The Peoples’ Platform Europe started in Vienna on 14 February with a powerful speech by Adem Uzun, a leading member of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK), who called for a renewed internationalist movement to combat the crises of capitalism, fascism and the far-right. The three-day gathering brought together 800 participants from 35 countries, including grassroots movements, trade unions and political organisations seeking alternatives to the existing world system. After three days of intensive discussions, the Platform is expected to publish a final resolution today.
In his speech, Uzun warned that capitalism is not just in crisis – it is designed to sustain itself through constant crises:
"Today's crises of economic instability, ecological collapse, social alienation and political dysfunction demand urgent solutions. But these challenges can only be fully understood through a profound analysis of the systemic dynamics of capitalist modernity."
He traced these crises back to colonialism and Eurocentric capitalism, stating that the modern economic order was built on “violent systems of resource extraction, land confiscation and labour exploitation.”
Uzun criticised globalist elites who, he argued, are “not seeking to overcome the crisis, but to deepen it for profit”. He accused transnational corporations of using advanced technology to engineer a “homogeneous, politically helpless and morally collapsed society”.
He also pointed to the philosophy of imprisoned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan and the Kurdish struggle as key examples of peoples resisting systemic oppression:
"As the most important theoretician and leader of the Kurdistan Freedom Movement, Abdullah Öcalan said: 'Undoubtedly, hegemonic powers do not always win in big wars, peoples can also gain a lot. In fact, hegemonic powers can systematically lose, and peoples can systematically gain.'"
Uzun delivered a stark critique of the European left’s reliance on parliamentary politics, arguing that faith in electoral strategies is rapidly eroding:
“The classical European left urgently needs to be more clearly opposed to reformist policies… Prioritising the struggle within the parliamentary system cannot bring the change it promises. Instead, it delays the groundwork for real transformation.”
He stressed that while grassroots movements defending workers’ rights, feminist struggles and environmental activism have gained strength, they remain insufficiently organised to challenge the system effectively.
He also warned of capitalism’s destructive strategies, citing regions like Kurdistan, Palestine, Ukraine, Lebanon and Syria, where he argued the imperialist goal is not only to depopulate but to reconstruct and reorganise society under imperialist control.
Uzun stressed the need to move from “identifying crises” to “creating solutions and alternatives”. He urged movements to embrace:
*Decentralised, directly democratic organising *Anti-capitalist and anti-colonial strategies *Stronger alliances between feminist, ecological and indigenous movements
He called for a new internationalist political movement capable of confronting the systemic crises of capitalism and the rise of authoritarianism.
Closing his speech, Uzun delivered a rallying cry for collective action:
"We are convinced that a collective discussion, on the broadest possible platform of democratic and revolutionary organisations, is necessary to find the right answers to the crises of our time. Yes, we are the majority, and we have the motivation to reclaim the initiative!"
A final resolution from the Platform will be published soon, summarising key discussions and future steps.
