Socialist International
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What is the Socialist International?
The Socialist International (SI) is an association of national socialist parties advocating for a democratic form of socialism. It was re-established after World War II, with the first post-war congress in 1951 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The SI's statutes require all members to consent to resolutions, with each member party having one vote.
The SI emphasizes the political aspects of socialism, such as democracy and civil liberty. Historically, the SI has been anti-communist and anti-Soviet, supporting the North Atlantic alliance while also advocating for peaceful coexistence, détente, and general disarmament under international supervision. The organization has supported the United Nations and the economic unity of Europe.
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When was the Socialist International founded?
The Socialist International (SI), an association of national socialist parties, was officially reconstituted at a congress in Frankfurt am Main, West Germany, in July 1951. This occurred after gradual steps to reinstate an international federation of working-class parties following World War II. A liaison office was first established in England in 1946, which then became the Committee of the International Socialist Conference (Comisco) in 1947. In 1951, the decision was made to reconstitute the International. The SI's headquarters were established in London. The SI is distinct from both the Second International and Third International.
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What are the main goals of the Socialist International?
The Socialist International (SI), formed in 1951, is an association of national socialist parties advocating for a democratic form of socialism.
SI's main goals and principles include prioritizing the political aspects of socialism, emphasizing democracy and civil liberty. It supports the United Nations and the economic unity of Europe. The SI denounces fascist regimes and apartheid while supporting self-determination for colonial and dependent peoples. It also addresses the economic struggles of underdeveloped countries, advocating for a "World Plan for Mutual Aid" through UN agencies. The SI's policy was anticommunist and generally anti-Soviet, yet it supported peaceful coexistence and détente with the Soviet Union, along with general disarmament under international supervision.
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Which types of political parties join the Socialist International?
The Socialist International (SI) is an association of national socialist parties advocating for a democratic form of socialism. The SI's statutes require all members to consent to resolutions, with each member party receiving one vote, regardless of its size. The congress, the supreme body, convenes biennially to declare principles and determine statutes and membership. The council, composed of representatives from each member party, assembles yearly to address current political issues. The SI supports the economic unity of Europe, and relevant European member parties participate in the European parliamentary assemblies. In the late 20th century, the SI comprised over 60 socialist parties from Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, and the Western Hemisphere.
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How does the Socialist International promote its ideas and values around the world?
The Socialist International (SI) promotes its ideas and values through various avenues. The SI's statutes require the consent of all member parties for resolutions to be passed, with each member party having one vote. The congress, as the supreme body, convenes every other year to proclaim principles and determine statutes and membership. The council, composed of representatives from each member party, assembles yearly to address current political issues and elect leadership. The SI emphasizes democracy and civil liberty, supports the United Nations, and advocates for peaceful coexistence and disarmament. It also denounces oppressive regimes and supports self-determination for colonial peoples, addressing economic issues in underdeveloped countries through its "World Plan for Mutual Aid."
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What impact has the Socialist International had on global politics?
The Socialist International (SI), established in 1951, is an association of national socialist parties advocating for a democratic form of socialism. Emphasizing democracy and civil liberty, the SI's policy has been generally anti-Soviet and anticommunist, even while supporting peaceful coexistence and détente, along with general disarmament under international supervision.
The SI has supported the United Nations, advocated for the admission of the People’s Republic of China, and called for the cessation of hostilities in Vietnam. It has also affirmed Israel's right to exist and promoted negotiations for a permanent resolution between Arabs and Israelis. The SI has denounced oppressive regimes and apartheid in South Africa, while supporting self-determination for colonial peoples. It has also addressed economic issues in industrially underdeveloped countries, adopting a detailed "World Plan for Mutual Aid".
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Socialist International (SI), association of national socialist parties that advocates a democratic form of socialism.
After World War II the reinstitution of an international federation of working-class parties took place in gradual stages. First, an information and liaison office was established at the first postwar international conference, held in England in 1946. The following year this office was transformed into a consultative committee that became a more representative body called the Committee of the International Socialist Conference, or Comisco. In 1951 it decided to reconstitute the International. (See also International, Second; International, Third.)
This reconstitution took place at a congress held in Frankfurt am Main, W.Ger., in July 1951. The new organization assumed the name Socialist International and established its headquarters in London. Its statutes require the consent of all member parties for resolutions to be passed, and one vote is allocated to each member party, regardless of the size of its membership. Its supreme body is the congress, which meets every other year and proclaims the organization’s principles and determines its statutes and membership. A smaller body, the council, which assembles yearly and is composed of representatives from each member party, formulates the attitude of the SI toward current political issues, elects the president and secretary, and fixes affiliation fees. Finally, the bureau, composed of delegates from 12 countries and meeting according to requirements, is charged with the supervision of the secretary’s activities.
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In its declaration of principles, the SI put chief emphasis upon the political aspects of socialism, notably democracy and civil liberty. SI policy has been anticommunist and was generally anti-Soviet. The SI not only rejected the communist system as irreconcilable with socialist principles but also supported the North Atlantic alliance against the Soviet Union. Yet it supported the policy of peaceful coexistence and détente with the Soviet Union and general disarmament under international supervision.
The SI supported the United Nations and demanded the admission of the People’s Republic of China. It called for the cessation of hostilities in Vietnam and urged a settlement that would enable the peoples of both parts of the country to determine their future and ensure its neutrality. It affirmed the right of the state of Israel to exist and called for negotiations between the Arabs and Israelis to find a permanent solution of the existing problems on the basis of their independence and sovereignty. The SI denounced the fascist regimes in Spain, Portugal, and Greece and the system of apartheid in South Africa. It declared its support of the colonial and dependent peoples’ struggle for self-determination. Considering the economic plight of the industrially underdeveloped countries as a major humanitarian as well as a political problem, it adopted a detailed “World Plan for Mutual Aid” and pledged its member parties to arouse world opinion to induce the governments to carry it out through UN agencies.
The SI supports the economic unity of Europe, and the relevant European member parties participate in the activities of the European parliamentary assemblies: the Council of Europe, the Western European Union, and the European Coal and Steel Community.
In the late 20th century the SI consisted of more than 60 socialist parties in Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, and the Western Hemisphere.
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