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Socialist International
Red Rose (Socialism).svg
Socialist International logo
Parties of Socialist International.svg
Light red: Countries with a political party affiliated with the Socialist International
Dark red: Countries with the ruling party affiliated with the Socialist International
Abbreviation SI
Predecessor Labour and Socialist International
Formation 3 June 1951; 73 years ago (1951-06-03)
Type International non-governmental organization
Purpose "Strengthen relations between the affiliated parties and to coordinate their political attitudes and activities"
Location
Region served
Worldwide
Membership
119 political parties and 13 affiliated organizations
President
Pedro Sánchez
Secretary General
Chantal Kambiwa
Main organ
Congress of the Socialist International
Secessions Progressive Alliance
Budget
£1.4 million (2014)
Website socialistinternational.org


The Socialist International (SI) is a political international or worldwide organisation of political parties which seek to establish democratic socialism, though it consists mostly of social-democratic political parties and labour organisations.

Although formed in 1951 as a successor to the Labour and Socialist International, it has antecedents in the late 19th century. The organisation currently includes 132 member parties and organisations from over 100 countries. Its members have governed in many countries, including most of Europe. In 2013, a schism in the SI led to the establishment of the Progressive Alliance.

The current secretary general of the SI is Benedicta Lasi of Ghana and the current president of the SI is the prime minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, both of whom were elected at the last SI Congress held in Madrid, Spain, in November 2022.

History

First and Second Internationals (1864–1916)

The International Workingmen's Association, also known as the First International, was the first international body to bring together organisations representing the working class. It was formed in London on 28 September 1864 by socialist, communist and anarchist political groups and trade unions. Tensions between moderates and revolutionaries led to its dissolution in 1876 in Philadelphia.

The Second International was formed in Paris on 14 July 1889 as an association of the socialist parties. Differences over World War I led to the Second International being dissolved in 1916.

Labour and Socialist International (1919–1940)

The International Socialist Commission (ISC), also known as the Berne International, was formed in February 1919 at a meeting in Bern by parties that wanted to resurrect the Second International. In March 1919, Communist parties formed the Communist International ("Comintern"), the Third International, at a meeting in Moscow.

Some parties did not want to be a part of the resurrected Second International (ISC) or Comintern. They formed the International Working Union of Socialist Parties (IWUSP, also known as Vienna International, Vienna Union, or Two-and-a-Half International) on 27 February 1921 at a conference in Vienna. The ISC and the IWUSP joined to form the Labour and Socialist International (LSI) in May 1923 at a meeting in Hamburg. The rise of Nazism and the start of World War II led to the dissolution of the LSI in 1940.

Socialist International (1951–present)

The Socialist International was formed in Frankfurt in July 1951 as a successor to the LSI.

During the post-World War II period, the SI aided social democratic parties in re-establishing themselves when dictatorship gave way to democracy in Portugal (1974) and Spain (1975). Until its 1976 Geneva Congress, the SI had few members outside Europe and no formal involvement with Latin America. In the 1980s, most SI parties gave their backing to the Nicaraguan Sandinistas (FSLN), whose democratically elected left-wing government was subject to a campaign to overthrow it backed by the United States, which culminated in the Iran–Contra affair after the Reagan administration covertly continued US support for the Contras after such support was banned by Congress.

WillyBrandtBerntCarlssonPenttiVäänänen
Willy Brandt with outgoing secretary general Bernt Carlsson (left) and new secretary general Pentti Väänänen (right) at the Socialist International Congress in 1983

In the late 1970s and in the 1980s the SI had extensive contacts and discussion with the two leading powers of the Cold War period, the United States and the Soviet Union, on issues concerning East–West relations and arms control. The SI supported détente and disarmament agreements, such as SALT II, START and INF. They had several meetings and discussion in Washington, D.C., with President Jimmy Carter and Vice President George Bush and in Moscow with Secretaries General Leonid Brezhnev and Mikhail Gorbachev. The SI's delegations to these discussions were led by the Finnish Prime Minister Kalevi Sorsa.

Since then, the SI has admitted as members an increasing number of parties and organisations from Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America (see below for current list).

Following the Tunisian Revolution, the Constitutional Democratic Rally was expelled from the SI in January 2011; later that month the Egyptian National Democratic Party was also expelled; and as a result of the 2010–2011 Ivorian crisis, the Ivorian Popular Front was expelled in March 2011, in accordance with section 7.1 of the statutes of the Socialist International. These decisions were approved at the subsequent SI Congress in Cape Town in 2012 in line with section 5.1.3 of the statutes. These were long term ruling parties of one-party states that were overthrown in the protests of the Arab Spring.

Progressive Alliance split (2013)

On 22 May 2013 the Social Democratic Party of Germany along with some other current and former member parties of the SI founded a rival international network of social-democratic parties known as the Progressive Alliance, citing the perceived undemocratic and outmoded nature of the SI, as well as the Socialist International's admittance and continuing inclusion of undemocratic political movements into the organization. For example, the SPD objected to the continued presence of the Sandinista National Liberation Front and the delayed ouster of the Tunisian RCD and Egyptian NDP.

