Organisations

Sozialismus is a monthly intended as a forum for discussion among political leftists, trade unionists and activists in political movements in the Federal Republic of Germany. It publishes analyses of the political and economic situation in Europe, comments by left trade unionists in its Forum Gewerkschaften section, and reports on international developments, for example US-hegemony in the coalition against terrorism, the crisis of the New Economy, the decline of the Third World, etc. The editors were motivated to found a new journal in response to the shortcomings of German socialist/communist periodicals in the early 1970s. Since 1972 more than 250 issues of Sozialismus have appeared.

Fundació l'Alternativa was founded in 2004. Its aim is to contribute to generate a cross-sectional thinking on the left-wing ideas and the achievement of progress values, at the service of both the improvement and transformation of society. The entity has developed several lines of work, among them stand out the recovery of democratic memory, the promotion of the culture of peace, the knowledge and defense of both the environment and territory, promotion of sport and analysis of public and social policies from a municipalist and progressive perspective, and within a gender standpoint.

The Centre for Marxist Social Studies (CMS) is an independent foundation established in 1977 on an initiative of the Swedish Left Party/The Communists (currently the Left Party). CMS works openly and independently of party-political interests to promote broad left discussion. The foundation’s goal is to support research on the historical development of our society, current events and future developmental tendencies. The CMS primarily supports activities informed by marxian theory or related theoretical traditions. In the period of its existence, CMS has gained the support of many well-known scholars and intellectuals, and much respect in the academic community and the left in general. Today, CMS has local associations in Gothenburg, Lund, Norrkping and Uppsala.

The Cultural Association Punto Rosso was founded at the end of 1991. It is aimed at promoting cultural and political research on the main issues of a new critical and alternative culture. We contribute to the development and to the unity of the Italian Left. Our activity is guided by the “convergence in diversity” of the main currents of human emancipation: critical Marxism, social Christianity and the Theology of Liberation, critical and antagonistic enviromentalism, feminism, the culture of human rights etc. We belong to the network of the World Forum for Alternatives. Parallel to the work of the association, we founded the Libera Università Popolare (People's Free University), a kind of “Open University” whose purpose is to carry on a permanent cultural and political education for citizens, activists, etc. Another important branch of our activity is our publishing house Edizioni Punto Rosso. Our publications include essays on Marxism, capitalism, social issues etc. and on general items such as water, energy and labour.

Cultures of Labour and Socialism, or CUL:TRA, is a cultural cooperative whose main goal is to promote research, training and publications in the fields of history, political science, economy, sociology and cultural issues related to the working classes. It focuses on the the state of society in Portugal and beyond, and, in collaboration with similar organizations in other countries, produces analyses of the new reality. Its constituency is made up of social-movement activists, trade-unions, political and youth organizations, and all those who wish to improve their knowledge and capacity to intervene in a perspective of emancipation, sustainable development, democracy, social justice and peace.

The Democratic Civic Association (DCA) is a Finnish educational association for adult learning. It is a Non-Governmental Organization, established in 1986. The association's operations are focused on the traditions of the leftist and the working class movement. The DCA supports people's actions in the civic and cultural fields and especially those in leftist and workers' organizations, and labour, peace, environmental, and other civil movements. The DCA promotes contemporary Marxist studies and publishes literature and material for study and discussion. The association has projects with marginalized and immigrant groups. The DCA's main partners are its more than 20 member organisations. The most important member is the Communist Party of Finland. The Democratic Civic Association maintains a study centre. The centre organises voluntary non-formal adult education activities in the form of courses, seminars, and study circles. The main focus is on social studies.

The association’s activity is decided by the General Assembly of its members, held under conditions determined by its charter. Espaces Marx is committed to creating a relationship between research and socio-political practice, in a perspective of human emancipation and of overcoming capitalism. It endeavours to establish, on both a national and international level, cooperation and partnerships with all those public figures, public or private organisations, social movements, publications etc. which pursue objectives similar to, intersecting with, or likely to contribute significantly to, its own objectives. On this basis, it maintains relations on a partnership basis, whose ends and means are defined and specified in a dialogue in particular with the French Communist Party.

The Europe of Citizens Foundation / Fundación por la Europa de los Ciudadanos (FEC) is an institution founded in 1998 and dependent on Izquierda Unida. Its purposes are related to training, policy development, and international cooperation. The centre of our work is focus on left activists' training and promoting debate among different kind of political, social and trade union activists. We also manage the Izquierda Unida Historical Archive.

