International Union of Socialist Youth

From 24 to 27 August 1907, 21 youth representatives from 13 countries met in the German city of Stuttgart and founded the Socialist Youth International as the youth organization of the Second International, headquartered in Vienna.[4]

The Socialist Youth International held parallel congresses in 1910 and 1912 following the International Socialist Congress, Copenhagen 1910 and International Socialist Congress, Basel 1912.[2]

The socialist youth organizations, just like their parent parties, were confronted by the growing influence of nationalism and militarism in Europe. In the onset of World War I in 1914, the majority of the socialist parties supported their respective countries' war efforts, but the Socialist Youth International remained opposed to war and militarism.[5] The organization moved its offices to Zurich and from there it published its journal, Youth International, calling for peace, which had to be distributed illegally. The struggle for peace subsequently became a core aspect of the organization.

The formation of the Communist International in Moscow in 1919 split the worker's and youth movement into two sides. The representatives of the socialist and social-democratic current reconvened the International Socialist Youth Movement in 1921.

In 1925, in the wake of the fascist takeover of Italy, the Italian youth organization was forced to stop participating in the work of the ISYM. This marked the beginning of the organization's fight against fascism.[6] In 1933, the Berlin office was evacuated to Prague.

After the Second World War, on 30 September 1946, the organization formally became known as the International Union of Socialist Youth. It began to accept a growing number of youth organizations from outside of Europe and by the beginning of the 1950s, the International Union of Socialist Youth included 73 member organizations from 50 countries.

Following the Paris congress and up through the 1960s, the International Union of Socialist Youth focused on supporting decolonization efforts and struggles for independence, particularly in Africa and Asia.[7] In the 1970s, the organization was active in drawing attention to the human rights violations by military governments in South America and building up international solidarity campaigns, such as against Pinochet in Chile and the Somozas in Nicaragua.

The IUSY was cautiously supportive of the democratization process in Eastern Europe. Human trafficking and refugees, the result of the Dissolution of the Soviet Union, became the new focus of efforts on the part of the International Union of Socialist Youth, forming the Balkan Roundtable and Black Sea Area Committees to facilitate dialogue and cooperation among the different countries.

Anti Vietnam war demonstration. Vancouver, BC. 1968

The stated goal of the International Union of Socialist Youth is the promotion of democracy, human rights, youth policy, and left-wing politics. The IUSY functions by engaging international institutions, such as the Council of Europe, United Nations, Socialist International, European Youth Forum, and others. The IUSY aims to generate change by directly targeting international policy makers and media representatives. The IUSY also trains grassroots activists in international politics and policy development.

The Congress is the highest decision-making body within the International Union of Socialist Youth. It elects the President, the Secretary General, the Presidium and the Control Commission. The IUSY Congress and IUSY Council take place every second year on an alternating basis. The IUSY coordinates its activities on two levels – regional and global.

The global Presidium is composed of the President, the Secretary General and 19 Vice-Presidents, who meet regularly to discuss and develop policy.

The IUSY has five regional committees: American, African, Asian-Pacific, European, and Mediterranean that meet annually. IUSY also has two permanent working groups, a feminist and LGBT that deal with issues involving those specific themes.

The IUSY Secretariat, led by the Secretary General, organizes all activities and is responsible for finances, communication, and the day-to-day running of the organization. IUSY's working languages are English, French, and Spanish.[8]

The IUSY also organizes a World Festival, which brings together activists and is organized approximately every two or three years.

• Young European Socialists (YES)

IUSY has held international "camps" and "festivals" since 1952, at various locations around the world.

• List of International Union of Socialist Youth member organisations

Wikimedia Commons has media related to International Union of Socialist Youth.

• Official website
• Archives of Sozialistische Jugend-Internationale (former German name) at the International Institute of Social History