After the 2012 Congress, the SI underwent major changes as many of the large European parties allowed their membership to lapse – for example the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) and the Swedish Social Democratic Labour Party – or downgraded their membership to observer status – for example, the British Labour Party and the Norwegian Labour Party (DNA). These parties now concentrate their international links on the Progressive Alliance, with the SI's focus now increasingly being on the global south.

Relationship with Latin America

For a long time, the Socialist International remained distant from Latin America, considering the region as a zone of influence of the United States. For example, it did not denounce the coup d'état against Socialist President Jacobo Árbenz in Guatemala in 1954 or the invasion of the Dominican Republic by the United States in 1965. It was not until the 1973 Chilean coup d'état that "a world we did not know" was discovered, explained Antoine Blanca, a diplomat for the French PS. According to him, solidarity with the Chilean left was "the first challenge worthy of the name, against Washington, of an International which, until then, had done everything to appear subject to American strategy and NATO". Subsequently, notably under the leadership of François Mitterrand, the SI supported the Sandinistas in Nicaragua and other movements in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras in their struggle against US-supported dictatorships.

In the 1990s, it was joined by non-socialist parties that took note of the economic power of the European countries governed or to be governed by their partners across the Atlantic and calculated the benefits they could derive from it. During this period, "the socialist international works in a clientist way; some parties come here to rub shoulders with Europeans as if they were in the upper class," says Porfirio Muñoz Ledo, one of the representatives of the Party of the Democratic Revolution (Mexico) at the SI. It is home to "the very centrist Argentinean Radical Civic Union (UCR); the Mexican Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which was not very democratically in power for seventy years; the Colombian Liberal Party—under whose governments the left-wing formation Patriotic Union (1986–1990) was exterminated—introduced the neoliberal model (1990–1994) and to which, until 2002, Álvaro Uribe will belong". In the following decade, many left-wing parties that came to power (in Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador and El Salvador) preferred to keep their distance from the SI.

The logo is the fist and rose, based on the 1977 design by José María Cruz Novillo for the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, itself a variant of the logo of the French Socialist Party. Variants of the emblem are or were used by several SI member parties.

Presidents, honorary presidents and secretaries general

Presidents

  • As of 2023, there have been a total of 9 Socialist International presidents.
# Name Portrait Country Presidency

start date

Presidency

end date

Time in office
1 Morgan Phillips (1902–1963)  United Kingdom Labour Party 1951 1957 6 years
2 Alsing Andersen (1893–1962) Alsing Andersen.jpg  Denmark Social Democratic Party of Denmark 1957 1962 5 years
3 Erich Ollenhauer (1901–1963) Bundesarchiv Bild 183-21272-0001, Erich Ollenhauer.jpg  West Germany Social Democratic Party of Germany 1963
4 Bruno Pittermann (1905–1983) Bruno Pittermann.jpg  Austria Social Democratic Party of Austria 1964 1976 12 years
5 Willy Brandt (1913–1992) Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F057884-0009, Willy Brandt.jpg  West Germany Social Democratic Party of Germany 1976 1992 16 years
6 Pierre Mauroy (1928–2013) Pierre Mauroy 1990.jpg  France Socialist Party of France 17 September 1992 10 November 1999 7 years, 54 days
7 António Guterres (born 1949) António Guterres crop.jpg  Portugal Socialist Party of Portugal 10 November 1999 15 June 2005 5 years, 217 days
8 George Papandreou
(born 1952)
George Papandreou (junior).jpg  Greece PASOK / KIDISO 30 January 2006 25 November 2022 16 years, 300 days
9 Pedro Sánchez
(born 1972)
Pedro Sánchez in 2022.jpg  Spain Spanish Socialist Workers' Party 25 November 2022 Incumbent 1 year, 361 days

Honorary presidents

Current and honorary presidents include:

Secretaries general

  • Julius Braunthal, Austria (1951–1956)
  • Bjarne Braatoy, Norway (1956–1957)
  • Albert Carthy, United Kingdom (1957–1969)
  • Hans Janitschek, Austria (1969–1976)
  • Bernt Carlsson, Sweden (1976–1983)
  • Pentti Väänänen, Finland (1983–1989)
  • Luis Ayala, Chile (1989–2022)
  • Benedicta Lasi, Ghana (2022–2024)
  • Chantal Kambiwa, Ghana (2024– )

Summits

Members

Full members

There are 92 full members:

