Progressive International

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]

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 U.S. President 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]

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

Publications

Former members

References

1. ^ Rickett, Oscar (2024-11-19). "Watermelon Index names and shames companies complicit in Israel's war on Gaza". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2025-06-09. The Watermelon Index, which the international left-wing organisation describes as “a tool for worker-led resistance against the occupation and genocide in Palestine”, will allow employees to connect with each other and with activists to challenge their bosses over connections to Israel.
2. ^ Weigel, David (1 December 2018). "Bernie Sanders turns focus to the White House and the world". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
3. ^ "Members". Progressive International. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
4. ^ "69% of people think Amazon is 'too powerful'". The Independent. 2020-11-26. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
5. ^ Adler, David & Varoufakis, Yanis (1 December 2018). "We shouldn't rush to save the liberal order. We should remake it". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
6. ^ "An Open Call to All Progressive Forces". Progressive International. 30 November 2018. Archived from the original on December 2, 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
7. ^ Moraga, Enrique Gomáriz (2022-02-17). "The Progressive Internationals in Latin America". Latinoamérica 21. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
8. ^ ”Bernie Sanders and Yanis Varoufakis call on progressives to unite against Trump’s Nationalist International (Calling on progressives worldwide to form an international movement to combat the rise of authoritarianism represented by Donald Trump.)”, 15 September 2018, https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/bernie-sanders-and-yanis-varoufakis-call-on-progressives-to-unite-against-trump-s-nation/#:~:text=openDemocracy%20Facebook-,Bernie%20Sanders%20and%20Yanis%20Varoufakis%20call%20on%20progressives%20to%20unite,pit%20one%20group%20against%20another.%E2%80%9D .
9. ^ "Progressive International will launch to unite, organize, and mobilize progressive forces of the world" (in Turkish). hedep.org.tr. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
10. ^ Varoufakis, Yanis (2020-05-11). "Progressive International: Today we began organising the world's progressives. Join us!". Yanis Varoufakis. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
11. ^ Leier, Elizabeth (2020-09-24). "Introducing Progressive International—a global left-wing solidarity movement". Canadian Dimension. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
12. ^ "The Progressive International: an open call to all progressive forces". DiEM25. 2020-05-11. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
13. ^ Stilson, Robert. "The Progressive International: Leadership". Capital Research Center. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
14. ^ Adler, David. "Announcing the Progressive International". openDemocracy. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
15. ^ "Who We Are". Progressive International. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
16. ^ "Cabinet". Progressive International. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
17. ^ "Julian Aguon to serve on Global Advisory Council of Progressive International". BlueOceanLaw. 2020-05-12. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
18. ^ "Progressive International". InfluenceWatch. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
19. ^ "Progressive International election observer mission lands in Bolivia". Progressive International. 2020-10-14. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
20. ^ "Progressive International launches global observatory to monitor democracies". The New Indian Express. 2021-11-15. Retrieved 2024-07-26.
21. ^ Bergamo, Mônica (2021-11-14). "Internacional progressista lançará observatório para monitorar instituições no Brasil e na Hungria" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Folha de S.Paulo. Retrieved 2024-07-27.
22. ^ ricardo (2023-12-01). "EFJ takes part in the Belmarsh Tribunal on Julian Assange". European Federation of Journalists. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
23. ^ "The Belmarsh Tribunal: We stand with Assange". DiEM25. 2020-09-30. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
24. ^ McGreal, Chris (2023-01-20). "Biden accused of hypocrisy as he seeks extradition of Julian Assange". The Guardian. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
25. ^ Horvat, Srećko (2022-02-23). "The Belmarsh Tribunal Is Demanding Justice for Victims of the War on Terror". Jacobin. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
26. ^ "Peace & Justice Project meets with Bernie Sanders in Washington D.C.". Peace & Justice Project. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
27. ^ "The Belmarsh Tribunal: the War on Terror Is Put on Trial". Novara Media. 2021-10-22. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
28. ^ Carliner, Sam (2022-02-28). "'War Is a Crime'--The Belmarsh Tribunal Demands Accountability for the War on Terror". Common Dreams. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
29. ^ "The Belmarsh Tribunal – Sydney". Progressive International. February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
30. ^ Zapata, Natasha Hakimi (2021-08-24). "Sanctions Didn't Help Cubans, Iranians or Venezuelans. They Won't Help Afghans.". In These Times. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
31. ^ Adler, David (2022-02-03). "Cuba has been under US embargo for 60 years. It's time for that to end". The Guardian. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
32. ^ "Progressive International demands Cuba's removal from SSOT list". Prensa Latina. 2024-06-28. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
33. ^ Corbett, Jessica (2024-10-30). "'Two Genocidaires v. the World': US, Israel Oppose Lifting Cuba Blockade". Common Dreams. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
34. ^ Garrido, Verónica M. (12 February 2026). "Una nueva flotilla internacional se organiza para llevar ayuda humanitaria a Cuba" (in Spanish). El Pais. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
35. ^ "Anuncian flotilla internacional a Cuba para llevar ayuda humanitaria ante cerco de EU" (in Spanish). La Jornada. 12 February 2026. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
36. ^ "Statement from the Cabinet on the war in Ukraine". Progressive International. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
37. ^ "Forum for Peace". Progressive International. Retrieved 2024-07-26.
38. ^ "Watch live: the Athens Declaration, presented by Yanis Varoufakis, Jeremy Corbyn and Ece Temelkuran". DiEM25. 2022-05-04. Retrieved 2024-07-26.
39. ^ Michael Pröbsting (17 May 2022). "“Athens Declaration” on Ukraine War: A Disorientation Smoke Grenade". Revolutionary Communist International Tendency. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
40. ^ Lennard, Natasha (2024-12-17). "U.S. Defied Spanish Embargo on Arms Bound for Israel by Making Enforcement More Difficult". The Intercept. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
41. ^ Arria, Michael (2025-03-21). "'Collective action is the only antidote': Progressive International, the Hague Group and the global movement to hold Israel accountable". Mondoweiss. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
42. ^ "Briefing PI Briefing | No. 21 | An Emergency Conference to Halt the Gaza Genocide". Progressive International. 2025-06-12. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
43. ^ "No Cold War!". Progressive International. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
44. ^ "“No War on Iran”". Progressive International. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
45. ^ "Members". Progressive International. Retrieved 2023-05-17.^{[non-primary source needed]}
46. ^ "National Students for Justice in Palestine". Progressive International. Retrieved 2026-04-22.
47. ^ "Wire". Progressive International. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
48. ^ "Members | Progressive International". 2020-10-28. Archived 28 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
49. ^ "Razem leaves Progressive International and DiEM25". 2022-02-28. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
50. ^ "«Левый блок» объявил о закрытии из-за цензуры и репрессий в России" (in Russian). ОВД-Инфо. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
51. ^ J. Ayoub, Elia & Atik, Christina (25 May 2022). "On Ukraine-Syria solidarity and the 'anti-imperialism of idiots'". Shado Mag. Retrieved 2023-03-28.