Principles of Party Building
EL Lissitzky, Announcer, 1923
Authors: Amy W (Seattle), Brad H (Central NJ), Cliff C (Orlando), Connell H (River Valley), Matthew S (Palouse)
Whereas, the 2023 DSA convention resolved that “DSA and its local chapters remain committed to the project of building a working-class party: a mass democratic political organization capable of winning and wielding state power with a strategy for social transformation;” and
Whereas, multiple conceptions of a working class political party exist in history and the global working class movement; and
Whereas, DSA in some senses already performs the functions of a working class party, only lacking its own state-recognized ballot line; and
Whereas, the undemocratic US bourgeois political system intentionally places roadblocks in the way of a democratic membership organization controlling its own ballot line; and
Whereas, DSA is not just any working class organization but specifically a socialist organization, which fights for the universal and long term interests of the working class for political democracy, general social transformation, and a collectively owned and democratically planned economy,
Therefore be it resolved,
DSA commits to the goal of becoming an independent mass socialist party, with the following principles:
1. The fundamental purpose of a socialist party is to be a mass association of the working class formed for collective political action. The party will be united around a democratically created program that outlines goals that, enacted together, will allow the working class to rule and end capitalism.
2. The foundation of party democracy is freedom of information, association, and discussion. Members must be able to critique the party’s program and organize to change it, as long as they are willing to accept fighting for it as the democratically-determined expression of DSA’s goals.
3. The internal governing principles of the party must guarantee all members equal right of participation in the democratic process, regular conventions of membership as the highest decision-making body, open leadership elections at conventions, local party organizations run by membership, and the free organization of factions.
4. Guaranteeing members equal right of participation in the democratic process requires that participation be reserved for individual members. Groups may choose to affiliate with DSA on the basis of acceptance of our program, but may not be given voting rights as an organization.
5. Because of an undemocratic and uneven electoral system designed to maintain capitalist rule, DSA fights on unfavorable terrain and is pulled between the necessity of independent political action and using the ballot line of the Democratic Party. DSA’s approach is the party surrogate, acting as a party but without a dedicated ballot line.
6. While DSA must move away from use of the Democratic Party ballot line and primaries, a ballot line is not the primary goal or indication of political independence. What matters most is bringing our independent organization and program to races whether on a Democratic, independent, or third-party ballot line.
7. When considering whether to create a ballot line of our own, losing control of our candidates to an open state-run process is a non-negotiable red line. Our ability to take independent political action is essential to preserve above all other considerations.
8. DSA orients itself in opposition to all ruling class political forces. DSA’s project is to unite workers to win the battle for democracy and bring about socialism, not to seek a governing coalition with a perceived lesser evil under the current undemocratic political system.
9. A socialist party in the United States must be a part of the global political movement of the working class. It is guided by the international interests of the class, not narrow national interests.
10. The socialist movement is strengthened by putting forward common perspectives and engaging in common action internationally. DSA will continue to build ties with socialist parties around the world with the goal of forming a new International.
