At the IWA-AIT Congress held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from December 27 to 29, 2025, almost all IWA sections (with 12 votes in favor and 3 abstentions) approved the proposal from the French section of the International Workers’ Association (CNT-AIT France) to create a permanent anti-militarist working group.
Faced with the urgency of the impending world war, the CNT-AIT France is now impatient for this decision of the International to be formally implemented, in order to share its experience with the IWA sections, particularly regarding support for deserters from all wars, the fight against the militarization of society and the recruitment of youth, and the production and trade of arms. The operational details remain to be defined among the sections that volunteer to participate.
CNT-AIT France
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AIT CONGRESS MOTION PROPOSAL : CREATION OF A PERMANENT “ANTI-MILITARISM” WORKING GROUP
• Considering that antimilitarism has been one of the fundamental principles of the international workers’ association since 1922, principles that we recall below: « anarcho-syndicalism fights against militarism and war. Anarcho-syndicalism advocates anti-war propaganda and the replacement of standing armies, which are only the instruments of counter-revolution at the service of capitalism, by workers’ militias, which, during the revolution, will be controlled by the workers’ unions; it demands, as well, the boycott and embargo of all raw materials and products necessary for war, with the exception of a country where the workers are in the midst of social revolution, in which case we should help them defend the revolution. Finally, anarcho-syndicalism advocates the preventive and revolutionary general strike as a means of opposing war and militarism.
• Considering that humanity has experienced more than 285 armed conflicts since 1946 (figures from Uppsala University in Sweden, including more than 50 active conflicts currently), particularly in regions or countries where IWA sections, friends, or initiatives are present (Russia, Serbia, Burma, Colombia, Argentina, Korea, China, Pakistan etc.). Other sections are active in regions or countries involved in these conflicts, whether through the deployment of armed forces (under the national flag or the UN flag) or through the production of weapons (France, Great Britain, Spain, USA, Canada, Bangladesh, etc.).
• Considering the increased risk of an even more violent conflagration on a global scale,
PROPOSED MOTION:
- The IWA sections in France and Russia (KRAS-AIT and CNT-AIT France) propose the creation of an AIT permanent working group (or commission) dedicated to antimilitarism.
- This working group is open to all groups linked to the AIT, either sections, friends, or recognized initiatives of the AIT. The management of the working group is under the responsibility of the sections submitting this motion. The Working Group reports on its work to other sections, particularly during AIT plenary sessions and congresses.
- The purpose of this working group is:
3.1 To gather information on militarism and anti-militarist mobilizations, particularly in regions or countries where groups linked to the AIT are active;
3.2 To serve as a forum for the exchange and sharing of concrete experiences in the anti-militarist struggle (support for individuals and groups who refuse military service or conscription, support for deserters on all sides of the war fronts, support for those who reject war in accordance with the principles of the AIT i.e., the rejection of any present or future state).
3.3 To promote embargo and boycott actions against the arms industry, logistics, or other industries and services necessary for militarism and war, in accordance with the principles of the IWA.
3.4 To offer other groups linked with AIT propaganda materials (designs for posters, stickers, visuals, proposal of texts, etc.) or practical tools to develop their anti-militarist activities, whether propaganda or practical. These are suggestions only: the use (or not), publication, or production of the materials and tools is the sole responsibility of the sections.
3.5 To enter into contact with international organizations or groups (in accordance with the principles of the IWA and Congress agreements) on the theme of anti-militarism (for example: International War Resister, Internationalist Anti-militarist Platform, Anti-militarism Commission of the International of Anarchist Federations, etc.) to exchange information on the theme of anti-militarism, without committing either the AIT or its sections or linked groups. Thus, the Working Group will not have the capacity to express itself (particularly on social media), as the initiative for actions and public statements is the sole responsibility of the sections and groups linked to AIT. Under no circumstances does the working group replace the sections and groups linked to the AIT which, in accordance with the federalist principles of anarcho-syndicalism, remain the only sovereign structures as far as they are concerned.
4. The Working Group’s balance is evaluated after presenting an activity report at each congress, which decides whether or not to prolongate the Working Group, and under what conditions.
En français : https://cnt-ait.info/2025/12/29/groupe-antimilitarisme/
In English : https://cnt-ait.info/2025/12/29/iwa-group-antimili/
En Castellano : https://cnt-ait.info/2025/12/29/ait-grupo-antimili/