On April 7, the Marxist Women’s Academy organized by Womens organization from türkiye EKA held an online session with Songül Yücel Önsöz titled “What Is Imperialism? Why Must the Women’s Struggle Be Anti-Imperialist?”
Songül Yücel Önsöz is the editor-in-chief of the Culture and Arts Magazine. She has been involved in artistic activities in revolutionary art centers for many years. Since the 1990s, she has been imprisoned three times, totaling 10 years. Also, she currently serves as the Middle East Coordinator for the World Women’s Conference (WWC).
The online meeting proceeded with interactive Q&A sessions. Participants discussed actively, focusing on imperialism, war, and the role of women. The session centered on analyzing modern capitalism through Lenin’s theory of imperialism, while also attempting to connect theory with present-day realities.
Participants highlighted that the concentration of capital, monopolies, financial domination, and the division of global markets remain key drivers of war and inequality today. They emphasized that despite technological advancements capable of sustaining all of humanity, ongoing wars and poverty reveal deep structural contradictions within the capitalist system.
The discussion also stressed that war is not simply the result of individual political leaders’ decisions, but rather a structural outcome of competition and conflicts among capital interests. In this context, blaming individual figures was criticized as obscuring the root causes of the problem.
A significant portion of the discussion focused on women. Participants noted that women are among the most affected by the system, while simultaneously playing leading roles in social movements and resistance worldwide. The disproportionate burden of war, poverty, and labor exploitation on women underscored the need for stronger solidarity and organization among them.
In the latter part of the discussion, the focus shifted beyond theory toward practice, emphasizing the role of women within debates on imperialism and war. In particular, the question “What should we do?” was raised, leading to discussions on concrete tasks and action.
While the session remained largely centered on theoretical analysis, participants also highlighted the need for more practical strategies, including responses to the NATO summit, participation in anti-imperialist protests, and organizing at the local level.
The next meeting on April 13 will continue the discussion under the theme: “Is a future without war possible?”
