blank1:To unite, organize, and mobilize progressive forces around the world.
Blank2 Title:Region served
Blank2:Worldwide

Progressive International (PI) is an international political organisation that unites and mobilises progressive left-wing activists and groups.[1] The organisation works with over 70 member groups.[2] This comprises trade unions, political parties, peasant organisations, and social movements including CodePink, Debt Collective,[3] Sunrise Movement,[4] and the Peace and Justice Project.[5] PI has been called "a worldwide anti-capitalist organisation."[6]

Origins

Progressive International was formally founded and launched on 11 May 2020, responding to a 2018 open call by the Democracy in Europe Movement (DiEM25) and The Sanders Institute for progressive forces to form a unified front.[7] [8]

The founding was supported by a council of over 40 advisors including Ece Temelkuran,[9] Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Yanis Varoufakis,[10] Carola Rackete, Nick Estes, Vanessa Nakate, Noam Chomsky,[11] Arundhati Roy, Naomi Klein[12] Niki Ashton,[13] Rafael Correa, Fernando Haddad, Celso Amorim, and Alvaro Garcia Linera.

The International claims to counter what it calls the resurgence of authoritarian nationalism worldwide as well as the rise of disaster capitalism.[14] As its mission, the Progressive International aims to "unite, organize and mobilize the world's progressive forces".[15]

Governance

The Progressive International is guided by an advisory Council that sets the organisation’s political and strategic direction.[16] The Secretariat, which includes translators, web developers, graphic designers, policy analysts, and community organisers[17] oversees the day-to-day organisational operations, separated into several thematic areas: Movement, Blueprint, Wire, and Observatory.

The Cabinet serves as the main executive organ responsible for development, planning, and staffing decisions.[18] The Cabinet draws its membership from the other two bodies, consisting of eight Council members: Srećko Horvat, Aruna Roy, Pierre Sané, Fatima Diallo, Rachmi Hertanti, Julian Aguon,[19] Renata Ávila and Scott Ludlum, as well as general coordinators David Adler and Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla.[20] [21]

Observatory

In October 2020, Progressive International said that it was "particularly concerned about the integrity of the presidential elections in Bolivia" and sent an observer group made up of Members of Parliament from around Europe to observe the election.[22]

On 15 November 2021, the Progressive International launched their global observatory "as attacks on democracy escalate across the world" and "authoritarian leaders are getting organised to capture the courts, criminalise opposition, and rig the rules to hold onto power," said General Coordinator David Adler in a statement.[23]

The founding was endorsed by Noam Chomsky, Rafael Correa, Ertuğrul Kürkçü, Guillaume Long, Celso Amorim, Fernando Haddad, Jeremy Corbyn, Aruna Roy, Aída García-Naranjo and Andrés Arauz according to the Brazilian daily paper Folha de S.Paulo. The same article included a statement from Adler which singled out Narendra Modi in India and Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil as being part of a wider network of authoritarian threats.[24]

The Belmarsh Tribunal

On 2 October 2020, Progressive International launched the Belmarsh Tribunal to convene groups of legal experts and Julian Assange supporters.[25] In the first year guests included Lula da Silva, Srećko Horvat, M.I.A. and Slavoj Žižek.[26] The hearings claimed that the charges against Assange were an "ongoing attack on press freedom". The tribunal was modeled after the 1966 Russell-Sartre Tribunal, which investigated American involvement in the Vietnam War. In 2022, the third tribunal, which took place at the People’s Forum in New York City, coincided with the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.[27] Jeremy Corbyn and the Peace & Justice Project participated in the 4th Belmarsh Tribunal in Washington D.C. in 2023.[28]

style=”width: 10em;”NumberDateLocationLive-stream recording links published on YouTube
12 October 2020Remote due to CovidThe Belmarsh Tribunal (2020)
222 October 2021LondonThe Belmarsh Tribunal: Free Julian Assange (2021) presented by Novara Media[29]
325 February 2022New York CityThe Belmarsh Tribunal (2022) presented by The People's Forum[30]
420 January 2023Washington, D.C.[31] The Belmarsh Tribunal D.C. (2023) presented by Democracy Now![32]
54 March 2023Sydney[33] The Belmarsh Tribunal Sydney (2023)

Positions

Shortly after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022,[34] Polish members Lewica Razem left Progressive International due what Razem claimed in a statement on 1 March, was "the absence of declaration recognising Ukraine’s sovereignty and an absolute condemnation of Russian imperialism".[35]

