Socialist International

Political international of socialist, social democratic and labour parties From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Socialist International (SI) is a political international consisting mostly of social democratic political parties and labour organisations. The SI was founded in support of democratic socialism,[1] albeit it has generally moderated over time.

AbbreviationSI
Formation3 June 1951; 75 years ago (1951-06-03)
Quick facts Abbreviation, Predecessor ...
Socialist International
AbbreviationSI
PredecessorLabour and Socialist International
Formation3 June 1951; 75 years ago (1951-06-03)
TypeInternational non-governmental organization
Purpose"Strengthen relations between the affiliated parties and to coordinate their political attitudes and activities"[1]
HeadquartersMaritime House
Location(s)
Region served
Worldwide
Members119 political parties and 13 affiliated organizations
President
Pedro Sánchez
General-Coordinator
Chantal Kambiwa
Main organ
Congress of the Socialist International
SecessionsProgressive Alliance
Budget£1.4 million (2014)[2]
Websitesocialistinternational.org
Close

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[3] 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.[4]

The current president is the prime minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, elected at the last SI Congress held in Madrid, Spain, in November 2022.[5]

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.[6] It was formed in London on 28 September 1864 by socialist, communist and anarchist political groups and trade unions.[7] Tensions between moderates and revolutionaries led to its dissolution in 1876 in Philadelphia.[8]

The Second International was formed in Paris on 14 July 1889 as an association of the socialist parties.[9]

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.[10] In March 1919, Communist parties formed the Communist International ("Comintern"), the Third International, at a meeting in Moscow.[11]

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.[12] The ISC and the IWUSP joined to form the Labour and Socialist International (LSI) in May 1923 at a meeting in Hamburg.[13]

Socialist International (1951–present)

The Socialist International was formed in Frankfurt in July 1951 as a successor to the LSI.[14]

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.[15] 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.

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 H. W. 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.[16]

By the 1980s, the SI had become more favourable to a social democratic or social market economy, rather than a socialist economy, arguing "a 'social market economy' needs to be developed, where economic development and a truly competitive market can be established [...]."[17] In its platform, it states: "markets can and must function as a dynamic way of promoting innovation and signalling the desires of consumers [...]."[18]

Following the Tunisian Revolution, the Constitutional Democratic Rally was expelled from the SI in January 2011;[19] later that month the Egyptian National Democratic Party was also expelled;[20] and as a result of the 2010–2011 Ivorian crisis, the Ivorian Popular Front was expelled in March 2011,[21] 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.[22]

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,[23][24][25][26] 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 Democratic Constitutional Rally and Egyptian National Democratic Party.[27][28]

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 Socialist Party. 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.[29]

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.[citation needed] 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 the Pink Tide, in countries including Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Honduras and El Salvador, preferred to keep their distance from the SI.[29]

Left splits

As other left-wing parties distanced themselves from the SI,[29] the Socialist Party of Uruguay[30] and the Democratic Socialists of America[31] left the International in 2017 due to members having adopted policies favoring austerity, privatization, deregulation, and capitalism, and rejecting socialism. The former was a founding member of the Progressive Alliance in 2013,[32] and the latter joined the anti-capitalist Progressive International in 2023.[33]

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 drawn by Marc Bonnet for the French Socialist Party in 1969. Variants of the emblem are or were used by several SI member parties.[34]

Presidents, honorary presidents and secretaries general

Presidents

  • As of 2025, there have been a total of 9 Socialist International presidents.
More information No., Portrait ...
No. Portrait Name
(born–died)
Term of office Political party Congress(es) Country Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Morgan Phillips
(1902–1963)
3 July 1951 6 July 1957 6 years, 3 days Labour Party I–IV United Kingdom
2 Alsing Andersen
(1893–1962)
6 July 1957 5 December 1962 # 5 years, 152 days Social Democratic Party of Denmark V–VII Denmark
3 Erich Ollenhauer
(1901–1963)
9 September 1963 14 December 1963 # 96 days Social Democratic Party of Germany VIII West Germany
4 Bruno Pittermann
(1905–1983)
5 September 1964 26 November 1976 12 years, 82 days Socialist Party of Austria IX–XII Austria
5 Willy Brandt
(1913–1992)
26 November 1976 17 September 1992 15 years, 296 days Social Democratic Party of Germany XIII–XVIII West Germany
6 Pierre Mauroy
(1928–2013)
17 September 1992 10 November 1999 7 years, 54 days Socialist Party XIX–XX France
7 António Guterres
(b. 1949)
10 November 1999 15 June 2005 5 years, 217 days Socialist Party XXI–XXII Portugal
8 George Papandreou
(b. 1952)
30 January 2006 25 November 2022 16 years, 300 days Panhellenic Socialist Movement XXII–XXV Greece
Movement of Democratic Socialists
9 Pedro Sánchez
(b. 1972)
25 November 2022 Incumbent 3 years, 210 days Spanish Socialist Workers' Party XXVI Spain
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Honorary presidents

Honorary presidents include:[35]

Secretaries general

Albert Carthy, secretary general from the United Kingdom from 1957 to 1969.

