World Federation of Democratic Youth

The World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) is an international youth organization, and has historically characterized itself as left-wing and anti-imperialist. WFDY was founded in London, United Kingdom in 1945 as a broad international youth movement, organized in the context of the end of World War II with the aim of uniting youth from the Allies behind an anti-fascist platform that was broadly pro-peace, anti-nuclear war, expressing friendship between youth of the capitalist and socialist nations. The WFDY Headquarters are in Budapest, Hungary.[1] The main event of WFDY is the World Festival of Youth and Students. The last festival was held in Sochi, Russia, in October 2017. It was one of the first organizations granted general consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

World Federation of Democratic Youth
Formation10 November 1945 (1945-11-10), London, United Kingdom
HeadquartersBudapest, Hungary
President
Aritz Rodríguez (UJCE)
Secretary General
Yusdaquy Larduet (UJC)
Vice Presidents
Adnan Al Mokdad
Amb. Naftal Kambungu
Sundar Bhusal
Websitewww.wfdy.org
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Map of countries which have or had a youth organization in the World Federation of Democratic Youth. Countries with active member organizations of WFDY are shown in dark green. Countries with former member organizations of WFDY are shown in light green.

History

On 10 November 1945, the World Youth Conference, organized in London, The UK, founded the World Federation of Democratic Youth. This historic conference was convened at the initiative of the World Youth Council which was formed during the Second World War to bring together the youth movements of the allied nations in an anti-fascist front. The conference was attended by over 600 delegates from 63 nations, it was at the time the largest and most diverse gathering of international youth.[2] The conference adopted a pledge for peace.

Shortly after, with the onset of the Cold War and Winston Churchill's Iron Curtain speech, the organization was accused by the US State Department of being a "Moscow front". Many of the founding organizations quit, leaving mostly youth from socialist nations, national liberation movements, and communist youth.[3] Like the International Union of Students (IUS) and other pro-Soviet organizations, the WFDY became a target and victim of CIA espionage as well as part of active measures conducted by the Soviet state security.[4][5][6][7]

The WFDY's first General Secretary, Alexander Shelepin, was a former leader of the Young Communist International which had been dissolved in 1943. Shelepin had been a guerilla fighter during World War II (after his work with the WFDY, he was appointed head of Soviet State Security).[4] Both the WFDY and IUS vocally criticized the Marshall Plan, supported the Czechoslovak coup d'état of 1948 and the new People's republics in eastern Europe. They opposed the Korean War.[4]

The main event of the WFDY became the World Festival of Youth and Students, a large-scale political and cultural celebration which aimed to promote peace and friendship between the youth of the world. Most, but not all, of the early festivals were held in socialist nations in Europe. During the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s the WFDY's festivals were one of the few places where young people from the western bloc could meet youth involved in the campaign against apartheid from South Africa, or militant youth from Vietnam, Palestine, Cuba and other nations. Famous people who participated in festivals included Angela Davis, Yuri Gagarin, Yasser Arafat, Fidel Castro, Vladimir Putin, Ruth First, Jan Myrdal and Nelson Mandela.

When the Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc collapsed, the WFDY entered a crisis. With the power vacuum left by the collapse of the most important member organization, the Soviet Komsomol, there were conflicting views of the future character of the organization. Some wanted a more apolitical structure, whereas others were more inclined to an openly leftist federation. The WFDY, however, survived this crisis, and is today an active international youth organization that holds regular activities.

Pledge
Guy de Boisson, President of the World Federation of Democratic Youth, speaks at the opening of the 2nd World Festival of Youth and Students (Budapest, 1949).

We pledge that we shall remember this unity, forged in this month, November 1945

Not only today, not only this week, this year, but always Until we have built the world we have dreamed of and fought for We pledge ourselves to build the unity of youth of the world All races, all colors, all nationalities, all beliefs To eliminate all traces of fascism from the earth To build a deep and sincere international friendship among the peoples of the world To keep a just lasting peace To eliminate want, frustration and enforced idleness

We have come to confirm the unity of all youth salute our comrades who have died-and pledge our word that skilful hands, keen brains and young enthusiasm shall never more be wasted in war

— Pledge of the World Federation of Democratic Youth

General Assembly

The WFDY conducts a General Assembly every four years, the last taking place in Nicosia in 2019.[8] During the Assembly, leadership and a General Council are elected and an organizational declaration is approved.[9]

