Tracing the Origins, Funding, and Strategic Architecture of a 200+ Organization Coordinating Body, Part 1: The Head of the Snake
The International Peoples' Assembly (IPA) is a coordinated network of 200+ socialist, communist, and labor organizations spanning six continents, explicitly designed to mobilize a global anti-capitalist movement against imperialism, NATO, and Western liberal democracies. Founded in 2015 by the Brazilian Landless Workers' Movement (MST), the IPA functions as a strategic command hub operating through three integrated functional organs: a research institute (Tricontinental), a media network (International People's Media Network), and a political education collective (ICPE).
The network is substantially funded by Neville Roy Singham, a Shanghai-based tech multimillionaire with documented ties to the Chinese Communist Party, who has donated approximately $65 million to organizations within the ecosystem since 2017. Singham's funding flows through shell companies and donor-advised funds—primarily the Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund—to obscure the source and maintain the appearance of grassroots, decentralized activism.
The IPA's stated goals are explicitly revolutionary: the "overthrow" of capitalism, the nationalization of global financial systems, anti-Zionism, and the dismantling of NATO and U.S. hegemony globally. The network coordinates across member organizations to amplify messaging, train cadres in anti-imperialist ideology, and mobilize mass action campaigns aligned with the interests of authoritarian regimes including China, Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran.
I. ORIGINS: THE MST AND THE "DILEMMAS OF HUMANITY" CONFERENCE
The 2015 Founding Conference in Brazil
The International Peoples' Assembly emerged from a 2015 conference called "Dilemmas of Humanity," convened by the Brazilian Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (Landless Rural Workers' Movement, MST) in São Paulo. The conference was designed as a space for "popular movements and organizations, parties, and intellectuals to discuss the challenges we face internationally and to develop concrete proposals to overcome capitalism".
Rather than remaining a one-time convening, the organizers decided to create a permanent transnational coordination mechanism. The IPA was formally launched on October 1, 2020, with the explicit mission of "building a global mass movement against imperialism and capitalism".
Strategic Design: Three Functional Organs
From inception, the IPA was architected with sophisticated functional separation:
1. Research and Intellectual Authority: Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research
Founded by Marxist historian and journalist Vijay Prashad, Tricontinental serves as the "intellectual backbone" of the IPA network, producing strategy papers, ideological frameworks, and legitimizing narratives distributed to all member organizations. Tricontinental explicitly states its work operates on "two axes": the "battle of ideas" and the "epistemology of power," positioning itself as "engaged in the immediate fight over control of the narrative of world events" while aiming to "counter the worldview of the bourgeoisie".
The institute maintains offices in Argentina, Brazil, India, and South Africa, creating a Global South nexus that positions anti-capitalist thought as indigenous to the developing world rather than Western-imposed.
2. Communications and Narrative Control: International People's Media Network (IPMN)
The IPMN functions as a coordinated media apparatus designed to amplify IPA messaging globally. Member outlets include:
People's Dispatch (formerly The Dawn News)
Dongsheng (China-focused coverage)
Brasil de Fato (Latin America)
BreakThrough News (US-based)
Pan African TV
ArgMedios (Argentina)
Madaar (Middle East)
These outlets collectively define themselves as seeking to "collectively redefine journalism and the media in a time of global crisis". In practice, they operate as unified messaging channels amplifying coordinated narratives across regions. Multiple investigations have documented that these outlets systematically promote pro-China, pro-Russia, and pro-authoritarian government positions while maintaining the appearance of independent journalism.
3. Political Cadre Development: International Collective for Political Education (ICPE)
The ICPE operates as the political schools and training network, running cadre programs that ensure "consistency in messaging and strategy" across member organizations. This function mirrors the Central Committee Schools of communist parties—a formalized mechanism for ideological reproduction and leadership development.
II. THE FUNDING ARCHITECTURE: NEVILLE ROY SINGHAM AND THE SINGHAM NETWORK
Who is Neville Roy Singham?
Neville Roy Singham is a U.S.-born technology entrepreneur who made approximately $785 million from the sale of Thoughtworks, a software company. Since approximately 2017, Singham has systematically deployed this wealth to fund a coordinated global network of left-wing, anti-capitalist, and pro-authoritarian organizations.
Critically, Singham relocated to Shanghai, China in the mid-2010s and has become deeply embedded with Beijing's political infrastructure. Multiple investigations document his:
Long-documented close ties to the Chinese Communist Party
Role as advisor to Chinese tech giant Huawei
Active participation in CCP workshops on international promotion of Chinese interests
Residence in Shanghai and formal CCP-aligned activities
In 2017, Singham married Jodie Evans, the co-founder of activist group CODEPINK. Evans has become increasingly pro-China and pro-Russia after the marriage, shifting her organization's positions accordingly.
