International Socialists (Netherlands)
International Socialists (Dutch: Internationale Socialisten) is a revolutionary, Trotskyist organisation in the Netherlands. It is part of the International Socialist Tendency led by the British Socialist Workers Party.
Ideology
The IS believes that real change in the Netherlands can only come through revolution and does therefore not participate in parliamentary democracy, but believes in an activist party. The IS sees itself as standing in the tradition of people like Leon Trotsky, Lenin and Rosa Luxemburg. It is anti-capitalist, anti-war and in general against "all ideas that put people against people", like racism, sexism and homophobia. Currently, the Internationale Socialisten are largely active in the anti-war and anti-occupation movements, as well as the resistance against the rightwing government led by Balkenende.
Politically, the IS is located on the left of more mainstream leftwing parties like the Socialistische Partij and GroenLinks. It is part of the International Socialist Tendency, which also includes the British Socialist Workers Party and the German Linksruck.
Activities
The IS does not participate in parliamentary democracy and does not stand candidates at elections. Instead, it put much of its energy in outreach, education and protest activities. Of great importance in this is its monthly magazine De Socialist, a copy of the SWP's The Socialist. This is sold at any protest meeting or demonstration the IS is present, as well as sporadically on the street in working class neighbourhoods. The IS also publishes a wide range of booklets, both translated SWP books and their own material.
Every year, the IS organises its own Marxism school, which is open to anybody interested, in which the more theoretical issues of socialism and activism are discussed. It also holds regular discussion meetings and is often present at political meetings organised by other groups, either invited or uninvited.
For its protest actions, the IS has a tradition of working in broad coalitions with other leftwing parties and pressure groups, rather than organising its own actions. The IS is part of the Keer het Tij protest coalition against the Balkenende government, as well as the anti-war movement.
Internationally, the IS has taken part in the first two European Social Forums held in Florence and Paris, and is often active in international protests.
Influence
The exact membership figures are unknown, but a educated guess would put the amount of active members of the Internationale Socialisten at roughly fifty to a hundred. Its members and sympathisers are largely found in the big Dutch cities and university towns and large parts of its members are students or former students.