Chicago Socialist Party
Encyclopedia
The Chicago Socialist Party (CSP) is the local chapter of the Socialist Party USA
in Chicago
, Illinois
. It is a democratic socialist organization that supports numerous progressive
, radical
causes in an effort to help build a broad-based, multi-tendency progressive movement.
In addition, there is an unaffiliated group of the same name, formed in 2005 by former Socialist Party members. That year, due to conflicts with others in the SP and what many CSP members saw as decreasing democracy and decentralism in the SP, many CSP members quit the SP or let their memberships lapse. The CSP's charter was suspended, and was later reinstated once a functioning Local Executive Committee was elected.
Both groups' long-term objective is to establish a radical democracy
, a non-racist, classless, feminist, socialist society in which people cooperate at work, at home, and in the community and in which working people have control over their own lives. Both work cooperatively with numerous progressive and radical organizations and independent activists.
While the Socialist Party regularly runs candidates for elected office, restrictive ballot access laws in Illinois result in few Socialist candidates running in that state, mainly as write-in candidates. Both CSPs function primarily as activist organizations, working in support of the labor movement, anti-war campaigns, prison outreach, and policy advocacy. Members have also been involved in educational efforts such as establishing radical resource centers and organizing forums, speakers, classes, film screenings, and book discussions on progressive and radical issues.
Socialist Party USA
The Socialist Party USA is a multi-tendency democratic-socialist party in the United States. The party states that it is the rightful continuation and successor to the tradition of the Socialist Party of America, which had lasted from 1901 to 1972.The party is officially committed to left-wing...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. It is a democratic socialist organization that supports numerous progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
, radical
Political radicalism
The term political radicalism denotes political principles focused on altering social structures through revolutionary means and changing value systems in fundamental ways...
causes in an effort to help build a broad-based, multi-tendency progressive movement.
In addition, there is an unaffiliated group of the same name, formed in 2005 by former Socialist Party members. That year, due to conflicts with others in the SP and what many CSP members saw as decreasing democracy and decentralism in the SP, many CSP members quit the SP or let their memberships lapse. The CSP's charter was suspended, and was later reinstated once a functioning Local Executive Committee was elected.
Both groups' long-term objective is to establish a radical democracy
Radical democracy
Radical democracy as an ideology was articulated by Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe in their book Hegemony and Socialist Strategy: Towards a Radical Democratic Politics, written in 1985. They argue that social movements which attempt to create social and political change need a strategy which...
, a non-racist, classless, feminist, socialist society in which people cooperate at work, at home, and in the community and in which working people have control over their own lives. Both work cooperatively with numerous progressive and radical organizations and independent activists.
While the Socialist Party regularly runs candidates for elected office, restrictive ballot access laws in Illinois result in few Socialist candidates running in that state, mainly as write-in candidates. Both CSPs function primarily as activist organizations, working in support of the labor movement, anti-war campaigns, prison outreach, and policy advocacy. Members have also been involved in educational efforts such as establishing radical resource centers and organizing forums, speakers, classes, film screenings, and book discussions on progressive and radical issues.