Intersectional Imperialism: the Case for Decolonial Marxism

Intersectional Imperialism: the Case for Decolonial Marxism
From pinkwashing to Palestine: why DEI, neoliberal anti-racism, and Western liberalism are failing—and why we need class solidarity and radical decolonisation now more than ever.

Over the recent years, the liberal world order has been brought into question. Although Western liberalism claims to stand for freedom, equality and diversity, it keeps producing global injustices. From climate collapse to housing crisis, poverty and rising fascism – liberalism has offered no real solutions. Instead, it tries to maintain capitalism and imperialism in a renewed manner by visibly placing minorities in higher positions without tackling the underlying inequality.

During the event we discuss: what’s next? How do we move away from a liberal democracy towards Marxist ideas on a classless society? And more importantly, how can we build bridges between the working class and racialised communities to fight capitalism and white supremacy together? Join us as we unpack the contradictions of liberalism and make a call for a new, decolonial Marxist perspective rooted in solidarity.

Together with Shaka Marxist writer, poet, and spoken word artist focusing on decolonisation, BIPOC liberation, socialism and resistance to capitalism Sorab Roustayar Curator, organizer, projectleider, programmamaker & oprichter Fite Qlub Grâce Ndjako Philosopher and political scientist, teaching assistant in non-Western philosophy at the University of Amsterdam Chris Kaspar de Ploeg Author, investigative journalist, program maker and co-founder of Aralez Coba Radio host at Radio Kookpunt

About the programme

During this event we’ll dicuss: what comes after the failure of liberalism and liberal democracy? How do we move from identity reductionism to revolutionary class politics? How do we build bridges between the white working class and racialised communities to fight capitalism and white supremacy together? And how do we confront the betrayal of the Global South by neoliberal elites—both white and non-white—who speak the language of justice while upholding systems of violence? Join us as we unpack these contradictions and make the case for a new, decolonial Marxist politics rooted in internationalism, class consciousness and radical solidarity.

About the speakers

Coba (34) is founder of Radio Kookpunt, an upcoming independent leftist media platform, making a weekly news show, interviews and deep dives. It offers the leftist content that the Netherlands so urgently needs. It is 100% funded by donations from viewers. They are ambitious to become an indispensable voice in the Dutch media landscape.

Grâce Ndjako is a philosopher, author and translator. She studied Political Science and Philosophy at the University of Amsterdam and the Sorbonne in Paris. She writes for various Dutch publications such as Dipsaus Podcast, de Nederlandse Boekengids, Hard//Hoofd, de Witte Raaf and De Internet Gids. She translated Aimé Césaire’s ‘Discours sur le colonialisme’ and the poems of Nele Marian from French to Dutch. She is currently working on her PhD in Philosophy at the University of Amsterdam.

Shaka is a Marxist spoken word artist, writer, and community organiser. His work is rooted in anti-imperialist, anti-capitalist politics and draws from Black and decolonial Marxist traditions. Through poetry, panel discussions, and grassroots organising, Shaka confronts liberal co-optation and calls for a revolutionary politics grounded in class struggle, internationalism, and radical solidarity.

Chris is an investigative journalist, grassroots organiser, speaker, moderator, multi-instrumentalist, spoken word artist and author of Ukraine in the Crossfire and De Grote Koloniale Oorlog. He is also co-founder of Aralez, a grassroots organisation for Decolonisation and reparations.

Sorab Roustayar : is a community builder, curator, program maker , projectleader and founder of Fite Qlub a BIPOC Trans & Queer, decolonial intersectional multidisciplinary platform that is also outspoken against pink washing and has been an organizer an organizer at dutch Labour union FNV.