Global Solidarity

presentation & discussion

Lenguage: English
Duration: 90min
online

What´s it about?

Peter Bohmer's presentation will focus on global solidarity for its strategic importance and moral imperative, and as a central and ongoing part of his life. Solidarity means active involvement; it is more than a statement. He will reflect on why as a United States resident, he has prioritized global solidarity with: Vietnam in the 1960's, Chile, South Africa and Central America in the 1970’s and 1980’s; social movements opposing the World Trade Organization and international financial Institutions in the 1990’s, and the people of Palestine and Iran in the present day. Peter will analyze different forms and functions of imperialism including military interventions, covert actions, and economic and political domination. He will mainly focus on U.S. imperialism.

Drawing on personal experience, Peter Bohmer will examine solidarity with liberation and anti-colonial struggles, social movements, oppressed people across the world, immigrants, and a few governments. Different forms and tactics of global solidarity and resistance to imperialism will be discussed and evaluated.

The presentation will provide a conceptual framework for determining when anti-intervention action, but perhaps not full solidarity, is appropriate. Peter will provide sup-port for the claim that the more an organization is actively opposing their own country’s imperialism, the more they have the right to provide support that is critical but not absolute. He will sharply differentiate between internationalist solidarity across borders by left organizations and individuals in contrast to intervention by their governments.

After a brief analysis by Peter, he will lead a discussion among the attendees of the ongoing debate regarding the open support for Iranian political prisoners within the broader context of opposing and resisting the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran as exemplified in The Guardian, August 20, 2026. “To Iran’s Political Prisoners, Trapped “Between Two Blades of a Scissor”, Open Letter”

Objective of the session

Sharing based on personal experience, the importance of global solidarity. Contributing to the ongoing discussion about when ani-intervention is appropriate to when also actual solidarity with governments resisting US and imperialist actions is right, e.g., with regards to opposing US and Israeli War Against Iran, opposing US and Israeli genocide against Gaza and Palestine.