From September 1st to 6th, 2026, the "Disarm Rheinmetall" alliance is once again calling for a camp and protests against militarization and war in Cologne. We will participate and contribute our perspectives to the discussions and actions. In this way, we want to contribute to building the anti-militarist and revolutionary movement in Germany. Let's travel to Cologne together, engage in discussions, and resist the wars waged by the ruling class!
The Problem: CapitalismWhether in Ukraine, Iran, Palestine, Kurdistan, Sudan, or the Democratic Republic of Congo - for years, the number of armed conflicts and, with them, the suffering of the affected populations worldwide has been increasing. Furthermore, several interstate conflicts are escalating to the point where open confrontation is drawing closer - in the Pacific, in Cuba, and in South Asia. This is no coincidence: Global capitalism, the worldwide competition between nation-states, is undergoing a transformation. The global hegemony of the USA, consolidated after the collapse of state socialism, is crumbling. It is being challenged by the rise of China and Russia's attempt to restore its status as a world power. To secure its hegemony, the USA is increasingly resorting to open confrontation - for example, in the invasion of Venezuela, the war against Iran, and the threat to Cuba. The European states - organized in the EU and NATO - mostly still stand by the USA, from whose world order they have long benefited. But their efforts to establish an independent role as a world power are becoming increasingly apparent, with Germany striving for the leading position in Europe. Regional powers are also exploiting these shifts to expand their influence: Turkey is trying to rid itself of the progressive social project of Rojava in northeastern Syria, Israel of the Palestinian population and its regional adversaries, and on the African continent, various forces are vying for access to coveted resources.
The European states - organized in the EU and NATO - mostly still stand by the USA, from whose world order they have long benefited. But their efforts to establish an independent world power role are becoming ever more apparent, with Germany aiming for the leading position in Europe. Against this backdrop, Germany, other European states, and many other countries around the world are currently engaged in massive military buildup. They are preparing to defend and expand their position in international competition in current and future wars. We, the wage earners, are bearing the costs. Cuts to healthcare, education, pensions, unemployment benefits, and much more are also intended to make the German state more internationally competitive. But weapons must also be manned: Young wage earners are being lured into the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) with extensive advertising and financial incentives. For all those who do not enlist voluntarily, the new conscription system is imminent. This rearmament is accompanied by ideological indoctrination from politicians and mainstream media: We are supposed to see ourselves as part of a nation struggling for "its" place in the world, to rally behind "our" state, and to tighten our belts for national success. It is these narratives that fuel the rise of the far right and reinforce binary and sexist gender norms.
These narratives are what fuel the rise of the extreme right and reinforce binary and sexist gender norms. In truth, we wage earners have nothing to gain from these wars. It is not our interests that are being defended, but those of the state and national capital. On the contrary, we have everything to lose: our lives, our loved ones, our homeland. And part of the truth is also this: while this upheaval increases the number of wars, capitalism, fundamentally, can never exist without war. As long as nation-states struggle for their place in global competition, they will always openly fight each other.
The perspective: Libertarian Communism
Many of the usual proposals for peace therefore fall flat: diplomacy is not the opposite of war, but merely another way for states to pursue their interests. Warmongers in political office are not irrational; they act rationally in the interests of their state. The project of an independent European superpower is also not a peaceful counterweight to the USA, but an attempt to enforce one's own interests with force-and a multipolar world order does not "tame" the USA, but unleashes new wars. A peace that merely means the absence of war, and in which interstate competition along with poverty, exploitation and environmental destruction persists, is not the solution.
A global coexistence of all people without any of this is possible - a society in which everyone can live well and without fear of violence. But its prerequisite is that we overcome capitalism, the system of state competition. We are fighting for a society in which we collectively determine what production, reproduction, and our coexistence look like. Worldwide. Without states, without capitalists. This is what we call libertarian communism.
The way out: Building counter-power for the social revolution
To stop rearmament and war, to overcome capitalism, we need an international social revolution that breaks the rule of state and capital worldwide. But such a revolution doesn't fall from the sky - we must pave the way for it by building our power from below in the here and now. Key starting points for this are the places of everyday life where we directly experience militarization: in the neighborhoods where impoverishment is increasing and recruitment for the armed forces is taking place; in schools and universities, where those soon to be drafted are told that the state represents their interests; In factories where staff is being cut or production is being shifted to armaments, we must intensify our struggles and organizing efforts-for example, in neighborhood organizations, student and school committees, and trade unions-and we are already beginning to do so in various cities.
We must also support movements in which wage earners unite against specific wars, whether in solidarity with the Palestinian, Kurdish, or other populations. These movements can help to demonstrate international solidarity and publicly expose the murderous nature of this system.
Furthermore, a specifically antimilitarist movement is needed-as a space for analytical and strategic discussions and as a tool to make anti-war positions more visible. We see "Disarm Rheinmetall" as an important meeting point for such a movement and therefore participate in camps and protests.
In all these struggles, it is essential to continuously educate the public about the systemic causes of militarization and war. Only when this awareness is anchored in the working class can we counter the warmongering from above.
Finally, especially on the anti-militarist issue, the international networking of all our efforts is essential. We must build contacts with grassroots organizations and movements in other countries and learn from each other. The main enemy is at home; our allies are in every country in the world.
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, EDUCATION, AND WORKPLACE: BUILDING COUNTERPOWER FROM BELOW!
Join us, start a conversation, and take to the streets!
September 1-6: Pavilion at the camp, part of the "Social Struggle Construction Site"
September 3: Open meeting & banner painting from 8 pm at the pavilion
September 5: Participation in the final demonstration
https://www.dieplattform.org/2026/08/14/kein-kapitalismus-ohne-krieg-kein-frieden-ohne-revolution-rme-2026/#more-4177
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Source: A-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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