RLF Profile

The Rosa Luxemburg Foundation considers itself part of the intellectual grassroots movement of democratic socialism. Established in Berlin in 1990, RLF has developed into one of the largest providers of political education in Germany. It also serves as a discussion forum for critical thinking about political alternatives, and a research institute for progressive social development. Many volunteers are involved in the Foundation’s work.

In 1996, the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation was recognized by the Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS) as a national foundation working in close cooperation with the party. Since the unification of progressive parties in Germany and the establishment of the party DIE LINKE (THE LEFT) on 16 June 2007, the Foundation has been affiliated with this party. On a federal level, RLF works through its center in Berlin and regional offices in each of the 16 German federal states.

The German political foundation system is a unique example of political freedom and diversity. Independent from, but affiliated to one of the six parties in parliament, the political foundations receive public funds for their national and international activities correlated to the proportion of votes the affiliated party achieves in federal elections.
National political education is carried out together with other members of the Network of German Foundations.

Activities in Germany
The Rosa Luxemburg Foundation is one of the largest providers of public political education in Germany. The Foundation:

• Organizes and promotes public political education, provides information about social perspectives in a globalized, unjust and un-peaceful world;

• Is a venue for critical analysis of contemporary capitalism and debate about social alternatives rooted in democratic socialism;
• Is a forum for dialogue between progressive forces, social movements and organizations, left-wing intellectuals and NGOs, in Germany, Europe and the wider international level;
• Provides young intellectuals with undergraduate and PhD scholarships;
• Supports self-determined socio-political activities and bolsters the commitment to peace and understanding between peoples, social justice and coexistence in solidarity.

Policy Analysis
In its academic work, the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation considers itself a vehicle for communicating democratic socialist ideas. It focuses on:

• Analyzing the transformation of contemporary capitalist societies, discussing experiences in democratic, socialist and civil policies;
• Examining the strategies of left-wing parties, trade unions and movements to change the balance of power in society, to struggle against neo-liberalism and to alter policy direction;
• Analyzing contemporary capitalism in terms of property rights, privatization, and the struggle to preserve and extend public goods and our common heritage;
• Networking between left-wing and educational institutions critical of capitalism in Germany and at the European and international level.

The intention is to enhance the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation’s strategic skills in matters of education and policy advice and to bolster the academic and theoretical efforts of the political Left.