Our Past History
DSA’s International Committee has been around for more than two decades; the IC has been officially recognized by the DSA’s National Political Committee (NPC), first in 2003 and again in 2015. Over these decades, and often in parallel with the ebbs and flows of DSA as a national organization, the committee has gone through periodic swings between activity, inactivity, and rejuvenation.
In mid-2018, a request was made by the NPC for the existing committee to create a structure and procedures to update itself to respond to the new needs and reality of DSA as an organization, and to help build a committee that would reflect the diversity of the organization that DSA strives to be.
Our Present Structure & Organizing
The IC now operates day-to-day under the oversight of DSA’s NPC. The IC is also guided by DSA’s National Platform and by National Convention resolutions such as 2019‘s R4 and 2021‘s R14.
In early 2020, a large-scale reform of the International Committee was approved by the NPC. The pre-existing single committee structure was disassembled, and new substructures were created: an International Secretariat, a Steering Committee, and regional and thematic Subcommittees. In 2022, the International Secretariat’s responsibilities were merged into one Steering Committee, while regional and thematic Subcommittees remain. All Steering Committee members and Subcommittee Co-Chairs participate in a competitive application process, and are appointed directly by the NPC.
The IC’s Subcommittees serve as central nodes for much of DSA’s internationalist solidarity, organizing, and political education. And Subcommittee membership applications are open to all DSA members in good standing! The International Committee’s current Subcommittees are: Americas, Antiwar, Asia & Oceania, Climate & Economics, Europe, Labor, and Middle East & Africa. You can find out more about our organizing on this site, such as on our Statements, Political Education, and Campaigns pages.
Contact Us
For inquiries from the media, political parties, and other external parties: [email protected]. For inquiries from members and about internal committee matters: [email protected].
As with much of DSA, the International Committee is run by volunteers. We aim to reply in as timely a manner as possible, but thank you in advance for your patience.