On 9 March 2022, Progressive International organised their first Forum for Peace, in response to the "brutal invasion of Ukraine" and it's escalation "toward intercontinental war."[36] On 21 April, Ukrainian Commons journal quit Progressive International in a statement on Twitter.[37] [38] On 13 May 2022 a joint press conference hosted by Jeremy Corbyn, Ece Temelkuran and Yanis Varoufakis on behalf of the Progressive International, DiEM25 and MeRA25, presented the ATHENS DECLARATION which stated: “The war on Ukraine calls for support for victims of war and a new non-aligned movement”.[39]

Members

Sourced from:[40]

Political parties

CountryParty/OrganizationAbbreviationNational LegislaturesGovernmentIdeologyNotes
AfghanistanSolidarity Party of AfghanistanSPA After the Fall of Kabul on August 15, 2021, the Taliban took de facto control of Afghanistan and banned all other political opposition parties and groups.
AlbaniaLëvizja Bashkë (Movement Together)LB
Colombia
Costa RicaBroad Front (Frente Amplio)FA
GreeceEuropean Realistic Disobedience FrontMeRA25
GuatemalaSemilla MovementMS
HondurasLiberty and RefoundationLibre Affiliated with the Savior Party of Honduras and the Christian Democratic Party of Honduras in the National Congress.
NamibiaLandless People's MovementLPM In government in the regions of ǁKaras and Hardap.
NigeriaAfrican Action CongressAAC Membership is part of the Coalition for Revolution (CORE).
PakistanHaqooq-e-Khalq PartyHKP Progressive pro-democracy movement
SerbiaGreen–Left FrontZLF Direct successor of Do not let Belgrade drown
SloveniaThe LeftLevica In coalition with Freedom Movement and Social Democrats.
SpainCatalunya en ComúCatComú In coalition with Sumar in the Cortes Generales.
SwitzerlandFA
Alliance for Change and TransparencyACT–Wazalendo
TurkeySocialist Refoundation PartySYKP Affiliated with the Peoples' Democratic Congress.
Democracy in Europe Movement 2025DiEM25

Other members

CountryParty/OrganizationAbbreviationIdeologyNotes
ArgentinaCentral de Trabajadoras y Trabajadores de la ArgentinaCTA-TTrade union organization
Trabajadores Unidos por la Tierra Rural agricultural organization
BangladeshNational Garment Workers’ FederationNGWF Trade union federation of garment workers in Bangladesh
Wiphalas por el Mundo (Wiphalas Across the World) Wiphala organization
BrazilCentral Única dos TrabalhadoresCUT Main national trade union center in Brazil
Federação Única dos Petroleiros (Federation of Petroleum Workers)FUP Petrol workers union
Movimento dos Trabalhadores Sem-Teto (Movement of Homeless Workers)MTSTHousing rights organization
CanadaCommon Frontiers Multi-sectorial national working group
UkamauHousing rights organization
Colombia Social and political movement based in Colombia
USOOil workers union
Dominican RepublicInstituto de Desarrollo de la Economía AsociativaIDEAC Non-profit organization
Federación de Cooperativas de la Reforma Agraria de la Región CentralFECORACENPeasants and Indigenous community organization
FranceReAct Labor NGO
GuatemalaGuatemalan Trade Union, Indigenous and Farmer MovementMSICG Trade union center
Luchemos
  • Feminism
Feminist organization, associated with Libre
IndiaAndhra Pradesh Vyvasaya Vruthidarula UnionAPVVU Union federation of rural informal workers
Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (Association for the Empowerment of Labourers and Farmers) Non-profit organization focused on right to information and employment
National Alliance of People's MovementsNAPM Alliance of progressive social movements in India
Telangana Gig and Platforms Workers UnionTGPWUWorkers union in Telangana
IndonesiaAksi Ekologi & Emansipasi RakyatAEER Environmentalist collective of Indonesian researchers and activists
ItalyOfficine Civiche Social justice organization based in Ciampino, Italy
KenyaMathare Social Justice Centre Community organization in Mathare, Nairobi
MalaysiaImagined Malaysia Non-profit history organization
MexicoCollective Movement for the Arts and Culture of MexicoMOCCAM Collective of arts and culture workers
NamibiaNamibian Domestic and Allied Workers UnionNDAWU Domestic workers' union
NigeriaBAOBAB for Women’s Human RightsBAOBAB
  • Feminism
Women's rights NGO
PakistanPakistan Kissan Rabita CommitteePKRC Network of peasant organisations in Pakistan, member of La Via Campesina
Women Democratic FrontWDF Socialist-feminist organization
PolandSocialist Action
SenegalCentre for Research and Action on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsCRADESCThink-tank and advocacy framework in Francophone West Africa and the Sahel
SpainBoza Sur Migrant rights organization
Fridays For Future Salamanca Environmental activist organization
SudanSudanese Professionals AssociationSPA Association of Sudanese trade unions
Mtandao wa Vikundi vya Wakulima Tanzania (National Network of Small-Scale Farmers Groups in Tanzania)MVIWATAFarmers organization
UgandaAkina Mama wa AfrikaAMwA Pan-African feminist organization
UkraineThe All-Ukraine Independent Trade Union (Zakhyst Pratsi)AUITU Cross-sector Ukrainian labour union
United KingdomApp Drivers & Couriers UnionADCU Trade union for drivers and couriers
Autonomous Design GroupADG Anti-capitalist art collective
Common Wealth Progressive think tank
Independent Workers Union of Great BritainIWGB Trade union representing mainly migrant workers and gig workers
Migrants Organise Migrant and refugee organization
MomentumSocialist organization, affiliated with the Labour Party
The Peace and Justice Project British political organization
The World Transformed Left-wing political festival
United StatesArab Resource & Organizing CenterAROC Arab organization in the San Francisco Bay Area
Brandworkers Non-profit organization of food factory workers in New York and New Jersey
CODEPINK Anti-war organization
Debt Collective Debtors' advocacy group, union of student debt strikers
Democratic Socialists of AmericaDSA Socialist organization of the USA
Jacobin Quarterly magazine
KC Tenants Tenants' association in Kansas City
Sunrise Movement Climate change organization
ZimbabweZimbabwe People’s Land Rights MovementZPLRM Civic platform focused on the rights of marginalised communities to land based resources
AfricaReview of African Political EconomyROAPE
EuropeCommons Network Activist organization
InternationalCrash Course Economics platform collective
Latin American Council of Social SciencesCLACSO International non-governmental institution with associative status at UNESCO
Palestinian Youth MovementPYM Trans-national organization of Palestinians in Palestine and in exile
Post Growth InstitutePGI International post growth organization
Progressive Doctors International community of medical professionals

