Social Alternatives

Criticism of the dominant social relations is a necessary foundation of all left-wing politics, but it is not enough. The Left is confronted with the fundamental task of formulating social alternatives. On the basis of critical social analysis, it is vital to develop transitional projects that focus on the here and now while simultaneously moving beyond it—helping to improve immediate living conditions, expand the possibilities of emancipatory struggles, and at the same time point in a direction that transports an overflowing moment of concrete utopias to overcome existing conditions. Left-wing social alternatives require political strategies that answer questions like: what is to be done, who will do it, and how?

The foundation’s political education work combines socialist transformation research and practice with alternative strategies relating to actually existing movements and forces—such as strengthening the public sphere, appropriating the commons, and expanding social infrastructures. Approaches to socio-ecological transformation, especially an alternative economic and property order, are closely intertwined with the struggles of the ecological and climate movements, trade unions, renters’ initiatives, or feminist and care movements. For us, this occurs from the perspective of renewing democratic socialism.