International Workers League (Fourth International)
Encyclopedia
The International Workers League (Fourth International) or IWLfi ( or LITci; or LIT-QI) is a Morenist
Trotskyist international organisation
.
The group's origins lie in the International Committee of the Fourth International
(ICFI). Moreno's supporters followed the American Socialist Workers Party in leaving the ICFI in 1963 to form the reunified Fourth International
(USFI). In 1969, the USFI voted to support guerilla war in Latin America
. Moreno's group opposed this. It was reduced to sympathiser status.
While critical of the Sandinistas, Moreno's group sent a Simon Bolivar Brigade to Nicaragua
to aid the Civil War, with the aim of building a revolutionary party
there. This brigade was opposed by the reunified Fourth International because it operated outside the discipline of the FSLN; the only other Trotskyists to participate were Pierre Lambert
s' Organising Committee for the Reconstruction of the Fourth International. The non-Nicaraguan members of the Brigade were expelled from the country by the FSLN. Almost immediately, Moreno's and Lambert's tenmdencies joined to form the Parity Committee for the Reconstruction of the Fourth International
. However, Moreno's supporters withdrew in 1981, complaining that Lambert had links to trade union
bureaucrats, and in 1982 formed the "International Workers League (Fourth International)". In addition to their former supporters, this also attracted groups in Peru and Venezuela which split from the Lambertist currents.
The group campaigned for the victory of Argentina in the Falklands War
, for the non-payment of foreign debt, and for the "defeat of imperialism
in the Gulf War
." In the mid-1990s, it helped launch Workers Aid to Bosnia and began working with the Workers International to Rebuild the Fourth International
, although that group is now inactive.
Disagreements following the death of Moreno led several sections to leave the international, while others split. Those who left founded the (UTC)International Centre of Orthodox Trotskyism. The majority of this group rejoined the International Workers League in 2005, the minority forming the International Socialist League.
The LITci publishes the bulletin International Courier (Correo Internacional) and the journal Marxism Alive (Marxismo Vivo or Le Marxisme Vivant), both in various languages, principally Spanish
.
Nahuel Moreno
Nahuel Moreno was a Trotskyist leader from Argentina. Moreno was active in the Trotskyist movement from before World War II until his death....
Trotskyist international organisation
Political international
A political international is a trans-national organisation of political parties or activists. The international works together on points of agreement to co-ordinate activity....
.
The group's origins lie in the International Committee of the Fourth International
International Committee of the Fourth International
The International Committee of the Fourth International is the name of two Trotskyist internationals; one with sections named Socialist Equality Party which publishes the World Socialist Web Site and another linked to the Workers Revolutionary Party in Britain.-Foundation:The International...
(ICFI). Moreno's supporters followed the American Socialist Workers Party in leaving the ICFI in 1963 to form the reunified Fourth International
Reunified Fourth International
The Fourth International is a Trotskyist international. In 1963, the majorities of the two public factions of the Fourth International, the International Secretariat and the International Committee, reunited, electing a United Secretariat of the Fourth International...
(USFI). In 1969, the USFI voted to support guerilla war in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. Moreno's group opposed this. It was reduced to sympathiser status.
While critical of the Sandinistas, Moreno's group sent a Simon Bolivar Brigade to Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
to aid the Civil War, with the aim of building a revolutionary party
Revolutionary Party
Revolutionary Party is the name of several political parties, including:*Dominican Revolutionary Party*Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity*Revolutionary Progressive Nationalist Party of Haiti*Democratic Revolutionary Peoples Party, India...
there. This brigade was opposed by the reunified Fourth International because it operated outside the discipline of the FSLN; the only other Trotskyists to participate were Pierre Lambert
Pierre Lambert
Pierre Lambert was a French Trotskyist leader, who, for many years acted as the central leader of the French Courant Communiste Internationaliste which founded the Parti des Travailleurs.He was born in Paris to a family of Russian Jewish immigrants...
s' Organising Committee for the Reconstruction of the Fourth International. The non-Nicaraguan members of the Brigade were expelled from the country by the FSLN. Almost immediately, Moreno's and Lambert's tenmdencies joined to form the Parity Committee for the Reconstruction of the Fourth International
Parity Committee for the Reconstruction of the Fourth International
The Parity Committee for the Reconstruction of the Fourth International was an international regrouping of Trotskyists in 1981, claiming at the time to represent the majority of Trotskyists in the world....
