Although 2021 started as a new wave of the pandemic hit, ISA did not retreat from its task of intervening in protests by workers and youth with the aim of building an international, revolutionary socialist alternative. Every month saw the ISA in one part of the world or another raising the banner of socialism, and sometimes winning victories.
January 2021
The year kicked off with the attempted right-wing coup in the United States. Socialist Alternative was quick to respond with Kshama Sawant issuing the call in which she said:
“The far-right violence at the Capitol is the result not only of Trump, but also of the complete failure of the Democratic establishment to stand against his attacks on the working class in any meaningful way. Today shows that we simply have no time to kick the can down the road for real change. We need a party of the working class. We need to build a mass fightback for Medicare For All, a Green New Deal, and actual democratic control over police. Unions, community groups, socialists, activists and others must fight for all these demands to build a powerful alternative to the fake and dangerous populism of Trump and to defeat the far right.”
In Argentina, women, young people and workers in general celebrated the victory of the Green Tide movement demanding the right to abortion. ISA supporters invited activists
“to build large feminist and socialist organizations [such as ROSA International] in Argentina and in the rest of the world for the colossal task we have: to throw out this capitalist and patriarchal system. To build a socialist society in which, as Rosa Luxemburg said, we are socially equal, humanly different and totally free.”
ISA published a new book “The People Want the Fall of the System — Revolution and Counter-Revolution in Tunisia (2010–2013)"
In Russia, massive youth protests against corruption, restriction of freedoms and falling living standards shook the country. Sotsialisticheskaya Alternativa gained widespread recognition with its demands calling for a “New October to replace the New Tsar”.
The Israel-Palestine section succeeded in holding a successful online “Socialism 21” Conference.
February 2021
Over 1,500 ISA members and supporters from 39 countries attended the second ever Virtual Marxist University (VMU). The event focused on political education, with dozens of discussions on Marxist theory, and revolutionary history.
In Brazil, Liberdade, Socialismo e Revolução spent February building for the huge anti-Bolsonaro protests with their call
“The working class and its organizations need to take the leading role to defeat Bolsonarismo and neoliberal policies. This must come via the resistance we are already waging today, accumulating our power for united struggles.”
In South Africa the Workers And Socialist Party mobilized for the South African Federation of Trade Union’s call for a National Stay-away on 24 February with the call:
“WASP will mobilise wherever we are able to; on our social media, in the streets, in workplaces, and in the union movement. This stay-away should not mean “stay-at-home”.
March 2021
Early in March members of Socialist Alternative in United States joined DSA. They included Kshama Sawant who declared: “I believe the socialist movement needs both kinds of organizations, and so I am excited to be a member of both SA and DSA.”
Of course 8 March — International Womens’ Day is always a major day in the ISA calender. ISA and ROSA International participated in demonstrations and activities across the world. A full report can be read here or here.
The video produced by ROSA International for 8 March can be viewed here
In Belgium ISA members were involved in leading a strike movement at Ghent University with the demand for a 14 euro an hour minimum wage. They won, proving that a well-organised and sustained militant campaign can be successful.
In Myanmar a mass movement initiated by medics and with the active participation of the working class, particularly women continued to oppose the brutal military takeover. ISA launched a Solidarity Campaign.
In light of the attacks on democratic rights in Hong Kong and increasing repression in China, in March ISA launched the major campaign “Solidarity Against Repression in China & Hong Kong”. The aim of this campaign is to spread awareness about what is really happening in China and Hong Kong, to mobilize solidarity from ordinary people, workers and youth.
Meanwhile, in the ‘heart of the beast’, Socialist Alternative activists were heavily involved in the drive to unionise Amazon in Bessemer, Alabama.
ISA’s International Committee held a long online conference to finish March, at which the latest document “Opportunities and Dangers in the Age of Disorder” was discussed and passed.
April 2021
As sectarian riots in part caused by the failure of the British and Irish governments to solve the border question posed by Brexit, Socialist Party activists in Northern Ireland were instrumental in building solidarity action with bus-drivers who took action against sectarian attacks.
In Canada Socialist Alternative helped Unite Here Local 40 win an important victory — 500 laid-off hospitality workers won the “right to recall” — to be rehired at previous payrates without loss of benefits.
In mid-April dozens of members from 22 ISA sections participated in the ISA Socialist Feminist Conference. A video can be watched here.
May 2021
On May Day — International Workers Day our members were out in force across the world: Scotland, England, Sweden, Germany, Belgium, Taiwan, Austria, Russia, South Africa, Nigeria, Brazil, United States, Canada, Netherlands, Poland and others. A photo report can be seen here.
As Israeli aircraft stepped up their attacks on the population of Gaza members of Socialist Struggle — ISA in Israel & Palestine stepped up their anti-war campaign and in solidarity with the wave of Palestinian protests.
They were supported by Irish Socialist Party member and TD Mick Barry who demanded an end to the war in the Irish Parliament.
With repression by the Russian regime increasing, the Russian ISA was still able to hold its conference, although some delegates were absent as they were in prison.
LSP/PSL, the Belgian section of ISA, was strongly present at the healthcare demonstration organized by ‘La Santé en Lutte’ / ‘Health in action’.. Over a hundred members and sympathizers attended. We formed a lively and militant delegation at the demonstration.
As repression increases further in Hong Kong and China under Xi Jinping’s iron rule, protesters in 14 countries and 38 cities staged protests to demand the release of 47 pro-democracy activists on trial in Hong Kong for subversion.
June 2021
21 June the Swedish government fell thanks to the campaign against market rents in which socialists and ISA members in Rättvisepartiet Socialisterna played a key role.