Country Name Abbr Government Notes Lower House Upper House
 Albania Socialist Party of Albania PS in government Admitted as consultative member in 1999. Promoted to full member in 2003.
74 / 140 (53%)
 Algeria Socialist Forces Front FFS in opposition Admitted as consultative member in 1992. Promoted to full member in 1996.
0 / 407 (0%)
4 / 144 (3%)
 Andorra Social Democratic Party PS in opposition Promoted to full member in 2003.
3 / 28 (11%)
 Angola Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola MPLA in government Admitted as observer member in 1996. Promoted to full member in 2003.
124 / 220 (56%)
 Argentina Radical Civic Union UCR in opposition Admitted as consultative member in 1996. Promoted to full member in 1999.
34 / 257 (13%)
13 / 72 (18%)
 Armenia Armenian Revolutionary Federation ARF in opposition Admitted (as Armenian Socialist Party) as observer member in 1996. Promoted (as ASP) to consultative member in 1999. Promoted (as ASP) to full member in 2003.
10 / 107 (9%)
 Belarus Belarusian Social Democratic Party BSDP extra-parliamentary Admitted as observer member in 1999. Promoted to consultative member in 2003. Promoted to full member in November 2015. Officially deregistered in Belarus since 2005.
0 / 110 (0%)
0 / 64 (0%)
 Belgium Socialist Party PS junior party in coalition
20 / 150 (13%)
7 / 60 (12%)
 Bolivia National Unity Front UN extra-parliamentary Promoted to full member in March 2017.
0 / 130 (0%)
0 / 36 (0%)
 Bosnia and Herzegovina Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina SDP BiH in government Admitted as observer member in 1996. Promoted to full member in 1999.
6 / 42 (14%)
0 / 15 (0%)
 Brazil Democratic Labour Party PDT in government Admitted as consultative member in 1986. Promoted to full member in 1989.
18 / 513 (4%)
2 / 81 (2%)
 Bulgaria Party of Bulgarian Social Democrats PBSD extra-parliamentary
0 / 240 (0%)
Bulgarian Socialist Party BSP in opposition Admitted as full member in 2003.
23 / 240 (10%)
 Burkina Faso People's Movement for Progress MPP extra-parliamentary Admitted as full member in 2016.
0 / 127 (0%)
 Cameroon Social Democratic Front SDF in opposition Admitted as consultative member in 1996. Promoted to full member in 1999.
5 / 180 (3%)
1 / 100 (1%)
 Cape Verde African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde PAICV in opposition Admitted as consultative member in 1992. Promoted to full member in 1996.
30 / 72 (42%)
 Central African Republic Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People MLPC in opposition Admitted as observer member in 2008. Upgraded to full member in 2018.
9 / 100 (9%)
 Chad National Union for Democracy and Renewal UNDR extra-parliamentary Admitted as observer member in June/July 2014. Upgraded to full member in 2017.
0 / 155 (0%)
 Chile Party for Democracy PPD junior party in coalition Admitted as consultative member in 1992. Promoted to full member in 1996.
7 / 155 (5%)
6 / 50 (12%)
Radical Party of Chile PRSD junior party in coalition
4 / 155 (3%)
0 / 50 (0%)
Socialist Party of Chile PS junior party in coalition Admitted as consultative member in 1992. Promoted to full member in 1996.
13 / 155 (8%)
7 / 50 (14%)
 Colombia Colombian Liberal Party PLC junior party in coalition Admitted as consultative member in 1992. Promoted to full member in 1999.
32 / 188 (17%)
14 / 108 (13%)
 Costa Rica National Liberation Party PLN in opposition Full member since 1987.
19 / 57 (33%)
 Croatia Social Democratic Party of Croatia SDP in opposition Admitted as full member in 1999.
13 / 151 (9%)
 Cyprus EDEK Socialist Party EDEK in opposition Full member since 1987. Promoted to full member in 1992.
3 / 56 (5%)
Cyprus Northern Cyprus Cyprus (North) Republican Turkish Party CTP in opposition Admitted as consultative member in 2008 (pending consultation). Promoted to full member in June/July 2014.
18 / 50 (36%)
Communal Democracy Party TDP extra-parliamentary Admitted as consultative member in November 2015. Promoted to full member in March 2017.
0 / 50 (0%)
 Czech Republic Social Democracy SOCDEM in opposition
0 / 200 (0%)
1 / 81 (1%)
 Democratic Republic of the Congo Union for Democracy and Social Progress UDPS in government Admitted as observer member in 2003.
32 / 500 (6%)
0 / 108 (0%)
 Dominican Republic Dominican Revolutionary Party PRD in opposition Full member since 1987.
4 / 190 (2%)
0 / 32 (0%)
 Equatorial Guinea Convergence for Social Democracy CPDS extra-parliamentary Admitted as consultative member in 1996. Promoted to full member in 1999.
0 / 100 (0%)
 Finland Social Democratic Party of Finland SDP in opposition
43 / 200 (22%)
 France Socialist Party PS in opposition
32 / 577 (6%)
66 / 348 (19%)
 Ghana National Democratic Congress NDC in opposition Admitted as consultative member in 2003. Promoted to full member in 2008.
137 / 275 (50%)
 Greece PASOK – Movement for Change PASOK-KINAL in opposition Full member since 1990.
32 / 300 (11%)
 Guatemala National Unity of Hope UNE in opposition Admitted as full member in 2008.
28 / 160 (18%)
 Guinea Rally of the Guinean People RPG in opposition Admitted (as Guinean People's Assembly) as consultative member in 1999. Promoted (as GPA) to full member in 2003.
1 / 81 (1%)
 Haiti Fusion of Haitian Social Democrats PFSDH extra-parliamentary Full member since 1989.
0 / 119 (0%)
0 / 30 (0%)
Social Democratic Assembly for the Progress of Haiti (RSD) RSD extra-parliamentary Admitted as full members in 2018
0 / 119 (0%)
0 / 30 (0%)
 Hungary Hungarian Socialist Party MSzP in opposition Admitted as observer member in 1992. Promoted to full member in 1996.
10 / 199 (5%)
 India Indian National Congress INC in opposition Originally joined in 1993. Readmitted as full member December 2014.
47 / 543 (9%)
30 / 245 (12%)
 Iraq Patriotic Union of Kurdistan PUK junior party in coalition Admitted as observer member in 2003. Promoted to full member in 2008.
17 / 329 (5%)
 Israel Meretz מרצ extra-parliamentary
0 / 120 (0%)
 Italy Italian Socialist Party PSI extra-parliamentary
0 / 400 (0%)
0 / 200 (0%)
 Jamaica People's National Party PNP in opposition Full member since 1952. Temporarily demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees.
14 / 63 (22%)
8 / 21 (38%)
 Japan Social Democratic Party SDP in opposition Full member since 1951 as the Japan Socialist Party.
1 / 465 (0.2%)
2 / 248 (0.8%)
 Kazakhstan Nationwide Social Democratic Party JSDP in opposition Admitted as consultative member in 2012. Promoted to full member in November 2015.