The Foundation for Marxist Studies(FIM) was founded in December 1978 as the cultural foundation of the Communist Party of Spain. It promotes studies, seminars, debates, the founding of libraries and documentation centres and supports publications, which promote development aid. It supports a variety of activities and initiatives in the fields of culture, science and international cooperation, which are informed or inspired by Marxism as a theoretical and political movement for the emancipation of men and women, international solidarity and social transformation.

The think-tank Naprzód (Forward) was founded in April 2016 with the aim of creating dialogue and debate between different sections of the Polish left, (both political activists and intellectuals) with those from the European left. We agree broadly with the political aims and programme of the Party of the European Left, and seek cooperation between different parts of the Polish and European left. We believe in promoting the principles of socialism and democracy, and combating neo-liberalism, militarisation, racism, patriarchy and homophobia. Naprzód aims to create a strong and long-lasting left-wing think-tank in Poland, to the left of mainstream social democracy, that contributes to the development of the left in Poland.

The La Boétie Institute prefigures what France Insoumise’s future foundation will be like: both a place for cross-fertilisation of ideas and a tool for grassroots citizen education. Building on the contributions of researchers, practitioners, and activists, the La Boétie Institute intends to shed light on major contemporary political issues and fuel public debate. More broadly, it aims to nurture and perpetuate the intellectual traditions of emancipatory humanism, republicanism, socialism, and "political ecology".

The ISW was founded in 1990 by Marxist economists, social and natural scientists and activists from unions, social and ecological organisations. So far, the institute has produced about 120 studies (edition: some thousands), each year detailed statistical material about the development in Germany (Wirtschaftsinfo) and moreover, it has organized hundreds of lectures. Main topics:

1. Development of capitalism, role of Transnational Corporations; social and economic alternatives, starting points of social transformation and democracy of and within the economy.
2. Distribution of wealth and poverty.
3. Armaments industry and change of military strategies
4. Questions of climate change, necessity of a fundamental change in our way of life – away from consumerism and private wealth of a few

The aim is to provide studies which can be of concrete help for active members of unions and movements. The ISW is independent from any other organisation. Most activities are honorary.

The Left Forum is a Finnish political think tank whose purpose is to bring new and well-argued content to political discourse. The Forum produces applied research and organizes seminars and discussions around political and societal issues. It is building a collaborative network extending from political parties to universities, research institutions and expert organizations. The member organizations of the Left Forum are the political party Left Alliance, the KSL Civic Association for Adult Learning and Yrjö Sirola Foundation. Its office is located in Helsinki, Finland.

The Rosa Luxemburg Foundation was founded in 1990 as a registered non-profit organization with the name Gesellschaftsanalyse und politische Bildung e.V. (Social Analysis and Political Education Association). In 1996, the PDS (Party of Democratic Socialism) party convention recognized it as its related party foundation. In 1999, it was officially named Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung (Rosa Luxemburg Foundation). The Foundation is one of the major forces in the field of political education in the Federal Republic of Germany and has developed into a nationwide institution for political education, a forum for discussion of critical thinking and political alternatives, and a partner in international cooperation. It supports scholarship and research as well as art and culture.

The Society for European Dialogue (SPED), based in Prague, was established in 2001. It primarily comprises members with a left orientation and cooperates with other left-oriented organisations both in the Czech Republic and abroad. Despite its critical and non-supportive view of the neoliberal tendencies of European integration, SPED can be described as a pro-European left-wing association. It supports analyses from the perspective of the European left. From the beginning, SPED has been trying to create conditions for an active debate around the key problems of social life from many different perspectives, including those of individual left groups. Thus SPED collaborates with Czech left-wing parties and associations or with their prominent members who participate in its events

Transform is a new journal of the radical left in the UK. We seek to help provide a theoretical basis to advance the left in the current political context: shaped by the near-collapse of the global financial system in 2008, the imposition of extreme neo-liberal policies and the deepening crisis of capitalism, and the disastrous situation presented by Brexit, Trump and the rise of the far right. We reject any bending towards the false political narrative that condones racism in the supposed economic interests of a section of the working class. The Brexit/Trump trend is a huge defeat for the workers’ movement and democracy, and is a function of the partial or total capitulation to xenophobic anti-immigrant politics by liberal parties and social democracy. Transform is informed by Marxism and also welcomes the contribution of other political currents such as feminism and environmentalism. Our editorial board includes activists and intellectuals from a range of progressive perspectives.

