Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee - From DSOC To The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)

From DSOC To The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)

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 NAM, a successor organization to Students for a Democratic Society, began as early as 1977. The move was favored by DSOC's left wing, led by historian Jim Chapin, which sought to bring into DSOC many former participants in the New Left of the 1960s who were in search of a new home. DSOC formally endorsed the idea of merger with NAM at its 1979 Houston convention.

The proposal for merger generated vocal opposition, however. 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 that 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 NAM's deep distrust of the Democratic Party, many adherents of CATNAM had grave misgivings about NAM's position towards Israel, with DSOC maintaining belief in a two state solution in the Middle East, guaranteeing the existence of Israel, while many in NAM saw the Palestine Liberation Organization as engaged in an anti-colonial liberation struggle. 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 NAM, which was ultimately resolved by a vote of approximately 80% of the delegates in favor, none against, with the 20% or so supporting the CATNAM position abstaining. "Our opponents wanted to indicate they were unhappy — and that they were staying," Harrington later noted.

The unity convention joining NAM and DSOC was held in Detroit in 1982, and the Democratic Socialists of America was thereby established. The gathering was addressed by George Crockett, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives, with Harrington delivering the keynote address. The new organization claimed a membership of 6,000 at the time of its formation.