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Nathaniel Flakin

Nathaniel is a freelance journalist and historian from Berlin. He is on the editorial board of Left Voice and our German sister site Klasse Gegen Klasse. Nathaniel, also known by the nickname Wladek, has written a biography of Martin Monath, a Trotskyist resistance fighter in France during World War II, which has appeared in German, in English, and in French, and in Spanish. He has also written an anticapitalist guide book called Revolutionary Berlin. He is on the autism spectrum.

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To Stop Trump, We Need Much More Democracy, Not Less

Democrats have been trying to kick Trump off the ballot as an "insurrectionist." Liberals say we have to restrict democracy in order to save it. As socialists, we think they have it backwards: to beat the Far Right, we need a mass movement fighting for radical democracy.

Nathaniel Flakin

March 18, 2024

Berlin Police Attack an Anti-Imperialist Feminist Demonstration on March 8

On International Women's Day, there were numerous demonstrations in Berlin, including: a union demonstration, an anti-imperialist demonstration, and a supposedly "leftist" demonstration in solidarity with Israel. As you would expect, police only attacked one of the three.

Nathaniel Flakin

March 14, 2024

Berlinale: Filmmakers Say What the Rest of the World is Saying

At the Berlinale film festival, Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers called for equality and peace. German politicians want to ban such hateful talk.

Nathaniel Flakin

February 28, 2024

“Antideutsche”: The Aberration of Germany’s Pro-Zionist Left

As Germany persists in its unwavering support of Israel and the total denial of its genocide, the German Left is conflicted over the issue. While leftists all over the world are showing solidarity with Palestine, a segment of the German Left is historically pro-Zionist. How did this movement, the so-called Antideutsche (Anti-Germans) come to be?

Nathaniel Flakin

February 21, 2024

Why German Media are Lying About the Palestine Solidarity Movement at the Free University of Berlin

A rally in front of the Free University of Berlin had as many journalists as demonstrators. This is yet another example of the international campaign to defame all protests against Israel's genocidal military campaign.

Nathaniel Flakin

February 16, 2024

Are You a Communist? Then Let’s Talk about the IMT

The International Marxist Tendency, led by Alan Woods, is rebranding itself as “the Communists.” Does this represent a shift to the left? Sort of. Yet decades of opportunist positions do not disappear overnight.

Nathaniel Flakin

February 12, 2024

Defying Repression: Socialist Electeds in Argentina Show Us What Revolutionary Parliamentarism Looks Like

Workers in Argentina are defying police repression and fighting back against the far-right government’s shock therapy. Trotskyist members of congress are not just protesting inside the chamber — they are on the front lines of the demonstrations, getting pepper sprayed and shot with rubber bullets.

Nathaniel Flakin

February 9, 2024

The German Government Is Paving the Way for the Far Right

Tens of thousands of people are demonstrating against the AfD. But the government of Olaf Scholz is already implementing many of the AfD’s policies.

Nathaniel Flakin

January 19, 2024

Marxists Are Running in the Student Elections at Berlin’s Free University

On January 16-18, students at FU Berlin can vote for the student parliament. The Marxist group Waffen der Kritik (Weapons of Criticism) is running on a pro-worker, pro-Palestine platform.

Nathaniel Flakin

January 17, 2024

Berlin Police Beat 65-Year-Old Grandfather Unconscious at Memorial Demonstration for Luxemburg and Liebknecht

On Sunday, thousands of people demonstrated in Berlin on the 105th anniversary of the murder of Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht. Police attacked the Palestine Bloc and sent at least 15 people to the hospital.

Nathaniel Flakin

January 15, 2024

A Three-Way Split in Marx21 — Which Way Forward for the Revolutionary Left in Germany?

Marx21, the post-Trotskyist network inside Die Linke, has split into three different groups. How can revolutionary socialists move forward?

Nathaniel Flakin

January 13, 2024

Why Does Joe Biden Support Israel? (Hint: It’s Not about Protecting Jews.)

Joe Biden has been unwavering in his support for Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza — even though the policy is horribly unpopular. Some bourgeois journalists claim that Biden is deeply concerned for Jewish life. But as the man himself has explained, this is all about U.S. imperialist interests.

Nathaniel Flakin

January 4, 2024

Good Riddance to an Imperialist Gremlin

The German conservative politician Wolfgang Schäuble is dead. Good.