General Coordinator

In February 2024, the SI Council meeting in Madrid established the role of General Coordinator, effectively putting the office of Secretary General on hold:[36]

  • Chantal Kambiwa, Cameroon (2024-present)

Summits

Members

Full members

There are 93 full members:[37][38]

More information Country, Name ...
Country Name Abbr Government Notes Lower House Upper House
 AlbaniaSocialist Party of Albania[39][40][41]PSin governmentAdmitted as consultative member in 1999.[42][41] Promoted to full member in 2003.[43]
83 / 140(59%)
 AlgeriaSocialist Forces Front[44][45][46]FFSin oppositionAdmitted as consultative member in 1992.[47] Promoted to full member in 1996.[48][46]
0 / 407(0%)
4 / 144(3%)
 AndorraSocial Democratic Party[49][50]PSin oppositionPromoted to full member in 2003.[43][50]
3 / 28(11%)
 AngolaPopular Movement for the Liberation of Angola[51]MPLAin governmentAdmitted as observer member in 1996.[48] Promoted to full member in 2003.[43][51]
124 / 220(56%)
 ArgentinaRadical Civic Union[52]UCRneither government nor oppositionAdmitted as consultative member in 1996.[48] Promoted to full member in 1999.[42][52]
6 / 257(2%)
10 / 72(14%)
 ArmeniaArmenian Revolutionary Federation[53][54]ARFin oppositionAdmitted (as Armenian Socialist Party) as observer member in 1996.[48][54] Promoted (as ASP) to consultative member in 1999.[42] Promoted (as ASP) to full member in 2003.[43]
10 / 107(9%)
 BelarusBelarusian Social Democratic Party (People's Assembly)BSDPextra-parliamentaryAdmitted as observer member in 1999.[42] Promoted to consultative member in 2003.[43] Promoted to full member in November 2015.[55] Officially deregistered in Belarus since 2005.
0 / 110(0%)
0 / 64(0%)
 BelgiumSocialist Party[56]PSin opposition
16 / 150(11%)
7 / 60(12%)
 BoliviaNational Unity FrontUNin governmentPromoted to full member in March 2017.
26 / 130(20%)
7 / 36(19%)
 Bosnia and HerzegovinaSocial Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina[57][50]SDP BiHin governmentAdmitted as observer member in 1996.[48] Promoted to full member in 1999.[42][50]
5 / 42(12%)
0 / 15(0%)
 BrazilDemocratic Labour Party[58]PDTindependentAdmitted as consultative member in 1986.[59][58] Promoted to full member in 1989.[58][60]
17 / 513(3%)
3 / 81(4%)
 BulgariaParty of Bulgarian Social Democrats[61]PBSDextra-parliamentary
0 / 240(0%)
Bulgarian Socialist Party[62]BSPextra-parliamentaryAdmitted as full member in 2003.[43][62]
0 / 240(0%)
 Burkina FasoPeople's Movement for ProgressMPPextra-parliamentaryAdmitted as full member in 2016.[63]
0 / 127(0%)
 CameroonSocial Democratic Front[64]SDFin oppositionAdmitted as consultative member in 1996.[48] Promoted to full member in 1999.[42][64]
5 / 180(3%)
1 / 100(1%)
 Cape VerdeAfrican Party for the Independence of Cape Verde[65]PAICVin oppositionAdmitted as consultative member in 1992.[47] Promoted to full member in 1996.[48][65]
30 / 72(42%)
 ChadNational Union for Democracy and RenewalUNDRin oppositionAdmitted as observer member in June/July 2014.[66] Upgraded to full member in 2017.
7 / 188(4%)
 ChileParty for Democracy[67]PPDin oppositionAdmitted as consultative member in 1992.[47] Promoted to full member in 1996.[48][67]
9 / 155(6%)
4 / 50(8%)
Radical Party of Chile[68]PRin opposition
2 / 155(1%)
0 / 50(0%)
Socialist Party of Chile[69]PSin oppositionAdmitted as consultative member in 1992.[47] Promoted to full member in 1996.[48][69]
11 / 155(7%)
7 / 50(14%)
 ColombiaColombian Liberal Party[70]PLCjunior party in coalitionAdmitted as consultative member in 1992.[47] Promoted to full member in 1999.[42][70]
32 / 188(17%)
14 / 108(13%)
 Costa RicaNational Liberation Party[71]PLNin oppositionFull member since 1987.[71]
17 / 57(30%)
 CroatiaSocial Democratic Party of Croatia[72][73]SDPin oppositionAdmitted as full member in 1999.[42][73]
37 / 151(25%)
 CyprusEDEK Socialist Party[74][75]EDEKjunior party in coalitionFull member since 1987.[75] Promoted to full member in 1992.[47]
3 / 56(5%)
Cyprus Northern Cyprus Cyprus (North)Republican Turkish PartyCTPin oppositionAdmitted as consultative member in 2008 (pending consultation).[76] Promoted to full member in June/July 2014.[66]
18 / 50(36%)
Communal Democracy PartyTDPextra-parliamentaryAdmitted as consultative member in November 2015.[55] Promoted to full member in March 2017.
0 / 50(0%)
 Czech RepublicSocial Democracy[77][78]SOCDEMextra-parliamentary
0 / 200(0%)
0 / 81(0%)
 Democratic Republic of the Congo Union for Democracy and Social Progress UDPSin government Admitted as observer member in 2003.[43] Promoted to full member in January 2019.[79]
69 / 500(14%)
0 / 108(0%)
 Dominican RepublicDominican Revolutionary Party[80]PRDin oppositionFull member since 1987.[80]
1 / 190(0.5%)
0 / 32(0%)
 EcuadorDemocratic Left[81]IDextra-parliamentaryMember since 1987.[81] Delisted in 2017. Rejoined in 2022.[82]
0 / 151(0%)
 EgyptEgyptian Social Democratic PartyESDP (or HMDI in Arabic)in oppositionAdmitted as consultative member in 2012.[83] Promoted to full member in November 2015.[55] Delisted in 2019 due to non-payment of membership fees. Rejoined in 2024.[84]
