International Viewpoint

The year 2026 began with devastating Russian shelling of Kyiv's infrastructure, which, in freezing conditions, brought the population to the brink of survival. The city, home to 3 million people, is experiencing an acute shortage of heat and water, and electricity is being supplied on a short-term basis. It has become clear that the authorities had no plan B in case of a catastrophic deterioration in the security and weather situation.

“We will miss Eleni very much, because what emanated from her was her deep appreciation of human connections, friendship and life.”

“There are now more ICE agents in Minneapolis than there are police in the metropolitan area. The majority of the inhabitants see this as an occupation that is bringing fear and more violence into their city.”

“The political situation in Europe is very bad.”

The announcements of coup attempts, whether real or imagined, are evidence of the junta's weakness, as it is unable to curb the advance of the jihadists.

“[Harbi's] death on the first day of 2026 means the passing of one of the last eyewitnesses of one of the great anticolonial struggles and the loss of an incisive historian.”

Jean Malifaud was for many years a member of the leadership of the LCR in France. Until the end of his life he was active in international solidarity and a committed trade-unionist.

“Kellner offers the following critical appreciation: “One hopes that many more people will be inspired by Mandel's verve and let themselves be motivated to live his kind of life, yet without succumbing to ungrounded political confidence or to some of his more questionable ideas.””

Growing attacks on academic freedom are an aspect of the rise of the far right and authoritarianism that does not always get enough attention outside the university sector. What are the various ways this threat plays out?

The International Trade Union Network of Solidarity and Struggles is passing on information received from trade union comrades in Venezuela. With Venezuela, as with Palestine, as with Ukraine, as with Sudan, as everywhere else in the world, nothing can replace direct contact between workers. For our social class, it is the best source of information and the best way to build common struggles.

Today marks 15 years since the overthrow of Tunisian dictator Ben Ali, one of the high points of the Arab Spring. The events of 2011 gave rise to an impressive wave of revolutions. Almost all were bloodily suppressed.
On January 14, 2011, Tunisian dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was forced to resign, after four weeks of revolt in the north African country. It was a first major scalp for the wave of upheaval known as the Arab Spring — a democratic upsurge across the region, which, (…)

Zohran Mamdani's election to Mayor of New York has been a badly-needed boost to the confidence of the left in the U.S. and beyond. It has also reignited debate about the strategic choices facing socialists elected to local government, and eventually to national governments too.

Further to the appreciation by Alan Wald “Eleni Varikas (1949-2026)”, contributions from Greek Fourth Internationalists.

“Faced with these mobilizations, the authorities have responded with repression, mass arrests and violence. However, the experience of the movements of 2017, 2019 and 2022 shows that this strategy has never made it possible to impose submission in the long term. The current protests are thus part of a continuity of recurrent protests. ”

Eleni Varikas, a revolutionary Marxist-Feminist French-Greek professor of political philosophy, best known for her pioneering use of the concept of gender in French research, died of heart failure in Paris in early January 2026. She was 76 years old and the life partner of Michael Löwy, the French-Brazilian Marxist sociologist and philosopher. Both were contributors to AGAINST THE CURRENT and good friends of its sponsoring organization, Solidarity.

Eleni Varikas, a revolutionary Marxist-Feminist French-Greek professor of political philosophy, best known for her pioneering use of the concept of gender in French research, died of heart failure in Paris in early January 2026. She was 76 years old and the life partner of Michael Löwy, the French-Brazilian Marxist sociologist and philosopher. Both were contributors to AGAINST THE CURRENT and good friends of its sponsoring organization, Solidarity.

Millions of Americans are deeply saddened and increasingly angry about the murder of Renèe Nicole Good, a mother of three by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Tens of thousands joined “ICE Out For Good” protests in a thousand towns and cities on January 10 and 11. In New York protestors signs read, “Abolish ICE Now!”, “Masks Off! No Secret Police.”, “Trump Must Go Now”. Passing in front of Trump Tower protestors shouted, “Fuck Trump!”

Millions of Americans are deeply saddened and increasingly angry about the murder of Renèe Nicole Good, a mother of three by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Tens of thousands joined “ICE Out For Good” protests in a thousand towns and cities on January 10 and 11. In New York protestors signs read, “Abolish ICE Now!”, “Masks Off! No Secret Police.”, “Trump Must Go Now”. Passing in front of Trump Tower protestors shouted, “Fuck Trump!”

Valeo workers in Poland have secured pay rises and commitments on working conditions. This initial success demonstrates the effectiveness of collective action and international solidarity.

Valeo workers in Poland have secured pay rises and commitments on working conditions. This initial success demonstrates the effectiveness of collective action and international solidarity.