Activities
The IS does not participate at present in parliamentary democracy and does not stand candidates at elections. Instead, it puts much of its energy in outreach, education and protest activities. It sees much value in the productions of its monthly magazine De Socialist, formatted on the example of the Socialist Workers Party's (SWP) Socialist Worker newspaper. De Socialist is sold at any protest meeting or demonstration at which the IS is present, as well as on the street. The IS also publishes a wide range of booklets, both translations of SWP books and original 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 separately organising actions. The IS is part of the Keer het Tij protest coalition against the Balkenende government, as well as the anti-war movement.
The IS has long worked together with the Socialist Party (SP) in protest actions as well as organisations like the Dutch Social Forum and at their party conference of November 2005, the IS decided to take things a step further by formally entering the party. The IS would still exist as an independent organisation, but its members were asked to join the SP as well and play an active role within that party. The IS sees the relationship between itself and the SP as similar to that of the British SWP with Respect. The SP however does not see the relationship in this way and responded by not allowing IS members to be a member of both the IS and the SP in fear of attempts to radicalize its members by IS members. So far only two out of the nearly 170 local branches have allowed IS members to join the SP.
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.
Read more about this topic: International Socialists (Netherlands)
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