transform! Italia is a project and not a single institution. It is a network in formation and still growing, which includes several associations, institutes, NGOs, magazines, publishers and research groups operating within the critical and alternative Left in Italy. The entities participating in the network do not lose their independent identity; rather they establish certain requirements and shared analyses. On this basis they develop common initiatives and research programmes. All participants recognise as the fundamental point of orientation of their research the development of the peace and global-justice movements and construction of a new European alternative Left. The project remains open to further developments and participants.

transform! austria was founded in September 2006. It is an association for the promotion of left discussion and politics. Its goal is to enhance cooperation between progressive scholars in various disciplines and focus their theoretical and pracitical knowledge, strategic competence and everday insights. The left needs this kind of networking in order to challenge the prevailing subordination of human capacity and life prospects to neoliberalism. transform.at defines itself in opposition to neoliberalism, patriarchy, sexism and fundamentalism of all kinds and functions as a discussion forum for left, democratic, feminist, anti-authoritarian and anti-paternalistic positions, which it intends to broaden with a strong international dimension.

The Nicos Poulantzas Institute (NPI) was founded in 1997 on the initiative of the political partySynaspismos. It is named after the late Greek political sociologist Nicos Poulantzas. This choice signals the Institute’s embrace of the traditional values of the radical left thought. NPI aims at fostering the values of the Left, systematically developing an awareness of contemporary social, ecological, political and cultural issues and exploring the emerging changes within society. The Institute’s fundamental functional principles include the commitment to the ideals of socialism with democracy and freedom, independence from the expedience of any current political or party conjuncture, democratic functioning and the maintenance of the public character of all of its activities.The members of the Institute belong to the broader Left.

Transform!Danmark has been established in February 2012 in Copenhagen and is a broad-based leftwing association and network with members from a number of leftwing Danish media, as well as political parties. It seeks to become a coordinator of fora, organizations, media and periodicals and networks on the left to create a common platform for exchange of progressive ideas and developing alternatives. Transform!Danmark aims to promote a critical and well-founded analysis of present developments – the multiple crises including the crisis of Capitalism – and seeks in particular to raise a debate on alternatives in Denmark, Europe and globally based on a leftwing and democratic socialist perspective. As such it is EU-critical and wishes to challenge and break with current neoliberal and social liberal views in order to liberate thinking and thereby contribute to a transformation of society. The main activities of Transform!Danmark so far are to organize international conferences and public meetings to spread information and ideas and inspire a necessary debate on alternatives to present capitalist society.

The Centre for the Politics of Emancipation (CPE) was established in Belgrade in 2011 with the overall aim to continually provide framework for the analyses and critical perspectives of the current socio-economic conditions and political situation that re results of contemporary capitalist system of social reproduction. Politics of emancipation include all those concepts and practices that take equality and solidarity as basic principles in building equitable social life that will focus on meeting the needs of people and enable the full development of the potential of all individuals.

DEMOS Institute of Critical Thought is an NGO that was established in 2008 with the aim of becoming an influential voice in the formation of alternative politics and socioeconomic policy in Lithuania. In order to achieve its mission, DEMOS is concentrating on research in alternative social and economic policies, with a particular focus on labour movement. DEMOS has also organised various protest actions to strengthen and consolidate the activities of trade unions in Lithuania. Furthermore, DEMOS Institute organises educational events, seminars and lectures for trade union activists. DEMOS is also a small, alternative publishing house for outstanding research in the fields of labour movement, social justice and political philosophy.

Since 1998, the Copernic Foundation has been working at putting back together again everything that liberalism has weakened or dismantled. Carefully guarding its independence and thus not taking sides in electoral campaigns, Copernic is affiliated with no political party, trade union, or association, but addresses itself to all political organisations, trade unions and associations as well as to all those women and men who have not acquiesced in the neoliberal order. Resolutely committed alongside all those who are struggling for a more just and solidaristic society, Copernic publishes short points for discussion (the Copernic-flashes) intended to equip activists with arguments and alternative proposals.

The Gabriel Péri Foundation was created on the initiative of the French Communist Party. Since July 2004 it is legally recognized as an entity for the public good. The PCF has oriented the foundation around two main points: 1. the need for an independently functioning structure for the study of recent history, especially of the French labour and communist movements, an endeavour the PCF considers vital for understanding future possibilities; 2. the need for a space in which people can come together to compare and generate ideas and proposals for the construction of a new Europe as well as a world of democratic and social progress. A political foundation is the structure most suited to the accomplishment of these tasks. In particular, it guarantees independent functioning. Accordingly, the Gabriel Péri Foundation is establishing high standards for scholarly archival work, for transparency and openness in the public encounters it organises, and above all in the level of concrete usefulness of its work for all those who are struggling for human emancipation.

