Version imprimableThe Fourth International’s youth summer camp returns to Germany after more than 40 years, where it was first held in 1984. [1] Even then, the organisations that preceded the ISO (the GIM, Internationalist Marxist Group) and the BfS (Socialist Workers’ Party) were working together.
The aim of this summer camp is to allow young people (up to 30 years old) from organisations with a revolutionary Marxist tradition, their sympathizers and those who are interested to meet and make international connections.
The camp operates on the principle of financial solidarity: people from rich countries pay higher participation fees than those from poorer countries. In addition, there is a camp currency, the exchange rate of which is determined according to the level of salaries in the delegations’ countries of origin.
The program seeks to achieve this goal at different levels:
There are lectures by activists linked to and close to the Fourth International, as well as workshops organized by the various delegations of the summer camp. The workshops range from theory to feedback from activists, including very concrete workshops (for example on the organisation of a popular canteen).
In addition, exchange meetings are organized between the different delegations. Delegations exchange information on their countries and organizations and the context in which they operate. There are also standing committees in which delegations exchange on specific topics in order to learn from each other.
The program also includes a more informal part, just as important for creating links: an evening where revolutionary songs from different countries are sung together, gatherings with speeches on various topics and thematic evenings.
The summer camp has evolved in recent years. On the one hand, the formerly large delegations (from the Spanish State, France and Italy) have rather shrunk, on the other hand, the smaller delegations have become proportionately larger. This has helped to strengthen the links between delegations.
This year, comrades from the Spanish State, Germany, France, England, Scotland, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Portugal, Romania, Ukraine, the Netherlands, Malta, Serbia, Turkey and Argentina, among others, are participating.
Everything is done to allow the participation of comrades from Iraq, Algeria, Morocco, Pakistan and the Philippines. Due to the current severe restrictions on freedom of movement worldwide, their participation will depend on the issuance of their visa.
The many spaces created for comrades who suffer specific forms of oppression are also the result of many years of political struggle. For example, there are exchange opportunities for racialized and transgender comrades. This has made it possible to further develop a Marxist reflection on the different forms of oppression. It has also made it possible and still allows us to strengthen the reflection on the reproduction of forms of oppression within left-wing organizations, including our own.
This year’s programme begins with a day dedicated to anti-imperialism and anti-fascism. It is a continuation of the events of recent months and years, as well as the massive aggravation of imperialist tensions. Our response to this is a united anti-imperialism: for example, we are opposed to the terrorist bombings by the US and Israel as well as to the Iranian regime, which murdered thousands of brave demonstrators at the beginning of this year.
Neo-fascism, the far right and authoritarian forms of rule are on the rise in many countries. In a growing number of countries, the far right is coming to power. In other countries, supposedly “more moderate” governments are implementing measures that until a few years ago were rightly considered far-right.
At the heart of these developments, we try to analyse why they happened and how we can combat them. Numerous workshops are also offered on various themes, including Belgium’s colonial history in Congo, the anti-government protest movement in Serbia and this year’s protests against the G7 summit in Evian.
On the second day, during the day dedicated to feminism and queer liberation, the perspective of the abolition of the family will be addressed. Workshops are also offered on feminist self-defence, the feminist movement in Iran or the transfeminist movement in Argentina.
On the third day, devoted to ecology, the concept of ecofascism will be introduced as an extension of the analysis of the rise of hostile reactions to renewable energies. The workshops will address themes such as food security and ecological classroom politics.
On the fourth day, the focus will be on the importance of anti-racist struggles at a time when racist propaganda is totally normalised, from social democracy to the far right. On the same day, we will discuss the rise of the new international fascist movement and our strategy to deal with it. Workshops on racist police violence, Islamophobia and free movement for all will be offered.
The summer camp will end with a fifth day devoted to union work and a sixth day devoted to strategic and organizational issues. To this end, workshops will be offered, for example on the tenants’ union in Catalonia, on social conflicts in the countries of the former Eastern Bloc or on a critical assessment of militancy in the major left-wing parties (such as Podemos).
The International Anti-capitalist Summer Camp is a place of lived internationalism, exchange and networking. Lasting links can be forged there, providing an important basis for international linkages, debates and cooperation.
Our work always depends on your support, and we would therefore be very happy to receive donations to allow as many comrades as possible outside Western and Central Europe to participate.
Donate to the summer camp now:
BFS Zurich
IBAN CH40 0900 0000 1684 1072 9
Please indicate as the reason for the transfer: “donation for the international summer camp”
If you’re interested in attending please register here
Translated by International Viewpoint from intersoz, 1 May 2026 .
