Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee
The Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee (DSOC; /ˈdiːsɒk/ DEE-sok) was a democratic socialist organization in the United States.
"DSOC" redirects here. For NASA's laser communications demo, see Deep Space Optical Communications.
Democratic Socialist
Organizing Committee
Organizing Committee
The DSOC was founded in 1973 by Michael Harrington, who had led a minority caucus in the Socialist Party of America and disagreed with its transformation into Social Democrats, USA. Harrington's caucus supported George McGovern's call for a cease-fire and immediate withdrawal from Vietnam. In contrast to the traditional emphasis on strengthening the working class by organizing labor unions, Harrington reduced the emphasis on labor of previous socialist organizations. While continuing to work with unionists, Harrington instead placed more emphasis on middle-class political activists, especially those drawn to activism through the McGovern campaign. Developing a "realignment" strategy common to socialists since the 1960s, the DSOC tried to help to build a "democratic left" movement from the political movements participating in the Democratic Party.
In 1982, the DSOC merged with the New American Movement to form the Democratic Socialists of America.
Democratic Socialists of America[edit]
The DSOC ceased to exist in 1982 when it merged with the New American Movement (NAM) to form the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
Discussions with representatives of the NAM, a successor organization to Students for a Democratic Society, began as early as 1977.[16] The move was favored by the DSOC's left-wing led by historian Jim Chapin which sought to bring into the DSOC many former participants in the New Left of the 1960s who were in search of a new home.[16] The DSOC formally endorsed the idea of merger with the NAM at its 1979 Houston convention.[17]
However, the proposal for merger generated vocal opposition. Forces on the organization's right-wing, led by Howe and calling themselves the Committee Against the NAM Merger (CATNAM), urged that instead of courting New Left survivors. the DSOC should instead continue to place its emphasis on outreach to larger forces in the labor movement and the Democratic Party. In addition to noting the NAM's deep distrust of the Democratic Party, many adherents of the CATNAM had grave misgivings about the NAM's position towards Israel, with the DSOC maintaining belief in a two-state solution guaranteeing the existence of Israel while many in the NAM saw the Palestine Liberation Organization as engaged in an anti-colonial liberation struggle.[17] Ultimately, a careful statement was worked out on the Middle East based upon a two-state solution and merger talks moved forward.
The 1981 DSOC National Convention was marked by a very heated debate on the question of merger with the NAM, which was ultimately resolved by a vote of approximately 80% of the delegates in favor and none against, with the 20% or so supporting the CATNAM position abstaining.[18] Harrington later noted: "Our opponents wanted to indicate they were unhappy — and that they were staying".[18]
The unity convention joining the NAM and the DSOC was held in Detroit in 1982 and the DSA was thereby established. The gathering was addressed by George Crockett, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus in the House of Representatives, with Harrington delivering the keynote address.[18] The new organization claimed a membership of 6,000 at the time of its formation.[18]