International Socialist Organization: Difference between revisions

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{{distinguish|International Socialists (United States)}}

:''This article is about the International Socialist Organization in the [[United States]]. There is also the [[International Socialist Organisation (Australia)]], the [[International Socialist Organization (New Zealand)]], and the [[International Socialist Organization (Zimbabwe)]].''

{{Infobox political party

|country=the United States

|name=International Socialist Organization

|native_name=

|logo=International Socialist Organization logo.jpg

|founder=

|leader=Collective leadership<br />([[Steering Committee]])

|chairman=

|secretary_general=

|leader1_name=

|leader1_title=

|leader2_name=

|leader2_title=

|foundation=March 12, 1977

|dissolution=2019<ref name=dissolve>{{cite web|url=https://socialistworker.org/2019/04/02/the-isos-vote-to-dissolve-and-what-comes-next |title=The ISO's vote to dissolve and what comes next |date=2 April 2019 |access-date=6 April 2019 |website=International Socialist Organization}}</ref>

|headquarters=Chicago

|newspaper=[http://www.socialistworker.org/ ''Socialist Worker'']

|ideology=[[Socialism]]<br />[[Trotskyism]]

|position=[[Far-left]]

|national=

|international=[[Fourth International (Post-Reunification)|Fourth International]] (permanent observer)

|colours=

|website=http://www.internationalsocialist.org/

|colorcode=darkred

}}

{{Socialism US|defunct orgs}}

{{Trotskyism}}

The '''International Socialist Organization''' (ISO) was a [[Trotskyism|Trotskyist]] group active primarily on college campuses in the United States that was founded in 1976 and dissolved in 2019. The organization held [[Leninism|Leninist]] positions on [[imperialism]] and the role of a [[Vanguardism|vanguard party]]. However, it did not believe that necessary conditions for a revolutionary party in the United States were met; ISO believed that it was preparing the ground for such a party. The organization held a Trotskyist critique of nominally socialist states, which it considered class societies. In contrast, the organization advocated the tradition of "socialism from below" as articulated by [[Hal Draper]].<ref>Hal Draper: ''[http://www.anu.edu.au/polsci/marx/contemp/pamsetc/twosouls/twosouls.htm The Two Souls of Socialism]'', 1966.</ref> Initially founded as a section of the [[International Socialist Tendency]] (IST), it was strongly influenced by the perspectives of Draper and [[Tony Cliff]] of the British [[Socialist Workers Party (UK)|Socialist Workers Party]]. It broke from the IST in 2001, but continued to exist as an independent organization for the next eighteen years. The organization advocated independence from the U.S. [[two-party system]] and sometimes supported electoral strategies by outside parties, especially the [[Green Party of the United States]].

The organization emphasized educational work on the socialist tradition. Branches also took part in [[Opposition to the Iraq War|activism against the Iraq War]], against police brutality, against the [[Capital punishment in the United States|death penalty]], and in labor strikes and other social movements. At its peak in 2013, the group had as many as 1,500 members.<ref name="louisproyect.org">{{cite web|url=https://louisproyect.org/2013/07/07/the-isos-multiple-personalities/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130710205609/http://louisproyect.org/2013/07/07/the-isos-multiple-personalities/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 10, 2013|title=The ISO's multiple personalities|date=7 July 2013|access-date=6 May 2019}}</ref> The organization argued that it was the largest [[Revolutionary socialism|revolutionary socialist]] group in the United States at that time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.seattleweekly.com/news/so-you-wanna-be-a-socialist-in-seattle-youve-got-options/|title=So You Wanna Be a Socialist? In Seattle, You've Got Options|first=Sara|last=Bernard|date=27 February 2017|website=Seattle Weekly|access-date=6 May 2019}}</ref> The ISO experienced discord in early 2019, upon exposure that its leadership mishandled an accusation of sexual assault in 2013 and voted to dissolve itself shortly afterward.

[[Image:fp_banner.gif|right]]The '''International Socialist Organization''' (ISO) is a socialist organization in the [[United States]]. The group identifies with the politics of [[International Socialism]] and the [[Marxist]] political tradition that American socialist writer and activist [[Hal Draper]] called "[[socialism from below]]".

