The International Youth and Students for Social Equality logo

The International Youth Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) is the youth and student organization of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and the International Committee of the Fourth International, an international Trotskyist organization. Launched in 2006, the IYSSE aims to build an international socialist movement of students and workers opposing militarist violence, social inequality and attacks on democratic rights. The IYSSE continues the work of its predecessor the Students for Social Equality and the International Students for Social Equality, with student clubs at Universities and High Schools worldwide.

Chapters of the IYSSE hold regular meetings to educate students on Marxism and Socialism and to debate and discuss contemporary political issues. In February 2007 a German chapter of the IYSSE held a meeting at the Technical University of Berlin to discuss the US war plans against Iran,[1] and an Australian chapter of the IYSSE intervened in meeting held at the University of New South Wales.[2]

On March 31 and April 1, 2007, the IYSSE and the SEP held an international conference in Ann Arbor, Michigan opposing the war in Iraq and a potential war with Iran.[3] Those attending the conference voted unanimously for the conference resolution.[4] The resolution adopted connects the expansion of US militarism, attacks on democratic rights, and the growth of social inequality within the US with the declining economic position of the US internationally. The resolution points to the capitalist nation-state system as the root cause of war and outlines the need for an international socialist movement to oppose war.

"[When] governments in Syria and Libya... crack down on their peaceful protesters we call for intervention. The hypocrisy of the ruling class in this country has been made so clear... What we really need is a political alternative to the two big business parties. That's why I'm a member of the International Students for Social Equality"

– IYSSE member Eric Lee on CNN, 21 Nov. 2011[5]

IYSSE members have been invited as representatives of third party, independent or socialist perspectives on political panels,[6] with IYSSE members reaching news headlines during the recent "Occupy protests" in which students have been attacked or maced by police.[7] The IYSSE has also hosted academic or intellectual events that have received broader attention; in November 2010, the Berlin branch of the German IYSSE hosted a public lecture by historian Alexander Rabinowitch, on the subject of The Russian Revolution suggesting renewed interest in the historical event.[8]

In 2014, the IYSSE around the world hosted the first online International May Day Rally, where over 2000 people attended online from over 96 countries.[9] The speeches focused on the global drive to war, the history of working class struggles, permanent revolution, and called for the development of socialist conscious workers and youth across the world.[10]

The Sri Lankan IYSSE has received attention from major papers in Sri Lanka for its organization of students, workers, and contributions to election campaigns.[11][12] The Sri Lankan IYSSE has sought to defend students' and workers' rights, and in so doing has opposed Tamil and Sinhalese ethnic divisions within the country.[13][14]

References

  1. ↑ Germany: IYSSE holds Berlin meeting on US war plans against Iran World Socialist Web Site
  2. ↑ IYSSE exposes hypocrisy of Australian Labor politician at campus meeting World Socialist Web Site
  3. ↑ International Students for Social Equality/Socialist Equality Party conference adopts socialist internationalist perspective to oppose war World Socialist Web Site
  4. ↑ Resolution adopted by the IYSSE/SEP Emergency Conference Against War World Socialist Web Site
  5. ↑ Velez-Mitchell, Jane, "CNN Headline News: Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell," CNN, 21 November 2011.
  6. ↑ "Third Party Perspectives, Economic Crisis," US Fed News, 23 April 2009.
  7. ↑ Velez-Mitchell, Jane, "CNN Headline News: Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell," CNN, 21 November 2011.
  8. ↑ Le Blond, Josie, "Revolutionary History visits Berlin - 'I'm Not Fomenting Revolution, I'm Studying It,'" Spiegel Online International, 12 November 2010.
  9. ↑ "An assessment of the International May Day Rally" World Socialist Web Site, 6 May 2014
  10. ↑ "International May Day Rally" International May Day Rally, 4 May 2014
  11. ↑ "Sri Lankan SEP launches presidential election campaign," Colombo Times, 15 December 2009.
  12. ↑ "Discuss Vital Issues," Daily News (Sri Lanka), 30 April 2011.
  13. ↑ Wijesiriwardena, Panini, "Sri Lankan police attack protesting students," World Socialist Web Site, 21 October 2010.
  14. ↑ "Sri Lankan SEP/ISSE holds public meeting on JVP crisis," World Socialist Web Site, 29 November 2011 .
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