4 / 98 (4%)
 Kyrgyzstan Social Democrats (Kyrgyzstan) SDK in opposition Legal successor to the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan.
1 / 90 (1%)
 Lebanon Progressive Socialist Party PSP in opposition Full member since 1980.
8 / 128 (6%)
 Lithuania Social Democratic Party of Lithuania LSDP in opposition Full member since the 1990s.
13 / 141 (9%)
 Luxembourg Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party LSAP/POSL in opposition Full member since 1951.
11 / 60 (18%)
 Mali Alliance for Democracy in Mali ADEMA-PASJ in opposition Admitted as consultative member in 1996. Promoted to full member in 1999. Promoted to full member in 2008. Status unclear following the 2020 Malian coup d'état.
24 / 147 (16%)
Rally for Mali RPM in opposition Admitted as consultative member in 2003. Status unclear following the 2020 Malian coup d'état.
51 / 147 (35%)
 Mauritania Rally of Democratic Forces RFD extra-parliamentary Admitted as observer member in 2003. Promoted to full member in 2008.
0 / 176 (0%)
 Mauritius Labour Party PT in opposition Full member since 1969.
13 / 69 (19%)
Mauritian Militant Movement MMM in opposition Admitted as consultative member in 1996. Promoted to full member in 2003. Part of the Alliance of the Heart.
9 / 69 (13%)
Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico Institutional Revolutionary Party PRI in opposition Admitted as consultative member in 1996. Promoted to full member in 2003.
68 / 500 (14%)
13 / 128 (10%)
Flag of Moldova.svg Moldova European Social Democratic Party PSDE extra-parliamentary Admitted as consultative member in 2008. Promoted to full member in 2012.
Part of Alliance for European Integration.
0 / 101 (0%)
 Mongolia Mongolian People's Party MPP in government Admitted (as Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party) as observer member in 1999.
Promoted (as Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party) to full member in 2003.
62 / 76 (82%)
 Montenegro Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro DPS in opposition Admitted as consultative member in 2003. Promoted to full member in 2008.
17 / 81 (21%)
Social Democratic Party of Montenegro SDP extra-parliamentary Admitted as observer member in 1996. Promoted to consultative member in 1999. Promoted to full member in 2003.
0 / 81 (0%)
 Morocco Socialist Union of Popular Forces USFP in opposition Promoted to full member in 1992.
37 / 395 (9%)
8 / 120 (7%)
 Mozambique Frelimo Party FRELIMO in government Admitted as consultative member in 1996. Promoted to full member in 1999.
184 / 250 (74%)
 Namibia South West Africa People's Organisation SWAPO in government Promoted to full member in 2008.
63 / 96 (66%)
28 / 42 (67%)
 Nepal Nepali Congress NC in opposition Admitted as consultative member in 1989. Promoted to full member in 1999.
88 / 275 (32%)
10 / 59 (17%)
 Niger Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism PNDS in opposition Admitted as consultative member in 1996. Promoted to full member in 2003. Status unclear following the 2023 Nigerien coup d'état.
79 / 171 (46%)
 Pakistan Pakistan Peoples Party PPP junior party in coalition Admitted as consultative member in 1989. Promoted to full member in 2003.
0 / 336 (0%)
20 / 100 (20%)
 Palestine Fatah in government Admitted as observer member in 1996. Promoted to consultative member in 1999.
Promoted to full member in 2012.
45 / 132 (34%)
 Panama Democratic Revolutionary Party PRD in government Admitted as consultative member in 1986. Admitted as consultative member in 1996. Promoted to full member in 2003.
35 / 71 (49%)
 Paraguay Progressive Democratic Party PDP extra-parliamentary Admitted as consultative member in 2008. Promoted to full member in November 2015.
0 / 80 (0%)
0 / 45 (0%)
 Peru Peruvian Aprista Party PAP extra-parliamentary Promoted to full member in 1999.
0 / 130 (0%)
 Philippines Philippine Democratic Socialist Party PDSP extra-parliamentary Admitted as consultative member in 1992. Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees. Delisted in December 2014. Reinstated in 2019.
0 / 316 (0%)
0 / 24 (0%)
 Portugal Socialist Party PS in government
120 / 230 (52%)
 Puerto Rico Puerto Rican Independence Party PIP in opposition Consultative member in 1987, full member in 1994. Promoted to full member in 1992.
1 / 51 (2%)
1 / 27 (4%)
 Romania Social Democratic Party PSD in government Admitted as consultative member in 1996. Promoted to full member in 1999. PSDR admitted as consultative member in 1992, full member in 2001. Admitted as full member in 2003. Both parties merged into PSD in 2001.
107 / 330 (32%)
49 / 136 (36%)
 San Marino Party of Socialists and Democrats PSD junior partner in coalition Consultative member in 1961, full member in 1980.
4 / 60 (7%)
 Senegal Socialist Party of Senegal PS junior partner in coalition Full member since the 1970s. Boycotted last election.
0 / 150 (0%)
 Slovakia Direction – Social Democracy SMER-SD in government Full member.
42 / 150 (28%)
 South Africa African National Congress ANC in government Admitted as full member in 1999.
230 / 400 (58%)
54 / 90 (60%)
 Spain Spanish Socialist Workers' Party PSOE in government Full member since 1951.
121 / 350 (35%)
88 / 266 (33%)
 Tunisia Democratic Forum for Labour and Liberties FDTL N/A Admitted as consultative member in 2003. Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees. Promoted to full member in 2012. Boycotted the 2022–23 Tunisian parliamentary election.
0 / 217 (0%)
 Turkey Republican People's Party CHP in opposition Took Social Democratic Populist Party's place in 1995.
129 / 600 (22%)
 Uruguay New Space PNE in opposition Admitted as consultative member in 1999. Promoted to full member in 2003.Party does not individually stand in elections but participates as part of the Broad Front.
 Venezuela A New Era UNT extra-parliamentary Admitted as consultative member in 2013. Promoted to full member in November 2015.
0 / 277 (0%)
Democratic Action AD in opposition Observer member in 1966, consultative member in 1981, full member mid 1980s.
11 / 277 (4%)
Popular Will VP extra-parliamentary Admitted as full member in December 2014.
0 / 277 (0%)
 Yemen Yemeni Socialist Party YSP in opposition Admitted as observer member in 2003. Promoted to consultative member in 2008.
Promoted to full member in 2012.
8 / 301 (3%)

