Rosa Luxemburg Foundation New York City (in German, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, RLS-NYC) is the New York City office of Germany’s socialist-aligned Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, which is named after self-described “radical leftist” and early 20th-century leader of the European socialist movement Rosa Luxemburg. ¹

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

1. “Rosa Luxemburg Foundation.” Rosa Luxemburg Foundation NYC. Accessed November 4, 2023. https://rosalux.nyc/about/.
2. “Home.” Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung New York. Accessed November 4, 2023. https://rosalux.nyc/.
3. “About.” Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung New York. Accessed November 3, 2023. https://rosalux.nyc/about/.
4. Aggarwal, Ujju. “The High Stakes of Defending public Education.” Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung New York City. January 15, 2021. Accessed November 5, 2023. https://rosalux.nyc/defending-public-education/.
5. Connor Kilpatrick, Lester K. Spence, Liza Featherstone, and Ethan Young. “Donald Trump and the Rise of the Nationalist Right.” Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung New York City. November 22, 2016. Accessed November 5, 2023. https://rosalux.nyc/donald-trump-and-the-rise-of-the-nationalist-right/.
6. Wichmann, Moritz. “Toward a Progressive Democratic Party.” March 30, 2020. Accessed November 5, 2023. https://rosalux.nyc/toward-a-progressive-democratic-party/.
7. Wichmann, Moritz. “Socialism Reignited in America.” Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung New York Office. January 2021. Accessed November 5, 2023. https://rosalux.nyc/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/RLS-NYC_DSA_EN.pdf.
8. “2022 Annual Report.” Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung. Accessed November 11, 2023. https://www.rosalux.de/en/publication/id/50979/2022-annual-report.
9. “Team.” Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung New York. Accessed November 3, 2023. https://rosalux.nyc/about/.
10. Knight, Ben. “Things to know about the Left Party.” DW. June 30, 2022. Accessed November 5, 2023. https://www.dw.com/en/things-to-know-about-germanys-socialist-left-party/a-40013805.
11. “Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung Inc.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2022. Part VIII-A. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/453658022/202321229349101337/full
12. “Transatlantic Left Voices.” Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung. Accessed November 4, 2023. https://rosalux.nyc/our-work/transatlantic-left-voices/.
13. Tobita Chow and Jake Werner. “U.S.-China: Progressive Internationalist Strategy Under Biden.” January 19, 2021. Accessed November 5, 2023. https://rosalux.nyc/us-china-progressive-internationalist-strategy/.
14. Feffer, John. “Multilateralism and the Biden Administration.” Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung New York City. March 11, 2021. Accessed November 5, 2023. https://rosalux.nyc/multilateralism-and-the-biden-administration/.
15. Stuart Trew, Manuel Perez-Rocha, and Karen Hansen-Kuhn. “NAFTA’s Shadow of Obstruction.” Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung NYC. February 7, 2023. Accessed November 5, 2023. https://rosalux.nyc/naftas-shadow-of-obstruction/.
16. Nichols, John. “Donald Trump’s Dangerously Coherent Agenda.” Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung New York City. October 2, 20217. Accessed November 5, 2023. https://rosalux.nyc/donald-trumps-dangerously-coherent-agenda/.
17. “International Climate Justice Program.” Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung New York. Accessed November 4, 2023. https://rosalux.nyc/about/.
18. “Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung Inc.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2022. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/453658022/202321229349101337/full.