Edward Pickersgill asks:

Okay so they are self-professed as a political party but inactive in electoral contests. What, then, is the relationship of the SPUSA to the SI?

Dear Edward,

I am not sure if SDUSA is still a half member of the SI. I don't know why I'm doing this because others, I'm sure, will respond but briefly:

In 1936 when the Socialist Party split, and a large group called the Social Democratic Federation left (mainly to support FDR and the Democrats) the SI granted "half status" to both the SP and the SDF, hoping this would help bring them together.

In 1956 when the SDF rejoined the SP and we formed the SP-SDF, we were given full membership. In 1972 when the SP-SDF split three ways, into the reactionary grouping called Social Democrats USA (which supported the Vietnam War), and Michael Harrington's Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee (later to become the Democratic Socialists of America), and into the Socialist Party USA, the SI gave half membership to both SP-SDF and to DSOC. I talked with the SI folks at the time here in New York, they weren't eager to have yet a third US member group and discourage our application. (Which I think a majority of the SP would have opposed in any case).

Since that time the SD-USA has been a kind of embarrassment to the SI - and while it has largely vanished, it may still hold onto its half-affiliation. DSA remains active in the SI.

The SP-USA has no relationship to the SI.

Peace,
David McReynolds