12 / 596(2%)
5 / 300(2%)
 Equatorial GuineaConvergence for Social Democracy[85]CPDSextra-parliamentaryAdmitted as consultative member in 1996.[48] Promoted to full member in 1999.[42][85]
0 / 100(0%)
 FinlandSocial Democratic Party of FinlandSDPin opposition
43 / 200(22%)
 FranceSocialist Party[86]PSin opposition
65 / 577(11%)
63 / 348(18%)
 GhanaNational Democratic CongressNDCin governmentAdmitted as consultative member in 2003.[43] Promoted to full member in 2008.[76]
184 / 276(67%)
 GibraltarGibraltar Socialist Labour PartyGSLPin government (Major party in coalition alliance with GLP)Became full member in 2025
7 / 17(41%)
 GreecePASOK – Movement for ChangePASOK-KINALin oppositionFull member since 1990.[87]
32 / 300(11%)
 GuineaRally of the Guinean People[88][89]RPGin oppositionAdmitted (as Guinean People's Assembly) as consultative member in 1999.[42] Promoted (as GPA) to full member in 2003.[43][89]
1 / 81(1%)
 HaitiFusion of Haitian Social Democrats[90]PFSDHextra-parliamentaryFull member since 1989.[90]
0 / 119(0%)
0 / 30(0%)
Social Democratic Assembly for the Progress of Haiti RSDextra-parliamentary Admitted as full members in 2018[91]
0 / 119(0%)
0 / 30(0%)
 HungaryHungarian Socialist Party[92][93]MSzPextra-parliamentaryAdmitted as observer member in 1992.[47][93] Promoted to full member in 1996.[48]
0 / 199(0%)
 IndiaIndian National CongressINCin oppositionOriginally joined in 1993.[94] Readmitted as full member December 2014.[95]
99 / 543(18%)
27 / 245(11%)
 IranKurdistan Democratic Party of IranKDPIN/aAdmitted as observer member in 1996.[48] Promoted to consultative member in 2008.[76] Officially banned in Iran.
 IraqPatriotic Union of KurdistanPUKjunior party in coalitionAdmitted as observer member in 2003.[43] Promoted to full member in 2008.[76]
15 / 329(5%)
 IrelandLabour Party[96][97]in opposition
11 / 174(6%)
2 / 60(3%)
 Israel The Democrats Democrats in opposition
4 / 120(3%)
 ItalyItalian Socialist PartyPSIextra-parliamentary
0 / 400(0%)
0 / 200(0%)
 Ivory CoastIvorian Popular Front[98]FPIin oppositionAdmitted as consultative member in 1992.[47] Promoted to full member in 1996.[48][98] Expelled in March 2011.[21] Rejoined in May 2025.[99]
1 / 255(0.4%)
0 / 99(0%)
 JamaicaPeople's National Party[100]PNPin oppositionFull member since 1952.[100] Temporarily demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees.[37]
28 / 63(44%)
8 / 21(38%)
 JapanSocial Democratic Party[101]SDPin oppositionFull member since 1951 as the Japan Socialist Party.[101]
0 / 465(0%)
2 / 248(0.8%)
 KazakhstanNationwide Social Democratic PartyJSDPin oppositionAdmitted as consultative member in 2012.[83] Promoted to full member in November 2015.[55]
4 / 98(4%)
 KosovoVetëvendosjeLVVin governmentAdmitted as observer member in 2018. Promoted to full member in 2024.[102]
57 / 120(48%)
KyrgyzstanSocial DemocratsSDKextra-parliamentaryLegal successor to the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan.
0 / 90(0%)
 LebanonProgressive Socialist Party[103]PSPin oppositionFull member since 1980.[103]
8 / 128(6%)
 LithuaniaSocial Democratic Party of Lithuania[104]LSDPin governmentFull member since the 1990s.[104]
52 / 141(37%)
 MaliAlliance for Democracy in Mali[105]ADEMA-PASJin oppositionAdmitted as consultative member in 1996.[48] Promoted to full member in 1999.[42][105] Promoted to full member in 2008.[76] Status unclear following the 2020 Malian coup d'état.
24 / 147(16%)
Rally for MaliRPMin oppositionAdmitted as consultative member in 2003.[43] Status unclear following the 2020 Malian coup d'état.
51 / 147(35%)
 MaltaLabour Party[106]PLin governmentFull member since 1955, leading to the entire party being interdicted by the Catholic Church in 1961.[106][107] Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees.[37] Delisted in December 2014. Rejoined in 2025.[108]
43 / 79(54%)
 MauritaniaRally of Democratic ForcesRFDextra-parliamentaryAdmitted as observer member in 2003.[43] Promoted to full member in 2008.[76]
0 / 176(0%)
 MauritiusLabour Party[109]PTRin governmentFull member since 1969.[109]
35 / 66(53%)
 MoldovaEuropean Social Democratic Party[110]PSDEextra-parliamentaryAdmitted as consultative member in 2008.[76] Promoted to full member in 2012.[83]
0 / 101(0%)
 MongoliaMongolian People's Party[111][112]MPPin governmentAdmitted (as Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party) as observer member in 1999.[42][112]
Promoted (as Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party) to full member in 2003.[43][112]
68 / 126(54%)
 MontenegroDemocratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro[113]DPSin oppositionAdmitted as consultative member in 2003.[43] Promoted to full member in 2008.[76]
17 / 81(21%)
Social Democratic Party of Montenegro[113][114][115]SDPextra-parliamentaryAdmitted as observer member in 1996.[48] Promoted to consultative member in 1999.[42] Promoted to full member in 2003.[43][115]
