The more real thing than big, big coke: the new internationalism

We are faced with the decline of proletarian and socialist inter- nationalism, the rise of a 'middle-class and democratic' internationalism of the new social movements, the lack of contemporary internationalist strategy and theory, and the necessity to place the new 'shopfloor' labour inter- nationalism in relation to these. This requires 1) defining such terms as internationalisation, internationalism and solidarity, 2) identifying the mass subjects and political purposes of internationalism, 3) specifying the space or field occupied, the strategy, geographical direction and scope, 4) considering forms of organisation and communication, the role of organisers and intellectuals. The new understanding shows promise when applied to contemporary labour internationalism. It raises, however, the question of whether those stimulating internationalism practice amongst themselves what they are encouraging amongst workers.