Reframing internationalism: for a politics of freedom and equality in an age of war and transition

Decolonisation in the 21st century requires reframing internationalism amidst tumultuous global transition. This chapter argues that disruptions to the rules-based international system have led to the emergence of multipolarity as a complex interplay between territorial logics, capitalist operations, and social struggles. Drawing inspiration from historical anticolonial movements, the authors show how Latin American feminist movements like Ni Una Menos have pursued regional organising that transcends national boundaries while remaining connected to concrete struggles. At stake is the invention of an effective political language that can address heterogeneous conditions of domination while articulating common liberation desires through translation practices that navigate difference without seeking total transparency. A reimagined internationalism functions as a collective endeavour rooted in diverse struggles rather than a universal blueprint. Such cross-border solidarity, the chapter contends, demonstrates the possibility of life beyond capital’s rule, particularly urgent amidst ongoing war, poverty, and climate disruption.