Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism
Encyclopedia
The Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism is a democratic socialist group in the United States
which originated in 1991 as the Committees of Correspondence, a moderate, reformist wing of the Communist Party USA
(CPUSA). Named after the Committees of Correspondence formed during the American Revolution
, the group criticized the leadership of CPUSA president Gus Hall
and argued that, in light of the dissolution of the Soviet Union
since 1989, the party should reject Leninism
and adopt a more moderate democratic socialist orientation.
The former CPUSA official Gil Green
, as well as notable activists such as Pete Seeger
and Angela Davis
, led the reformist movement in December 1991 at the national convention. Failing to win over the majority of CPUSA members, the group left the party. It held conferences to establish a new organization, which attracted independent leftists and socialists from outside the CPUSA tradition, or some who had left the party previously over its policies.
In 2000 the group changed its name to the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism. CCDS permits dual membership in both the Socialist Party USA
and the Communist Party USA
.
Its publications include Dialogue and Initiative and Crosscurrents.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
which originated in 1991 as the Committees of Correspondence, a moderate, reformist wing of the Communist Party USA
Communist Party USA
The Communist Party USA is a Marxist political party in the United States, established in 1919. It has a long, complex history that is closely related to the histories of similar communist parties worldwide and the U.S. labor movement....
(CPUSA). Named after the Committees of Correspondence formed during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, the group criticized the leadership of CPUSA president Gus Hall
Gus Hall
Gus Hall, born Arvo Kustaa Hallberg , was a leader and Chairman of the Communist Party USA and its four-time U.S. presidential candidate. As a labor leader, Hall was closely associated with the so-called "Little Steel" Strike of 1937, an effort to unionize the nation's smaller, regional steel...
and argued that, in light of the dissolution of the Soviet Union
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
The dissolution of the Soviet Union was the disintegration of the federal political structures and central government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , resulting in the independence of all fifteen republics of the Soviet Union between March 11, 1990 and December 25, 1991...
since 1989, the party should reject Leninism
Leninism
In Marxist philosophy, Leninism is the body of political theory for the democratic organisation of a revolutionary vanguard party, and the achievement of a direct-democracy dictatorship of the proletariat, as political prelude to the establishment of socialism...
and adopt a more moderate democratic socialist orientation.
The former CPUSA official Gil Green
Gil Green (politician)
Gil Green was a leading figure in the Communist Party of the United States of America until 1991. He is best remembered as the leader of the party's youth section, the Young Communist League, during the tumultuous decade of the 1930s....
, as well as notable activists such as Pete Seeger
Pete Seeger
Peter "Pete" Seeger is an American folk singer and was an iconic figure in the mid-twentieth century American folk music revival. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, he also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of The Weavers, most notably their recording of Lead...
and Angela Davis
Angela Davis
Angela Davis is an American political activist, scholar, and author. Davis was most politically active during the late 1960s through the 1970s and was associated with the Communist Party USA, the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Panther Party...
, led the reformist movement in December 1991 at the national convention. Failing to win over the majority of CPUSA members, the group left the party. It held conferences to establish a new organization, which attracted independent leftists and socialists from outside the CPUSA tradition, or some who had left the party previously over its policies.
In 2000 the group changed its name to the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism. CCDS permits dual membership in both the Socialist Party USA
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...
and the Communist Party USA
Communist Party USA
The Communist Party USA is a Marxist political party in the United States, established in 1919. It has a long, complex history that is closely related to the histories of similar communist parties worldwide and the U.S. labor movement....
.
Its publications include Dialogue and Initiative and Crosscurrents.