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Revolutionary Internationalist Organisation

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Revolutionäre Internationalistische Organisation
Revolutionary Internationalist Organization
Founded2007 (as iRevo)
2010 (as RIO)
Split fromREVOLUTION
NewspaperKlasse Gegen Klasse
Student wingWaffen der Kritik
Women's wingBrot und Rosen
IdeologyTrotskyism
Revolutionary Socialism
Political positionFar-left
International affiliationTrotskyist Fraction – Fourth International
Website
klassegegenklasse.org

The Revolutionary Internationalist Organization (RIO) is a political group in Germany advocating for the dissemination of socialist and internationalist ideas. It is the publisher of the online newspaper Klasse Gegen Klasse and part of the international newspaper network La Izquierda Diario.[1] The RIO aims to achieve societal changes toward a classless society and supports social movements internationally. Its ideology is based on Marxist, Trotksyist, and internationalist principles.[2]

Founding and Development

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The RIO emerged in January 2010 from the Independent Revolution (iRevo), a faction within the youth organization REVOLUTION, consisting of the sections in Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Australia. The iRevo split from REVOLUTION in 2007 due to its desire to sever ties with the League for the Fifth International. In 2009, the iRevo completely separated from REVOLUTION and founded its own organization in January 2010 under the name Revolutionary Internationalist Organization (RIO). Initially operating in three countries—Germany, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic—RIO joined a new, larger Trotskyist umbrella organization. In the same time iRevo members joined the New Left Anti-Capitalist Party of the Czech Republic, but were expelled because of differences with the party leadership. [3]

Its members participated in demonstrations and student strikes during 2009 and 2010.[4] Following extensive discussions with various Trotskyist tendencies, RIO joined in August 2011 as a sympathizing section of the Trotskyist Fraction – Fourth International, and two years later, it was recognized as a full-fledged section.[5][6] two years later, it would be added as a full section.[7]

Activities and Platforms

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Within the RIO, the Marxist student group Waffen der Kritik (WdK) and the worker group KGK Workers serve as significant platforms, publishing articles and analyses on political subjects. They utilize the online magazine Klasse Gegen Klasse to illuminate societal debates from a Marxist perspective. WdK actively engages in university committees for Palestine at universities in Berlin, Munich, and Münster.[8][9][10]

Political Orientation and Activism

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The RIO advocates for a classless society, rejects imperialism and wars, and calls for solidarity with global social movements. The organization participates in demonstrations and political actions to promote social justice, climate protection, and solidarity.[11][12] RIO has participated in various mobilizations against racism[13] and the advance of the far-right in Germany,[14] it supports the struggle for the self-determination of Kurdistan[15] and promotes the digital newspaper Klasse Gegen Klasse (Class against Class) in German[16] and with a sub-portal in Turkish.

Various articles mention the RIO and Klasse Gegen Klasse in the context of political debates and actions. Reports indicate their involvement in demonstrations and protests, such as the Internationalist May 1st Demonstration in Berlin.[11]

Within the online Newspaper Klasse Gegen Klasse, the RIO publishes articles on political and social subjects, supporting causes such as a more democratic university, climate justice, and fair working conditions.[12] Additionally, under the name 'Podcast von Klasse Gegen Klasse', RIO operates its own podcast[17] and a YouTube channel.[18] Furthermore, members of the RIO regularly appear on other podcasts and panel discussions, addressing topics such as protests in France, political developments in various countries, and the establishment of a left-wing revolutionary party.

Criticism

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The RIO and its groups have both supporters and critics. Criticisms relate to their ideology and political positions, occasionally accusing them of extremist or anti-Israeli views.[10][9][8] Moreover, political differences between RIO and other groups have been highlighted, concerning issues such as the assessment of Russia and China, characterizing the SPD as a bourgeois workers' party, the war in Ukraine, the Syrian civil war, women's oppression,[19] and other topics.[20]

Regarding the Middle East conflict, RIO maintains an anti-Zionist, anti-imperialist position, which some media interpret as antisemitic.[21][22] RIO refutes these allegations and emphasizes their call for equal rights for Jews and Palestinians in a "free, secular, multiethnic socialist Palestine" as well as their fight against antisemitism.[23]

Confusions

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On December 20, 2023, the Westfälische Nachrichten erroneously published an article claiming that the online magazine Klasse Gegen Klasse was part of the militant organization Klasse gegen Klasse.[8] This assumption was based on the similarity in names between KgK and the mentioned online magazine. There is no connection to KgK due to substantive differences regarding the question of militant actions, arising from the Trotskyist orientation of the Revolutionary Internationalist Organization.

