The main axes of our activity are: skills, inspiration, and ideas. Based in Brussels and affiliated with the European Left Alliance for the People and the Planet, this new European foundation is committed to leading intellectual research and popular education across the continent.
the board
the members
Esquerda.lab is the political laboratory and training hub associated with the Portuguese party Bloco de Esquerda. Its mission is to serve as a space for collective learning, strategic thinking, and the development of new political tools for activists and citizens alike.
Unlike conventional academic think tanks, Esquerda.lab focuses on applied political education, bridging the gap between social movements and institutional action. It empowers the Portuguese left by providing a platform to discuss radical alternatives to the current socio-economic model, with a strong emphasis on labor rights, feminism, and public services.
A defining feature of Esquerda.lab is its hybrid approach, blending high-level theoretical debate with practical skills for modern activism. The lab organizes “Summer Schools,” specialized seminars, and workshops covering topics ranging from the history of social struggles and economic theory to digital communication and campaign strategy.
Institut La Boétie is a prominent French think tank and political foundation linked to the La France Insoumise movement. It functions as a “collective intellectual,” bridging high-level academic research and popular political struggle. The institute provides a rigorous theoretical framework for the “citizen revolution” by producing innovative analyses of social, economic, and ecological issues.
A central pillar of the institute’s work is mass political education. Through its specialized schools—covering fields such as History, Economics, Ecology, and Philosophy—it organizes high-quality seminars designed to equip citizens with critical thinking tools. As a key player in the European left, it works to unify progressive forces around a common program of social justice, republican values, and ecological planning.
The Instituto República y Democracia is a Spanish think tank and cultural foundation aligned with the Podemos party. Born from the legacy of the 15M “Indignados” movement, its mission is to build a robust intellectual framework for social transformation and democratic renewal.
The institute serves as a laboratory for “common sense” politics, focusing on the intersection of social justice, feminism, and radical democracy. It manages the Escuela Paulo Freire, an educational platform dedicated to training activists in political history and strategy. Additionally, the institute produces the magazine La Circular and hosts numerous public debates to bridge the gap between institutional politics and grassroots movements.
For The People (FTP) is a think tank dedicated to fostering democratic debate, social justice, and progressive policy development.
The main axes of our activity are: skills, inspiration, and ideas. Based in Brussels and affiliated with the European Left Alliance for the People and the Planet, this new European foundation is committed to leading intellectual research and popular education across the continent.
By engaging with scholars from various disciplines, For The People aims to enrich political discourse through the organization of conferences and field trips, the publication of research papers and books, and the hosting of specialized training sessions.
Our mission is to build an inclusive, transnational space to rethink and advance progressive politics in Europe. We are united in the ideological battle for social justice, feminism, anti-racism, peace, and a just ecological transition. Our countries, our people, and our continent require a bold new vision, and we are ready to lead the way.
The foundation is headed by two co-directors
