Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee

Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee

The Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee (DSOC) was founded in 1973 by Michael Harrington, who had led a minority caucus in the Socialist Party of America. Harrington's caucus supported George McGovern's call for a cease-fire and immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces 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. Instead, while continuing to work with unionists, Harrington 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, DSOC (pronounced "DEE-sock") tried to help to build a democratic-socialist ("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.

Read more about Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee:  Publications, Ideology and Strategy, From DSOC To The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)

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