Institute for Labour Studies (ILS) or Inštitut za delavske študije (IDŠ) in Slovenia is a new institute, founded by members of Workers and Punks’ University (DPU) in 2012. Currently, its boards unite more than twenty students, activists and researchers who are predominantly of Marxist orientation. Our mission is to rehabilitate Marxist critique of political economy in Slovenian academic and public discourse and to establish a socialist political position in the Slovenian political space. For that purpose, we cooperate mostly with Workers and Punks’ University (WPU) and with Publishing House Naprej!. Together we constitute an institutional front that is organizing lectures, public debates, and conferences, publishing books and an academic journal Borec (Fighter).

As the successor of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Contemporary Research on Latin America, our Vienna-based institute was founded in 2006 in order to "promote interdisciplinary research, cooperation and teaching in the field of interculturality with the countries of the Global South". We are considered to be among the most renowned experts in autonomy processes around the world, particularly with regard to the indigenous cultures of Latin America.

ICL main activities include – publication, education and cultural activities. Specific activities includ

1. Development of democracy, legal state, pluralism and the protection of human rights.
2. Development of civil society and social solidarity.
3. Supporting an active participation of citizens in public life.
4. Improving political culture and public discussion and dialogue.
5. Contribution to international understanding and cooperation.
6. Establishing international cooperation with scientific institutions, think tanks and other organizations orientated on (so called) left politics.

Current tasks of ICL related to international politics include the identification, description, evaluation and public discussion of the most important trends which appeared during the last years in connection with the transformation of values within the economic, political and social system in Czech Republic and EU and which have been enhanced by the pandemic (covid-19) and tensions between the West and mainly Russia and China. Current tasks of ICL related to local and national politics include sociological research, work in connection with the establishment of Communist parties (in Europe and elsewhere) in 1921, series of round tables and preparations of on-line conferences with topics covering urgent political and social issues within the state and last but not least the publication of translated books and articles by authors supporting ideas of political left.

Iratzar (“Awakening”) is a Basque pro-Independence Foundation, created by Sortu’s initiative, we are situated in the field of social criticism, and the development of progressive alternatives. Iratzar was born to collaborate with all those individuals and institutions that both in Euskal Herria and in the world, put the sustainability of life at the center of their political, social and cultural action. Our main field of intervention will be the battle of ideas at the service of the strategy that seeks a free, socialist, Basque and feminist Euskal Herria. We have already implemented the following tools: Archive, documentation, investigation and interpretation of the historical memory of the pro-independence left. Periscope: Space for analysis and reflection on the challenges and trends of a future for broad popular strata. Political school: A space for popular political education that empowers activists. Publication, dissemination, and exchange of knowledge among homologous foundations.

The aim of the Manifesto Foundation is to provide facts and analysis for radicals and radical movements, and to contribute to a new agenda for societal debate. The Manifesto Foundation was founded by Socialist Youth (www.su.no), Red Youth, and the student organization Red Front. We are a foundation, independent of political parties, that works to stimulate discussion across ideological traditions and organizational boundaries. The Foundation intends to include as many groups and viewpoints as possible in the debate on alternatives to capitalism and strategies for the Left.

The Research Institute “PROMITHEAS” is a non-profit research centre, that was founded with the aim to promote interdisciplinary research. The fundamental goals of the Institute include the promotion, conduct and use of systematic scientific research as a tool of critical analysis, dialogue and understanding of the political, social, economic and cultural environment, producing at the same time specific proposals and suggestions. The research interests of the Institute include – but are not exhausted to – issues of society, culture, history, politics, economy, international relations, climate challenges, youth, gender studies, media and European issues. One of the Institute’s central fields of actions is the organization, undertaking and participation in bi-communal actions, researches and studies aiming at the peaceful re-unification of our homeland. At the same time, we deem that it is a prerequisite – both for the achievement of the goal for re-unification and the democratic and peaceful education of Cypriots – to develop critical thinking in Cyprus.

