Ecosocialist School

Successful Global Justice School

A highly successful school on the theme of globalization took place at the IIRE over three weeks in June 2005. There were in all 21 participants (counting the two interpreters, who both took an active part in the school). Of these 6 were from Asia, 7 from Europe and 8 from Latin America. Seven of the participants were women. The school took place in English and Castilian, with roughly half the participants participating in each language.

Resistance to Neoliberal Globalization Felt at the IIRE

The two years since the Seattle World Trade Organization summit and protests of December 1999 have been years of rapidly rising resistance to neoliberal globalization. In February 2001 the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil, brought together thousands of people participating in this resistance, particularly from Latin America and Europe. At our Globalization on 3-24 November this rise in resistance was felt here at the IIRE.

North-South School 2000: Focus on Africa, Islam, Women

From 4 to 25 November 2000, 18 people from 12 different countries came to the IIRE for the North-South School. The school was conducted in French and English, which made possible a strong turnout from sub-Saharan Africa: five of the 18, two each from Senegal and Mali and one from Congo-Brazzaville. This was the first IIRE session in which someone came specially from Africa to give a report on Africa, and it was certainly one of our best reports ever on the continent!

2nd North-South School more than double 1st

When we predicted that the October-November 1999 North-South School would benefit from 1998's success, we had no idea how right we were. The result was a session that one young Brazilian participant described as 'unforgettable'.

Our first one-month 'New Questions' School was held in 1995. Over the years these sessions have built on and synthesized innovations in the IIRE curriculum going back to our first years. In many ways more seminars than lecture courses, they are meant for established progressive leaders who are re-examining past assumptions. Wrestling with a range of different themes, participants focus on the implications of a changing world economy and on challenges to old ways of organizing.

Durante tres semanas, activistas del mundo entero se juntan para discutir y estudiar los acontecimientos mundiales desde una perspectiva marxista. Este curso es una oportunidad única de profundizar el análisis de los acontecimientos que plantean desafíos a los movimientos sociales. ¿Cómo entender y responder a la crisis económica? ¿Cómo se ven afectados los movimientos sociales por el cambio climático? ¿Cuáles son las implicaciones de las luchas post-coloniales y los rápidos cambios políticos?

Des militant.e.s de partout dans le monde se rencontrent pour discuter et étudier la situation mondiale d’un point de vue marxiste. Cette formation est l’occasion rêvée pour approfondir les évolutions qui sont un défi pour les mouvements sociaux. Comment comprendre et réagir par rapport à la crise économique ? Comment le changement climatique influence-t-il les mouvements sociaux ? Quelles sont les implications des luttes postcoloniales et des changements politiques soudains ?

This November, activists from all over the world will get together for three weeks to discuss and study global affairs from a Marxist perspective. This course is a unique opportunity to go in depth with developments that challenge social movements. How to understand and respond to the economic crisis? How are social movements affected by climate change? What are the implications of post-colonial struggles and quick political changes? These are some of the key issues raised at the annual Ecosocialist School, hosted by the IIRE in Amterdam.