== Ideology ==

The organization publishes a weekly online and print newspaper, ''[[Socialist Worker]]'' with a bi-monthly Spanish language supplement, Obrero Socialista, and a bi-monthly magazine, the ''[[International Socialist Review]].'' The ISO also has a publishing house, [[Haymarket Books]], which publishes both new titles and classics from the socialist tradition. Haymarket Books collaborates with many other independent publishers on common publishing projects and events.

The ISO advocated replacing the [[capitalist]] system with [[socialism]], a system in which society's collective wealth and resources would be democratically controlled to meet human need by those who produce that wealth, i.e. the [[working class]]. The organization believed that this working-class majority could end capitalism by leveraging their power over [[Capitalist mode of production (Marxist theory)|production]] through mass strikes.<ref>[http://www.internationalsocialist.org/building-a-revolutionary-socialist-alternative Building a Revolutionary Socialist Alternative], InternationalSocialists.org</ref>

Supporters of ISO referred to their beliefs as 'socialism from below', a term attributed to [[Hal Draper]]. This concept can also be traced back to the rules of the [[First International]] which stated: "the emancipation of the working classes must be conquered by the working classes themselves."<ref>[http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/iwma/archive/eichhoff/iwma-history/ch04.htm Rules of the International Workingmen's Association] (accessed 2008-05-29)</ref> ISO saw this as distinguishing themselves from socialists who work within the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] and from various forms of what they disparagingly termed [[Stalinism]] — nominally socialist politics, usually associated with the former [[Soviet Bloc]] and the orthodox Communist Parties. These are seen as advocating socialism "from above". Because capitalism is a global system, the ISO argued that capitalism could not be successfully overthrown in individual countries. They agreed with [[Leon Trotsky]] that [[Socialism in One Country|socialism in one country]] is an impossibility. The ISO held that the former [[Soviet Union]] and Soviet Bloc were examples of bureaucratic, class-stratified states, not socialist societies; and that the [[People's Republic of China]] and post-revolutionary [[Cuba]] had emulated this model.

The ISO has branches across the United States, which hold regular public meetings. The group regularly sponsors activist conferences, including an annual national weekend conference called ''[http://www.socialismconference.org Socialism]''. ISO members are involved in building a range of local and national political struggles.

Some of the political theories adopted by the ISO had been developed in the British Socialist Workers Party, including that of "[[state capitalism]]" developed by [[Tony Cliff]], the party's founder. State capitalist theory identifies the former Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc as exploitative class societies driven by military competition with private Western capitalism, rather than as the "[[deformed workers' states]]" that Trotsky maintained they were in ''[[The Revolution Betrayed]]''.<ref name="Cliff">{{cite book|url=http://www.marxists.org/archive/cliff/works/1955/statecap/index.htm|title=State Capitalism in Russia|first=Tony|last=Cliff|year=1974|publisher=Bookmarks|access-date=2008-02-12}}</ref> The organization tended to follow Cliff's view of these governments as state capitalist, although not all members held this analysis.<ref name="links.org.au">{{cite web|url=http://links.org.au/node/1323|title=Paul Le Blanc -- Why I'm joining the US International Socialist Organization: Intensifying the struggle for social change - Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal|website=links.org.au|access-date=6 May 2019}}</ref> After the split with the [[International Socialist Tendency]] in 2001, this particular characterization became less strict.

==History==

The ISO has its roots in the [[International Socialists (US)|International Socialists]] (IS), which was founded in 1964 during the [[Free Speech movement]] in [[Berkeley, California]]. Its founding members were among the leaders of this struggle, and had participated in previous struggles for civil rights. The ISO originated in [[1977]] when members of the IS criticized the leadership of that group for abandoning its strategy of rank and file work in the trade unions. At the same time, the dissidents developed criticisms of the positions adopted by the IS leadership regarding the [[Carnation Revolution|1974 revolution in Portugal]] and its aftermath. These criticisms coincided with the views held by a group of the same name in Britain, loosely linked to the IS in the United States, which at that point was renaming itself the [[Socialist Workers Party (UK)|Socialist Workers Party]]. The dissidents sought to deepen those links. After forming themselves into the Left Faction, the minority found themselves expelled from the IS and compelled to build a new organization.

