How to win from the left?

International forum
From June 22th through 24th
Budapest

Introduction

LAB-LEFT will present a wide range of successful left-wing political strategies and practices with the help of Hungarian and international activists, politicians, trade union organisers, journalists and researchers.

The primary aim of the forum is to present existing and potential left-wing alternatives in a world dominated by right-wing hegemony.

Speakers

  • Li Andersson
    Former Finnish Minister of Education, leader of the Finnish Left Alliance and MEP
  • David Broder
    European editor of the US magazine Jacobin
  • Jan Bělíček
    Founder and editor-in-chief of the Czech Alarm online magazine
  • James Schneider
    Co-founder of Momentum in the UK, head of communications for Progressive International
  • Jámbor András
    Member of Parliament from the Szikra Movement
  • Tordai Bence
    Independent Hungarian Member of Parliament

Topics

  • Local Powers

    How do left-wing movements embed themselves in local communities?
    What forms of services, participation and outreach can establish long-term presence?
    # progressive municipalism, participative democracy, community organising

  • The War of Position

    How to navigate institutional politics without being subsumed by it?
    What constraints and possibilities does coalition-building entail?
    How do national parties coordinate with local initiatives?
    # party-building, national politics, parliamentarism

  • The Outside Foot

    How do political movements reinforce struggles happening outside the institutional realm?
    What can effective collaborations with feminist, housing and labour initiatives look like?
    # labour organising, feminist struggle, housing

  • Green Eastern Europe

    How to build cross-class support for a just transition in Eastern Europe?
    How can environmentalism and ‘green industries’ be repoliticised from a left and cross-class perspective?
    # just transition, anti-extractivism, green municipalities

  • Raising our Banners

    What communication strategies have proven successful in a right-wing, oligarchic mediascape?
    What effective possibilities of mobilisation have digital platforms enabled?
    What can we learn from successful left-wing media projects?
    # media, communication, digital strategies

Schedule

Friday

15:00
16:00
17:00
18:00
19:00
20:00
21:00
Welcome Session
Speakers: Szikra (HU)
2024.11.22, 15:30 - 16:30
Progressive Józsefváros: Neighbourhood Tour
Speakers: Dániel Rádai Deputy Mayor of Józsefváros (HU)
2024.11.22, 16:30 - 18:30
Social media workshop with ECDA
Speakers: Oriol Corbella, ECDA (ES)
2024.11.22, 16:30 - 18:30
Green Eastern Europe
Speakers: Bojana Novaković, Marš sa Drine (SRB), Iskra Krstić, Polekol (SRB), Tordai Bence MP (HU), Kristina Hamplová, re-set/Limity Jsme My (CZ)
Moderator: Vankó Lili
2024.11.22, 19:30 - 21.00

Saturday

10:00
11:00
12:00
13:00
14:00
15:00
16:00
17:00
18:00
19:00
20:00
21:00
22:00
23:00
0:00
1:00
Homes for All
Speakers: Ewan Mclennan, Living Rent (SCO), Vincze Enikő, EAC (RO), Misetics Bálint, AVM (HU), Aydin Dikerdem, Labour (UK)
Moderator: Merker Iván
2024.11.23, 10:00 - 11:30
Fruits of our Labour
Speakers: Melanija Lojpur, CPE (SRB), Maja Kudła, Inicjatywy Pracowniczej (POL), Balázs Dvoracskó, SZEF (HU), Bora Mema, Lëvizja Bashkë (ALB)
Moderator: Csepregi Dávid
2024.11.23, 11:45 - 13:15
Building Power Block by Block
Workshop on housing activism with Living Rent Scotland
2024.11.23, 11:45 - 13:15
Lunch Break
2024.11.23, 13:30 - 14:30
Local Powers
Speakers: Marin Živković, MP, Možemo! (HR), Maja Wroblewska, MJN (PL), Soproni Tamás, Terézváros polgármestere (HU), Marisa Escalante, Más Madrid (ESP)
Moderator: Sudár Orsolya
2024.11.23, 14:30 - 16:00
How to Make Your Activism More Effective?
Main Tools and Strategies of Union Organising
Speakers: Maja Kudła, OZZIP (PL)
2024.11.23, 14:30 - 16:00
Sharing session
2024.11.23, 16:15 - 17:15
To Weave a Strong Bloc
Speakers: Li Andersson MEP, Left Alliance (FI), James Schneider, ProgInt (UK), Bojana Novaković, Marš sa Drine (SRB), Jámbor András, Szikra (HU)
Moderator: Rossman-Kiss Áron
2024.11.23, 17:30 - 19:15
After at Manyi
2024.11.23, 21:00 - 1:00

Sunday

10:00
11:00
12:00
13:00
14:00
15:00
16:00
17:00
18:00
The War of Position
Speakers: Li Andersson MEP, Left Alliance (FI), Luis Fazenda, Bloco (PT), Arlind Qori, Lëvizja Bashkë (ALB), Zofia Malisz, Razem (PL), Lokman Sazan, DEM (TUR)
Moderator: Karas Dávid
2024.11.24, 10:00 - 11:30
How to Build the New Wave of Eastern European Activism?
Workshop with Wschód from Poland
2024.11.24, 11:45 - 13:15
How to Build Movements with Local Political Work and Community Building?
Speakers: Udvarhelyi Tessza, School of Public Life (HU)
2024.11.24, 11:45 - 13:15
Lunch Break
2024.11.24, 13:30 - 14:30
Raising our Banners
Speakers: David Broder, Jacobin (DE), Marko Miletić, Mašina (SRB). Tomáš Hučko, Kapitál (SLK), Jan Bělíček, Alarm (CZ), Papp Gáspár, Mérce (HU)
Moderator: Bethany Rielly, New Internationalist
2024.11.24, 15:00 - 16:30
The Power of Many: Effective Campaigning for a Shared Goal
Speakers: Szikra campaign school (HU)
2024.11.24, 15:00 - 16:30
Final reflections + Sharing session
2024.11.24, 16:45 - 18:00

Information

Location

Nyolcésfél,
1082 Budapest Német utca 16.
The forum is held at Nyolcésfél. Nyolcésfél is a cultural space in the heart of Józsefváros, located in the former Józsefváros Interurban Telephone Centre’s building. The venue hosts various musical bands and cultural initiatives.

Accommodation

You can attend for the whole weekend even if you don't live in Budapest, as members of the Szikra Movement will provide solidarity accommodation for those who request it. Please indicate your accommodation needs when you register!