Former members

CountryParty/OrganizationNotes
ChileSocial Convergence (Convergencia Social)Merged into the Broad Front
PolandLeft TogetherLeft Progressive International in March 2022 due to "the absence of declaration recognising Ukraine’s sovereignty and an absolute condemnation of Russian imperialism"[43]
Left BlocOn 11 November 2023, the Left Bloc announced the "closure of the project" and the cessation of publications due to censorship and repression in Russia.[44]
Ne davimo BeogradMerged into the Green–Left Front
UkraineCommons[45]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Bernie Sanders turns focus to the White House and the world. Wegel. David. The Washington Post. 1 December 2018. 2 December 2018.
  2. Web site: Members . 2024-06-03 . Progressive International . en.
  3. Web site: The Progressive International: Members -Capital Research Center . 2024-06-03 . capitalresearch.org.
  4. Web site: DiEM25 . Progressive International and Sunrise Movement Toolkit: Organizing for the International Green New Deal [PDF] ].
  5. Web site: Peace & Justice Project meets with Bernie Sanders in Washington D.C. . 2024-06-03 . thecorbynproject.com . en.
  6. Web site: 2020-11-26 . 69% of people think Amazon is ‘too powerful’ . 2024-08-14 . The Independent . en.
  7. Web site: Adler. David. Varoufakis. Yanis. 1 December 2018. We shouldn't rush to save the liberal order. We should remake it. 2 December 2018. The Guardian.
  8. Web site: 30 November 2018 . An Open Call to All Progressive Forces . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20181202003335/https://www.progressive-international.org/open-call/ . December 2, 2018 . 2 December 2018 . Progressive International.
  9. Web site: Progressive International will launch to unite, organize, and mobilize progressive forces of the world . 2024-07-30 . hedep.org.tr . tr.
  10. Web site: Varoufakis . Yanis . 2020-05-11 . Progressive International: Today we began organising the world's progressives. Join us! . 2024-07-30 . Yanis Varoufakis . en-GB.
  11. Web site: September 24 . Elizabeth Leier / . Read . 2020 / 7 Min . Introducing Progressive International—a global left-wing solidarity movement . 2024-07-30 . canadiandimension.com . en.
  12. Web site: Communications . DiEM25 . 2020-05-11 . The Progressive International: an open call to all progressive forces - DiEM25 Communications . 2024-07-30 . DiEM25 . en-GB.
  13. Web site: September 24 . Elizabeth Leier / . Read . 2020 / 7 Min . Introducing Progressive International—a global left-wing solidarity movement . 2024-07-30 . canadiandimension.com . en.
  14. Web site: Announcing the Progressive International. openDemocracy. en. 14 May 2020.
  15. Web site: Who We Are. 28 May 2024. Progressive International.
  16. Web site: The Progressive International: Leadership -Capital Research Center . 2024-08-14 . capitalresearch.org.
  17. Web site: Communications . DiEM25 . 2020-05-11 . The Progressive International: an open call to all progressive forces - DiEM25 Communications . 2024-08-14 . DiEM25 . en-GB.
  18. Web site: Cabinet . 2024-08-14 . Progressive International . en.
  19. Web site: 2020-05-12 . Julian Aguon to serve on Global Advisory Council of Progressive International . 2024-08-14 . BlueOceanLaw . en-US.
  20. Web site: Progressive International . 2024-08-14 . InfluenceWatch . en-US.
  21. Web site: The Progressive International: Leadership -Capital Research Center . 2024-08-14 . capitalresearch.org.
  22. Web site: 14 October 2020 . Progressive International election observer mission lands in Bolivia . 17 October 2020 . Progressive International . en.