. However, Moreno's supporters withdrew in 1981, complaining that Lambert had links to trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
bureaucrats, and in 1982 formed the "International Workers League (Fourth International)". In addition to their former supporters, this also attracted groups in Peru and Venezuela which split from the Lambertist currents.
The group campaigned for the victory of Argentina in the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
, for the non-payment of foreign debt, and for the "defeat of imperialism
Imperialism
Imperialism, as defined by Dictionary of Human Geography, is "the creation and/or maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural, and territorial relationships, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination." The imperialism of the last 500 years,...
in the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
." In the mid-1990s, it helped launch Workers Aid to Bosnia and began working with the Workers International to Rebuild the Fourth International
Workers International to Rebuild the Fourth International
The Workers International to Rebuild the Fourth International is an Trotskyist international organisation. It is based in the United Kingdom and consists of a remnant of the Workers Revolutionary Party....
, although that group is now inactive.
Disagreements following the death of Moreno led several sections to leave the international, while others split. Those who left founded the (UTC)International Centre of Orthodox Trotskyism. The majority of this group rejoined the International Workers League in 2005, the minority forming the International Socialist League.
The LITci publishes the bulletin International Courier (Correo Internacional) and the journal Marxism Alive (Marxismo Vivo or Le Marxisme Vivant), both in various languages, principally Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
.
Sections
- United Socialist Workers' PartyUnited Socialist Workers' PartyThe Unified Socialist Workers' Party is a Trotskyist organisation in Brazil. It is the largest section of the International Workers' League , an international body of groups in the Morenoist tradition....
(Argentina) - Communist Workers' League (Belgium)
- Socialist Struggle Struggle(Bolivia - Sympathizing Section)
- United Socialist Workers' PartyUnited Socialist Workers' PartyThe Unified Socialist Workers' Party is a Trotskyist organisation in Brazil. It is the largest section of the International Workers' League , an international body of groups in the Morenoist tradition....
(Brazil) - Revolutionary Force - Communist Left (Chile)
- Revolutionary Workers Party (Chile-Sympathizing Section)
- Socialist Workers Party (Colombia)
- Movement for Socialism (Costa Rica)
- Revolutionary Workers Party (Costa Rica-Sympathizing Section)
- Movement for Socialism (Ecuador)
- Socialist Unity of Workers (El Salvador)
- International Socialist Leaque (England)
- Internationalist Socialist Group (France)
- Socialist Workers Party (Honduras)
- Communist Alternative PartyCommunist Alternative PartyThe Communist Alternative Party is a communist political party in Italy. Its leader and founder is Francesco Ricci.-History:...
- (Italy) - Workers Party (Paraguay)
- New Socialist Workers Party (Peru)
- Left Revolutionary FrontLeft Revolutionary FrontThe Left Revolutionary Front is a Trotskyist organization in Portugal. It is the Portuguese section of the International Workers' League .-External links:...
(Portugal) - Revolutionary Workers Party - Revolutionary Left (Spain)
- Red(magazine) (Turkey)
- Internationalist Workers PartyInternationalist Workers PartyThe Internationalist Workers Party was a French Trotskyist party established in 1936 after the exclusion of militant Trotskyists from the French Section of the Workers' International in 1935 and dissolved in 1939 when most of the militants had rejoined the Workers and Peasants' Socialist Party...
(Ukraine) - International Socialist League (UK)
- The Voice of the Workers (United States-Sympathizing Section)
- Socialist Left of the Workers (Uruguay-Sympathizing Section)
- Socialist Unity of Workers (Venezuela)