Member organizations

Africa
Country Name Notes Ref
 Angola Juventude do Movimento Popular da Libertação de Angola Youth wing of MPLA [10]
 Benin Organization of Revolutionary Youth (OJRB) [11]
Independent Socialist Youth Union (USJIB) [11]
 Burundi JRR Burundi [11]
 Cape Verde Youth of PAICV Youth wing of PAICV [11]
 Comoros Front of Socialist Youth (FSY) [11]
 Congo UJS Congo [11]
 Congo, Dem. Rep. PPRD Youth League Youth wing of the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy [11]
 Eritrea National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students [10]
 Ethiopia Ethiopian Youth League [10]
 Ghana Democratic Youth League of Ghana [11]
African Youth Command [11]
 Guinea Bissau African Youth Amílcar Cabral Youth wing of PAICG [11]
 Lesotho LYF Lesotho [11]
 Madagascar KDTM Madagascar [11]
 Malawi LYM Malawi [11]
YASED Malawi [11]
 Mozambique Mozambican Youth Organisation Youth wing of FRELIMO [10]
 Namibia SWAPO Party Youth League Youth wing of SWAPO
Namibia National Students Organisation (NANSO)
 Nigeria National Youth Council of Nigeria [11]
National Youth Council of the Ogoni People (NYCOP) [11]
 Sao Tome JML São Tomé and Príncipe [11]
 Senegal Mouvement de la Jeunesse Démocratique Youth wing of the Democratic League/Movement for the Labour Party [11]
Democratic Youth Union Alboury Ndiaye Youth wing of the Party of Independence and Work [11]
 Sierra Leone SFYO Sierra Leone [11]
 South Africa African National Congress Youth League Youth wing of the African National Congress [10]
South African Students Congress [11]
Young Communist League of South Africa Youth wing of the South African Communist Party
 Sudan Sudanese Youth Union Youth wing of the Sudanese Communist Party [11]
 Tanzania Umoja Wa Vijana Youth wing of Chama Cha Mapinduzi [10]
 Zambia United National Independence Party Youth League Youth wing of the United National Independence Party [11]
 Zimbabwe ZANU-PF Youth League Youth wing of ZANU-PF [10]
Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union (ZICOSU)

Asia and the Pacific
Country Name Notes Ref
 Armenia Young Communist League Armenia Youth wing of the Armenian Communist Party [12]
 Australia Resistance: Young Socialist Alliance Youth wing of the Socialist Alliance
 Azerbaijan Young Communist League Azerbaijan Youth wing of the Azerbaijan Communist Party [12]
 Bangladesh Socialist Students' Front Student wing of the Socialist Party of Bangladesh
Bangladesh Students Union [13]
Bangladesh Youth Union Youth wing of the Communist Party of Bangladesh [10]
 Bhutan Democratic Youth of Bhutan Youth wing of the Bhutan National Democratic Party [13]
Students Union of Bhutan [13]
 Cambodia Youth Association of Cambodia [13]
 Georgia Young Communist League of Georgia [12]
 India All India Students Federation Student wing of the Communist Party of India [13]
All India Youth Federation Youth wing of the Communist Party of India [10]
Students Federation of India Student Wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)
Democratic Youth Federation of India Youth Wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [13]
All India Youth League Youth wing of the All India Forward Bloc [13]
 Iran Tudeh Youth Youth wing of the Tudeh Party of Iran [14]
 Japan Democratic Youth League of Japan Youth wing of the Japanese Communist Party [13]
Japan League of Socialist Youth [10]
Korean Youth League in Japan (Chochong)[lower-alpha 1] Youth wing of Chongryon [13]
 Korea, DPR Kimilsungist-Kimjongilist Youth League Youth wing of the Workers' Party of Korea [10]
 Korea, Rep. 7th-term Hanchongryun [13]
 Laos Lao People's Revolutionary Youth Union Youth wing of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party [13]
 Mongolia Mongolian Youth Federation [13]
 Myanmar All Burma Students' Democratic Front [13]
All Burma Students League [13]
   Nepal All Nepal National Free Students Union Student wing of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) [13]
Youth Federation Nepal Youth wing of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) [10]
Nepal National Federation of Students Student wing of the Nepal Communist Party (United) [13]
Nepal National Youth Federation Youth wing of the Nepal Communist Party (United) [13]
 Pakistan Democratic Students Federation student wing of the Communist Party of Pakistan
 Philippines Anakbayan [13]
Bukluran sa Ikauunlad ng Sosyalistang Isip at Gawa (BISIG) [13]
SIKAP Philippines [13]
YDM Philippines [13]
 Sri Lanka Communist Youth Federation Youth wing of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka [13]
Sri Lanka National Union Of Students Student wing of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka
Federation of All Lanka (Ceylon) Youth League Youth wing of Mahajana Eksath Peramuna
Socialist Students Union Student wing of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna [10]
Socialist Youth Union Youth wing of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna [13]
 Vietnam Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Youth wing of the Communist Party of Vietnam [10]
Vietnam Youth Federation [13]