Consultative parties

There are 19 consultative parties:

Country Name Abbr Government Notes Lower House Upper House
 Botswana Botswana Democratic Party BDP in government Admitted as consultative member in June/July 2014.
38 / 65 (58%)
 Democratic Republic of the Congo Unified Lumumbist Party PALU in opposition Admitted as observer member in December 2014. Upgraded to consultative in 2019.
17 / 500 (3%)
2 / 108 (2%)
 Djibouti Movement for Democratic Renewal and Development MRD N/A Admitted as consultative members in 2019.
 Eswatini People's United Democratic Movement PUDEMO N/A Admitted as consultative member in 2013. Political parties are banned in Eswatini.
 Gabon Gabonese Progress Party PGP N/A Admitted as consultative member in 1996.
0 / 143 (0%)
 Gambia United Democratic Party UDP in opposition Admitted as consultative member in 2012.
15 / 58 (26%)
 Georgia Social Democrats for the Development of Georgia SDD extra-parliamentary Admitted as consultative member in 2013.
0 / 150 (0%)
 Ghana Convention People's Party CPP extra-parliamentary Admitted as consultative member in 2018
0 / 275 (0%)
 Guinea-Bissau African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde PAIGC in opposition Admitted as consultative member in 2008.
47 / 102 (46%)
 Iran Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan PDKI N/A Admitted as observer member in 1996. Promoted to consultative member in 2008. Officially banned in Iran.
Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan KPIK N/A Admitted as observer member in 2014 Promoted to consultative member in 2018 Officially banned in Iran.
 Palestine Palestinian National Initiative PNI in opposition Admitted as observer member in 2008. Promoted to consultative member in 2012.
2 / 132 (2%)
Palestinian Popular Struggle Front PPSF junior partner in coalition Admitted as consultative member in 2018.
0 / 132 (0%)
 Sahrawi Republic Polisario Front POLISARIO in government Admitted as observer member in 2008. Promoted to consultative member in 2017.
51 / 51 (100%)
 São Tomé and Príncipe Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe/Social Democratic Party MLSTP/PSD in opposition Admitted as consultative member in 2013.
18 / 55 (33%)
 Syria Democratic Union Party PYD extra-parliamentary opposition Admitted as consultative member in November 2015.
0 / 250 (0%)
 Togo Democratic Convention of African Peoples CDPA extra-parliamentary opposition Admitted as consultative member in 1999.
0 / 91 (0%)
 Ukraine Social Democratic Party of Ukraine SDPU extra-parliamentary opposition Admitted as consultative member in 2003.
0 / 450 (0%)

Observer parties

There are eight observer parties:

Country Name Abbr Government Notes
 Eswatini Swazi Democratic Party SWADEPA N/A Admitted as observer member in June/July 2014.
 Ireland Labour Party in opposition
 Kenya Labour Party of Kenya Admitted as observer member in 2012.
 Kosovo Vetëvendosje VV in government Admitted as observer member in 2018.
 Lesotho Lesotho Congress for Democracy LCD junior party in coalition Admitted as observer member in June/July 2014.
 Serbia Social Democratic Party of Serbia SDPS junior party in coalition Admitted as observer member in 2018.
 Somaliland Justice and Welfare Party JWP in opposition Admitted as observer member in 2013
 United Kingdom Labour Party in opposition Member since 1951. Welsh Labour is in government in Wales and London Labour holds the London Mayoralty. The party asked to be downgraded to observer status in February 2013 "in view of ethical concerns, and to develop international co-operation through new networks." The request was accepted later that year.
 United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) Social Democratic and Labour Party SDLP in opposition Admitted as a full member in 1974.