The Funding Mechanism: Donor-Advised Funds and Shell Companies
Singham operates through a sophisticated legal structure designed to obscure the true source and control of his funding:
Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund (GSPF)
The primary mechanism is the Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund, a donor-advised fund (DAF) provider. Singham deposits millions into GSPF, which then makes grants to various nonprofit organizations. This structure provides:
Tax deductions for Singham as the donor
Anonymity (DAFs don't require disclosure of donor identity)
Plausible deniability for recipient organizations (they can claim "Goldman Sachs" funding rather than a single individual)
Legal protection against direct FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act) scrutiny
Documented Funding Flows to the IPA Ecosystem:
The People's Forum (primary IPA hub in New York):
$4.4 million (2017)
$12 million (2018)
$2.5 million (2019)
Additional millions through subsequent years
Total: $20.4+ million from 2017-2022 alone
Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research:
Endowment exceeded $14 million by 2023
Received funding through Justice and Education Fund (JEF), another Singham-controlled entity
2019 revenue jumped to $13.2 million (primarily through asset purchases funded by Singham)
Total expenses managed at ~$1 million annually, leaving vast capital reserves
Justice and Education Fund (intermediary conduit):
Transferred $8.33 million to United Community Fund in 2019
United Community Fund then allocated:
$3+ million to People's Forum
$700,000 to Tricontinental
BreakThrough News (IPMN member):
$483,000 from JEF
$540,000 from Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund
$15,600 from PUF (Partnership for Urban Futures, another Singham entity)
Operations conducted from People's Forum facilities
Total Singham Network Deployment: ~$65 million to far-left/anti-capitalist organizations since 2017
Shell Companies and International Money Movement
IRS filings and investigative reports document the use of intermediary shell companies:
Worldwide Media Holdings (Delaware-based, allegedly owned by Singham)
GSPAN LLC
Centro Popular de Mídias (Brazil)
Multiple nonprofit intermediaries
This labyrinthine structure allows Singham to:
Maintain deniability about direct funding relationships
Move money internationally while obscuring ultimate beneficial ownership
Create multiple connection points that dilute accountability
Enable organizations to receive millions while claiming independence or grassroots funding
III. NETWORK STRUCTURE: THE 200+ ORGANIZATION COORDINATING APPARATUS
Membership and Geographic Reach
The IPA includes member and observer organizations across six continental zones:
Sub-Saharan Africa:
National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa (NUMSA)
Socialist Movement of Ghana (SMG)
Socialist Party of Zambia
North America:
Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL)
CODEPINK (US)
Popular Education Project (PEP)
ANSWER Coalition (funded by Singham)
Latin America:
MST (Landless Rural Workers' Movement - Brazil)
Patria Grande Front (Argentina)
ALBA Movements
Francisco de Miranda Front (Venezuela)
CTC (Workers' Central Union of Cuba)
Asia:
Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist)
Workers Party of Bangladesh
Various other communist parties
Middle East/North Africa:
Palestinian People's Party
Moroccan Human Rights Association
Workers' Party of Tunisia
Europe:
Communist Party of Spain
Potere al Popolo (Power to the People - Italy)
IV. IDEOLOGY AND STATED OBJECTIVES
The Anti-Capitalist Revolutionary Platform
The IPA's official platform contains the following explicit objectives:
Political Goals:
Dismantle capitalism globally
Nationalize the global financial system
"Overthrow" class-based exploitation through revolutionary means
Eliminate what it describes as imperialist structures (US, NATO, EU)
Support "national liberation" movements (interpreted to include authoritarian regimes)
Foreign Policy Positions:
Support for Venezuela, Cuba, and the Bolivarian Revolution
Opposition to all U.S. military interventions
Anti-Zionism (opposition to Israel as a Zionist state)
NATO characterized as a "multilateral instrument of war"
Explicit support for the "right to resistance" (including violent resistance)
Defense of authoritarian governments against "Western imperialism"
Social/Cultural Positioning:
"Anti-capitalist feminism"
Opposition to traditional family structure
Critical race theory-influenced framework
Agrarian reform and "spatial justice" (guaranteed land/work to anyone who desires countryside living)
Celebration of Authoritarian Leaders:
The IPA celebrates the deaths of communist figures (e.g., Vladimir Lenin's 100th death anniversary in 2024)
Public support for Nicolas Maduro's disputed 2024 re-election in Venezuela
Condemnation of U.S. military operations in Venezuela as "militaristic and imperialist"
V. OPERATIONAL COORDINATION MECHANISMS
The Dilemmas of Humanity Conferences
The IPA holds periodic international conferences titled "Dilemmas of Humanity" to:
Align strategic orientation across member organizations
Develop coordinated campaign strategies
Train leadership in unified messaging
Reinforce ideological consistency
Conferences held in 2015 (founding), 2023 (third edition), with regular regional dialogues in between.