0 / 81(0%)
 MoroccoSocialist Union of Popular Forces[116][117][118]USFPin oppositionPromoted to full member in 1992.[47]
37 / 395(9%)
8 / 120(7%)
 MozambiqueFrelimo Party[119]FRELIMOin governmentAdmitted as consultative member in 1996.[48] Promoted to full member in 1999.[42]
171 / 250(68%)
 NamibiaSouth West Africa People's OrganisationSWAPOin governmentPromoted to full member in 2008.[76]
51 / 96(53%)
39 / 42(93%)
 NepalNepali Congress[120][121]NCin oppositionAdmitted as consultative member in 1989.[60] Promoted to full member in 1999.[42][121]
38 / 275(14%)
24 / 59(41%)
 NigerNigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism[122]PNDSin oppositionAdmitted as consultative member in 1996.[48] Promoted to full member in 2003.[43][122] Status unclear following the 2023 Nigerien coup d'état.
79 / 171(46%)
 North MacedoniaSocial Democratic Union of Macedonia[123][124][125]SDUMin oppositionAdmitted as observer member in 1996.[48] Promoted to full member in 2003.[43][125] Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees.[37] Delisted in December 2014. Rejoined in May 2025.[99]
15 / 120(13%)
 PakistanPakistan People's Party[122]PPPjunior partner in coalitionAdmitted as consultative member in 1982.[60] Promoted to full member in 2018.[43][126]
74 / 336(22%)
26 / 96(27%)
PalestineFatah[127][128]in governmentAdmitted as observer member in 1996.[48] Promoted to consultative member in 1999.[42] Promoted to full member in 2012.[83]
45 / 132(34%)
 PanamaDemocratic Revolutionary PartyPRDconfidence and supplyAdmitted as consultative member in 1986.[59][129] Admitted as consultative member in 1996.[48] Promoted to full member in 2003.[43]
12 / 71(17%)
 ParaguayProgressive Democratic PartyPDPin oppositionAdmitted as consultative member in 2008.[76] Promoted to full member in November 2015.[55]
0 / 80(0%)
1 / 45(2%)
 PeruPeruvian Aprista Party[130]PAPextra-parliamentaryPromoted to full member in 1999.[42]
0 / 130(0%)
 Philippines Philippine Democratic Socialist Party PDSPextra-parliamentary Admitted as consultative member in 1992.[47] Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees.[37] Delisted in December 2014. Reinstated in 2019.
0 / 316(0%)
0 / 24(0%)
 PortugalSocialist Party[131]PSin opposition
58 / 230(25%)
 Puerto RicoPuerto Rican Independence Party[132]PIPin oppositionConsultative member in 1987, full member in 1994.[132] Promoted to full member in 1992.[47]
3 / 51(6%)
2 / 27(7%)
 RomaniaSocial Democratic Party[133][134]PSDin governmentAdmitted as consultative member in 1996.[48] Promoted to full member in 1999.[42] PSDR admitted as consultative member in 1992, full member in 2001.[134] Admitted as full member in 2003.[43] Both parties merged into PSD in 2001.
86 / 330(26%)
36 / 136(26%)
 San MarinoParty of Socialists and Democrats[122]PSDjunior partner in coalitionConsultative member in 1961, full member in 1980.[122]
8 / 60(13%)
 SenegalSocialist Party of Senegal[135][136]PSin oppositionFull member since the 1970s.[136]
1 / 165(0.6%)
 SerbiaSocial Democratic Party of SerbiaSDPSjunior party in coalitionAdmitted as observer member in 2018. Promoted to full member in 2024.[137]
6 / 250(2%)
 SlovakiaDirection – Social Democracy[138]SMER-SDin governmentFull member.[138]
42 / 150(28%)
 South AfricaAfrican National Congress[139]ANCin governmentAdmitted as full member in 1999.[42][139]
159 / 400(40%)
43 / 90(48%)
 SpainSpanish Socialist Workers' Party[140]PSOEin governmentFull member since 1951.[140]
121 / 350(35%)
91 / 266(34%)
 TunisiaDemocratic Forum for Labour and LibertiesFDTLN/aAdmitted as consultative member in 2003.[43] Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees.[37] Promoted to full member in 2012.[83] Boycotted the 2022–23 Tunisian parliamentary election.[141]
0 / 217(0%)
 TurkeyRepublican People's Party[142][143][144]CHPin oppositionTook Social Democratic Populist Party's place in 1995.[144]
138 / 600(23%)
 UkraineSocial Democratic Party of Ukraine[145]SDPUextra-parliamentaryAdmitted as consultative member in 2003.[43]
0 / 450(0%)
 United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)Social Democratic and Labour Party[146][147]SDLPin oppositionAdmitted as a full member in 1974.[147]
8 / 90(9%)
 UruguayNew Space[148][149]PNEin governmentAdmitted as consultative member in 1999.[42] Promoted to full member in 2003.[43][149] Party does not individually stand in elections but participates as part of the Broad Front.
 VenezuelaA New EraUNTin oppositionAdmitted as consultative member in 2013.[150] Promoted to full member in November 2015.[55]
11 / 285(4%)
Democratic Action[151][152]ADin oppositionObserver member in 1966, consultative member in 1981, full member mid 1980s.[152]
8 / 285(3%)
 YemenYemeni Socialist PartyYSPin oppositionAdmitted as observer member in 2003.[43] Promoted to consultative member in 2008.[76]
Promoted to full member in 2012.[83]
8 / 301(3%)
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Consultative parties