Following [[Vladimir Lenin]], the organization believed the creation of a revolutionary workers' party was necessary in coordinating and building the power of a revolutionary working-class vanguard. However, ISO believed that the historical conditions in the United States were insufficient for the existence of such a [[Vanguardism|vanguard party]]. For this reason, the organization saw itself as a preliminary group that could help to win reforms and raise consciousness until such time that a revolutionary party could be formed. Nonetheless, it aimed for a Leninist principle of [[democratic centralism]] in its internal deliberation process. The ISO emphasized the training of [[Cadre (politics)|cadre]], seasoned and educated militants.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://socialistworker.org/2011/12/02/what-kind-of-party-do-we-need|title=What kind of party do we need?|website=SocialistWorker.org|access-date=6 May 2019}}</ref> In theory, these cadre would build the organization as well as engaging in movement work, and would someday cooperate with other groups in order to build a new vanguard party.

The new group took the name ''International Socialist Organization'' and began publication of ''Socialist Worker'' as a focus for organizing. The ISO based itself on the political theories developed by members of the [[Socialist Workers Party (UK)|British SWP]], most significantly, the theory of [[state capitalism]].

The ISO supported struggles for economic, political, and social reforms while also maintaining that exploitation, oppression, war, and environmental destruction could not be eliminated until the overthrow of capitalism and its replacement with socialism.<ref name="SW">[http://socialistworker.org/where-we-stand Where We Stand], SocialistWorker.org</ref>

Found originally in the writings of [[Max Shactman]] and [[James Burnham]], then later in the writings of [[Tony Cliff]], [[Michael Kidron]], and others, state capitalist theory identifies the former [[Soviet Union]] and [[Eastern Bloc]] as exploitative class societies driven by military competition with private Western capitalism rather than as [[deformed workers' states]], as Trotsky describes in his [[The Revolution Betrayed]] and in his writings against the state capitalists in [[In Defense of Marxism]]. The essence of the IS theory was summed up in the slogan: "Neither Washington nor Moscow, but International Socialism." In practice, this meant remaining neutral when imperialist powers threatened the Soviet Union and when the Soviet bureaucracy reinstitued capitalism.

The organization offered critical support to [[national liberation]] movements. Most notably, the organization advocated solidarity with [[Palestine]] and supported the [[Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions]] movement. ISO also supported Syrian revolutionary groups against [[Bashar al-Assad]].

Having a small membership in the 1980's, the ISO found that its primary orientation toward [[rank and file]] work in the unions was unsustainable. From the early [[1980s]], the group was to be oriented towards work on university campuses. The decision to focus primarily on students was regarded as a necessary retreat given the conservative nature of the [[History of the United States (1980-1988)|Reagan era]]. Recently, the ISO has developed more work in the trade unions, including teachers' unions, the [[Teamsters]], and others.

The organization advocated the right of gays and lesbians to marry as well as social validation of [[transgender]] identities. In the final years of its existence, the organization was more strongly aligned with [[socialist feminist]] ideas and particularly [[Black feminism]] and [[intersectionality]].<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://isreview.org/issue/91/black-feminism-and-intersectionality|title=Black feminism and intersectionality - International Socialist Review|first=Sharon|last=Smith|website=isreview.org|access-date=2 April 2019}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=http://socialistworker.org/2017/08/01/a-marxist-case-for-intersectionality|title=A Marxist case for intersectionality|website=SocialistWorker.org|access-date=2 April 2019}}</ref>

The ISO grew steadily through the 1990s with its participation in a series of movements and campaigns, including the movement against the first [[Gulf War]] and other [[List of U.S. foreign interventions since 1945|US military interventions]], opposition to the [[death penalty]], and campus-based struggles. The group was involved in building a number of the major protests against corporate [[globalization]] in the late 1990s, and has been active in opposing [[American Empire (term)|US imperialism]] connected with the "[[war on terror]]" in the wake of [[September 11, 2001 attacks|September 11th]].

Philosophically, the organization defended the [[Orthodox Marxism|orthodox Marxist]] tradition from [[postmodernism]]. ISO was somewhat open to [[Western Marxism|Western Marxist]] and [[Marxist Humanism|Marxist humanist]] thinkers.

