Our Tasks in the International Front Against the Threat of Imperialist War - Özgür Gelecek Gazetesi, - for debate

 

Our Tasks in the International Front Against the Threat of Imperialist War

[Note: This article was published in the 343rd issue (31 December 2025) of Özgür Gelecek Gazetesi, a newspaper published in Turkey along Marxist-Leninist-Maoist lines, concerning the international struggle.]

The struggle against the threat of a Third Imperialist War has increasingly dominated the agenda of revolutionary, communist, and anti-imperialist forces in recent years. Of course, this issue is not only being discussed among revolutionary forces. Some bourgeois ideologists and writers are also publishing articles on the increasing danger of imperialist war.

Revolutionary and communist forces are best aware, through historical experience, of how a new imperialist war of division would spell disaster for the oppressed peoples of the world. Recognising this reality also places upon revolutionary and communist forces the duty and responsibility of establishing the broadest possible anti-imperialist, anti-fascist fronts against the threat of imperialist war. To fulfil this task properly, a deep understanding of the nature of imperialism, the causes of imperialist wars of division, etc., is necessary. All revolutionaries, especially the international proletarian forces, need to understand the issue correctly in theoretical terms. Clearly, a correct theoretical understanding of the issue also facilitates the concrete implementation of tasks. This strengthens the ground for fighting imperialist aggression and occupation in the streets with large forces, through more persuasive propaganda aimed at the broadest masses. As the streets become the arena of the struggle, bringing together large masses, it accelerates the growth of anti-imperialist and anti-fascist consciousness. We can also describe this process as the transformative and revolutionary power of practice.

In the current context, the growing reactions of the peoples of the Middle East against US-British imperialism, the main instigator of imperialist war, and its forward base in the region, Israeli Zionism, are a natural consequence of the occupying and genocidal policies they have pursued. In particular, the protest demonstrations organised by millions of people across different parts of the world against the genocide perpetrated by Israeli Zionists in Palestine are highly valuable and meaningful. The stance taken by broad masses of people against these inhumane practices against the Palestinian people in the past year contains strong signs that this anger, which has emerged against fascism and all forms of reaction, particularly in the anti-imperialist struggle, will transform into a more advanced organised force in the coming years.

In this sense, the Theoretical Conference organised by the National Democratic Front of the Philippines in October 2023 under the title ‘Imperialism and Imperialist War’ was a revolutionary effort presented in line with the process. The participation of representatives from revolutionary-communist parties and National Liberation Movements from other countries, who also voiced their views, made this positive effort even more meaningful. Of course, these discussions did not begin with the ‘Theoretical Conference’. Many revolutionary forces, foremost among them our party, were pointing to this objective reality and the responsibility it placed on the international proletariat and the oppressed peoples of the world. Therefore, the crucial point here is the collective effort of revolutionary and communist forces to jointly seek solutions against the threat of imperialist wars of division

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In line with this understanding, our party continued its efforts in 2025 to establish the Union of Communists and the Anti-Imperialist Anti-Fascist Front to the best of its ability. These efforts naturally contain serious shortcomings. Minimising these shortcomings requires a more critical and internationalist approach to revolutionary practice.

If we are pointing to the growing danger of imperialist wars of division today, we must develop a practical stance in line with the fact that the unity of the International Communist Movement is of key importance in the struggle against this danger. This is not enough; in line with this understanding, it is necessary to form anti-imperialist, anti-fascist fronts with the broadest possible practical function across continents and regions. Clearly, fulfilling the first task at a minimum level will facilitate the work of the second task. Moreover, communist forces can become a centre of gravity in these efforts aimed at mobilising the broadest masses.

In light of current developments around the world and the tasks and responsibilities these developments have placed upon us, our Party, drawing on the experience gained from its international activities, once again emphasises the following realities regarding the issues discussed:

International work is an essential part of all our other revolutionary activities. At the same time, work in this area has certain special characteristics. For example, this international work cannot be organised at the desired level through the efforts of individual parties or democratic mass organisations alone. A minimum level of organisation can only be achieved through the combined efforts of all components of the international communist movement. Therefore, ensuring the unity of communists and establishing anti-imperialist, anti-fascist fronts on the broadest democratic basis inevitably requires such a collective effort.

During this period, our party did not merely issue international appeals regarding these tasks; in accordance with these appeals, it sought to raise the issue as much as possible in individual meetings with parties and in democratic institutional meetings held at the international level. Some parties and organisations are also carrying out work in this direction. However, the efforts undertaken thus far have not yet resolved the fragmentation within the international communist movement. Nevertheless, the increasing convergence of views with certain parties and organisations is a positive development. This positivity can be amplified through intensified joint efforts and the conduct of a respectful, substantive dialogue.

