Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung NYC

RLS-NYC is committed to the critical race theory-influenced concept of social justice, ² manages Rosa Luxemburg Foundation’s efforts with the United Nations, and works with American and Canadian universities, labor unions, social movements, and left-of-center institutions and think tanks on left-of-center policy issues. ³

RLS-NYC has said that former President Donald Trump was a part of what it considered the “authoritarian right,” claimed that the Trump administration attempted to “hollow out public education,” ⁴ and has called the Electoral College a “vestige of slavery.” ⁵ The organization supports what it calls a “progressive” Democratic Party that follows the worldview of U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT). ^{6 7}

History and Leadership

Rosa Luxemburg Foundation (in German, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung), a foundation associated with the German radical-left political party Die Linke (The Left), ⁸ opened its New York City office in 2012. ³

Andreas Günther is the executive director of Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung’s New York Office (RLS-NYC). Prior to becoming the executive director of RLS-NYC, Günther was the director of the department of international policy for Die Linke. ^{9 10}

Activities and Funding

Rosa Luxemburg Foundation New York City is the New York City office of Germany’s socialist-aligned Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, which is named after self-described “radical leftist” and leader of the early 20th-century European socialist movement Rosa Luxemburg. ¹ RLS-NYC is committed to “social justice” and for the creation of what it calls a more equitable world. ²

RLS-NYC primarily works with left-of-center activists at American and Canadian universities, labor unions, social movements, and left-of-center institutions and think tanks and coordinates the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation’s work with the United Nations, ³ including its Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. ¹¹

RLS-NYC aims to unite transatlantic left-of-center political voices, ¹² and supports the concept of “progressive internationalism” for the Biden administration’s foreign policy as opposed to embracing strategic competition with China. ¹³

RLS-NYC also supports what it calls a “progressive” Democratic Party that follows political changes that U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) brought to the party following his unsuccessful 2016 presidential campaign. ⁶ The organization has also published a report documenting the rise of the far-left Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), ⁷ claimed that President Donald Trump was a part of what it considered the “authoritarian right,” claimed that the Trump administration attempted to “hollow out public education,” ⁴ and called the Electoral College a “vestige of slavery.” ⁵

The organization publishes reports regarding trade policies, the Biden administration’s approach to foreign policy and multilateralism, and other political topics. ^{14 15} John Nichols, a correspondent for left-of-center publication The Nation, has written several studies for RLS-NYC, including one that claimed the Trump administration was based on militarism, austerity, social division, voter suppression, and right-wing authoritarianism. ¹⁶

International Climate Justice Program

Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung’s New York office leads Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung’s critical race theory-influenced International Climate Justice Program. The program works with global left-of-center movements to support RLS-NYC’s ongoing work on the far-left concept of a “just transition” away from traditional forms of energy and toward the critical race theory-influenced concept of climate justice. ^{17 3}

The International Climate Justice Program focuses on questions regarding mining in the developing world; “green” economy compensatory care for workers; compensation for losses and damages caused by droughts, floods, and heatwaves; and other topics. ³

Funding

Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung Foundation New York City receives its funding from contributions and grants. In 2022, the organization reported revenue of $1,700,766 and expenses of $1,879,382. ¹⁸