Progressive International
Left-wing international organization
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Progressive International (PI) is a left-wing political international with over 70 member groups, including trade unions, political parties, peasant organisations, and social movements.[2][3] It has been described as a "worldwide anti-capitalist organisation."[4]
Progressive International | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | PI |
| General Secretary | David R. K. Adler Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla |
| Founded | 11 May 2020 |
| Ideology | Progressivism Internationalism Anti-imperialism Anti-capitalism Socialism Anti-Zionism |
| Political position | Left-wing[1] |
| Colors | red and black |
| Slogan | Internationalism or Extinction |
| Purpose | To unite, organize, and mobilize progressive forces around the world |
| Region served | Worldwide |
| Website | |
progressive | |
Origins
The Progressive International was formally founded and launched on 11 May 2020, responding to a 2018 open call by the Democracy in Europe Movement (DiEM25) and The Sanders Institute for progressive forces to form a unified front.[5][6][7] The open call was echoing two twinned appeals published in 2018 by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and former Greek minister of finance Yanis Varoufakis to form an international movement to combat the rise of authoritarianism represented by Donald Trump [8].
The founding was supported by a council of over 40 advisors including Ece Temelkuran,[9] Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Yanis Varoufakis,[10] Carola Rackete, Nick Estes, Vanessa Nakate, Noam Chomsky,[11] Arundhati Roy, Naomi Klein,[12] Niki Ashton,[11] Rafael Correa, Fernando Haddad, Celso Amorim, and Alvaro Garcia Linera.[13]
The International claims to counter what it calls the resurgence of authoritarian nationalism worldwide as well as the rise of disaster capitalism.[14] As its mission, the Progressive International aims to "unite, organize and mobilize the world's progressive forces."[15]
Governance
The Progressive International is guided by an advisory Council that sets the organisation's political and strategic direction.[13] The Secretariat, which includes translators, web developers, graphic designers, policy analysts, and community organisers[12] oversees the day-to-day organisational operations, separated into several thematic areas: Movement, Blueprint, Wire, and Observatory.
The Cabinet serves as the main executive organ responsible for development, planning, and staffing decisions.[16] The Cabinet draws its membership from the other two bodies, consisting of eight Council members: Srećko Horvat, Aruna Roy, Pierre Sané, Fatima Diallo, Rachmi Hertanti, Julian Aguon,[17] Renata Ávila and Scott Ludlum, as well as general coordinators David Adler and Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla.[18][13]
Activities and projects
Observatory
In October 2020, Progressive International said that it was "particularly concerned about the integrity of the presidential elections in Bolivia" and sent an observer group made up of Members of Parliament from around Europe to observe the election.[19]
On 15 November 2021, the Progressive International launched their global observatory "as attacks on democracy escalate across the world" and "authoritarian leaders are getting organised to capture the courts, criminalise opposition, and rig the rules to hold onto power," said General Coordinator David Adler in a statement.[20]
The founding was endorsed by Noam Chomsky, Rafael Correa, Ertuğrul Kürkçü, Guillaume Long, Celso Amorim, Fernando Haddad, Jeremy Corbyn, Aruna Roy, Aída García-Naranjo and Andrés Arauz according to the Brazilian daily paper Folha de S.Paulo. The same article included a statement from Adler which singled out Narendra Modi in India and Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil as being part of a wider network of authoritarian threats.[21]
Belmarsh Tribunal
On 2 October 2020, Progressive International launched the Belmarsh Tribunal to convene groups of legal experts and Julian Assange supporters.[22] In the first year guests included Lula da Silva, Srećko Horvat, M.I.A. and Slavoj Žižek.[23] The hearings claimed that the charges against Assange were an "ongoing attack on press freedom."[24] The tribunal was modeled after the 1966 Russell–Sartre Tribunal, which investigated American involvement in the Vietnam War. In 2022, the third tribunal, which took place at the People's Forum in New York City, coincided with the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.[25] Jeremy Corbyn and the Peace & Justice Project participated in the 4th Belmarsh Tribunal in Washington, D.C., in 2023.[26]