Coordinating Committee Structure
The IPA maintains a formal coordinating committee with regional representation:
Sub-Saharan Africa
North America
Asia
Latin America
Middle East/Maghreb
Europe
This committee "discusses political orientation, organizational strategy and generates debate"—functioning as the political nerve center of the network.
Messaging Amplification Through IPMN
Member media outlets maintain synchronized coverage patterns:
Identical headlines and framing across outlets
Coordinated narrative lines for major events
Simultaneous publication of joint statements
Reproduction of content from Tricontinental research into news articles
A 2023 Daily Beast investigation documented that news stories produced by one outlet (e.g., Brasil de Fato) are simultaneously republished across the network with minimal modification.
VI. THE SINGHAM NETWORK: CCP INFLUENCE AND THE CHINA CONNECTION
Documented Pro-China Propaganda Operations
Investigations by the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, New Lines Institute, and independent journalists reveal that the Singham network systematically:
Promotes Pro-CCP Narratives:
Vijay Prashad, Tricontinental director, holds a senior fellowship at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University in Beijing
Prashad has praised China's mass internment and re-education camps in Xinjiang, calling them a "people's project" to dismantle "outdated cultural practices"
Dongsheng (IPMN member) is explicitly designed to produce videos "highlighting China's diplomatic and scientific achievements"
Operates Intelligence Coordination:
Delhi Police opened investigations into NewsClick (India), a Singham-funded outlet, for coordination between Singham, Vijay Prashad, and Prabir Purkayastha to "peddle the Chinese version" on COVID-19 despite international criticism
Email evidence documented that "Singham was actively pursuing the China line" while pressuring staff to suppress contrary information
Coordination with CCP Front Organizations:
Tings Chak, a Tricontinental researcher, is co-founder of Dongsheng and also serves in IPA's art and culture working group
Chak has potential FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act) violations for work coordinating CCP influence operations
Provides Humanitarian Cover for CCP Initiatives:
The Singham network frames CCP positions as humanitarian concerns raised by Global South organizations
Tricontinental's "Crane" podcast portrays China as "benevolent and generous" in its approach to developing nations
Financing of Anti-U.S. and Pro-CCP Campaigns
Investigations document that Singham-funded organizations have:
Opposed NATO enlargement and Ukrainian support
Framed NATO as an "instrument of imperialism"
Coordinated "Shut It Down for Palestine" (SID4P) campaigns explicitly designed to disrupt U.S. critical infrastructure
Provided coordination hubs for anti-Israel, anti-U.S., and anti-Western activism
VII. THE SHUT IT DOWN FOR PALESTINE COORDINATION
SID4P as a Singham-Funded Coordination Mechanism
In the aftermath of October 7, 2023, the IPA ecosystem played a central role in coordinating the "Shut It Down for Palestine" (SID4P) movement—explicitly described as:
"an anti-capitalist, antipolice, and anti-government protest movement that emerged after October 7, 2023. It functions as a hybrid online/real-world network for mobilizing frequent demonstrations as well as gradually escalating direct-action campaigns targeting critical infrastructure and public spaces."
Seven IPA/Singham-linked "Convenors" in SID4P:
International People's Assembly (IPA)
People's Forum
ANSWER Coalition
Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL)
Al-Awda NY (Right of Return Coalition)
Palestinian Youth Movement
Additional allied organizations
The network leveraged existing coordination mechanisms to mobilize campus occupations, blockades of critical infrastructure, and disruptive action campaigns—all positioned as humanitarian activism but functioning as coordinated political pressure campaigns.
VIII. TRANSPARENCY AND FARA VIOLATIONS
The Gap Between Public Claims and Actual Ownership
Despite claiming to be independent, grassroots organizations, members of the IPA ecosystem have repeatedly been shown to:
Receive the majority of funding from a single individual (Singham)
Operate under coordinated strategic direction
Amplify identical messaging across supposedly independent outlets
Lack transparency about funding sources and decision-making authority
The People's Forum, when confronted with criticism about its $20+ million in Singham funding, posted on Twitter:
"A few years ago we met Roy Singham, a Marxist comrade who sold his company & donated most of his wealth to non-profits that focus on political education, culture & internationalism."
