Democratic Socialists of America

Ann Arbor local of the Democratic Socialists of America.

Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) was founded in 1973 as the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee (DSOC) and led by Michael Harrington (1928-1989), best known as the author of The Other America (1962) and became the DSA upon its merger with the New American Movement (a New Left youth organization) in 1982. Harrington and others who left the Socialist Party-Social Democratic Foundation over its support of the Vietnam War were among the principal founders of DSOC. DSA established chapters in virtually every state, including chapters at many colleges and universities, worked to build a progressive presence in the Democratic Party through its Democratic Agenda project, worked closely with progressive labor unions and leaders, feminists and others to promote a social democratic agenda and a peaceful foreign policy, and advocated for socialism while strongly criticising Communism. DSA also published Democratic Left, founded the Socialist Scholars Conference (now known as the Left Forum), and established the Insitute for Democratic Socialism. DSA is the U.S. affiliate of the Socialist International.

Founded 1982 with merger of New America Movement and Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee.

The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) was formed in 1982 after a merger of the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee (DSOC) and the New American Movement (NAM). DSOC was formed in 1973 by a split in the Social Democrats USA; NAM was organized in 1971 by New Leftists. As a unified group, the DSA's ideology is based on a socialist conception of democracy. A key objective is to build a coalition of the major progressive forces in the United States, including trade unions, women's groups and minority organizations. Its tactics include grass-roots activity, working within existing mainstream institutions, and electoral politics within the left wing of the Democratic Party. The DSA is the U.S. affiliate to the Socialist International.

The structure of the DSA parallels that of the former DSOC. The decision-making bodies of the DSA consist of: the National Convention, which meets biennially; the National Board (NB), which meets between National Conventions and has the authority to charter local and regional organizations; the National Executive Committee (NEC), which meets between the National Boards and National conventions; and the National Interim Committee (NIC), a subcommittee of the NEC which meets between meetings of the NEC and is responsible for the supervision of all offices and staff of the organization. The National Board charters a Youth Section for full-time students age 30 and younger, which has its own locals and structured organization. The NB or the NEC can charter commissions. Members of the NEC serve as liaisons to the commissions and locals and can appoint committees (such as the NIC). Local and regional organizations, chartered by the NEC, carry out independent activities throughout the country.

Michael Harrington (1928-1989) was a U.S. socialist, editor, writer, founder and leader of DSA, and political leader best known for his book The Other America: Poverty in the United States 1962).