Linksruck
Encyclopedia
Left Shift was a Trotskyist group in Germany
, which was the German affiliate of the International Socialist Tendency
(the network founded by the British Socialist Workers Party
). In September 2007 Linksruck formally dissolved, and its members regrouped into the Left Party
as Marx21 - Network for International Socialism.
supporters of the British "International Socialists" (IS), precursor to the Socialist Workers Party
(SWP). One of the founders of the SAG was Volkhard Mosler, who had been in contact with Tony Cliff
since 1966. Initially based in Frankfurt, the SAG gradually developed a national structure but remained a relatively small organization. Like their British counterparts, the SAG sought to build a radical rank-and-file workers' movement to oppose moderate trade-union
leaders.
After German reunification
in 1990, the SAG participated in the emerging Antifa movement against the far right
. In the early 1990s young members of the SAG joined Jusos
, the Social Democratic Party's
youth group, hoping to push its members to the left. After a short time began publishing the paper Linksruck, and by the end of 1993 the organization referred to itself by this name.
Dissidents in the group led by Norbert Nelte, critical of Linksruck's entryist
tactics and the "lack of theoretical training for new members", broke off and formed the International Socialists (Internationale Sozialisten) in Cologne
in 1992.
In the 1990s, Linksruck shifted away from the SPD youth and became involved with the growing antiglobalization
movement, and later the anti-Iraq War
movement. Through participation in these decentralized movements, Linksruck gained many new members. As the group made a transition from the antiglobalization movement to the antiwar movement, its most strident antiglobalization activists split off to form the Antikapitalistisches Netzwerk (commonly referred to as the "Antikapitalistas").
When left-wing dissidents split from the Social Democrats in 2005 to form the WASG, Linksruck members entered the new organization. Linksruck member Christine Buchholz served on the WASG's National Committee. Other members also took stood as WASG candidates in local and federal elections.
Over the course of 2007, Linksruck leaders sought to relaunch their group (in preparation for the merger of the WASG with the Party of Democratic Socialism, which would form the Left Party
). In April 2007, an organizational meeting voted to dissolve the organization. In May 2007, the magazine Linksruck was replaced by a new publication, marx21. In early September 2007 (three months after the formation of the Left Party), a founding congress ended Linksruck and launched the new "Marx21: Network for International Socialism". Marx21 aims at being "a network for Marxists within the new Left Party" and is a component of the party's Socialist Left caucus.
In the 2008 state elections
in Hesse
, Linksruck/Marx21 activist Janine Wissler was elected to the state parliament.
Christine Buchholz is now a member of the Left Party's National Committee. In 2009 Buchholz became a member of the German Bundestag.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, which was the German affiliate of the International Socialist Tendency
International Socialist Tendency
The International Socialist Tendency is an international grouping of unorthodox Trotskyist organisations based around the ideas of Tony Cliff, founder of the Socialist Workers Party in Britain...
(the network founded by the British Socialist Workers Party
Socialist Workers Party (Britain)
The Socialist Workers Party is a far left party in Britain founded by Tony Cliff. The SWP's student section has groups at a number of universities...
). In September 2007 Linksruck formally dissolved, and its members regrouped into the Left Party
The Left (Germany)
The Left , also commonly referred to as the Left Party , is a democratic socialist political party in Germany. The Left is the most left-wing party of the five represented in the Bundestag....
as Marx21 - Network for International Socialism.
History
Linksruck's origins lie in the Socialist Workers' Group (Sozialistische Arbeitergruppe, SAG), which was founded in the 1970s by West GermanWest Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
supporters of the British "International Socialists" (IS), precursor to the Socialist Workers Party
Socialist Workers Party (Britain)
The Socialist Workers Party is a far left party in Britain founded by Tony Cliff. The SWP's student section has groups at a number of universities...
