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Democratic Socialists of America

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Revision as of 22:56, 28 September 2022 by Wisconcom (talk | contribs) (Added infobox.)
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Democratic Socialists of America

AbbreviationDSA
National DirectorMaria Svart
FounderMichael Harrington
Founded20 March 1982
HeadquartersNew York City, New York
NewspaperDemocratic Left
Student wingYoung Democratic
Socialists of America
Membership (2021)94,915
International affiliationSocialist International
(1982–2017)
Website
https://www.dsausa.org/


The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is a big-tent nonprofit organization in the United States whose members' ideological views tend to range from social democracy to democratic socialism, with some factions embracing farther left ideologies such as communism and anarchism.

Despite the left-wing position of the membership, its leadership and history is rife with anti-socialism, anti-communism,[1] liberal reformism[2] and pro-imperialism.[3] The pro-imperialism has recently been in decline, with DSA's International Committee calling for the US withdrawal from NATO.[4]

The DSA itself is not a political party, but several of its members have held office in the Democratic Party, Green Party, Working Families Party, or as independents.

In 2022, Socialist Alternative launched a caucus within the DSA.[5]

History

DSA was founded by Michael Harrington, a self-described "democratic socialist" who opposed actually existing socialist states of his time, notably the USSR, China, and members of the Eastern Bloc.

In 1948, Harrington and other young intellectuals joined with Trotskyist Max Schatchman to develop the idea of a "Third Camp" which opposed both the capitalist bloc and the communist bloc.

Revealing his reactionary character, Harrington said in the New York Times in the 1980s that "I share an immediate program with liberals in this country because the best liberalism leads toward socialism."

See also

  • The Squad - "progressive" US congresspeople, many of whom are involved with DSA

References