The Left Faces Challenges in Building a United Global Movement

In recent years, it is striking how far right-wing nationalist groups have advanced in building international networks, outpacing the ostensibly global left. The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) expanded internationally during Donald Trump’s presidency, hosting events in countries such as Israel, South Korea, Hungary, and Argentina. American conservatives increasingly look to global figures like Hungary’s Viktor Orban, El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele, and Argentina’s Javier Milei for inspiration.

This international right-wing coalition exchanges ideas and cultural narratives across borders. American conservative strategists, including notable figures like Chris Rufo, have engaged with Hungary’s government-linked Danube Institute to learn from its approach to limiting liberal institutions. Earlier this year, supporters of the MAGA movement, from commentators like Alex Jones to politicians such as Vice President JD Vance, backed an ultranationalist Romanian presidential candidate who had been disqualified amid allegations of Russian interference. Recently, the Patriots for Europe Foundation convened a conference at the European Parliament, joining forces with India’s right-wing government to promote an alliance based on “civilizational sovereignty” rather than universal human rights, with a shared focus on opposing Islamism.

In contrast, progressive movements lack a similar global network, underscoring the left’s ongoing strategic and organizational crisis.

Part of the challenge for progressives is rooted in inertia. For decades, left-leaning groups have typically collaborated internationally through established liberal institutions, such as the United Nations, NGOs, and academic forums. These channels often promote communication styles that are highly technical and bureaucratic. Grassroots feminist organizations, for example, frequently must navigate specialized jargon like “gender mainstreaming,” “S.H.R.H.,” and “duty-bearers” to engage with the U.N. system. Alexis Tsipras, former prime minister of Greece, remarked that progressive and socialist forces have lost touch with grassroots communication, becoming increasingly reliant on systemic, institutional modes of engagement.

Moreover, the very institutions that traditionally supported the left—particularly academia and nonprofits—are now facing significant opposition. Subir Sinha, a University of London scholar examining far-right connections across India and Europe, noted that the left operated under an illusion of institutional stability. Progressives did not anticipate or prepare for the dramatic shifts in the political landscape, leaving them unready to answer how to conduct politics when the foundational environment is rapidly changing.

Although progress has been slow, efforts to build international progressive cooperation are emerging. This week, Tsipras organized a conference in Athens, bringing together progressive leaders from Europe, Turkey, Latin America, and the United States to address the global challenges facing liberal democracy. It was his second such event and the first since the last U.S. presidential election. Among the participants was Senator Bernie Sanders, who joined remotely. He emphasized the need to counter the effective organization of right-wing extremists worldwide by establishing a global progressive socialist movement, describing the gathering as a meaningful step in that direction.