Political international
Encyclopedia
A political international is a trans-national organisation of political parties
or activists. The international works together on points of agreement to co-ordinate activity.
Political internationals have increased in popularity and influence since their beginnings in the political left of 19th century Europe, as an increased attention has been paid by political activists to developments for or against their own ideological favor in other countries and continents. After World War II
, other ideological movements formed their own political internationals in order to communicate among aligned parliamentarians and legislatorial candidates, as well as to communicate to intergovernmental and supranational organizations such as the United Nations
and, later, the European Union
. Internationals also form supranational and regional branches (i.e., a European branch, an African branch) and maintain fraternal or governing relationships with sector-specific "wings" (i.e., Youth wing, Women's wing).
Political internationals have often expelled member parties for various abuses, such as political malfeasance or financial corruption among members.
Defunct:
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
or activists. The international works together on points of agreement to co-ordinate activity.
Political internationals have increased in popularity and influence since their beginnings in the political left of 19th century Europe, as an increased attention has been paid by political activists to developments for or against their own ideological favor in other countries and continents. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, other ideological movements formed their own political internationals in order to communicate among aligned parliamentarians and legislatorial candidates, as well as to communicate to intergovernmental and supranational organizations such as the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and, later, the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
. Internationals also form supranational and regional branches (i.e., a European branch, an African branch) and maintain fraternal or governing relationships with sector-specific "wings" (i.e., Youth wing, Women's wing).
Political internationals have often expelled member parties for various abuses, such as political malfeasance or financial corruption among members.
List of Notable Internationals
- Fourth International, founded by Leon Trotsky in 1938 and later split into several competing "Internationals" and subsequently reunified in 1963. (CommunismCommunismCommunism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
) - Socialist InternationalSocialist InternationalThe Socialist International is a worldwide organization of democratic socialist, social democratic and labour political parties. It was formed in 1951.- History :...
, a federation of political parties dedicated to social democracySocial democracySocial democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
and democratic socialismDemocratic socialismDemocratic socialism is a description used by various socialist movements and organizations to emphasize the democratic character of their political orientation...
founded in 1923. - Liberal InternationalLiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
, founded in 1947 and constituted by the Oxford ManifestoOxford ManifestoThe Oxford Manifesto, drawn up in April 1947 by representatives from nineteen Liberal political parties at Wadham College in Oxford, led by Salvador de Madariaga, is a document which describes the basic political principles of the Liberal International...
. (LiberalismLiberalismLiberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
) - Libertarian International Organization, activist and party-notation federation for LibertariansLibertarianismLibertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
. - International Democrat UnionInternational Democrat UnionThe International Democrat Union, abbreviated to IDU, is a centre-right international alliance of conservative and liberal-conservative political parties. Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, the IDU comprises 45 full or associate members...
(ConservatismConservatismConservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
) - Centrist Democrat InternationalCentrist Democrat InternationalThe Centrist Democrat International was until 2001 the Christian Democrat International and before that the Christian Democrat and People's Parties International...
(mainly Christian Democrats, also social Christians, centrists, liberal conservativesLiberal conservatismLiberal conservatism also known as progressive conservatism is a variant of political conservatism which incorporates liberal elements. As "conservatism" and "liberalism" have had different meanings over time and across countries, the term "liberal conservatism" has been used in quite different...
, conservative liberalsConservative liberalismConservative liberalism is a variant of liberalism, combining liberal values and policies with conservative stances, or, more simply, representing the right-wing of the liberal movement....
, reformist centristReformist CentreReformist Centre, or Reformist centre, is a political term used in various countries around the world to define various kinds of political thought, but always connected with the centre, moderation and social reformism....
, religious democratsReligious democracyReligious democracy is a form of government where the values of a particular religion have an effect on the laws and rules, often when most of the population is a member of the religion...
from other religions and other moderate right, centre and centre-rightCentre-rightThe centre-right or center-right is a political term commonly used to describe or denote individuals, political parties, or organizations whose views stretch from the centre to the right on the left-right spectrum, excluding far right stances. Centre-right can also describe a coalition of centrist...
forces) - Humanist InternationalHumanist InternationalThe Humanist International is a consortium of Humanist political parties, founded in Florence, Italy, on January 4, 1989, by the approval of foundational documents and statutes by over 40 Humanist Parties from around the world...
(Humanist MovementHumanist MovementThe Humanist Movement is an international volunteer organisation that promotes nonviolence and non-discrimination. It is not an institution...
) - Global GreensGlobal GreensThe Global Greens is a global network of Green parties and political movements. It was founded in 2001 in Canberra, Australia at the First Global Greens Congress, where the Global Green Charter was approved. The Second Global Greens Congress was held in 2008 in Sao Paolo, Brazil...
(Green politicsGreen politicsGreen politics is a political ideology that aims for the creation of an ecologically sustainable society rooted in environmentalism, social liberalism, and grassroots democracy...
) - Pirate Parties InternationalPirate Parties InternationalPirate Parties International is the political international of the Pirate Party movement. It was formally founded in 2010 at the PPI conference in Brussels, Belgium.-Aims:The PPI statutes give its purposes as:...
(intellectual property reform, freedom of information, open government and network neutrality)
Defunct:
- International Workingmen's AssociationInternational Workingmen's AssociationThe International Workingmen's Association , sometimes called the First International, was an international organization which aimed at uniting a variety of different left-wing socialist, communist and anarchist political groups and trade union organizations that were based on the working class...
, commonly known as the First International (communism, anarchism and revolutionary socialism), founded in 1864 and defunct since 1876) - Second InternationalSecond InternationalThe Second International , the original Socialist International, was an organization of socialist and labour parties formed in Paris on July 14, 1889. At the Paris meeting delegations from 20 countries participated...
(SocialismSocialismSocialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
), founded in 1889 and dissolved in 1916 - CominternCominternThe Communist International, abbreviated as Comintern, also known as the Third International, was an international communist organization initiated in Moscow during March 1919...
(also known as the Third International), a federation of communist parties founded by Lenin in 1919 and dissolved by Stalin in 1943
Not internationals but similar in functioning
- Alliance of Democrats (centrist, social liberal, moderate conservative, moderate populist, moderate social democratic and other groups similar in outlook to the European Democratic PartyEuropean Democratic PartyThe European Democratic Party is a centrist European political party in favour of European integration. It was initiated on April 16, 2004 and formally founded on December 9 in Brussels...
and the United States Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (United States)The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... - Transnational Radical PartyTransnational Radical PartyThe Transnational Radical Party is a political association of citizens, parliamentarians and members of government of various national and political backgrounds who intend to use nonviolent means to create an effective body of international law with respect for individuals and the...
(political association of progressive liberal and radicalRadicalism (historical)The term Radical was used during the late 18th century for proponents of the Radical Movement. It later became a general pejorative term for those favoring or seeking political reforms which include dramatic changes to the social order...
citizens, parliamentarians and members of government of various national and political backgrounds, associated with the United Nations Economic and Social CouncilUnited Nations Economic and Social CouncilThe Economic and Social Council of the United Nations constitutes one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and it is responsible for the coordination of the economic, social and related work of 14 UN specialized agencies, its functional commissions and five regional commissions...
) - International Conference of Asian Political PartiesInternational Conference of Asian Political PartiesThe International Conference of Asian Political Parties is a forum of political parties of Asia-Oceanian countries, which was launched in Manila Philippines in September 2000...