There are 17 consultative parties:[37][38]

More information Country, Name ...
Country Name Abbr Government Notes Lower House Upper House
 BotswanaBotswana Democratic PartyBDPin opposition Admitted as consultative member in June/July 2014.[66]
4 / 61(7%)
 Democratic Republic of the Congo Unified Lumumbist Party PALUin opposition Admitted as observer member in December 2014.[95] Upgraded to consultative member in 2019.[79]
17 / 500(3%)
2 / 108(2%)
Djibouti Movement for Democratic Renewal and Development MRD N/a Upgraded to consultative member in 2019.[79]
EswatiniPeople's United Democratic MovementPUDEMON/aAdmitted as consultative member in 2013.[150] Political parties are banned in Eswatini.
 GabonGabonese Progress PartyPGPN/aAdmitted as consultative member in 1996.[48]
0 / 143(0%)
 GambiaUnited Democratic PartyUDPin oppositionAdmitted as consultative member in 2012.[83]
15 / 58(26%)
 GeorgiaSocial Democrats for the Development of GeorgiaSDDextra-parliamentaryAdmitted as consultative member in 2013.[150]
0 / 150(0%)
 Ghana Convention People's Party CPP extra-parliamentary Admitted as consultative member in 2018
0 / 275(0%)
 Guinea-BissauAfrican Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape VerdePAIGCin oppositionAdmitted as consultative member in 2008.[76]
47 / 102(46%)
 IranKomala Party of Iranian KurdistanKPIKN/aAdmitted as observer member in 2014[153] Promoted to consultative member in 2018[154] Officially banned in Iran.
PalestinePalestinian National Initiative[128]PNIin oppositionAdmitted as observer member in 2008.[76] Promoted to consultative member in 2012.[83]
2 / 132(2%)
Palestinian Popular Struggle Front PPSF junior partner in coalition Admitted as consultative member in 2018.
0 / 132(0%)
Sahrawi RepublicPolisario FrontPOLISARIOin governmentAdmitted as observer member in 2008.[76] Promoted to consultative member in 2017.[155][156]
51 / 51(100%)
São Tomé and PríncipeMovement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe/Social Democratic PartyMLSTP/PSDin oppositionAdmitted as consultative member in 2013.[150]
18 / 55(33%)
SyriaDemocratic Union PartyPYDextra-parliamentaryAdmitted as consultative member in November 2015.[55]
0 / 250(0%)
 TogoDemocratic Convention of African PeoplesCDPAextra-parliamentaryAdmitted as consultative member in 1999.[42]
0 / 91(0%)
 TurkeyPeoples' Equality and Democracy PartyDEMin opposition
56 / 600(9%)
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Observer parties

There are 11 observer parties:[37][38]

More information Country, Name ...
Country Name Abbr Government Notes Lower House Upper House
 ChadParty for Liberties and DevelopmentPLDin opposition
3 / 188(2%)
0 / 69(0%)
Congo-BrazzavilleCongolese Party of LabourPCTin governmentAdmitted as observer member in November 2025.[157]
112 / 151(74%)
52 / 72(72%)
 EswatiniSwazi Democratic PartySWADEPAN/aAdmitted as observer member in June/July 2014.[66]
 KenyaLabour Party of KenyaAdmitted as observer member in 2012.[83]
 LesothoLesotho Congress for DemocracyLCDjunior party in coalitionAdmitted as observer member in June/July 2014.[66]
3 / 120(3%)
 LibyaFuture MovementN/aAdmitted as observer member in November 2025.[157]
 MauritaniaEl Islahjunior party in coalitionAdmitted as observer member in November 2025.[157]
6 / 176(3%)
 NicaraguaUNAMOSextra-parliamentary
0 / 92(0%)
Sahrawi RepublicSahrawi Movement for PeaceLCDN/aAdmitted as observer member in 2024.[158]
 SomalilandJustice and Welfare PartyJWPin oppositionAdmitted as observer member in 2013.[159]
 United KingdomLabour Party[160]in governmentMember since 1951.[160] Currently holds a majority in Westminster, following the 2024 United Kingdom general election. 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."[161] The request was accepted later that year.
404 / 650(62%)
209 / 822(25%)
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Former members