Europe and North America
Country Name Notes Ref
 Austria Communist Youth of Austria [12]
 Belgium COMAC Youth wing of the Workers' Party of Belgium
 Bulgaria Bulgarian Socialist Youth Union [12]
 Canada Young Communist League of Canada Affiliated with the Communist Party of Canada
 Catalonia Communist Youth of Catalonia Youth wing of the Communists of Catalonia [12]
 Croatia Young Socialists of Croatia Youth wing of the Socialist Labour Party of Croatia
 Czech Republic Communist Youth Union Youth wing of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia [10]
 Cyprus United Democratic Youth Organisation Youth wing of the Progressive Party of Working People [10]
 Denmark Communist Youth of Denmark Shared youth organization of the Communist Party in Denmark, the Communist Party of Denmark and Communist Party (Denmark)
 Finland Communist Youth League [12]
 France Mouvement Jeunes Communistes de France [12]
 Germany Free German Youth [12]
Socialist German Workers Youth Youth wing of the German Communist Party [10]
 Greece Communist Youth of Greece Youth wing of the Communist Party of Greece [10]
 Hungary Baloldali Front Youth wing of the Hungarian Workers' Party [12]
 Ireland Connolly Youth Movement [12]
Workers Party Youth Youth wing of the Workers' Party [12]
 Italy Front of the Communist Youth Former Youth wing of the Communist Party; current youth wing of the Communist Front [12]
Giovani Comuniste e Comunisti Youth wing of the Communist Refoundation Party
 Republic of Moldova Young Communist League of the Republic of Moldova Youth wing of the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova
 Netherlands Communist Youth Movement of the Netherlands Youth wing of the New Communist Party of the Netherlands [15]
 Norway Young Communists in Norway Youth wing of the Communist Party of Norway [12]
Young Communist League of Norway [12]
 Portugal Portuguese Communist Youth Youth wing of the Portuguese Communist Party [10]
 Romania Union of Socialist Youth Youth wing of the Romanian Socialist Party [12]
 Russia Leninist Young Communist League of the Russian Federation Youth wing of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation [12]
Revolutionary Communist Youth League (b) Youth wing of the Russian Communist Workers' Party of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union [12]
Russian Young Communist League [12]
 Serbia Young Communist League of Yugoslavia Youth wing of the New Communist Party of Yugoslavia [12]
 Slovakia Socialistický Zväz Mladých Youth wing of the Communist Party of Slovakia [12]
 Spain (see also: Catalonia) Collectives of Communist Youth Youth wing of the Communist Party of the Workers of Spain [12]
Communist Youth Union of Spain Youth wing of the Communist Party of Spain [10]
 Sweden Communist Youth of Sweden Youth wing of the Communist Party of Sweden [12]
  Switzerland Communist Youth of Switzerland Youth wing of the Swiss Party of Labour
 United Kingdom Young Communist League Youth wing of the Communist Party of Britain [12]
 United States Young Communist League Youth wing of the Communist Party USA [16]
Young Socialists Youth wing of the Socialist Workers Party (United States)

Latin America and Caribbean
Country Name Notes Ref
 Argentina Federación Juvenil Comunista Youth wing of the Communist Party of Argentina [10]
 Barbados League of Progressive Youth
 Bolivia Juventud Comunista de Bolivia Youth wing of the Communist Party of Bolivia
 Brazil Juventude Comunista Avançando Youth wing of the Polo Comunista Luiz Carlos Prestes
União da Juventude Comunista Youth wing of the Brazilian Communist Party [10]
União da Juventude Socialista Youth wing of the Communist Party of Brazil [10]
 Chile Juventudes Comunistas de Chile Youth wing of the Communist Party of Chile [10]
 Colombia Juventud Comunista de Colombia Youth wing of the Colombian Communist Party [10]
 Costa Rica Juventud Frente Amplio Youth wing of the Broad Front (Costa Rica) [10]
 Cuba Unión de Jóvenes Comunistas Youth wing of the Communist Party of Cuba [10]
 Ecuador Juventud Comunista del Ecuador Youth wing of the Communist Party of Ecuador [17]
Juventud Socialista Ecuatoriana Youth wing of the Socialist Party of Ecuador [17]
 El Salvador Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) [17]
 Guatemala Juventud URNG Youth wing of the URNG [17]
 Guyana Guyana Youth and Students Movement
Walter Rodney Youth Movement
 Mexico Federation of Young Communists Youth wing of the Communist Party of Mexico [17]
Juventud Popular Socialista Youth wing of the Popular Socialist Party [10]
 Nicaragua Juventud Sandinista 19 de Julio Youth wing of the Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional
 Panama JPR Panama [17]
 Paraguay Casa de la Juventud del Paraguay
 Peru Juventud Comunista Peruana Youth wing of the Peruvian Communist Party [17]
 Uruguay Juventud del Movimiento 26 de Marzo Youth wing of the 26 March Movement
 Venezuela Juventud Comunista de Venezuela Youth wing of the Communist Party of Venezuela [10]
United Socialist Party of Venezuela Youth Youth wing of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela

North Africa and Middle East
Country Name Notes Ref
 Algeria Union de la Jeunesse Algérienne Youth wing of the FLN [18]
National Union of Algerian Students Students of the FLN [18]
 Bahrain Shabeeba Society of Bahrain Youth wing of the Progressive Democratic Tribune [10]
 Egypt Union of Progressive Youth of Egypt Youth wing of the Progressive National Unionist Party [10]
 Iraq Iraqi Democratic Youth Federation Youth wing of the Iraqi Communist Party [10]
General Union of Students in Iraqi Republic [18]
 Israel Young Communist League of Israel Youth wing of the Communist Party of Israel, affiliated with Hadash and the Joint List [10]
 Jordan Union of Democratic Youth Youth wing of the Jordanian Communist Party [18]
 Kuwait Democratic Youth Union Youth wing of the KPM
 Lebanon Union of Lebanese Democratic Youth Youth wing of the Lebanese Communist Party [10]
 Libya National Youth Organization of Libya [18]
 Morocco USFP Jeunesse Ittihadiya Youth wing of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces [18]
Jeunesse Socialiste Youth wing of the Party of Progress and Socialism [18]
 Palestine General Union of Palestine Students [10]
Palestinian Democratic Youth Union Youth wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine [10]
 Syria Union of Democratic Youth of Syria-Khaled Baghdash Youth wing of the Syrian Communist Party (Bakdash) [10]
Syrian Democratic Youth Union Youth wing of the Syrian Communist Party (Unified) [18]
Revolutionary Youth Union Youth wing of the Ba'ath Party [18]
 Turkey Communist Youth of Turkey Youth wing of the Communist Party of Turkey [10]
 Western Sahara Sahrawi Youth Union Youth wing of the Polisario Front [10][19]
 Yemen ASHEED Yemen [18]
Yemen Youth General Union [18]

Former members

Observers

See also

Notes
  1. Not confused with Korean Youth League in Japan (Hancheong), the youth wing of the Union for Korean Democratic Reunification in Japan.

References
  1. Choi, Charles Hongseok (2021). "Preferential Refugee Policies in Postwar Canada". Undergraduate Review. Bridgewater State University. 16: 113.
  2. McDuffie, Erik S (2011). Sojourning for freedom. Duke University Press. p. 247. ISBN 978-0-8223-9440-2.
  3. Richard Felix Staar, Foreign policies of the Soviet Union, Hoover Press, 1991, ISBN 0-8179-9102-6, p.84
  4. The cultural Cold War in Western Europe, 1945-1960. Giles Scott-Smith, Hans Krabbendam. p. 169
  5. A century of spies: intelligence in the twentieth century. Jeffrey T. Richelson. p. 252
  6. Soviet foreign policy in a changing world, Volume 1986. Robbin Frederick Laird, Erik P. Hoffmann. p. 211
  7. Europe since 1945: an encyclopedia, Volume 1. Bernard A. Cook. p. 212
  8. "ΡΙΚ και υπόλοιπα κανάλια "δεν είδαν" την 20η Συνέλευση της ΠΟΔΝ". Dialogos. 4 December 2019.
  9. "Approved Political Declaration Of the 19th Assembly of WFDY (1).pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
  10. "Members". wfdy.org. Archived from the original on 11 November 2016.
  11. "African Member Organizations". World Federation of Democratic Youth. 13 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2 January 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  12. "WFDY - CENA Member Organizations". World Federation of Democratic Youth. June 2015. Archived from the original on 2 August 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  13. "Asia & Pacific Member Organizations". World Federation of Democratic Youth. 13 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2 January 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  14. United States Congress, House Committee on Un-American Activities (1956), Soviet Total War: "Historic Mission" of Violence and Deceit, vol. 1–2, U.S. Government Printing Office, pp. 589–90
  15. "The CJB is a member of the World Federation of Democratic Youth". Website of the Communist Youth Movement of the Netherlands. 20 November 2022.
  16. Lynch, Maicol David (4 December 2019). "CPUSA youth leader greets WFDY meeting in Cyprus". Communist Party USA.
  17. "Latin American & Caribbean Member Organizations". World Federation of Democratic Youth. 13 June 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  18. "Middle East Member Organizations". World Federation of Democratic Youth. 13 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2 January 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  19. Kalicka-Mikołajczyk, Adrianna (23 February 2021). "The international legal status of Western Sahara". Opole Studies in Administration and Law. 18 (4): 44. doi:10.25167/osap.3429.
  20. Matthiesen, Toby (August 2020). "The Cold War and the Communist Party of Saudi Arabia, 1975–1991". Journal of Cold War Studies. MIT Press. 22 (3): 42. doi:10.1162/jcws_a_00950. ISSN 1531-3298. S2CID 221118100.
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