| Number | Date | Location | Live-stream recording links published on YouTube |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 October 2020 | Remote | The Belmarsh Tribunal (2020) |
| 2 | 22 October 2021 | London | The Belmarsh Tribunal: Free Julian Assange (2021) presented by Novara Media[27] |
| 3 | 25 February 2022 | New York City | The Belmarsh Tribunal (2022) presented by The People's Forum[28] |
| 4 | 20 January 2023 | Washington, D.C.[24] | The Belmarsh Tribunal D.C. (2023) presented by Democracy Now![26] |
| 5 | 4 March 2023 | Sydney[29] | The Belmarsh Tribunal Sydney (2023) |
Hague Group
Positions
Blockade of Cuba
The Progressive International has been critical of the United States embargo against Cuba.[30][31][32][33] Progressive International is an organizer of the Nuestra América Flotilla, which will attempt to break the US blockade and provide humanitarian aid to Cuba during the 2026 Cuban crisis.[34][35]
Russian invasion of Ukraine
On 4 March 2022, the Cabinet of the Progressive International issued a statement denouncing the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and calling for an "immediate diplomatic solution" and for the dismantlement of NATO.[36] On 9 March 2022, Progressive International organised their first Forum for Peace, in response to the "brutal invasion of Ukraine" and its escalation "toward intercontinental war."[37]
On 13 May 2022 a joint press conference hosted by Jeremy Corbyn, Ece Temelkuran and Yanis Varoufakis on behalf of the Progressive International, DiEM25, and MeRA25, presented the Athens Declaration, which stated: "The war on Ukraine calls for support for victims of war and a new non-aligned movement." The statement demanded an immediate ceasefire and respect for international law, and opposed "military blocs" and what it called "a New Cold War."[38][39]
Gaza war
The Progressive International has been critical of the Gaza war and characterizes Israel's actions in Gaza as a genocide. In early 2025, it prompted the creation of the Hague Group, an alliance of states with the aim of upholding international humanitarian law; the group hosted an emergency conference in July 2025 to take concrete measures in order to stop the genocide.[1][40][41][42]
China
On September 4, 2024, Council members of the Progressive International published a collective statement opposing the "Cold War" against China by the United States.[43]
Iran
The Cabinet of the Progressive International denounced Israel's bombing of Iran in June 2025, stating "A war on Iran threatens to have catastrophic consequences for the peoples of the region — and the world."[44]
Members
Progressive International is made up of member organizations that are political parties or movements.[45] Member media organizations participate in the wire service.
Political parties
Movements
| Country | Party/Organization | Abbreviation | Ideology | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Argentina |
Central de Trabajadoras y Trabajadores de la Argentina | CTA-T | Trade union organization | |
| Trabajadores Unidos por la Tierra | Rural agricultural organization | |||
 Bangladesh |
National Garment Workers’ Federation | NGWF | Trade union federation of garment workers in Bangladesh | |
 Bolivia |
Wiphalas por el Mundo (Wiphalas Across the World) | Wiphala organization | ||
 Brazil |
Central Única dos Trabalhadores | CUT | Main trade union federation in Brazil | |
| Federação Única dos Petroleiros (Federation of Petroleum Workers) | FUP | Petrol workers union | ||
| Movimento dos Trabalhadores Sem-Teto (Movement of Homeless Workers) | MTST | Housing rights organization | ||
 Canada |
Common Frontiers | Multi-sectorial national working group | ||
 Chile |
Ukamau | Housing rights organization | ||
 Colombia |
People's Congress | Social and political movement based in Colombia | ||
| Unión Sindical Obrera de la Industria del Petróleo | USO | Oil workers union | ||
 Dominican Republic |
Instituto de Desarrollo de la Economía Asociativa | IDEAC | Non-profit organization | |
 El Salvador |
Federación de Cooperativas de la Reforma Agraria de la Región Central | FECORACEN | Peasants and Indigenous community organization | |
 France |
ReAct Transnational | Labor NGO | ||
 Guatemala |
Guatemalan Trade Union, Indigenous and Farmer Movement | MSICG | Trade union center | |
 Honduras |
Luchemos | Feminist organization, associated with Libre | ||
 India |
Andhra Pradesh Vyvasaya Vruthidarula Union | APVVU | Union federation of rural informal workers | |
| Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (Association for the Empowerment of Labourers and Farmers) |
|
Non-profit organization focused on right to information and employment | ||
| National Alliance of People's Movements | NAPM | Alliance of progressive social movements in India | ||
