International Democratic Party

[Dean_the_Young]

Trivia fact for those who don't know it: The Democratic Party (US) is the oldest viable political party in the world. It's been around in different incarnations since the US began.

So what if we made it international, like the International Communist Party (without the connotations). There would be the American Democratic Party (which leads, but doesn't command, the other branches), the Mexican Democratic Party, the Brazillian Democratic Party, etc...

What effects can you see of a unifying political party across the Americas, viable for election in many nations?

[Fabilius]

Well, they are already accused of being unamerican...


I think the Democratic party would need to be more focused on ideology. Today´s version has nothing in common with the 1830´s version.

[Wendell]

Originally Posted by Fabilius

Well, they are already accused of being unamerican...


I think the Democratic party would need to be more focused on ideology. Today´s version has nothing in common with the 1830´s version.

I would argue that it has some things in common, actually.

[FletcherofSaltoun]

I would argue that the Tories, now the British Conservatives are older.

[Wendell]

Originally Posted by FletcherofSaltoun

I would argue that the Tories, now the British Conservatives are older.

I agree. But, maybe there is an issue over formal dates of foundation?

[Dean_the_Young]

And have they been an actual political party, with an organized structure, for long enough? The US political parties, as I recall, were prety new ideas, coming totally out of the blue in a government where the ground political rules were laid out in the Constitution.

[MarkA]

What sort of international ideology does the Democratic Party espouse that would capture the imagination of people outside the US?

There are links between some member organisations of the Second International and the Democrats now. Labour in Britain, New Zealand and Israel and Labor in Australia are always exchanging activists to work in elections. So too do many European Socialist Parties.

Even the Conservatives in Britain have such links, although not as strong with the Republicians and the Liberals in Australia and even some Christian Democrat parties in Europe.

[Dean_the_Young]

Well, the early Jeffersonian democrats were pro-agriculture, pro-France, and big on limited central government (though Jefferson didn't let that get in the way of expediancy).

The Hamiltonian federalists were pro-commerce/industrialization, pro-Britain, and pro-central governement.

Perhaps the Democratic party merges some with the Federalists as the federalists and democrats trade the presidency back and forth? They composite could include pro-internal improvements/industrialization for young nations, co-operative foreign policy (don't make waves while you're weak), and so on.

I actually was thinking that the international democratic party would be more Americas-based, with some footholds in Europe and perhaps Africa. The international aspect would be that it pushes for the end of empires by supporting republican revolutionaries across the Americas/globe (eventually). Spreading democracy to the opressed masses by the sword, if you will.

This idea actually came about as I tried to figure out how to tone down a massive Ameriwank from earlier, in which the US went from Japan to all the Americas to Africa, and the big thing I liked was "republican guerillas." It made the US take the place of the USSR to conservative Europe.

[Liberty]

If they had made an International Democratic Party in the 1800s, the revolt led by William Jennings Bryan could have have happened, because the other parties might not have gone from Classical Liberalism to Modern Liberalism. There's a big difference between the ideologies. Classical Liberals were for maximum freedom in all circumstances (today referred to as a Libertarian). Modern Liberals are willing to accept change, which usually means change in a Socialist direction.

The Democrats in America would have been unable to unilaterally change to Modern Liberalism with all the other Democratic Parties. The Democrats, from Jefferson to Jackson to Cleveland were Classical Liberals in the 19th century. The main consequence of an International Democratic Party would be that the Republicans would be regarded as the big government party.

Had the Democrats formed an International Party in the early 1900s or later, things would be much the same and one of the most significant changes would be Hugo Chavez endorsing Al Gore and John Kerry for president.

[ninebucks]

My first reaction to this idea was scepticism, but now its growing on me. However, some definite ideology is needed. And it definitely needs to have an easily distributable manifesto, perhaps written by some charismatic Democrat whose name never ends up being sullied by elected office.

[Dean_the_Young]

Originally Posted by ninebucks

My first reaction to this idea was scepticism, but now its growing on me. However, some definite ideology is needed. And it definitely needs to have an easily distributable manifesto, perhaps written by some charismatic Democrat whose name never ends up being sullied by elected office.

Perhaps Jefferson, never getting elected, plays an important role in democratic philosopy? A democrat espousing his teachings could win the next election, but Jefferson would remain an influential political thinker.

Though he still remains a classical liberal.

Maybe the ideology should include anti-slavery and pan-Americas/pan-used-to-be-colonies?

[Dan1988]

Umm, haven't you guys heard of the Liberal International?

[Dean_the_Young]

Originally Posted by Dan1988

Umm, haven't you guys heard of the Liberal International?

Apparently not as a viable international party. Details? History of it?

[ninebucks]

Originally Posted by Dan1988

Umm, haven't you guys heard of the Liberal International?

Was founded in 1947, I think that's a bit late for the OP's challenge.

[nunya]

Originally Posted by Dean_the_Young

Trivia fact for those who don't know it: The Democratic Party (US) is the oldest viable political party in the world. It's been around in different incarnations since the US began.

So what if we made it international, like the International Communist Party (without the connotations). There would be the American Democratic Party (which leads, but doesn't command, the other branches), the Mexican Democratic Party, the Brazillian Democratic Party, etc...

What effects can you see of a unifying political party across the Americas, viable for election in many nations?

Oh shit no.We have enough problems with them here as it is.Why spread them the whole rest of the world?The Democrats are already the functional equivalent of the American branch of the Communist Party International,so I dont see the point.
note for the slow-this is called a joke.Do not respond to it,there is no point.

[Wendell]

There was once a Democratic International.

[ninebucks]

Originally Posted by Wendell

There was once a Democratic International.

Seriously, did you even read that article, it was a single 1985 meeting of Third World anti-Communists backed by Reaganauts. It doesn't fit a single criteria of the Challenge.

[Wendell]

Originally Posted by ninebucks

Seriously, did you even read that article, it was a single 1985 meeting of Third World anti-Communists backed by Reaganauts. It doesn't fit a single criteria of the Challenge.

I did read the article. While quite an odd occasion, something like that might be frequent in the TL satisfying the given challenge.

[Dean_the_Young]

Perhaps a new Democratic International would be more common, if not the international party itself.

Rather than being anti-Red, it could be anti-imperialism and/or anti-slavery. (Note: Does anybody know when slavery died out in S. America? I know Catholic Mexico opposed it, for example.)

Maybe Democratic International could be an unassociated wing of the more radical part of the International Democratic Party? Sort of like how Hamas has a political and military wing, only in this case its only the radical wing that secretly controls Democratic International, rather than more central leadership.

[Wendell]

Originally Posted by Dean_the_Young

Perhaps a new Democratic International would be more common, if not the international party itself.

Rather than being anti-Red, it could be anti-imperialism and/or anti-slavery. (Note: Does anybody know when slavery died out in S. America? I know Catholic Mexico opposed it, for example.)

Maybe Democratic International could be an unassociated wing of the more radical part of the International Democratic Party? Sort of like how Hamas has a political and military wing, only in this case its only the radical wing that secretly controls Democratic International, rather than more central leadership.

Slavery lasted in Brazil into the 1880's.