In [[2001]] the ISO was expelled from the [[International Socialist Tendency]] (IST) after a dispute between the majority of the IST and the leadership of the ISO. This dispute was framed by the SWP as a critique of the ISO's conservative approach to the anti-corporate/anti-capitalist movement. The ISO disputed this claim and criticized the SWP for maintaining an exagerated perspective for the 1990's, which the latter organization termed 'the 1930's in slow motion.'

== History ==

That same year, a small number of ISO members that remained loyal to the IST left the organization and formed the magazine [[Left Turn (USA)|Left Turn]]. However, in [[2003]] Left Turn severed its connections with the International Socialist Tendency and stopped calling itself socialist.

The ISO originated in 1976 among groups in the American [[International Socialists (US)|International Socialists]] (IS) that were growing increasingly critical of the organization's leadership. Among them was the self-identified Left Faction, which was led by Cal and Barbara Winslow and supported by the IS's [[International Socialists (Canada)|Canadian]] and [[Socialist Workers Party (Britain)|British]] members. The Left Faction and its international supporters maintained that the IS's leadership had acquired a top-down style of operating that depoliticized the organization and placed too much emphasis on sending student activists into working class employment (a tactic referred to as "industrialization"). These disputes followed the disagreements over the [[Carnation Revolution|1974 revolution in Portugal]]. Additionally, the main part of IS thought that there should be attention to rank and file or reform caucuses in unions, whereas the Left Faction contended that in addition to rank and file work, agitation at the workplace for socialism should continue.<ref>Lee Sustar, "Toward a renewal of the labor movement", "International Socialist Review" No. 89, July 2013 http://isreview.org/issue/89/toward-renewal-labor-movement</ref> On March 12, 1977, the Left Faction was expelled from the IS and immediately formed the International Socialist Organization.<ref name="Fisk">{{cite book|url=http://www.marxists.de/trotism/fisk/ch7.htm|title=Socialism From Below in the US: Origins of the ISO|first=Milton|last=Fisk|year=1977|publisher=Hera Press|access-date=2008-02-12}}</ref> The ISO began publication of its paper, ''[[Socialist Worker#United States|Socialist Worker]]'', shortly after its formation and produced a monthly print version and, later, a daily updated website until 2019.<ref>{{cite news|title=Celebrating our 500th|url=http://www.socialistworker.org/2004-2/500Supp/500Supp_Celebrating.shtml|newspaper=Socialist Worker|date=2002-02-01|access-date=2008-02-23}}</ref> The ISO was initially the U.S. section of the [[International Socialist Tendency]] (IST), and followed closely the positions of the British [[Socialist Workers Party (UK)|Socialist Workers Party]] (SWP).

By 1991, ISO had about 150 members.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://revolutionary-socialist.org/2019/04/05/the-iso-on-cliff-on-trotsky-on-substitutionism-what-a-lousy-title/|title=The ISO on Cliff on Trotsky on substitutionism (what a lousy title)|date=5 April 2019|access-date=6 May 2019|archive-date=7 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407170810/https://revolutionary-socialist.org/2019/04/05/the-iso-on-cliff-on-trotsky-on-substitutionism-what-a-lousy-title/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1995, the organization launched a [[Campaign to End the Death Penalty]] in San Francisco. ISO also took part in the [[United Parcel Service strike of 1997]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://revolutionary-socialist.org/2019/03/31/why-i-voted-to-dissolve-the-iso/|title=Why I voted to dissolve the ISO|date=31 March 2019|access-date=3 April 2019|archive-date=3 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403135717/https://revolutionary-socialist.org/2019/03/31/why-i-voted-to-dissolve-the-iso/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Activities==

The ISO has involved itself in building a number of local and national activist efforts. These include the antiwar movement, the struggle to end the death penalty, support for gay marriage and abortion rights; the [[2006 U.S. immigration reform protests|struggle for immigration rights]]; and others. Today the ISO is involved in grassroots efforts across the country, including confronting the anti-immigrant Minutemen and opposing the US 'war on terror'. The group focuses on building chapters and activist campaigns on college campuses and urban neighborhoods.

