Tara Brady | Workers’ Party of Ireland
We are witnessing a profound moment of global change. The United States, once an unchallenged superpower, is now experiencing a clear trajectory of decline. For decades, it has dominated the globe through military might, economic coercion, and cultural manipulation. However, its power is now waning, and as its global influence diminishes, the rest of the world is shifting into a new alignment. China’s vast productive capacity, Russia’s resilient opposition to NATO, and Iran’s defiance of U.S. and Israeli aggression all signal the emergence of a powerful Eurasian alliance that threatens to bring an end to the U.S. stranglehold on the world. This moment offers a critical opportunity for us, the global working class, to rise, unite, and strike at the heart of imperialism.
We are―and always have been―an internationalist movement. We are best-placed to judge that the current seismic geopolitical shifts are not just a geopolitical realignment between states. Comrades, this is fundamentally a class struggle. The system of U.S. imperialism, which has fueled exploitation and war for generations, is now facing opposition not only from nations like China, Russia, and Iran but from the workers of the world. The working class, whether in the fields of China, the factories of Moscow, or the streets of Dublin, share a common enemy in this imperialist system of exploitation, and we must unite in our shared struggle to overthrow it. The U.S. empire has pushed Russia and China, two natural and formidable rivals, into an uneasy but necessary alliance. In response, Iran, one of the strongest powers in the Middle East, joins this Eurasian bloc, extending the frontlines of resistance against imperialism. Together, these nations pose a serious challenge to U.S. hegemony, and the good news is―the system is starting to crack under the pressure.
The war in Ukraine, where NATO has attempted to weaken Russia through a proxy conflict, is already bearing the scars of systemic failure. Despite enormous U.S. military spending, NATO’s resources are dwindling, and Russia remains resilient. Meanwhile, Europe is being driven into economic catastrophe, as it is dragged into this conflict by U.S. interests. But make no mistake, this struggle is not just felt in Europe or Eurasia. In Ireland, our history of exploitation at the hands of imperialism-first under British rule, and now under U.S. economic domination-parallels the plight of workers everywhere. Our airports are used by the U.S. military, our economy manipulated by European elites, and our public services crumble while billions are poured into endless wars. This same pattern of exploitation is repeated across the globe, with the working class paying the price for the ambitions of the ruling elites.
Comrades, the moment of imperialist decline holds both danger and opportunity. The U.S. faces a difficult position: with diminishing military production capacity, spiraling domestic economic challenges, and the erosion of its global political influence. Yet, it still clings to its power, propped up by the control of the world trade currency and a vast military-industrial complex. As the U.S. loses ground in Ukraine, its allies in Israel provoke further conflict in the Middle East. The U.S.―depending on the results of the next presidential election―may be tempted to escalate into a broader war-a war that could involve the entire Eurasian bloc, but it will be the workers of the world who will pay the price with our lives and resources.
Despite these grim realities, there is hope. The weakening of U.S. imperialism offers the opportunity for global resistance. Workers in Ireland, Europe, Asia, and Africa, must stand together and reject this system of exploitation. The struggle is not only about one nation against another but is a global class struggle against a system that pits workers against each other while enriching a small elite. We must unite across borders, from Derry to Dublin, from Moscow to Beijing, and declare no more to these imperialist wars, no more to this endless exploitation! The U.S. faces a choice-either to re-engage in global competition for productive capacity and leadership, or to plunge headlong into a catastrophic conflict that could engulf the world. The latter is likely, as the U.S. ruling class has grown venal, decadent, and incapable of leading through diplomacy and soft power. As Israel continues its aggression in the Middle East, dragging the U.S. deeper into conflict, the Eurasian alliance will seize the moment to further weaken U.S. dominance.
But comrades, we must remain vigilant and ready. Our movement has always been internationalist, and now more than ever, we must unite in solidarity with the workers of the world. The ruling elites will try to divide us, but we have more in common with workers in China, Russia, and Iran than we do with the imperialist class that sends us to war. We must organise, educate, and agitate to build a new world-a world where the resources of society uplift the many, not enrich the few. Karl Marx spoke of “space for human development”. Frantz Fanon elaborated: The sense of time must no longer be that of the moment or the next harvest, but rather that of the rest of the world. This is our time. A time to build a world free of war, exploitation, and imperialism. A time to unite in the struggle for socialism. Comrades, let us organise, let us fight, and let us build that world together! For the many, not the few! For Ireland, for the working class, for Marxism-Leninism, for the world!