Nathaniel Flakin

December 29, 2023

“We’re More Likely to Be Threatened by the Police than by Palestinians” — Interview with Jewish Voice in Germany

In the name of fighting antisemitism, Germany is attacking anti-Zionist Jews. Wieland Hoban is a composer from Frankfurt, and chairperson of the association Jüdische Stimme für gerechten Frieden in Nahost (Jewish Voice for Just Peace in the Middle East).

Nathaniel Flakin

December 28, 2023

The German Government is Attacking Jewish Life in Germany

Olaf Scholz says he wants to protect Jewish life in Germany. Then why are so many Jews getting censored for criticizing Israel?

Nathaniel Flakin

December 20, 2023

The Farce of the “Two-State Solution” and the Socialist Perspective for Palestine

For decades, imperialist governments have been calling for a “two-state solution.” This is an obvious failure. But what would a socialist alternative look like? A debate with different socialist tendencies.

Nathaniel Flakin

December 16, 2023

No, Intifada Does Not Mean Genocide Against Jews

Does "Intifada" mean genocide against Jews? Obviously not. A history lesson for racist cynics.

Nathaniel Flakin

December 14, 2023

Robert Habeck Wrote a Play Praising a Right-Wing Mass Murderer

Germany's Green vice chancellor strikes many as an idealist who has been struggling with the tough realities of government. Yet before he was a national politician, he wrote a play that opens a window into a dark soul.

Nathaniel Flakin

December 1, 2023

Fact Check: Did German Leftists Try to Bomb West Berlin’s Jewish Community Center in 1969?

Answer: No. The bombing was undertaken by West Germany’s domestic secret service, originally founded by Nazis.

Nathaniel Flakin

November 29, 2023

“Stop Thief!” The German State Attacks Migrants to Distract from Its Own Antisemitism

German politicians claim that antisemitism is an “imported problem.” Even a cursory look at the facts, however, shows that anti-Jewish hatred is not caused by pro-Palestinian protests. No, the source is German capitalism.

Nathaniel Flakin

November 21, 2023

Competing Rallies at Berlin’s Free University

On successive Fridays, there was a pro-Palestinian and a pro-Israeli rally at the Free University. One was dominated by international students, including many Jews and Palestinians, calling for solidarity — the other was dominated by German politicians spewing racism. Guess which was which.

Nathaniel Flakin

November 13, 2023

In Berlin, Jews and Palestinians Are Demonstrating Together

This Saturday, Jewish and Palestinian groups are organizing a demonstration against the war.

Nathaniel Flakin

November 4, 2023

Does the State of Israel Protect Jews from Antisemitism?

Western governments claim that the Zionist state is necessary to protect Jewish life. Yet a look at history shows that the colonization of Palestine was motivated by imperialism, not by any desire to help Jews.

Nathaniel Flakin

October 31, 2023

Germany’s Die Linke Splits: Social Chauvinists vs Government Socialists

Sahra Wagenknecht is splitting from Die Linke and forming a new party. Her "left conservatism" is bad for immigrants but bad for German workers too.

Nathaniel Flakin

October 28, 2023

A Brief History of Anti-Zionist Jews

We are told that the war in Gaza is the product of an ancient conflict between Israeli Jews and Palestinians. Yet there is a long history of Jewish socialists fighting against Zionism which offers lessons for today's struggle.

Nathaniel Flakin

October 21, 2023

Berlin Bans All Solidarity with Palestine

Hundreds of thousands around the world are demonstrating in solidarity with the people in Gaza. Except in Berlin. The government has banned all expressions of solidarity.

Nathaniel Flakin

October 17, 2023

Germany’s Establishment Lines Up Behind Colonialism and Apartheid

All German parties, from the reformist Left to open Nazis, are declaring their unconditional solidarity with Israel. In Berlin, all solidarity with Palestinians is banned.

Nathaniel Flakin

October 11, 2023

Another Referendum to Expropriate Berlin’s Biggest Landlords

Two years ago, 59.1 percent of Berliners voted to socialize real estate companies. But nothing has happened. Now another referendum has been launched.

Nathaniel Flakin

October 6, 2023

At Argentina’s Presidential Debate, Far-Right Milei Got Slapped Down by Socialist Bregman

On Sunday, five candidates in Argentina's presidential elections faced off on live TV. Socialist Myriam Bregman showed that far-right economist Javier Milei, who won a surprise victory in the primaries, was no "libertarian lion" — he's a "cuddly kitten of the rich and powerful."

Nathaniel Flakin

October 2, 2023

For Climate Leninism!

Andreas Malm has called for “ecological Leninism” to fight the climate emergency. Good. But above all, Leninism means smashing the capitalist state.

Nathaniel Flakin

October 1, 2023