Marxist Summer School 2026

It was a weekend full of debates and exchanges. Over 550 people from nine countries, including a large delegation from Die Linke, took part in the Marxist Summer School in the industrial city of Charleroi, just south of Brussels, from 10 to 12 July 2026. In an atmosphere of solidarity and mutual respect, participants discussed theoretical issues, the practical work of the left and current political challenges. The main focus was on examining the militarisation of the European Union. At a key evening event, Katerina Anastasiou from the ‘Stop Rearm Europe’ campaign discussed the issue with trade unionist Valentina Orrazini (FIOM/CGIL) from Italy, Peter Mertens (PTB/PVDA) and Walter Baier (European Left). Alongside many other presentations, the RLS workshops also attracted considerable interest. Cem Ince (Die Linke) and Nadia Muscofu (PTB/PVDA) gave compelling accounts of their personal journeys – from working-class backgrounds in migrant families, through trade union work, to parliament. Talks by guests from China on the concept of ‘eco-civilisation’, as well as a panel discussion on the crisis in European industry, addressed two key global and European issues. RLS Executive Board member Michael Brie spoke in two workshops on Rosa Luxemburg’s anti-militarism and the dialectical method in strategy-making.
The organisers of the Institute for Marxist Studies (IMAST), an educational institution affiliated with the PTB/PVDA, have given an overwhelmingly positive assessment of the second Marxist Summer School. They have already announced that it will be held again next year, undoubtedly with the support of the RLS once more.