June also saw an unfortunate and unnecessary departure of our former Greek and Cypriot sections, and supporters from Turkey and Spain. Despite this, ISA is still bigger than it was before the pandemic started.
SAV (ISA in Germany) members in Munich defied a decision by UEFA (European Football Association) to ban protests of solidarity with the LGBTIQ community in Hungary by organizing a banner and leafletting campaign outside the Germany-Hungary football match.
Following a factory explosion which rocked the Transylvanian town of Târgu-Mureș, lighting up the night sky for miles around ISA supporters there participated in a protest to warn "No trust in bosses, the workers have to do the investigation".
And in Nigeria Members of the Movement for a Socialist Alternative (MSA) featured prominently in the events in the commemoration of the 10 July 1999 assassination of student leaders organized by the Students’ Union Action Committee of the Obafemi Awolowo University.
To finish off July more than 1400 ISA activists from 36 countries from as far as Chile and Egypt in the Virtual Marxist University to discuss many aspects of socialist theory and practice.
August 2021
After the Hong Kong Teachers’ Trade Union crumpled in the face of government attack SARCHK and ISA stepped up calls on the workers’ and trade union movement to sound the alarm and show solidarity against the regime’s brutal attack on trade unions.
While in Mexico Alternativa Socialista participated in different initiatives around the referendum on whether former presidents could be investigated and prosecuted for their role in corruption and violence.
Rosa International launched a call for solidarity with women in Afghanistan as US imperialism abandoned the country. In Russia activists were arrested after picketing the Afghan Embassy.
The Austrian section finished their summer with a camp in the rolling hills of Carinthia.
September
In Russia there was a Parliamentary election organised to keep out genuine opposition candidates. Sotsialisticheskaya Alternativa campaigned, although unsuccessfully, to collect the 16000 passport supported signatures to be nominated. Our candidate and stall was arrested.
In England, Merseyside Socialist Alternative members took part in a demonstration against the arms fair organized in Liverpool to allow weapons manufacturers to celebrate the profits they make from warfare, death and destruction.
Much to the disgust of employers and trade union bureaucrats, Socialist Alternative gave active support to the thousands of carpenters in the US’s Pacific Northwest who were on strike, helping them to bring construction of Microsoft’s mega-project headquarters to a halt.
In Ireland, Ruth Coppinger of the Socialist Party was instrumental in supporting the ground and cabin crews at Aer Lingus in their campaign against austerity.
Fresh’. ‘Energetic’. ‘Confident’. ‘Inspiring’. These are just a few of the early comments from members who attended the Socialist Alternative (EWS) national congress which took place 25–27 September in Manchester.
At the same time Liberdade, Socialismo e Revolução (LSR) — ISA in Brazil took part in the Seventh National Congress of the Partido Socialismo e Liberdade (PSOL) which took place against the background of the pandemic, and in the context of the developing struggle against the genocidal, extreme right-wing government of Bolsonaro, in which the working class has not yet decisively entered the battlefield.
October 2021
With the help of the Houston branch of Socialist Alternative, students at the University of Houston walked out of class on September 30 to oppose the far-right abortion ban in Texas.
In Brussels the PSP/PSL took a very active and energetic role in the 70,000 strong demo against climate change.
In Germany ISA’s Lucy Redler won one of the best votes for the Left Party in the election for Berlin’s House of Deputies against the background of the referendum which decided to socialize housing — “Expropriate Deutsche Wohnen & Co”.
But in Nigeria ISA member Juliana Martins was shot and wounded at a peaceful demonstration in Benin City. She was protesting along with other students from the University of Benin after the management of the National Petroleum Development Commission (NPDC) reneged on their commitments to provide participants in the Petroleum Industrial Act workshop with stipends and laptops.
November 2021
As if all this was not enough to keep us busy in 2021, ISA’s activities increased in November and December.
The Campaign against the right-wing racist campaign to recall Kshama Sawant from her position as Socialist councilmember in Seattle went into top gear.
In Quebec, Alternative Socialiste reporters celebrated the more than 1000 votes cast for Rosalie Bélanger-Rioux in Verdun, which demonstrated again the militant electioneering and a socialist policy can win significant support.
Spectacular however was the mobilization of ISA members and supporters to protest against world leaders and their inaction at the COP 26 summit. Photos and videos can be seen here.
In a real demonstration of international solidarity ISA members from Poland, Russia, Belarus and Syria issued a Joint statement condemning the treatment of refugees on the Poland-Belarusian border.
In the lead-up to 25th November “International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women” a team of ISA activists participated in the huge demonstration in Paris organized by #NousToutes.
Elsewhere ISA and Rosa members took an active part in protests on 25th November. A photo report from Belgium can be seen here.
December 2021
In Britain Socialist Alternative members across Britain participated in the marchwithmidwives.
In South Africa the Workers’ and Socialist Party was actively organizing solidarity with 5,000 workers at the Clover dairy giant in South Africa who had have been on strike for two weeks.
And of course the big one to end the year on a high note was the defeat of the Kshama Sawant recall in Seattle. “The Wealthy Took Their Best Shot at Us, and We Beat Them. Again.”
On top of all these, we continue to carry regular analyses of global events on our site, we broadcast World to Win at and publish reviews and statements to keep our members and supporters up-to-date with what is happening around the world. You will not find anywhere else our unique analysis of the developing Cold War between US and Chinese imperialism, our coverage of how the world capitalist elite is attempting to save its economy, of how protests are growing and developing across the world, of how the working-class movement is developing and, most importantly, how to join the growing revolutionary socialist organization ISA. If you agree with us, join us.