More information Country, Name ...
Country Name Abbr Notes
 AlbaniaSocial Democratic Party of Albania[162]PSDAdmitted as consultative member in 1992.[47] Promoted to full member in 1996.[48][162] Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees.[37] Delisted in December 2014.
Algeria National Liberation FrontFLNExpelled following the 2019 Algerian protests.
 AndorraNew DemocracyNDAdmitted as consultative member in 1999.[42]
 Antigua and BarbudaAntigua and Barbuda Labour PartyALPAdmitted as consultative member in 2008.[76]
 ArgentinaPopular Socialist PartyPSPAdmitted as full member in 1992.[47] Merged with the Democratic Socialist Party to form the Socialist Party.
Socialist Party[163][164]PSFull member since 1951.[164]
 Azerbaijan Azerbaijani Social Democratic Party ASDP Admitted as observer member in 1996.[48] Promoted to consultative member in 2003.[43] Readmitted as consultative member in June/July 2014.[66] Admitted as full member in 2016.[63] Party dissolved in 2023.[165]
 ArubaPeople's Electoral Movement[51]MEPPromoted to full member in 1992.[47] Full member since 1994.[51] Delisted in December 2014.
 AustraliaAustralian Labor Party[166]ALPAdmitted as full member in 1966.[166] Delisted in December 2014.
 AustriaSocial Democratic Party of AustriaSPÖAdmitted as a full member in 1951.[167] Delisted in 2022.
 BarbadosBarbados Labour Party[168]BLPAdmitted as full member in 1987.[168] Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees.[37] Delisted in December 2014.
 BelgiumBelgian Socialist PartyPSB/BSPFounder member. Split in 1978.
ForwardDelisted in 2017.
 BeninDemocratic Union of Progressive ForcesUDFPAdmitted as observer member in 1992.[47]
Social Democratic Party[169] PSDAdmitted as consultative member in 1999.[42][169] Promoted to full member in 2003.[43][169]
 Bosnia and HerzegovinaAlliance of Independent Social DemocratsSNSDAdmitted as consultative member in 2003.[43] Promoted to full member in 2008[76] Expelled in August 2012.[83]
 BotswanaBotswana National FrontBNFAdmitted as observer member in 1996.[48]
 BoliviaRevolutionary Left Movement[170]MIRAdmitted as consultative member in 1986.[59] Consultative member in 1987.[170] Promoted to full member in 1992.[47][170]
 BulgariaBulgarian Euro-LeftBEL[171]Admitted as observer member in 1999.[42]
 Burkina FasoParty for Democracy and Progress / Socialist Party[67]PDP/PSAdmitted as full member circa 1995.[67] Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees.[37] Delisted in December 2014.
 BurundiFront for Democracy in BurundiFRODEBUAdmitted as consultative member in 2003.[43] Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees.[37]
Delisted in December 2014.
CanadaCo-operative Commonwealth FederationCCFBecame the New Democratic Party in 1961.
 CanadaNew Democratic Party[172]NDP/NPDDelisted in 2018.[173][failed verification]
 Central African RepublicMovement for Democracy and Social ProgressMDPSAdmitted as observer member in 1992.[47]
Movement for the Liberation of the Central African PeopleMLPCAdmitted as observer member in 2008.[76] Upgraded to full member in 2018.
 IranKurdistan Democratic PartyKDPAdmitted as a full member in November 2015.[55] Party dissolved in 2022.[174]
KyrgyzstanSocial Democratic Party of KyrgyzstanSDPK[175]
 ColombiaAlternative Democratic PolePDAFormer observer member. Delisted in December 2014.
M-19 Democratic AllianceAD/M-19Admitted as observer member in 1992.[47]
 CuraçaoPartido MANMANPromoted to full member in 1989.[60] Delisted in 2017.
 DenmarkSocial DemocratsSDFounding member. Withdrew in 2017.
 DominicaDominica Labour PartyDLPAdmitted as consultative member in 1996.[48] Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees.[37] Delisted in December 2014.
 EgyptNational Democratic Party[71]NDPAdmitted as full member in 1989.[60] Full member since 1992.[71] Expelled in January 2011.[176][177][178]
 El SalvadorDemocratic PartyPDAdmitted as observer member in 1996.[48]
 EstoniaSocial Democratic Party[179][180]SDEMember since 1990.[180] Withdrew in 2017.
 FijiFiji Labour PartyFLPAdmitted as consultative member in 1992.[47] Expelled in 2008, due to the party's participation in a government issued from a military coup.[76]
 FranceFrench Section of the Workers' InternationalSFIOFounding member. Member in 1951–1969.
 GeorgiaUnion of Citizens of GeorgiaCUGAdmitted as observer member in 1996.[48] Party disbanded in 2003.
 GermanySocial Democratic Party of GermanySPDFounding member. Withdrew in 2017.
 GreenlandSiumutAdmitted as consultative member in 1986.[59] Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees.[37] Delisted in December 2014.
 GuatemalaNational Unity of HopeUNEAdmitted as full member in 2008.[76] Expelled in 2024.[181]
Social Democratic Convergence[182]CSDAdmitted as consultative member in 2003.[43][182]
 HaitiParty of the National Congress of Democratic MovementsKONAKOMAdmitted as consultative member in 1992.[47] Promoted to full member in 1996.[48]
Struggling People's OrganizationOPLAdmitted (as Lavalas Political Organisation) as observer member in 1996.[48]
Revolutionary Progressive Nationalist PartyPANPRAAdmitted as consultative member in 1989.[60] Promoted to full member in 1992.[47]
 Hungary Social Democratic Party of Hungary MSZDPMember 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