This framing obscures that:
Singham retains effective control over strategic direction
The funding is continuous and substantial (not a one-time donation)
Singham's personal geopolitical interests (alignment with CCP) directly influence organizational positions
Potential FARA Violations
U.S. House Republicans and the Ways and Means Committee have documented that:
The Singham network has not registered under FARA despite functioning as a de facto Chinese Communist Party influence operation
Email evidence shows direct coordination between Singham and organizational leadership on messaging aligned with CCP interests
Multiple organizations in the network receive the preponderance of their funding from a source with documented foreign (CCP) ties
IX. CONCLUSION: STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS
The International Peoples' Assembly represents a sophisticated, well-funded attempt to coordinate global anti-capitalist, anti-Western activism under unified strategic direction. It is:
Substantially Financed: ~$65 million deployed by a single donor aligned with CCP interests
Globally Coordinated: 200+ organizations across six continents operating under unified ideological frameworks
Strategically Integrated: Three functional organs (research, media, political education) ensure message consistency
Opaque About Ownership: Uses shell companies, donor-advised funds, and intermediaries to obscure true funding sources and control
Explicitly Revolutionary: Seeks the "overthrow" of capitalism and dismantling of Western institutions
Authoritarian-Aligned: Supports Chinese, Venezuelan, Cuban, and Iranian authoritarian regimes
Operating Without Registration: Functions as a foreign influence apparatus without FARA compliance
The network demonstrates how authoritarian regimes and aligned billionaires can leverage U.S. nonprofit structures, donor-advised funds, and tax-exempt status to fund coordinated campaigns that advance geopolitical interests hostile to the West—while maintaining the appearance of grassroots activism.
REFERENCES
International Peoples' Assembly. "Who We Are." Accessed August 8, 2024. https://ipa-aip.org/who-we-are/
InfluenceWatch. "International Peoples' Assembly (IPA)." Accessed January 6, 2026. https://www.influencewatch.org/organization/international-peoples-assembly-ipa/
Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. "About." Accessed June 28, 2024. https://thetricontinental.org/about/
Wikipedia. "Neville Roy Singham." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neville_Roy_Singham
New Lines Magazine. "How the Revolutionary Ecosystem Sustains Pro-Palestinian Protesters." May 28, 2023. Reporting on Singham's $65+ million funding network.
InfluenceWatch. "The People's Forum." Accessed January 18, 2026. https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/the-peoples-forum/
InfluenceWatch. "International Peoples' Assembly (IPA)." "IPA's political platform includes the nationalization of the global financial system..."
Wikipedia. "International Peoples' Assembly." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Peoples'_Assembly
InfluenceWatch. "International Peoples' Assembly (IPA)." "In 2015, the Brazilian socialist group Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST) convened two international conferences..."
Dilemmas of Humanity. "About." Accessed April 10, 2025. https://dilemmasofhumanity.org/about
Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. Newsletter Issue #40. October 7, 2021. "On 1 October, the International Peoples' Assembly (IPA), a network of over 200 social and political movements, had its public launch."
Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. "About." "Bridge the gaps between movements and intellectual institutions..."
InfluenceWatch. "Tricontinental Institute for Social Research." "The organization bases its research on 'two axes'; the 'battle of ideas' and the 'epistemology of power.'"
Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. "About." "Network of research institutes in the Global South. We have institutes in Argentina, Brazil, India, and South Africa..."
Wikipedia. "International Peoples' Assembly." Lists IPMN members.
Wikipedia. "International Peoples' Assembly." "Self-described network of independent progressive media projects..."
Daily Beast. "U.S Tech Mogul Bankrolls Pro-Russia, Pro-China News Network." May 28, 2023.
InfluenceWatch. "International Peoples' Assembly." Regarding ICPE function.
Heritage Foundation. "How the Revolutionary Ecosystem Sustains Pro-Palestinian Protesters." June 24, 2024. "$785 million" from Thoughtworks sale.
Wikipedia. "Neville Roy Singham." Timeline of funding deployment 2017-present.
Ways and Means Committee. "Chairman Smith Exposes U.S. Nonprofit as Likely CCP-Funded Propaganda Arm." September 3, 2025. Documents CCP ties, Huawei advisory role, CCP workshop participation.