References

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  1. ^ "Red internacional de diarios - La Izquierda Diario" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  2. ^ "Trotzkisten im Bildungsstreik" (in German). Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  3. ^ http://www.pts.org.ar/Acto-internacionalista-15803 "Entre los presentes habrá compañeros [...] de RIO (Organización Internacionalista Revolucionaria) de Alemania, Suiza y República Checa"
  4. ^ https://www.klassegegenklasse.org/der-bildungsstreik/ Der Bildungsstreik
  5. ^ "Revolutionary Internationalist Organization » RIO joins The Trotskyist Fraction – Fourth International (FT-CI) as sympathizing sections". Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  6. ^ http://www.pts.org.ar/El-desarrollo-de-la-crisis-capitalista-y-las-nuevas-posibilidades-de-intervencion-en-la-lucha-de "A su vez, la reunión adoptó entre sus resoluciones la incorporación como sección simpatizante del grupo RIO de Alemania y la República Checa"
  7. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Grupo RIO de Alemania en el Acto internacionalista organizado por el PTS en el Frente de Izquierda. YouTube.
  8. ^ a b c Martin Kalitschke. "Umstrittene Gruppierung "Waffen der Kritik" will jetzt auch an der Uni Münster Fuß zu fassen" (in German). Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  9. ^ a b Max Fluder, Pauline Graf (2023-12-21). "Wie der Nahostkonflikt an Münchner Unis ausgetragen wird" (in German). Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  10. ^ a b Mascha Malburg (2023-12-19). "Antisemitismus an der FU Berlin: Was geschah wirklich im besetzten Hörsaal? Eine Rekonstruktion" (in German). Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  11. ^ a b Alexander Isele. "Revolutionäre lassen Dampf ab" (in German). Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  12. ^ a b "StuPa-Wahl 2022: Die Liste der Listen". FURIOS Online - Campusmagazin an der FU Berlin (in German). 2022-01-08. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  13. ^ "Klasse Gegen Klasse - Jugend gegen Rassismus gründet sich in Hannover!". 17 March 2016.
  14. ^ "Klasse Gegen Klasse - "Die AfD ist ein Teil dieses Systems" – Videokommentar zu den Bundestagswahlen". 13 October 2017.
  15. ^ "Klasse Gegen Klasse - Kurdische Frauen auf dem Weg zur Befreiung?". 10 March 2016.
  16. ^ "Klasse Gegen Klasse - Wer wir sind".
  17. ^ "Podcast von Klasse gegen Klasse Podcast Download ~ Podcast von Klasse Gegen Klasse ~ podcast 2641467" (in German). Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  18. ^ "Klasse Gegen Klasse - YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  19. ^ Andrea D'Atri (2019). Brot und Rosen: Geschlecht und Klasse im Kapitalismus. Hamburg: Argument Verlag. ISBN 978-3-86754-514-3.
  20. ^ "Umgruppierung: Die NaO und der Weg zu einer revolutionären Partei – eine Antwort auf RIO - Arbeitermacht". Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  21. ^ "Freie Universität Berlin: Und dann spuckt eine Frau den Pro-Israel-Aktivisten an - WELT" (in German). 2023-12-15. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  22. ^ Niklas Liebetrau (2023-11-02). "Freie Universität Berlin: Kundgebung für Palästina geplant, jüdische Studenten fürchten Gewalt" (in German). Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  23. ^ "Klasse Gegen Klasse - Stoppt die Bombardierungen und die israelische Militärintervention gegen das palästinensische Volk!" (in German). 2023-10-10. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
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