 IcelandSocial Democratic PartyAMember since 1987.[183] Formed Social Democratic Alliance in 2000.
Social Democratic AllianceSWithdrew in 2017.
 IranLeague of Iranian SocialistsJoined in 1960.[184] It was dissolved in 1980s.
 ItalyDemocratic Party of the LeftPDSAdmitted as full member in 1992.[47] Merged with others to form Democrats of the Left in 1998.
Democrats of the Left[185]DSFull member since 1992 as Democratic Party of the Left.[185] Merged with other movements to form the Democratic Party in 2007. Listed as SI member until XXIV Congress in 2012.
Italian Socialist PartyPSIParty 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 PartyPSDIFounding member. Party merged into the Italian Democratic Socialists in 1998 (renamed into Italian Socialist Party in 2007).
 JapanDemocratic Socialist PartyDSP/Minsha-tōAdmitted as SI member in 1961.[186] Merged with non-socialist movements to form the New Frontier Party in 1994.
Japan Socialist PartyJSP/Shakai-tōAdmitted as SI member in 1951.[101] Refounded as the Social Democratic Party in 1996.
 JordanJordanian Democratic Party of the LeftJDPLAdmitted as observer member in 2003.[43]
 KyrgyzstanAta Meken Socialist Party[187]Admitted as observer member in 2008.[76]
 LatviaLatvian Social Democratic Workers' Party[188]LSDSPFull member since 1994.[188] Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees.[37]
Delisted in December 2014.
Social Democratic Party "Harmony"SDPSAdmitted as consultative member in June/July 2014.[66] Withdrew in 2017.
 Luxembourg Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party[189][190]LSAP/POSLFull member since 1951.[190] Delisted in 2022.[191][192]
 MadagascarParty for National UnityVITMAdmitted as consultative member in 1989.[60]
 MalaysiaDemocratic Action Party[193][152]DAPFull member since 1987.[152] Delisted in 2017.[193]
 MauritiusMauritian Militant Movement[194]MMMAdmitted as consultative member in 1996.[48] Promoted to full member in 2003.[43][194] Delisted in 2022.[195][196]
 MexicoInstitutional Revolutionary Party[197]PRIAdmitted as consultative member in 1996.[48] Promoted to full member in 2003.[43][197] Expelled in 2025.[198]
Party of the Democratic Revolution[199]PRDAdmitted as full member in 1996.[48][199]
 MoldovaSocial Democratic Party of MoldovaPSDMAdmitted as observer member in 1996.[48]
 MongoliaMongolian Social Democratic Party[112]MSDPAdmitted as consultative member in 1992.[47][112] Promoted to full member in 1996.[48] Merged with others in 2000 to form the Democratic Party.
 NamibiaCongress of DemocratsCoDAdmitted as consultative member in 2003.[43] Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees.[37] Delisted in December 2014.
 NetherlandsLabour Party[200]PvdADecided to minimise involvement in SI in December 2012.[201] Delisted in December 2014.
 New ZealandNew Zealand Labour Party[149]NZLPMember since 1952.[149] Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees.[37] 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[128] APCAdmitted as consultative member in December 2014.[95]
North VietnamVietnamese Socialist Party[202]Consultative member between 1955 and 1969.[202]
 NorwayLabour Party[203][204]DNAMember since 1951.[204] Withdrew in 2016.
 ParaguayParty for a Country of Solidarity[205]PPSAdmitted as consultative member in 2003.[43] Promoted to full member in 2008.[76]
Revolutionary Febrerista Party[206][207]PRFAdmitted as full member in the 1970s.[207]
 PhilippinesAkbayanAdmitted as consultative member in 2003.[43]
 PolandDemocratic Left Alliance[208][209]SLDFull member since 1996.[209] Withdrew in 2017.
Labour Union[210]UPAdmitted as full member in 1996.[48][210] Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees.[37]
Delisted in December 2014.
Social Democracy of the Republic of PolandSdRPAdmitted as full member in 1996.[48] Absorbed into the Democratic Left Alliance in 1999.
 RomaniaDemocratic PartyPDAdmitted as consultative member in 1996.[48] Promoted to full member in 1999.[42] Merged with the Liberal Democratic Party to form the Democratic Liberal Party.
 RussiaA Just Russia — Patriots — For Truth[211][212]SRZPAdmitted as observer member in 2008.[76] Promoted to consultative member in 2010. Promoted to full member in 2012.[83][213] Expelled in March 2022 for its support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[214]
 RussiaSocial Democratic Party of RussiaSDPRAdmitted as consultative member in 2003.[43]
 Saint Kitts and NevisSaint Kitts and Nevis Labour PartySKNLPAdmitted as consultative member in 1992.[47] Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees.[37] Delisted in December 2014.
 Saint LuciaProgressive Labour PartyExpelled in 1992.[47]
