The 16th Annual Montreal Marxist Winter School, slated to run from February 13 to 15, 2026, has already become a focal point for contemporary left‑wing activists and scholars. The event, organized by the Montreal Communist Group, promises a rigorous program of lectures, workshops, and debates that will confront the pressing questions of our era: reform or revolution? and how to sustain a class‑struggle strategy in a post‑pandemic, post‑war world.
Why the Winter School Matters
The school’s theme—Reform or Revolution?—echoes the classic dialectic that has animated Marxist theory since the 19th century. In a period when many left‑wing movements have been tempted to embrace incremental reforms, the Winter School insists on a return to the revolutionary roots that propelled the Paris Commune, the Russian Revolution, and the Chinese Cultural Revolution. By foregrounding the historical materialist analysis of class relations, the program seeks to remind participants that reform is only a tactical tool, not a strategic goal.
The event’s schedule includes:
- Keynote on the “New Imperialism”: A critical examination of how global capitalism has reshaped the geopolitical landscape, drawing parallels with the imperialist wars of the early 20th century.
- Panel on “Digital Labor and the Gig Economy”: An exploration of how platform capitalism reproduces class exploitation, with a focus on the precariat’s role in the contemporary struggle.
- Workshop on “Organizing in the Post‑Pandemic Era”: Practical guidance for building resilient, grassroots networks that can withstand state repression and corporate backlash.
- Historical Seminar on “Trotsky’s Theory of Permanent Revolution”: A deep dive into how Trotsky’s ideas can be adapted to today’s globalized, digitalized economy.
Trotsky’s Legacy Revisited
Trotsky’s insistence on the permanence of revolution—that the proletariat must not be satisfied with a bourgeois-democratic transition but must push toward a global socialist transformation—finds a natural home in the Winter School’s curriculum. By revisiting Trotsky’s writings on the “degenerated workers’ state” and the “right‑wing coup,” participants are encouraged to critically assess the current state of socialist movements worldwide. The workshop on Trotsky’s theory is not merely historical; it is a call to action, urging activists to apply his insights to the challenges posed by neoliberal austerity, climate change, and the militarization of the state.
A Call to the New Generation
The Montreal Marxist Winter School is more than an academic conference; it is a training ground for the next generation of revolutionary leaders. The organizers emphasize that the event is open to students, activists, and scholars from across Canada and beyond, fostering a transnational dialogue that transcends borders. By integrating theoretical study with practical organizing skills, the school aims to produce a cadre of activists capable of sustaining a class‑struggle strategy in an era of heightened surveillance and corporate power.
Conclusion
On February 13, 2026, Montreal will host a gathering that promises to reinvigorate the revolutionary spirit that has long been the lifeblood of socialist theory. By confronting the tension between reform and revolution, revisiting Trotsky’s enduring insights, and equipping activists with the tools needed to navigate the complexities of the 21st‑century struggle, the Winter School stands as a beacon for those committed to dismantling capitalist exploitation and building a truly egalitarian society.