Hamas’ murderous Oct. 7, 2023, pogrom in Israel and Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine were watershed events in world politics, with large stakes for the working class. Millions were appalled by these assaults and recognize the need to defend Israel as a refuge for Jews, to fight Jew-hatred wherever it arises, and to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty against Moscow’s assault.
Conflicts like these are part of the explosive contradictions built into the declining capitalist world order.
Just as the U.S. rulers defend their profits with assaults on workers’ jobs, wages and conditions here at home, so they defend their interests in conflicts, including wars, with their rivals abroad. These battles are fought over which capitalist power holds sway over the exploitation of the world’s working people. This takes place as the crisis of imperialism deepens, fueling more frequent and sharper clashes.
Far from offering a future of peace and prosperity, more workers see that under capitalism we bear the brunt of the rulers’ crises and the bloody consequences of their wars. In today’s strikes and political struggles, we see the increasing confidence and class consciousness of working people.
Despite brutal cop attacks, over 200,000 people joined massive protests this week against the hated pro-Moscow government in Georgia. In South Korea, thousands took to the streets and unions went on strike to protest President Yoon Suk Yeol’s attempt to impose martial law. In Syria, working people face the need to defend themselves in renewed conflicts against the Bashar al-Assad regime as Moscow, Tehran, Ankara and Washington all look to advance their interests there.
The working class makes up a far higher percentage of the world’s population than ever before, with the productive capacity to meet the needs of the billions on the planet. What is lacking is political power.
Out of today’s battles, opportunities will grow to build proletarian parties capable of leading tens of millions of workers to overturn capitalist rule. By taking political power into our own hands, our class can open the door to abolishing capitalist exploitation — the source of the misery, Jew-hatred and wars we face. Join in this historic effort!