Despite all the shortcomings experienced, as in the past, today too, many joint initiatives have been undertaken with both political parties and democratic institutions. Efforts have been made to establish common positions on developments in the world and the region. Similar practical work will continue in the future. However, for all these efforts to yield more productive results, an international organisation and more systematic work guided by this organisation are required. Otherwise, the current state of weakness will persist.

The most negative consequence of this fragmented stance was seen in the recent period in the annihilation war waged by the fascist regime in India against the Communist Party of India (Maoist). Neither we nor the other sections of the international communist movement of which we are a part were able to fulfil their historical responsibilities.

Today, imperialists and the fascist regime in India are waging an all-out war against communism and the revolutionary values of humanity, embodied in the CPI (Maoist). In other words, the issue is not simply about destroying the CPI (Maoist). The real issue is to intimidate the communist-revolutionary and progressive forces, who are waging the social and national liberation struggles as a whole, by striking at the most advanced position of the revolutionary front in the ongoing struggle between revolution and counter-revolution.

The greatest instigators of the war are US and British imperialism and their accomplices, whose policies of attack and destruction against all positions of resistance serve this purpose. The genocidal attacks carried out by Israeli Zionists in Palestine must also be understood within this framework.

The way to thwart every new offensive policy deployed by the counter-revolutionary front is to further enrich the forms of struggle with a new approach. Because at this stage, we are faced with the reality of fascist-gangster states that disregard even their own bourgeois laws and seek to dictate world politics with the law of the jungle. It is imperative that the international proletariat and the oppressed peoples of the world give an international character to their struggle against these class enemies. Therefore, revolutionary subjects must act by taking into account every change on the counter-revolutionary front in order to understand the importance of the international struggle on a sounder basis in the realm of thought and to concretise their tasks accordingly.

The Question of the Unity of International Communist Forces

The question of the unity of MLM forces is not a new issue on the agenda of the International Communist Movement. Therefore, when attempting to take new steps in this regard, we must learn from the positive and negative experiences of the past. However, merely learning from these experiences does not solve the problem. This is because we are talking about the unity of the International Communists. Therefore, the views of every party and every organisation on this issue are valuable and meaningful. In particular, the stance of movements that are currently more developed and active in the class struggle plays an even more decisive role.

While pointing out this fact, we also never overlook the following situation. It is true that being powerful in the class struggle is an important issue. But the main thing is the question of line. A movement that is weak today in terms of quantitative power but insists on the correct line and revolutionary practice can become a greater force tomorrow. Therefore, when discussing the issue of the Unity of the International Communist Movement, we must seriously consider every proposal that comes our way. Our priority should not be who the proposal comes from, but the content of the proposal itself. In other words, we must embrace every correct idea, regardless of its source. We must also confront every understanding that is wrong and destructive.

In the discussions and debates held so far, everyone has expressed their support for the unity of MLMs. This approach creates a positive ground for discussing the issue. However, for these approaches to become a concrete reality, some questions we will ask below must first be answered at a minimum level. Namely, in the current context, does every party and organisation that defines itself as an MLM at the international level possess the qualities it claims to have? We cannot answer this question positively. But we can answer this question with another question. What are the criteria for being MLM? This means that, first of all, a common approach to this issue must be established. In our assessments, it is essential to agree on a minimum level of common ground on theoretical, ideological, and organizational issues.

In this sense, we would like to make some reminders in light of historical experiences. These experiences will also shed light on the discussions we are conducting today in certain respects.

Historically, when the issue of the Unity of Communists was discussed, the following main points were seen as a common starting point for the basis of unity. Defending the fundamental theoretical views of MLM by acknowledging the existence of classes and class struggle, adhering to Marxist-Leninist-Maoist ideas on issues such as the state and revolution, especially the proletarian revolution and the dictatorship of the proletariat. Rejecting any understanding that advocates class collaboration instead of class struggle, and prioritises reforms within the system instead of the proletarian revolution.

In the current context, the Unity of the International Communist Movement must also be built on an MLM basis. Therefore, the unity that the international proletariat needs today is a revolutionary unity aimed at the struggle for people's democracy, independence, socialism, and, ultimately, communism. Because, in the struggle against all anti-MLM understandings, the international proletariat can achieve success and strengthen its unity by clinging tightly to its principles.

Based on these general truths, we must take the following practical steps today: First, we must not confuse the unity of MLMs with other anti-fascist, anti-imperialist alliances. Of course, the class struggle also requires alliances of the second type. MLM forces also strive for the formation of such alliances. However, the international communist movement must first focus on achieving its own internal unity.

With this perspective, we must mobilise our collective wisdom and will to take firm steps towards making 2026 a year of significant progress in the unity of communists and the formation of an anti-imperialist, anti-fascist front.