Block, Siteadmin, SkipCaptcha, Upload, Automoderated users, delete, edit, move, nsTeam2RO, nsTeam2RW, nsTeam2_talkRO, nsTeam2_talkRW, protect, rollback, Administrators, template
294,717
edits
Changes
Socialist International (view source)
Revision as of 20:22, February 24, 2019
, 20:22, February 24, 2019→History
== History ==
== History ==
The Socialist International, whose origins go back to the early international organizations of the labor movement, has existed in its present form since 1951, when it was re-established at the Frankfurt Congress. Since then it has been increasingly active and grown considerably in membership, more than doubling the number of its members in recent years. Labor, social democratic and socialist parties are now a major political force in several countries around the world, with numerous member parties of the International leading governments or representing the main opposition force. Over 60 member parties of the International, in over 55 different countries and territories, are currently in government.
The Socialist International, whose origins go back to the early international organizations of the labor movement, has existed in its present form since 1951, when it was re-established at the Frankfurt Congress. Since then it has been increasingly active and grown considerably in membership, more than doubling the number of its members in recent years. Labor, social democratic and socialist parties are now a major political force in several countries around the world, with numerous member parties of the International leading governments or representing the main opposition force. Over 60 member parties of the International, in over 55 different countries and territories, are currently in government.
===Michael Harrington===
According to Timothy Sears, [[Michael Harrington]] was the principal author of the Socialist International’s new statement of principles, "but he found the process of writing-by-committee maddening. The initial draft he wrote was absolutely brilliant—some of the best he ever wrote." However, at the SI Congress in [[Lima]], [[Peru]] in 1986, it was roundly criticized by those (particularly from the French Socialist Party) who "were essentially [[Blairite]]s before [[Tony Blair]]" and considered his draft excessively “[[utopia]]n.” They insisted on major changes to tone it down. Harrington also wrote the final version that was adopted, "which is quite good, but he was really frustrated with the whole thing". Harrington, Jim Chapin and Sears were [[Democratic Socialists of America]] delegates at the Lima Congress.
:''I remember Mike and Jim talking about whether we should publish his original draft as a DSA pamphlet. Someplace I must still have a copy of the original draft…''<ref>[http://www.dsaboston.org/yradical/yr2008-01.pdf TYR, Jan. 2008]</ref>
During the seventies and eighties. At that time, Harrington was the Si's leading American spokesperson and a valued adviser and strategist for the SI's ruling triumvirate of [[Olaf Palme]], [[Willy Brandt]] and [[Francois Mitterrand]]. According to John Mason,<ref>''Dem. Left Millenium issue Part 2'', 1999, page 4</ref>
:''For over a decade, DSA's marginality at home was offset within SI councils by Harrington's brilliance as an essayist, and his energy and insight as a socialist strategist. But this also meant that DSA's connection to the SI was largely a one-man show Since Michael's death in 1989—and with the disappearance of the generation of European leaders who had welcomed him into their ranks—the relationship between DSA and the SI has never been the same.''
== Disreputable membership ==
== Disreputable membership ==