Students are returning to universities in the U.S. and globally under dire conditions as fascism takes root, particularly with Donald Trump adopting authoritarian tactics, including military occupation of dissenting cities and censorship. The German government similarly supports Israel in its actions against Palestinians while launching a large-scale rearmament program, severely cutting funding to education and social services.
With universities facing substantial financial cuts—totaling millions—there’s a push to suppress anti-war sentiment and convert campuses into military training sites. Young people, many of whom have faced hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing global conflicts, are increasingly seen as potential recruits for war.
Protests against government policies reflect widespread opposition, but the article argues that such movements can’t sway the government, rooted as it is in the capitalist crisis. The role of the Left Party is critiqued for fostering illusions about “peaceful capitalism,” ultimately condoning militarization.
The call is for a revolutionary movement led by the working class, with students urged to align their struggles with broader labor initiatives against capitalism and militarism. The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) advocates for an anti-war movement grounded in socialist principles, emphasizing the need for international solidarity in combating imperialism and ensuring a better future. All students are invited to join this movement to stop genocide and imperialist wars.