In 2001, the ISO was expelled from the IST after a dispute with the British SWP. This dispute was framed by the SWP as a critique of the ISO's conservative approach to the [[anti-globalization movement]].<ref>Ted Crawford, [http://www.whatnextjournal.co.uk/Pages/Back/Wnext19/Ted.html "Split in the IST"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013150616/http://www.whatnextjournal.co.uk/Pages/Back/Wnext19/Ted.html |date=2007-10-13 }}, ''What Next?'', No. 19, 2001. (accessed 2008-06-26)</ref> The ISO disputed this claim and criticized the SWP for maintaining what the ISO viewed as an exaggerated perspective for the 1990s,<ref>[http://www.whatnextjournal.co.uk/Pages/Back/Wnext19/Iso.html "The ISO (US) and the International Socialist Tendency"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317124829/http://www.whatnextjournal.co.uk/Pages/Back/Wnext19/Iso.html |date=2012-03-17 }}, ''What Next?'', No. 19, 2001. (accessed 2012-2-12)</ref> which the SWP characterized as "the 1930s in slow motion".<ref>SWP Central committee, [http://www.whatnextjournal.co.uk/Pages/Back/Wnext19/Swp.html "Statement on Relations Between the SWP (GB) and the ISO (US)"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013102652/http://www.whatnextjournal.co.uk/Pages/Back/Wnext19/Swp.html |date=2007-10-13 }}, ''What Next?'', No. 19, 2001. (accessed 2008-06-26)</ref> However, the organization continued to grow. Juan Cruz Ferre writes, "The ISO famously managed to thrive during the worst years of [[neoliberalism]] and working-class retreat."<ref name="leftvoice.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.leftvoice.org/we-need-more-leninism-not-less |title=We Need More Leninism, Not Less |first=Remo |last=Erdosain |date=May 4, 2019 |quote=By the time the DSA rose as a mammoth organization of the U.S. left, the pressure to jump ship was too strong for many ISO members. After all, the ISO’s politics didn’t differ that much from the DSA’s left wing. Over the last two years, the ISO slowly lost many of its cadres to the DSA, including members of several years. Under tremendous pressure from an increasingly popular reformist left, the ISO leadership decided in 2018 to openly debate—in its paper, Socialist Worker—something that should be a given for any so-called revolutionary left organization: What position to take on the Democratic Party.}}</ref>

The ISO does not support either the Republican or Democratic party, which it views as representatives of corporate power and empire. The group has however, actively campaigned for the [[Green Party of the United States|Green Party]] in various races and enthusiastically helped to build [[Ralph Nader]]'s presidential campaign, based on opposition to socialism and in favor of nationalist reformism, building trust in the United Nations, and anti-immigration policies, in both 2000 and in 2004. Nader accepted money from the Republican Party and shared his views in an [http://www.amconmag.com/2004_06_21/cover.html interview] with [[Pat Buchanan]] in his magazine the American Conservative. One of the ISO's leading members in California, [[Todd Chretien]], is currently challenging [[Diane Feinstein]] for [[United States Senator|Senator]] on the Green Party ticket. Chretien has based his campaign on the anti-war slogan "A million votes for peace."

[[File:31a.NeoNaziRally.WDC.24August2002 (29878384208).jpg|thumb|ISO member at a counter-protest against the [[National Alliance (United States)|National Alliance]] in Washington, D.C. in 2002]]

National coalitions with which the ISO is presently involved include the [[Campaign to End the Death Penalty]], the [[Campus Antiwar Network]], and the [[National Alliance for Immigrants' Rights]]. The ISO is formally a member group of [[United for Peace and Justice]] but its involvement is limited and the ISO has been critical of UFPJ's election-oriented focus.

The organization organized and took part in [[protests against the Iraq War]], became involved in the [[Campus Antiwar Network]] and cooperated with [[Iraq Veterans Against the War]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://revolutionary-socialist.org/2019/03/31/why-i-voted-to-dissolve-the-iso/|title=Why I voted to dissolve the ISO|date=31 March 2019|access-date=6 May 2019|archive-date=2 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602033929/https://revolutionary-socialist.org/2019/03/31/why-i-voted-to-dissolve-the-iso/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