| Telangana Gig and Platforms Workers Union | TGPWU | Workers union in Telangana | ||
 Indonesia |
Aksi Ekologi & Emansipasi Rakyat | AEER | Environmentalist collective of Indonesian researchers and activists | |
 Italy |
Officine Civiche | Social justice organization based in Ciampino, Italy | ||
 Kenya |
Mathare Social Justice Centre |
|
Community organization in Mathare, Nairobi | |
 Malaysia |
Imagined Malaysia | Non-profit history organization | ||
 Mexico |
Collective Movement for the Arts and Culture of Mexico | MOCCAM | Collective of arts and culture workers | |
 Namibia |
Namibian Domestic and Allied Workers Union | NDAWU | Domestic workers' union | |
 Nigeria |
BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights | BAOBAB | Women's rights NGO | |
 Pakistan |
Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee | PKRC | Network of peasant organisations in Pakistan, member of La Via Campesina | |
| Women Democratic Front | WDF | Socialist-feminist organization | ||
 Poland |
Akcja Socjalistyczna (Socialist Action) | AS | Socialist organization | |
 Sahrawi Republic |
Sahrawi Youth Union | UJSARIO | Youth wing of the Polisario Front | |
 Senegal |
Centre for Research and Action on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights | CRADESC | Think-tank and advocacy framework in Francophone West Africa and the Sahel | |
 Spain |
Boza Sur | Migrant rights organization | ||
| Fridays For Future Salamanca | Environmental activist organization | |||
 Sudan |
Sudanese Professionals Association | SPA | Association of Sudanese trade unions | |
 Tanzania |
Mtandao wa Vikundi vya Wakulima Tanzania (National Network of Small-Scale Farmers Groups in Tanzania) | MVIWATA | Farmers organization | |
 Uganda |
Akina Mama wa Afrika | AMwA | Pan-African feminist organization | |
 Ukraine |
The All-Ukraine Independent Trade Union (Zakhyst Pratsi) | AUITU | Cross-sector Ukrainian labour union | |
 United Kingdom |
App Drivers & Couriers Union | ADCU | Trade union for drivers and couriers | |
| Autonomous Design Group | ADG | Anti-capitalist art collective | ||
| Common Wealth | Progressive think tank | |||
| Independent Workers Union of Great Britain | IWGB | Trade union representing mainly migrant workers and gig workers | ||
| Migrants Organise | Migrant and refugee organization | |||
| Momentum | Socialist organization, affiliated with the Labour Party | |||
| Peace & Justice Project | British political organization | |||
| The World Transformed | Left-wing political festival | |||
 United States |
Arab Resource & Organizing Center | AROC | Arab organization in the San Francisco Bay Area | |
| Brandworkers | Non-profit organization of food factory workers in New York and New Jersey | |||
| CODEPINK | Anti-war organization | |||
| Debt Collective |
|
Debtors' advocacy group, union of student debt strikers | ||
| Democratic Socialists of America | DSA | Socialist organization of the USA | ||
| KC Tenants | Tenants' association in Kansas City | |||
| Sunrise Movement | Climate change organization | |||
 Zimbabwe |
Zimbabwe People’s Land Rights Movement | ZPLRM | Civic platform focused on the rights of marginalised communities to land based resources | |
| Africa | Review of African Political Economy | ROAPE | ||
| Europe | Commons Network | Activist organization | ||
| International | Crash Course | Economics platform collective | ||
| Latin American Council of Social Sciences | CLACSO | International non-governmental institution with associative status at UNESCO | ||
| Palestinian Youth Movement | PYM | Trans-national organization of Palestinians in Palestine and in exile | ||
| Post Growth Institute | PGI | International post growth organization | ||
| Progressive Doctors | International community of medical professionals |
Publications
| Publication | Country | Description |
|---|---|---|
| A2larm |  Czech Republic | A left-wing online magazine focusing on Czech and international political issues. |
| Africa Is a Country | International | A media project challenging conventional narratives about Africa. |
| Alborada | United Kingdom | A platform for Latin American politics, culture, and media analysis. |
| Arena |  Sweden | A Swedish magazine focused on social and political commentary. |
| Bidayat |  Lebanon | A quarterly journal of politics and culture in the Arab world. |
| Brasil 247 | Brazil | A Brazilian online news outlet with a progressive stance. |
| Brasil Wire | Brazil | An English-language publication focused on Brazil's political scene. |
| Bulatlat |  Philippines | A progressive news website covering Philippine political and social issues. |
| CTXT | Spain | A Spanish online magazine focused on politics, economy, and culture. |
| De Olho Nos Ruralistas | Brazil | A rural news platform investigating land rights and agribusiness in Brazil. |