(SWP). One of the founders of the SAG was Volkhard Mosler, who had been in contact with Tony Cliff
Tony Cliff
Tony Cliff , was a Trotskyist who was a founding member of the Socialist Review Group which went on to become the Socialist Workers Party...
since 1966. Initially based in Frankfurt, the SAG gradually developed a national structure but remained a relatively small organization. Like their British counterparts, the SAG sought to build a radical rank-and-file workers' movement to oppose moderate 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...
leaders.
After German reunification
German reunification
German reunification was the process in 1990 in which the German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany , and when Berlin reunited into a single city, as provided by its then Grundgesetz constitution Article 23. The start of this process is commonly referred by Germans as die...
in 1990, the SAG participated in the emerging Antifa movement against the far right
Far right
Far-right, extreme right, hard right, radical right, and ultra-right are terms used to discuss the qualitative or quantitative position a group or person occupies within right-wing politics. Far-right politics may involve anti-immigration and anti-integration stances towards groups that are...
. In the early 1990s young members of the SAG joined Jusos
Young Socialists in the SPD
Young Socialists in the SPD is the youth organization of the Social Democratic Party of Germany .The Jusos see themselves as a socialist and feminist association within the SPD. Generally more left-wing in their approach to current events than their mother party, Jusos tend to criticize leading...
, the Social Democratic Party's
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
youth group, hoping to push its members to the left. After a short time began publishing the paper Linksruck, and by the end of 1993 the organization referred to itself by this name.
Dissidents in the group led by Norbert Nelte, critical of Linksruck's entryist
Entryism
Entryism is a political tactic by which an organisation or state encourages its members or agents to infiltrate another organisation in an attempt to gain recruits, or take over entirely...
tactics and the "lack of theoretical training for new members", broke off and formed the International Socialists (Internationale Sozialisten) in Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
in 1992.
In the 1990s, Linksruck shifted away from the SPD youth and became involved with the growing antiglobalization
Anti-globalization
Criticism of globalization is skepticism of the claimed benefits of the globalization of capitalism. Many of these views are held by the anti-globalization movement however other groups also are critical of the policies of globalization....
movement, and later the anti-Iraq War
Opposition to the Iraq War
Significant opposition to the Iraq War occurred worldwide, both before and during the initial 2003 invasion of Iraq by the United States, United Kingdom, and smaller contingents from other nations, and throughout the subsequent occupation...
movement. Through participation in these decentralized movements, Linksruck gained many new members. As the group made a transition from the antiglobalization movement to the antiwar movement, its most strident antiglobalization activists split off to form the Antikapitalistisches Netzwerk (commonly referred to as the "Antikapitalistas").
When left-wing dissidents split from the Social Democrats in 2005 to form the WASG, Linksruck members entered the new organization. Linksruck member Christine Buchholz served on the WASG's National Committee. Other members also took stood as WASG candidates in local and federal elections.
Over the course of 2007, Linksruck leaders sought to relaunch their group (in preparation for the merger of the WASG with the Party of Democratic Socialism, which would form the Left Party
The Left (Germany)
The Left , also commonly referred to as the Left Party , is a democratic socialist political party in Germany. The Left is the most left-wing party of the five represented in the Bundestag....
). In April 2007, an organizational meeting voted to dissolve the organization. In May 2007, the magazine Linksruck was replaced by a new publication, marx21. In early September 2007 (three months after the formation of the Left Party), a founding congress ended Linksruck and launched the new "Marx21: Network for International Socialism". Marx21 aims at being "a network for Marxists within the new Left Party" and is a component of the party's Socialist Left caucus.
In the 2008 state elections
Hesse state election, 2008
The state election to elect members of the Landtag of Hesse was held in the German state of Hesse on 27 January 2008.-Background and issues:...
in Hesse
Hesse
Hesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
, Linksruck/Marx21 activist Janine Wissler was elected to the state parliament.
Christine Buchholz is now a member of the Left Party's National Committee. In 2009 Buchholz became a member of the German Bundestag.