Saint Lucia Labour PartySLPAdmitted as consultative member in 1992.[47] Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees.[37] Delisted in December 2014.
 Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesSaint Vincent Labour PartySVGLPAdmitted as consultative member in 1989.[60] Merged with the Movement for National Unity in 1994 to form the Unity Labour Party.
Unity Labour PartyULPDemoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees.[37] Delisted in December 2014.
 Serbia Democratic Party[215] DSAdmitted as consultative member in 2003.[43] Promoted to full member in 2008.[76]
Social Democratic Party[215]SDPAdmitted as consultative member in 2003.[43] Promoted to full member in 2008.[76]
Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees.[37] Ceased to exist in 2009[215]
 SingaporePeople's Action PartyPAPResigned in 1976 in response to the Dutch Labour Party's charges of violations of human rights and detention of political prisoners without trial,[216] and DLP and the British Labour Party's charges of media censorship.[217][218]
 SlovakiaParty of the Democratic LeftSDĽAdmitted as full member in 1996.[48] Merged with Direction – Social Democracy in 2005.
Social Democratic Party of SlovakiaSDSSAdmitted as full member in 1992.[47] Merged with Direction – Social Democracy in 2005.
 SloveniaSlovenian Democratic PartySDSAdmitted (as the Social Democratic Party of Slovenia) as observer member in 1992.[47]
Social Democrats[219]SDAdmitted (as United List of Social Democrats) as full member in 1996.[48][219] Demoted to observer member in 2012 due to non-payment of membership fees.[37] Delisted in December 2014.
 SwedenSwedish Social Democratic PartySAPWithdrew in March 2017.[220]
 SwitzerlandSocial Democratic Party of Switzerland[221]SP/PSWithdrew in 2017.
 Tanzania Chama Cha MapinduziCCMAdmitted as full member in 2013.
 Timor-Leste Revolutionary Front for an Independent East TimorFRETILINAdmitted as consultative member in 2003.[43]
 TunisiaDemocratic Constitutional Rally[58]RCDAdmitted as full member in 1989.[60] Full member since 1993.[58] Expelled in January 2011.[19]
Popular Unity MovementMUPAdmitted as consultative member in 1989.[60]
 TurkeyDemocratic Left PartyDSPAdmitted as consultative member in 1986.[59] Expelled in 1992.[47]
Peoples' Democratic PartyHDPAdmitted as consultative member. Merged with the Green Left Party to form the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party.
Democratic People's PartyDEHAPAdmitted as observer member in 2003.[43] Merged with the Democratic Society Movement to form the Democratic Society Party which in turn was succeeded by the Peace and Democracy Party.
Social Democratic Populist PartySHPAdmitted as consultative member in 1986.[59] Promoted to full member in 1989.[60] Merged with the Republican People's Party in 1995.
 UkraineSocialist Party of UkraineSPUAdmitted as consultative member in 2003.[43] Expelled in July 2011.[222]
 United States Democratic Socialists of America DSA Had been a member of SI since founding in 1982, withdrew in August 2017.[223]
Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee DSOC Member since 1976,[224] merged with the New American Movement in 1982 to form the Democratic Socialists of America, which remained a member until 2017.[223]
Social Democrats, USA[219]SDUSAMember since 1972.[219] Withdrew in 2005.
 UruguayParty for the Government of the PeoplePGPAdmitted as consultative member in 1992.[47] Merged with the Colorado Party in 1994.
Socialist Party of Uruguay[225]PSUAAdmitted as full member in 1999.[42][225] Withdrew in 2017.[226]
 VenezuelaFor Social DemocracyPODEMOSAdmitted as consultative member in 2008.[76]
Movement for Socialism MASAdmitted as consultative member in 2003.[43]
Popular WillVPAdmitted as full member in December 2014.[95] Expelled in 2024.[181]
 Zambia Patriotic Front PFAdmitted as consultative member in 2013.[150]
 ZimbabweMovement for Democratic ChangeMDCAdmitted as full member in 2008.[76] Delisted in 2017.
Close

Fraternal organisations

The Socialist International maintains close ties with three fraternal organizations:[37]

Associated organisations

In addition to its member parties and fraternal organisations, the Socialist International collaborates with a number of associated organisations from across the world:[37]

See also

Leftist Internationals include:

United left wing

Anarchist

Socialist and labour

Communist

Trotskyist

Democratic socialism

  • Socialist International (est. 1951)

Reunification efforts

  • Fifth International, a phrase referring to socialist and communist groups aspiring to create a new workers' international

Notes

References

Further reading

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