The military coup d’état in Indonesia in 1965 was the beginning of one of the 20th century’s greatest crimes: the killing of over half a million of people and the torture and imprisonment of hundreds of thousands more. Much has been written about the involvement of Western powers such as the United States in the military coup. Less is known about the response of the Netherlands. Declassified documents show that Dutch authorities regarded the military coup with sympathy and sought to support it.
The left’s dilemma amid a crumbling world order: Prepare to fight or let others determine the outcome?
28 March 2025, byWith a madman in the White House, all pretences have fallen away and raw power again reigns supreme. Trade wars, huge aid cuts, explicit demands to annex Greenland and depopulate Gaza — every new day brings forth another crisis that throws into question internationally recognised collective and individual rights and undermines global institutions that supposedly exist to defend them. Is this genuinely the world we were hoping for when we criticised the hypocrisy of the West? Is the internationalist left simply going to accept this new state of affairs?
Syria’s Economic Transition: From Kleptocracy to Islamic Neoliberalism in a War-Torn Economy
28 March 2025, by ,In its first decade in power and before the conflict, Bashar al-Assad’s regime adopted neoliberal-oriented economic policies, such as price liberalisation for many essential goods, market deregulation, and a significant extension of the private sector. This was accompanied by austerity measures without genuine institutional reform, which resulted in greater social injustice, decreased productivity, and widening income disparity.
On the 2025 German elections
23 March 2025, by ,Promise Li, a socialist from Hong Kong now based in Los Angeles, interviews Jakob Schäfer for Borderless. Jacob is a retired steelworker, having served on the steering committee of the Network for Fighting Trade Unions (VKG). He is also a member of the International Sozialistische Organization (ISO) and the editor of the magazine Die Internationale. Promise is is a member of Tempest Collective and Solidarity, and has been active in higher education rank-and-file union work, international solidarity and antiwar campaigns, and Chinatown tenant organizing.. The interview was conducted on 25 February 2025 and appeared in Borderless on February 2025.
Left-wing isolationism: a path to political irrelevance in Europe’s defence debate
23 March 2025, byThe European Parliament has voted on the resolution that sets the line on defence and rearmament. The harshest criticism of the European Commission’s resolution on defence and rearmament comes from the Left political group. Among them is Manon Aubry (France Insoumise), who denounces, “You find money for tanks but not for hospitals.” She sarcastically remarked, “It’s as if, all of a sudden, there was no longer any global warming or poverty, and the only priority was armoured vehicles.” Similarly, Benedetta Scuderi of the Greens argues that “this arms race” undermines growth and public finances. Other voices have joined the chorus, including the Left co-chair Martin Schirdewan and Danilo Della Valle of the Five Star Movement. During Della Valle’s speech, a group of representatives of the Five Star Movement held a protest waving placards such as "No more guns" or "More jobs, less guns".
Against Campism, for International Working-Class Solidarity
21 March 2025, by ,As socialists we must espouse a truly internationalist politics, one that supports democratic and working-class movements around the world. We support such movements in their struggles against tyrannical governments and the ruling classes of all countries, just as we welcome their solidarity with us. As U.S. socialists we oppose the imperialism of the United States, but as internationalists we must also oppose the authoritarianism and imperialism of other states, regardless of what those who run those states call themselves. That is, we must oppose “campism.”
Free Syria scares Israel, that’s why it sows hatred and occupies
21 March 2025, byIsrael has a vested interest in keeping Syria weak and fragmented, especially now that the people can openly show support for Palestine, says Joseph Daher.
HTS must reject Assad-era neoliberalism
21 March 2025, byThe fall of Assad in December 2024 raised hopes for a brighter future in Syria. But as the country looks to rebuild its economy, enormous challenges remain.
So-called axis of resistance
9 March 2025, byJoseph Daher discusses regional and multipolar imperialism, the limits of Iranian resistance, and the international path toward Palestinian liberation.
Austerity or Raising the Minimum Wage: Catarina Martins on Portugal’s Experience
9 March 2025, by ,Catarina Martins was the national coordinator of the Left Block, a democratic socialist political party in Portugal, from 2012 until 2023. She was elected a Member of the European Parliament in the 2024 European election and sits in the Left group in the European Parliament — GUE/NGL. Catariana has a training in linguistics and a theatre occupation.