The World Transformed is supporting, developing and delivering political education across the UK in order to build a movement capable of radically transforming society.

transform! Luxembourg was founded in June 2008. Its purpose is to analyse, and contribute to the debates within, the social and political left in Luxembourg and to discuss and develop political alternatives to the dominant neoliberal hegemony. transform! Luxembourg brings together participants in Luxembourg’s social movements, trade unions and political left, as well as members of scholarly institutions. Up to now, two working groups have been established. The one involved in the question of wealth transfer will analyse in detail the ongoing reforms in the area of social policies, which are actually being carried out in Luxembourg as well as the more general evolution of Luxembourg’s welfare state. The second working group is taking up questions of ecological justice, more precisely the possible conflicts which may arise between social and ecological issues. A working group on migration issues will be established in autumn 2008.

transform! moldova is a young non-governmental organization from Moldova founded in January 2010. We work to generate alternative ideas and enable dialogue between political parties and the society and to bring together left thinkers from Moldova and CIS countries. Director: Cornel Mihalache, coordinator: Iulia Timotin

Balmix – magyar transform! is a browsing website that helps you navigate left-wing and Hungarian/ foreign political, economic, cultural and social values. The articles that appear on the website are translated, edited, selected and constantly searched for by volunteers who identify with our goals. Balmix – magyar transform! is supported by transform! europe.

Bilten is a regional, left-wing portal registered in Croatia that covers countries of the former Yugoslavia and the Balkans. Bilten is supported by the Rosa-Luxemburg-Foundation and transform! europe.

DEMOS Institute of Critical Thought, supported by transform! europe, has launched the Lūžis (Fracture) magazine. Lūžis is one of the rare left-wing magazines in Lithuania edited by progressive academics, political activists and trade unionists from Vilnius and Kaunas.

Nasze Argumenty is a quarterly journal published by Fundacja Naprzód (Forward), a Polish, left-wing foundation and an organisation whose goal it is to initiate dialogue between various left-wing environments. It aims to ensure that elements of the socialist programme are present in political discourse. Nasze Argumenty is supported by transform! europe.

ATTAC is an international organization involved in the alter-globalization movement. We oppose neo-liberal globalization and develop social, ecological, and democratic alternatives so as to guarantee fundamental rights for all. Specifically, we fight for the regulation of financial markets, the closure of tax havens, the introduction of global taxes to finance global public goods, the cancellation of the debt of developing countries, fair trade, and the implementation of limits to free trade and capital flows.

This project is facilitated by transform! europe, change4all, Euroculture Network, ARCI, SOSRacism Portugal. We are a group of activists and researchers working on migration and social inclusion practices. Colours of a Journey was inspired by an exhibition organized by ARCI, displayed during the Sabir Festival of Cultures, 2016. The exhibition consisted of a series of paintings made by unaccompanied children that survived the horrific ship-wreck that happened close to Lampedusa island, 2014. The children told their stories through the paintings that visioned their past, their present and their future.

The Party of the European Left is a political party at the European level which was formed in 2004. Member and observer parties of the EL are socialist, communist, red-green and other democratic left parties. Their basic principles and political aims are laid down in the EL Manifesto from 2004. Membership to the EL is open to any left party and political organization in Europe that agrees with the EL Manifesto and accepts the EL statutes. At the moment (December 2013) the EL has 26 member and 7 observer parties. transform! europe is the recognized corresponding political foundation of the EL.

The Right to Energy Coalition unites trade unions, anti-poverty groups, social housing providers, NGOs, environmental campaigners, health organisations and energy cooperatives across Europe. We campaign to tackle energy poverty at an EU, national and local level.

The European Alliance for a Just Transition is an informal coalition of a diverse group of around 30 European stakeholders that share a common view for a Just Transition and see the added value of working together to ensure a green transition that is fair, inclusive and benefits all.

The Transnational Institute (TNI) of Policy Studies envisions a world of peace, equity and democracy on a sustainable planet brought about and sustained by an informed and engaged citizenry. It carries out radical informed analysis on critical global issues, builds alliances with social movements and develops proposals for a more sustainable, just and democratic world. TNI was founded in 1974 as the international programme of the Washington DC-based Institute for Policy Studies. For more than 30 years, TNI’s history has been entwined with the history of global social movements and their struggle for economic, social and environmental justice.

The UEL Group operates in the framework set out by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE): to promote and protect human rights, the rule of law and democracy. The Group is in particular inspired by the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Social Charter and by other conventions, arrangements and activities which promote and protect human dignity, social and gender equality, solidarity and sustainable development of the planet.