SI 75 years anniversary, the relevance of the Frankfurt Declaration

Seventy-five years ago, following World War II, on July 3, 1951, in Frankfurt, Germany, tracing its roots in the 19th century workers’ movement, the Socialist International was founded as the global federation of socialist and social democratic parties.  

The Congress was chaired by Morgan Philips, General Secretary of the British Labour Party.  

The 30 political parties that participated in the meeting adopted the historical Frankfurt Declaration, a historic document outlining the core principles of modern democratic socialism.  

The Socialist International since 1951 increased substantially its members from all continents, adapted its organizational structure and activities to the requirements of the 21st century and faced successfully many challenges.  

The Frankfurt Declaration, includes a number of key principles that remain totally relevant today, defining democratic socialism in a very clear way.  

An anniversary is an opportunity to remember the principles that keep us together and give a meaning to our collective efforts.  

The Frankfurt Declaration stipulates:

• Socialists strive to build a new society in freedom and by democratic means  
• Democracy is the government of the people by the people, for the people ⁠ securing: the right of every human being to a private life, protected from arbitrary invasion by the state, freedom of thought, expression, organisation and religion, equality before the law of all citizens whatever their birth, sex, language, creed and colour, an independent judicial system.  
• Democracy requires the right of more than one party to exist and the right of ⁠ opposition.  
• Socialism stands also for economic and social rights as: the right to work, ⁠ the right to medical and maternity benefits, the right to leisure, the right for economic security for citizens unable to work because of age, incapacity or unemployment, the right to adequate housing.  
• Socialism fights to liberate men from the fears and anxieties from which all forms of political and economic insecurity are inseparable.  
• Democratic Socialism is international because it aims to liberate all men from every form of economic, spiritual and political bondage.  
• Democratic Socialism regards the establishment of the United Nations as an important step towards an international community and demands the strict implementation of the principles of its Charter.

In November 2026 the Socialist International will celebrate in Dakar the 50 years of its presence in Africa.  

The current global landscape gives more reasons to mobilize around the initiative that started in Frankfurt in 1951.  

Happy anniversary to all the citizens, the parties, the movements, the militants, the leaders that constitute our International.