1.
Resolution
IUSY World Council 2011
Attersee, Austria
28th July 2011
REFORM THE SOCIALIST
INTERNATIONAL
The International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) regards the Socialist International
(SI) as a crucial actor in the fight for our progressive principles. We need a strong,
progressive, truly global, international movement for the family of socialists and social
democrats in order to have the strength required to build a more equal world by tackling
poverty, inequalities, violations of human rights, authoritarian regimes and all the
challenges, difficulties and possibilities that globalization brings with it.
IUSY has been calling for a debate on the future of our movement, the SI, since time.
Over the last years the SI has not managed to be a relevant and strong global voice on
current political issues and on the constant struggle for human rights and democracy. This
became painfully obvious when the Arab Spring started and the SI under the eyes of the
world found itself side by side with authoritarian regime parties as members that over
decades consequently violated and denied the basic values we stand for. Socialism and
Social Democracy all over the world lost in legitimacy. After exclusion of these
undemocratic parties the SI hastened to become a follower and supporter of the
democratic uprising but still far from being the leader it should have been. The SI needs a
leadership that doesn’t hesitate to take the lead in the struggle for democratisation and
dares to take actions against member organizations that chose to turn away from
democracy.
In a letter on the 14th of April 29 Vice Presidents of the SI and Party Leaders of member
parties called for a reform of the SI stating: “We must now use this opportunity for reform
to make our alliance fit for the future, which means establishing it as a politically relevant,
publicly visible, global organization with transparent and democratic procedures and with
members that are able to match themselves against these standards”.
At the last SI Council, 19th of March 2011 in Athens, a reform was started; however, the
way in which it started, the mandate it was given and the process leading up to the
election of the leadership and members of the reform committee makes us sceptic on what
the result will be. IUSY does consider the SI leadership and the leaders of the reform
committee responsible for reforming the SI, at the same time equally holding its member
organizations and the 29 leaders to their words on the need of reform and their active part
in making it happen.
What has been missing in the SI is leadership. The lack of long-term planning has made it
difficult not only to participate in activities but also to give substantial contributions. The
working methods of meetings, with many long and often topic wise widespread speeches,
give no possibility to discuss and produce relevant political outcomes.
INTERNATIONAL UNION OF SOCIALIST YOUTH Amtshausgasse 4 • 1050 Wien/Austria
PHONE +43.1.5231267 FAX +43.1.5231267.9 MAIL iusy@iusy.org WEB www.iusy.org

2.
IUSY once again declares its commitment to be a part of the global leadership of the SI in
the change that must come. We hereby present our perspective on the role of the reform
committee, the political role and agenda of the SI and some concrete suggestions on
organizational changes.
IUSY inputs on the role and task of the Reform Committee:
st
- Set a clear strategy for the role of the SI in the 21 century;
- Put forward suggestions on how to increase the level of political debate and develop
the political agenda;
- Put forward suggestions on how to modernise the management of the organization,
develop the financial situation and working methods;
- Put forward suggestions on how to strengthen cooperation between IUSY and SI;
- Put forward statutory changes to ensure a vibrant and well-represented organization.
IUSY has long supported the use of term limits in its own statutes. We call upon the
SI to adopt the same approach and introduce term limits of no more than two terms
for key leadership positions;
- Evaluate the membership of the SI and make recommendations.
IUSY believes that the SI has a key role to play in global politics, to lead and not
only follow the political agenda:
- The SI as the main political international can and should be the main promoter and
guardian of democratization worldwide. The SI has more legitimacy than many other
actors since it speaks with no hidden interest. The development of the SI reflects the
global wave of democratizations and in many cases SI member organizations have
been the force that lead the way to democracy. A record that not only proves strong
experience but also means high responsibility.
- Good Governance, Democratic Governance is a key factor for development. Political
parties and politicians together with civil servants stand in the centre of good
governance. Through sharing of experience and common challenges we can make
sure that our parties continue to develop and take leading roles within their societies
and lead their countries.
st
- A peaceful and democratic world remains a challenge in the 21 century. Peace and
Security is on top of the global agenda and with the global network we have and the
common base that our ideology gives us we can play a key role in contributing to
bringing an end to conflicts or even preventing them from breaking out through
dialogue and cooperation. The SI can bring together progressive forces and show that
it is possible if the right will is there. But this also requires an active role of the SI in
promoting our values and international law and in daring to speak up if they are
disregarded, also and especially to our partners. Without being committed to our
INTERNATIONAL UNION OF SOCIALIST YOUTH Amtshausgasse 4 • 1050 Wien/Austria
PHONE +43.1.5231267 FAX +43.1.5231267.9 MAIL iusy@iusy.org WEB www.iusy.org