Former members

Country Name Abbr Notes
 Albania Social Democratic Party of Albania PSD Admitted as consultative member in 1992. Promoted to full member in 1996. Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees. Delisted in December 2014.
 Algeria National Liberation Front FLN Expelled following the 2019 Algerian protests.
 Andorra New Democracy ND Admitted as consultative member in 1999.
 Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party ALP Admitted as consultative member in 2008.
 Argentina Popular Socialist Party PSP Admitted as full member in 1992. Merged with the Democratic Socialist Party to form the Socialist Party.
Socialist Party PS Full member since 1951.
 Azerbaijan Azerbaijani Social Democratic Party ASDP Admitted as observer member in 1996. Promoted to consultative member in 2003. Readmitted as consultative member in June/July 2014. Admitted as full member in 2016. Party dissolved in 2023.
 Aruba People's Electoral Movement MEP Promoted to full member in 1992. Full member since 1994. Delisted in December 2014.
 Australia Australian Labor Party ALP Admitted as full member in 1966. Delisted in December 2014.
 Austria Social Democratic Party of Austria SPÖ Admitted as a full member in 1951. Delisted in 2022.
 Barbados Barbados Labour Party BLP Admitted as full member in 1987. Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees. Delisted in December 2014.
 Belgium Belgian Socialist Party PSB/BSP Founder member. Split in 1978.
Forward Delisted in 2017.
 Benin Democratic Union of Progressive Forces UDFP Admitted as observer member in 1992.
Social Democratic Party PSD Admitted as consultative member in 1999. Promoted to full member in 2003.
 Bosnia and Herzegovina Alliance of Independent Social Democrats SNSD Admitted as consultative member in 2003. Promoted to full member in 2008 Expelled in August 2012.
 Botswana Botswana National Front BNF Admitted as observer member in 1996.
 Bolivia Revolutionary Left Movement MIR Admitted as consultative member in 1986. Consultative member in 1987. Promoted to full member in 1992.
 Bulgaria Bulgarian Euro-Left BEL Admitted as observer member in 1999.
 Burkina Faso Party for Democracy and Progress / Socialist Party PDP/PS Admitted as full member circa 1995. Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees. Delisted in December 2014.
 Burundi Front for Democracy in Burundi FRODEBU Admitted as consultative member in 2003. Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees.
Delisted in December 2014.
 Canada Co-operative Commonwealth Federation CCF Became the New Democratic Party in 1961.
 Canada New Democratic Party NDP/NPD Delisted in 2018.
 Central African Republic Movement for Democracy and Social Progress MDPS Admitted as observer member in 1992.
 Iran Kurdistan Democratic Party KDP Admitted as a full member in November 2015. Party dissolved in 2022.
 Kyrgyzstan Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan SDPK
 Côte d'Ivoire Ivorian Popular Front FPI Admitted as consultative member in 1992. Promoted to full member in 1996. Expelled in March 2011.
 Colombia Alternative Democratic Pole PDA Former observer member. Delisted in December 2014.
M-19 Democratic Alliance AD/M-19 Admitted as observer member in 1992.
 Curaçao Partido MAN MAN Promoted to full member in 1989. Delisted in 2017.
 Denmark Social Democrats SD Founding member. Withdrew in 2017.
 Dominica Dominica Labour Party DLP Admitted as consultative member in 1996. Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees. Delisted in December 2014.
 Ecuador Democratic Left PID Member since 1987. Delisted in 2017.
 Egypt Egyptian Social Democratic Party ESDP (or HMDI in Arabic) Admitted as consultative member in 2012. Promoted to full member in November 2015. Delisted in 2019 due to non-payment of membership fees.
National Democratic Party NDP Admitted as full member in 1989. Full member since 1992. Expelled in January 2011.
 El Salvador Democratic Party PD Admitted as observer member in 1996.
 Estonia Social Democratic Party SDE Member since 1990. Withdrew in 2017.
 Fiji Fiji Labour Party FLP Admitted as consultative member in 1992. Expelled in 2008, due to the party's participation in a government issued from a military coup.
 France French Section of the Workers' International SFIO Founding member. Member in 1951–1969.
 Georgia Union of Citizens of Georgia CUG Admitted as observer member in 1996. Party disbanded in 2003.
 Germany Social Democratic Party of Germany SPD Founding member. Withdrew in 2017.
 Greenland Siumut Admitted as consultative member in 1986. Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees. Delisted in December 2014.
 Guatemala Social Democratic Convergence CSD Admitted as consultative member in 2003.
 Haiti Party of the National Congress of Democratic Movements KONAKOM Admitted as consultative member in 1992. Promoted to full member in 1996.
Struggling People's Organization OPL Admitted (as Lavalas Political Organisation) as observer member in 1996.
Revolutionary Progressive Nationalist Party PANPRA Admitted as consultative member in 1989. Promoted to full member in 1992.
 Hungary Social Democratic Party of Hungary MSZDP Member since 1990. Admitted as observer member in 1992. Promoted to consultative member in 1999.

