Category: Articles
-
The Democratic Socialist Constituency
What did the “Bernie Coalition” really look like? And what does it tell socialists about the way forward for organizing a mass force for socialism? In 2020, Metro DC DSA’s Ben Davis broke down the data on the Democratic Socialist constituency and what it means for the tasks ahead. As DSA members and chapters continue…
-
We Can Still Build Stronger Democracy in DSA
DSA Metro Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky’s Olivia M. takes stock of the 2023 DSA convention, and outlines the questions that our internal democracy faces as we mature and scale up our organizing. The 2023 National Convention of the Democratic Socialists of America concluded a month ago, the new National Political Committee has begun their work,…
-
Building Power Means Wielding Power
Socialist success campaigning for government and union elected office has built remarkable similarity between DSA’s electoral and labor strategies. Responding to current debates within Detroit DSA, Landis Spencer identifies these continuities and illustrates why propaganda campaigns cannot be a substitute for passing class struggle reforms. Detroit DSA is grappling with many questions in relation to…
-
Socialists Need Strategic Rigor
The idea of tactical experimentation is often invoked in DSA as a rhetorical argument, but rarely as a strategic principle. DSA Metro Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky’s Olivia M. outlines how socialists can ground the need to experiment within a materialist framework. DSA has frequently seen a call for chapters to be “experimental” in their outlook…
-
More than a Name: Why DSA Should Embrace Democratic Socialism Over the Big Tent
Maine DSA’s Rose D. takes a look at some of the issues with how we understand the big tent, and argues for DSA being a firmly democratic socialist organization above all else.
-
To Win the Future, DSA Needs Stronger Structures
Olivia M. analyzes and argues for the importance of structure in building transformative democracy—and that such a democracy is the sole way DSA can become an effective mass organization of the working class.
-
The Path to Class Independence
Olivia M. takes a critical look at the US left’s path towards class independence by detailing what it will take for us to win and exposing some of the pitfalls that could destroy our movement.
-
Without Solidarity We Cannot Survive: DSA for the queer and trans working class
For our liberation, queer and trans people must organize as socialists, and socialists must defend queer and trans life. Olivia M and Saoirse G reflect on how DSA offers a unique political home for queer and trans workers, and what their inclusion means for DSA.
-
Socialists Need to Take State Power
Maine DSA’s Rose D. argues that a successful socialist organization is one oriented around the ultimate goal of taking hold of state power to enact socialist policies.
-
Materialism not Metaphor
Sacramento DSA’s Annabel V. argues that our movement must win more concretely than “sparking consciousness,” and that metaphorical language and goals distract organizers from the work of material gains.
Mass 