  23. Web site: Service . Express News . 2021-11-15 . Progressive International launches global observatory to monitor democracies . 2024-07-26 . The New Indian Express . en.
  24. Web site: 2021-11-14 . Mônica Bergamo: Internacional progressista lançará observatório para monitorar instituições no Brasil e na Hungria . 2024-07-27 . Folha de S.Paulo . pt-BR.
  25. Web site: ricardo . 2023-12-01 . EFJ takes part in the Belmarsh Tribunal on Julian Assange . 2024-05-28 . European Federation of Journalists . en-GB.
  26. Web site: Communications . DiEM25 . 2020-09-30 . The Belmarsh Tribunal: We stand with Assange - DiEM25 Communications . 2024-04-26 . DiEM25 . en-GB.
  27. Web site: The Belmarsh Tribunal Is Demanding Justice for Victims of the War on Terror . 2024-04-26 . jacobin.com . en-US.
  28. Web site: Peace & Justice Project meets with Bernie Sanders in Washington D.C. . 2024-04-26 . thecorbynproject.com . en.
  29. Web site: The Belmarsh Tribunal: the War on Terror Is Put on Trial . 2024-04-26 . Novara Media . en.
  30. Web site: Opinion 'War Is a Crime'--The Belmarsh Tribunal Demands Accountability for the War on Terror Common Dreams . 2024-04-26 . www.commondreams.org . en.
  31. News: McGreal. Chris. January 20, 2023. Biden accused of hypocrisy as he seeks extradition of Julian Assange. The Guardian. February 14, 2023.
  32. Web site: Peace & Justice Project meets with Bernie Sanders in Washington D.C. . 2024-04-26 . thecorbynproject.com . en.
  33. Web site: The Belmarsh Tribunal - Sydney. February 10, 2023. progressive.international. Progressive International. February 14, 2023.
  34. News: 2022-02-24 . Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia . 2024-07-26 . en-GB.
  35. Web site: 1 March 2022 . Razem leaves Progressive International and DiEM25 . 1 March 2022 . pl.
  36. Web site: Forum for Peace . 2024-07-26 . act.progressive.international . en.
  37. Web site: Spilne . Commons . 21 April 2022 . Commons Journal made a decision to quit the Progressive International. 1/7 .
  38. Web site: J. Ayoub . Elia . Atik . Christina . 25 May 2022 . On Ukraine-Syria solidarity and the 'anti-imperialism of idiots' . 28 March 2023 . Shado Mag . en.
  39. Web site: Communications . DiEM25 . 2022-05-04 . Watch live: the Athens Declaration, presented by Yanis Varoufakis, Jeremy Corbyn and Ece Temelkuran - DiEM25 Communications . 2024-07-26 . DiEM25 . en-GB.
  40. Web site: Members . 2023-05-17 . Progressive International . en.
  41. News: Blumgart. Jake. Jawnts: Giving socialism a good name. Philly.com. Philadelphia Media Network. February 6, 2016. July 10, 2020. August 17, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160817090416/http://articles.philly.com/2016-02-08/news/70424478_1_socialism-fringe-publication. live.
  42. News: Matthews. Dylan. Inside Jacobin: how a socialist magazine is winning the left's war of ideas. Vox. March 21, 2016. June 13, 2017. May 23, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200523153215/https://www.vox.com/2016/3/21/11265092/jacobin-bhaskar-sunkara. live.
  43. Web site: 2020-10-28 . Members Progressive International . 2023-05-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201028165840/https://progressive.international/members/ . 28 October 2020 .
  44. Web site: «Левый блок» объявил о закрытии из-за цензуры и репрессий в России. 2024-05-24. ОВД-Инфо. ru.
  45. Web site: 2020-10-28 . Members Progressive International . 2023-05-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201028165840/https://progressive.international/members/ . 28 October 2020 .