Wikipedia. "Neville Roy Singham." "Married to Code Pink co-founder Jodie Evans... has become pro-China after marrying Singham in 2017."
Free Beacon. "New York City Communists Pushing For a Gaza Ceasefire Took Millions from Goldman Sachs." November 20, 2023.
InfluenceWatch. "The People's Forum." Lists funding amounts and years.
InfluenceWatch. "Tricontinental Institute for Social Research." Financial data for 2017-2020.
Network Contagion Research Institute. "[PDF] Contagious Disruption: How CCP Influence and Radical Ideologies..." May 5, 2024. Details UCF funding flows.
InfluenceWatch. "Tricontinental Institute for Social Research." BreakThrough News funding documentation.
Wikipedia. "Neville Roy Singham." "According to a January 2022 report by New Lines Magazine... Singham has donated almost $65 million..."
Network Contagion Research Institute. "[PDF] Contagious Disruption..." Documents shell company network.
InfluenceWatch. "International Peoples' Assembly." Coordinating committee membership.
Wikipedia. "International Peoples' Assembly." Full membership list by region.
InfluenceWatch. "International Peoples' Assembly." "IPA seeks to dismantle capitalism and support ideological efforts to 'overthrow' what it considers 'class-based exploitation.'"
InfluenceWatch. "International Peoples' Assembly." Regarding anti-Zionist positions and Gaza statements.
InfluenceWatch. "International Peoples' Assembly." Regarding support for Palestinian "right to resistance."
InfluenceWatch. "International Peoples' Assembly." "After the U.S. military operation in Venezuela in January 2026, the International Peoples' Assembly shared protest materials and issued a statement condemning the action as militaristic and imperialist."
Dilemmas of Humanity. "About." "The 2015 Dilemmas of Humanity Conference... led to creation of IPA... In its third edition in 2023..."
InfluenceWatch. "International Peoples' Assembly." "The IPA coordinating committee represents political organizations and far-left movements at a regional level..."
Daily Beast. "U.S Tech Mogul Bankrolls Pro-Russia, Pro-China News Network." May 28, 2023. Documents content reproduction across outlets.
Wikipedia. "Vijay Prashad." "Senior non-resident fellow at Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China."
Yahoo News/Daily Beast. "U.S Tech Mogul Bankrolls Pro-Russia, Pro-China News Network." "Prashad has repeatedly praised the mass internment and re-education camps where China has detained over a million Uighurs, referring to them as a 'people's project'..."
Yahoo News/Daily Beast. "U.S Tech Mogul Bankrolls Pro-Russia, Pro-China News Network." "Dongsheng News... produces videos in multiple languages highlighting China's diplomatic and scientific achievements."
Wikipedia. "Neville Roy Singham." "Delhi Police... opened an investigation into NewsClick... Email communications... established that Singham was actively pursuing the China line on Covid-19..."
Wikipedia. "Neville Roy Singham." "Singham is seen clearly nudging Prabir and the PPK NewsClick team to peddle the Chinese version..."
Yahoo News/Daily Beast. "U.S Tech Mogul Bankrolls Pro-Russia, Pro-China News Network." "Tings Chak... is also a co-founder... of Dongsheng News... Additionally, Tricontinental researcher Dongsheng's podcast 'The Crane'... Chak is also... membership in the IPA's art and culture working group..."
Yahoo News/Daily Beast. "U.S Tech Mogul Bankrolls Pro-Russia, Pro-China News Network." "Crane podcast... portrays [China] as a generous... for developing nations."
Heritage Foundation. "How the Revolutionary Ecosystem Sustains Pro-Palestinian Protesters." "Singham-funded organizations... facilitate interaction among BLM... pro-Hamas... among the seven convenors in Shut It Down for Palestine (SID4P)..."
Heritage Foundation. "How the Revolutionary Ecosystem Sustains Pro-Palestinian Protesters." SID4P definition and Singham funding network's role.
Heritage Foundation. "How the Revolutionary Ecosystem Sustains Pro-Palestinian Protesters." Seven IPA/Singham-linked convenors in SID4P.
InfluenceWatch. "The People's Forum." December 2021 post on X (Twitter) admission of Singham funding.
Ways and Means Committee. "Chairman Smith Exposes U.S. Nonprofit as Likely CCP-Funded Propaganda Arm." "These organizations appear to have a track record of parroting CCP talking points... yet, none of these organizations appear to have registered under FARA."
Wikipedia. "Neville Roy Singham." Multiple references to FARA violation concerns raised by U.S. officials.