| Collective Action in Tech | International | A publication documenting labor and organizing efforts in the tech industry. |
| Colombia Informa | Colombia | A Colombian alternative news outlet focused on social movements and workers' struggles. |
| Declassified UK | United Kingdom | Investigative journalism outlet focused on UK foreign policy and military actions. |
| Din Deng |  Myanmar | A leftist Burmese-language online publication. |
| Dissent | United States | A quarterly magazine of politics and culture with a democratic socialist orientation. |
| El Ciudadano | Chile | A progressive Chilean newspaper focusing on politics, human rights, and social issues. |
| Feminism in India (FII) | India | A digital intersectional feminist platform to highlight issues related to women and marginalized communities in India. |
| Gazete Duvar |  Turkey | An independent Turkish online news outlet focused on politics and human rights. |
| Himal Southasian |  Nepal | A regional magazine of politics and culture covering South Asia. |
| IndoPROGRESS | Indonesia | A progressive online publication focusing on Indonesian political issues. |
| Internazionale | Italy | An Italian weekly magazine translating and republishing international journalism. |
| Jacobin | United States | A quarterly socialist magazine offering political analysis from a left-wing perspective. |
| Jadaliyya | International | A bilingual online magazine covering the Middle East, founded by academics and activists. |
| Jamhoor | Pakistan | A South Asian leftist publication focused on political issues in the region. |
| Junputh | India | An Indian progressive platform for social and political analysis. |
| Krytyka Polityczna | Poland | A Polish political and cultural magazine offering left-wing perspectives on politics and culture. |
| Lausan Collective |  Hong Kong | A leftist publication focusing on Hong Kong's protest movements and labor rights. |
| Le Vent Se Lève (LVSL) | France | A French media outlet analyzing politics, economics, and social issues from a progressive viewpoint. |
| Mada Masr |  Egypt | An independent online newspaper based in Egypt, covering politics and culture. |
| Mediapart | France | A French investigative journalism site. |
| Mondoweiss | United States | A news website covering American foreign policy in the Middle East, with a focus on Palestine-Israel issues. |
| Mérce |  Hungary | A Hungarian left-wing political news outlet. |
| New Bloom |  Taiwan | A Taiwanese publication focusing on social movements, culture, and politics. |
| Novara Media | United Kingdom | A British left-wing multimedia outlet covering politics and current affairs. |
| Nueva Sociedad | Argentina | A Latin American journal of social sciences and political analysis. |
| Outras Palavras | Brazil | A Brazilian progressive online platform for political commentary and analysis. |
| Qiao Collective | International | A leftist collective focusing on Chinese diaspora issues and China's political stance. |
| Revista Común | Mexico | A Mexican publication focused on culture and progressive politics. |
| Sahrawi Voice | Sahrawi Republic | A media outlet focused on the Western Sahara conflict and Sahrawi rights. |
| Sev Bibar | Turkey | A Turkish left-wing publication focused on labor rights and Kurdish issues. |
| The Elephant | Kenya | A progressive Kenyan platform focused on current affairs and analysis. |
| The Gravel Institute | United States | A media organization creating leftist educational content. |
| The Nation | United States | A US-based progressive weekly magazine. |
| The Real News Network (TRNN) | United States | A non-profit news organization providing in-depth reporting on political issues. |
| The Wire | India | An Indian independent online news outlet. |
| Venezuelanalysis |  Venezuela | A Venezuelan platform providing analysis from a pro-Bolivarian, pro-Maduro perspective. |
| ZNet | International | A progressive online publication focusing on global social and political issues. |
| openDemocracy | United Kingdom | A UK-based global independent media platform focusing on social justice and human rights. |
| Source:[46] | ||
Former members
| Country | Party/Organization | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chile |
Social Convergence (Convergencia Social) | Merged into the Broad Front |
| Poland |
Partia Razem | Left Progressive International in March 2022 due to "the absence of declaration recognising Ukraine’s sovereignty and an absolute condemnation of Russian imperialism"[47][48] |
 Russia |
Left Bloc | On 11 November 2023, the Left Bloc announced the "closure of the project" and the cessation of publications due to censorship and repression in Russia.[49][47] |
 Serbia |
Ne davimo Beograd | Merged into the Green–Left Front |
| Ukraine |
Commons | [47][50] |