3.
values and principles – especially during difficult circumstances – we loose
legitimacy. Member organizations that chose a different track than respecting
international law and human rights have chosen not to be a part of the SI and must be
excluded consequently.
- Economics lie at the heart of politics. The recent years have shown how strong the
need for global democratic governance in the economical field is. It is crucial in this
time of globalization to make sure that democratic governance is also applied in the
global economic system. We need regulataory instruments to assure a market
economy that works for people and not only for the financial system. We need a
global economy that contributes to a global welfare state. This is the main challenge
for Social Democracy in the coming years.
- The SI must develop its own political agenda so it can be a strong and independent
actor. As global actor, the SI can influence the policies of the United Nations and
other international institutions but only if it by itself has a clear political agenda to put
forward. Otherwise, instead of being pro-active and part of setting the agenda, it will
continue to be stuck in reactive actions without much impact.
- The future of Socialism and Social Democracy is widely debated, in part due to the
fact that more people realize the value and need of equal societies. The SI should be
the place for this discussion and play a proactive role in it. Our values are timeless
but as time goes new challenges arise and in response new policies need to be
developed and common approaches and common solutions need to be found.
- The SI should be the place of ideological discussions as well as policy development
and exchange, in order to assure that we are making use of the best ideas of our
global movement and putting them in practice all over the world to change it.
- Economical and social development is far more important in political processes than
recognized today. By focusing on economy-social development, analysing its
importance and producing concrete policy suggestions, the SI can have a substantial
effect on world politics, re-directing the agenda towards the advantages of equal
societies.
IUSY inputs on concrete organizational reform suggestions:
- The SI Congress should be held every second year.
o The SI should have a term limit of maximum two terms for all elected positions.
o An open and transparent process is a must for elected positions and an election
nomination committee should be introduced.
INTERNATIONAL UNION OF SOCIALIST YOUTH Amtshausgasse 4 • 1050 Wien/Austria
PHONE +43.1.5231267 FAX +43.1.5231267.9 MAIL iusy@iusy.org WEB www.iusy.org

4.
- The SI Council, in between the SI Congresses, should be held once a year in the
beginning of June. SI Councils could be held at the UN Headquarters in New York as
a step in directing the politics of the SI towards the work of the UN.
o The SI Congress/Council should be held over two days, whereby one of the days
should focus on the internal situation of the International. The other day’s agenda
should focus on one or two political issues linked to the work of the ad-hoc
committees or a regional committee.
o The working methods should be modernized in order to ensure participation,
discussion and debate as well as the possibility to make concrete political
contributions. More seminars or panel discussions together with well-prepared
political documents sent out in advance would provide the framework for this.
o The SI should invite and engage high-level progressives – persons and
organizations – active in the global discussion for political solutions in order to
ensure an exchange with other parts of the global progressive community and
reaching beyond our own party structures.
- The SI Presidium should meet once a year in September during the yearly opening of
the UN General Assembly.
o All SI Vice Presidents should take part in the meetings and they should have the
possibility to send a replacement on the same high-level.
o Visibility is linked to giving concrete political contributions to the global political
agenda and the participation of our political leaders in the SI; the SI Presidium
has a crucial role in the development of politics and in the advocacy for them.
- The SI Presidium should form an Executive Committee to lead the work of the SI
together with the President and the Secretary General; assuming the responsibility for
preparation of Activities, Committees, Congress, Councils etcetera. The Executive
Committee should be a link between the Leadership, the Presidium and the Regional
Committees in order to ensure long-term planning of activities and coordination of the
political agenda.
- The SI Ethics Committee should meet twice a year, not counting the meeting prior to
Congress/Council, to constantly evaluate existing members, process membership
applications and make sure that we never compromise on the values and principles
that our movement is built upon.
- The SI Financial Committee should meet twice a year, not counting the meeting prior
to the Congress/Council, to overlook the collection of membership fees and the
strengthening of the financial situation, and to control the finances with the help of
professional external auditors.
INTERNATIONAL UNION OF SOCIALIST YOUTH Amtshausgasse 4 • 1050 Wien/Austria
PHONE +43.1.5231267 FAX +43.1.5231267.9 MAIL iusy@iusy.org WEB www.iusy.org

5.
- The SI Regional Committees should meet once per year. The meetings should focus
on supporting regional integration, strengthening of democratization in the region,
policy development and exchange on campaigning and current political issues.
- The SI Thematic Committees should be limited to one or two and should be formed on
ad-hoc basis. That would ensure a sharpened political focus during a concentrated
time period with a concrete political output. The work should be linked to political
processes within international institutions and aim at providing a concrete and
coordinated political input from a progressive socialist and social democratic
perspective.
- The capacity of the SI Secretariat for management, financial fundraising and
communication should be strengthened. Since it is unlikely that member organizations
will contribute more than today in membership fees, it is important to review the
financial priorities and in this process also review the support to IUSY (which is today
non-existing).
- The SI and IUSY should further cooperate:
o The SI should, as its member organizations, give financial support to its youth
organization, IUSY.
o The SI should further coordinate its work with other international organizations
linked to our movement and join the plan for setting up a shared office building in
Brussels. The SI should support IUSY financially and practically in this regard so
IUSY can be located together with the SI.
o IUSY should be invited to take part in all SI activities with the SI covering all
costs for at least two representatives. This to ensure that the voice of the young
generation is not only praised but also guaranteed.
IUSY strongly believes in the need for global cooperation. Global political solutions
are more needed than ever. If we as Socialists and Social Democrats want to take the
lead in forming the global agenda we need to work together. Our global movement can
provide us with the necessary framework but only if its is relevant, well functioning and
with a clear political agenda. IUSY considers itself to be a constructive part in the reform
process of the SI and we are looking forward to take part in the debate and the hard work
to reform our movement. It is time for Debate, Action and Change.
INTERNATIONAL UNION OF SOCIALIST YOUTH Amtshausgasse 4 • 1050 Wien/Austria
PHONE +43.1.5231267 FAX +43.1.5231267.9 MAIL iusy@iusy.org WEB www.iusy.org