Promoted to full member in 2003. Delisted in 2020 due to inactivity

 Iceland Social Democratic Party A Member since 1987. Formed Social Democratic Alliance in 2000.
Social Democratic Alliance S Withdrew in 2017.
 Iran League of Iranian Socialists Joined in 1960. It was dissolved in 1980s.
 Israel Israeli Labor Party Avoda Until May 2020, it temporarily suspended membership in July 2018 over SI's adoption of BDS policies.
 Italy Democratic Party of the Left PDS Admitted as full member in 1992. Merged with others to form Democrats of the Left in 1998.
Democrats of the Left DS Full member since 1992 as Democratic Party of the Left. Merged with other movements to form the Democratic Party in 2007. Listed as SI member until XXIV Congress in 2012.
Italian Socialist Party PSI Party dissolved in 1994 and succeeded by the Italian Socialists (who formed the Italian Democratic Socialists in 1998 and resumed as the Italian Socialist Party in 2007).
Italian Democratic Socialist Party PSDI Founding member. Party merged into the Italian Democratic Socialists in 1998 (renamed into Italian Socialist Party in 2007).
 Japan Democratic Socialist Party DSP/Minsha-tō Admitted as SI member in 1961. Merged with non-socialist movements to form the New Frontier Party in 1994.
Japan Socialist Party JSP/Shakai-tō Admitted as SI member in 1951. Refounded as the Social Democratic Party in 1996.
 Jordan Jordanian Democratic Party of the Left JDPL Admitted as observer member in 2003.
 Kyrgyzstan Ata Meken Socialist Party Admitted as observer member in 2008.
 Latvia Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party LSDSP Full member since 1994. Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees.
Delisted in December 2014.
Social Democratic Party "Harmony" SDPS Admitted as consultative member in June/July 2014. Withdrew in 2017.
 Macedonia Social Democratic Union of Macedonia SDSM Admitted as observer member in 1996. Promoted to full member in 2003. Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees. Delisted in December 2014.
 Madagascar Party for National Unity VITM Admitted as consultative member in 1989.
 Malaysia Democratic Action Party DAP Full member since 1987. Delisted in 2017.
 Malta Labour Party PL Full member since 1955. Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees. Delisted in December 2014.
Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico Party of the Democratic Revolution PRD Admitted as full member in 1996.
Flag of Moldova.svg Moldova Social Democratic Party of Moldova PSDM Admitted as observer member in 1996.
 Mongolia Mongolian Social Democratic Party MSDP Admitted as consultative member in 1992. Promoted to full member in 1996. Merged with others in 2000 to form the Democratic Party.
 Namibia Congress of Democrats CoD Admitted as consultative member in 2003. Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees. Delisted in December 2014.
 Netherlands Labour Party PvdA Decided to minimise involvement in SI in December 2012. Delisted in December 2014.
 New Zealand New Zealand Labour Party NZLP Member since 1952. Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees. Delisted in December 2014.
NicaraguaNicaragua Sandinista National Liberation Front FSLN Expelled in January 2019 because of violation of human rights during the Nicaraguan protests
 Nigeria All Progressives Congress APC Admitted as consultative member in December 2014.
 North Vietnam Vietnamese Socialist Party Consultative member between 1955 and 1969.
 Norway Labour Party DNA Member since 1951. Withdrew in 2016.
 Paraguay Party for a Country of Solidarity PPS Admitted as consultative member in 2003. Promoted to full member in 2008.
Revolutionary Febrerista Party PRF Admitted as full member in the 1970s.
 Philippines Akbayan Admitted as consultative member in 2003.
 Poland Democratic Left Alliance SLD Full member since 1996. Withdrew in 2017.
Labour Union UP Admitted as full member in 1996. Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees.
Delisted in December 2014.
Social Democracy of the Republic of Poland SdRP Admitted as full member in 1996. Absorbed into the Democratic Left Alliance in 1999.
 Romania Democratic Party PD Admitted as consultative member in 1996. Promoted to full member in 1999. Merged with the Liberal Democratic Party to form the Democratic Liberal Party.
 Russia A Just Russia — Patriots — For Truth SRZP Admitted as observer member in 2008. Promoted to consultative member in 2010. Promoted to full member in 2012. Expelled in March 2022 for its support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
 Russia Social Democratic Party of Russia SDPR Admitted as consultative member in 2003.
 Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Kitts and Nevis Labour Party SKNLP Admitted as consultative member in 1992. Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees. Delisted in December 2014.
 Saint Lucia Progressive Labour Party Expelled in 1992.
Saint Lucia Labour Party SLP Admitted as consultative member in 1992. Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees. Delisted in December 2014.
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Vincent Labour Party SVGLP Admitted as consultative member in 1989. Merged with the Movement for National Unity in 1994 to form the Unity Labour Party.
Unity Labour Party ULP Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees. Delisted in December 2014.
 Serbia Democratic Party DS Admitted as consultative member in 2003. Promoted to full member in 2008.
Social Democratic Party SDP Admitted as consultative member in 2003. Promoted to full member in 2008.
Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees. Ceased to exist in 2009
 Singapore People's Action Party PAP Resigned in 1976 in response to the Dutch Labour Party's charges of violations of human rights and detention of political prisoners without trial, and DLP and the British Labour Party's charges of media censorship.
 Slovakia Party of the Democratic Left SDĽ Admitted as full member in 1996. Merged with Direction – Social Democracy in 2005.
Social Democratic Party of Slovakia SDSS Admitted as full member in 1992. Merged with Direction – Social Democracy in 2005.
 Slovenia Slovenian Democratic Party SDS Admitted (as the Social Democratic Party of Slovenia) as observer member in 1992.
Social Democrats SD Admitted (as United List of Social Democrats) as full member in 1996. Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees. Delisted in December 2014.
 Sweden Swedish Social Democratic Party SAP Withdrew in March 2017.
 Switzerland Social Democratic Party of Switzerland SP/PS Withdrew in 2017.
 Tanzania Chama Cha Mapinduzi CCM Admitted as full member in 2013.
 Timor-Leste Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor FRETILIN Admitted as consultative member in 2003.
 Tunisia Democratic Constitutional Rally RCD Admitted as full member in 1989. Full member since 1993. Expelled in January 2011.
Popular Unity Movement MUP Admitted as consultative member in 1989.
 Turkey Democratic Left Party DSP Admitted as consultative member in 1986. Expelled in 1992.
Democratic People's Party DEHAP Admitted as observer member in 2003. Merged with the Democratic Society Movement to form the Democratic Society Party which in turn was succeeded by the Peace and Democracy Party.
Social Democracy Party SODEP Full member since 1990. Merged with the Republican People's Party in 1995.
Social Democratic Populist Party SHP Admitted as consultative member in 1986. Promoted to full member in 1989. Merged with the Republican People's Party in 1995.
 Ukraine Socialist Party of Ukraine SPU Admitted as consultative member in 2003. Expelled in July 2011.
 United States Democratic Socialists of America DSA Had been a member of SI since founding in 1982, withdrew in August 2017.
Social Democrats, USA SDUSA Member since 1972. Withdrew in 2005.
 Uruguay Party for the Government of the People PGP Admitted as consultative member in 1992. Merged with the Colorado Party in 1994.
Socialist Party of Uruguay PSUA Admitted as full member in 1999. Withdrew in 2017.
 Venezuela For Social Democracy PODEMOS Admitted as consultative member in 2008.
Movement for Socialism MAS Admitted as consultative member in 2003.
 Zambia Patriotic Front PF Admitted as consultative member in 2013.
 Zimbabwe Movement for Democratic Change MDC Admitted as full member in 2008. Delisted in 2017.

Fraternal organisations

  • International Falcon Movement – Socialist Educational International
  • Socialist International Women

Associated organisations

  • Arab Social Democratic Forum, ASDF
  • Euro-Latin American Forum of Progressive and Socialist Parliamentarians
  • International Federation of the Socialist and Democratic Press
  • International Jewish Labor Bund
  • International Labour Sports Confederation
  • International League of Religious Socialists
  • International Social Democratic Union for Education
  • World Labour Zionist Movement, WLZM
  • National Democratic Institute
  • Party of European Socialists
  • Social Democratic Group of the Latin American Parliament

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Internacional Socialista para niños

  • French Section of the Workers' International
  • Reformism
Left-wing Internationals

Chronologically by ideology:

United left wing
  • International Workingmen's Association, the First International (1864–1876)
Anarchist
  • International Anarchist Congresses: at first with the 1st International; followed by:
    • International Working People's Association, sometimes known as the "Black" International (1881-1887); anarchist
    • International Workers' Association – Asociación Internacional de los Trabajadores IWA–AIT (est. 1922) and the International of Anarchist Federations (IFA; est. 1968), with several spin-offs: Libertarian Communist International (est. 1954), Anarchist International Conference (est. 1958), International Libertarian Solidarity (SIL/ILS) network (est. 2001)
Socialist & labour
  • Second International (1889–1916), socialist and labour
  • Berne International (est. 1919), socialist
  • International Working Union of Socialist Parties (IWUSP), aka 2½ International or Vienna International, founded by Austro-Marxists (1921-1923)
  • Labour and Socialist International (1923-1940), created by merger of Vienna and Berne Internationals
Communist
  • Communist International, aka Third International or Comintern (1919-1943)
Trotskyist
  • Fourth International (1938-1953 schism) led by the International Secretariat (ISFI); followed by Trotskyist internationals.
  • Fourth International (post-reunification) (since 1963), by reunification of ISFI and parts of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI)
Democratic socialism
  • Socialist International (est. 1951)
Reunification efforts
  • Fifth International, phrase referring to socialist and communist groups aspiring to create a new workers' international
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