By 2009, members argued that it was "by far the largest socialist organisation in the United States today, attracting to revolutionary ideas a much larger number of young activists than any of the others."<ref name="links.org.au"/> Four years later, an outside observer estimated that the organization had "at least 1,500 members."<ref name="louisproyect.org"/> The ISO also helped to organize the [[Chicago Teachers Union#2012 strike|Chicago Teachers Union strike of 2012]], which it characterized as an example of a new era of [[Social movement unionism]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://newmilitant.com/the-crisis-and-collapse-of-the-international-socialist-organization/|title=The Crisis and Collapse of the International Socialist Organization|date=7 April 2019|website=New Militant|access-date=6 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://socialistworker.org/2015/05/18/the-meaning-of-social-justice-unionism|title = The meaning of social justice unionism}}</ref>

==International connections==

After their split with the [[International Socialist Tendency]], the ISO maintained or re-esteblished relationships with [[Socialist Alternative (Australia)]], [[International Workers' Left]] of Greece, the [[International Socialist Organization (New Zealand)]] and small groups in France and Italy, all of which had also broken with the IST.

Even after the split with the IST, ISO continued to receive informal guidance from leaders of the UK SWP, such as [[Chris Harman]].<ref>{{cite web | title=A powerful voice for international socialism | website=SocialistWorker.org | date=9 November 2009 | url=http://socialistworker.org/2009/11/09/powerful-voice-for-socialism | access-date=8 August 2023}}</ref> The relationship deteriorated further, however, after Harman's death and the 2013 [[Socialist Workers Party (UK)#Internal crisis in 2013–2014 over allegations of rape|crisis in the UK SWP]]. The ISO sharply rebuked [[Alex Callinicos]] for his "bureaucratic tendencies" in maintaining control in the fallout of a rape allegation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://socialistworker.org/2013/02/11/the-swp-crisis-and-leninism|title = The SWP crisis and Leninism}}</ref> Ironically, a similar situation led to the dissolution of the ISO six years later.

In participating in the first [[World Social Forum]] in [[2001]], the ISO came in contact with the [[International Workers' League]]; the two groups collaborated on events in the [[2002]] World Social Forum and exchanged articles in their respective publications. Subsequently the ISO has developed an ongoing collaboration with the [[United Secretariat of the Fourth International]], the [[Socialism and Freedom Party]] of Brazil, the [[Party of Socialist Revolution (Venezuela)|Party of Socialist Revolution]] of Venezuela, and the [[Movement for Socialism (Switzerland)|Movement for Socialism]] of Switzerland. These groups have sent speakers to each others' events, published each others' materials, and collaborated on more specific efforts.

At this time, the organization also became somewhat more open to ideas outside the tradition inaugurated by Cliff. In 2013, [[Richard Seymour (21st-century writer)|Richard Seymour]] observed a "lack of a set of 'lines'". He wrote, "I know ISO members who are straightforwardly 'state cap', others who are '[[Bureaucratic collectivism|bureaucratic collectivist]]'. I know members who are '[[Political Marxism|Political Marxists]]', others who are more [[Orthodox Trotskyism|orthodox]] ... This is a far more diverse ecology inside one organisation than I have been used to."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.leninology.co.uk/2013/07/socialism-2013.html|title=LENIN'S TOMB: Socialism 2013|accessdate=8 August 2023}}</ref> This period of openness led to controversy. While some commentators viewed this positively, others claimed that the organization remained sectarian. For example, [[Jeffrey St. Clair]] wrote in ''[[CounterPunch]]'' that ISO had become less socialist in membership and identification, and opined that they were more concerned with "lash[ing] out at nearly every popular uprising of the last 50 years for being doctrinally impure, from the [[Cuban Revolution]] to the [[Zapatista Army of National Liberation|Zapatistas]], from the [[1999 Seattle WTO protests|protests at the WTO]] to the [[Bolivarian Revolution]]".<ref name=StClair>[https://www.counterpunch.org/2013/05/31/the-shame-merchants/ ''The Merchants of Shame''], Counterpunch, 31 May 2013</ref>

==Events==

ISO branch meetings are usually scheduled weekly. Some are publicly advertised as a discussion on a relevant current event or historical topic. Members often poster neighborhoods or college campuses encouraging new people to attend. The group also sponsors panels and events featuring other left-wing speakers.

In November 2013, nine members of the ISO, mostly in [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]] and [[Boston]], announced the formation of the ISO Renewal Faction,<ref>ISO Renewal Faction, [http://externalbulletin.wordpress.com/2013/11/26/announcement-of-the-iso-renewal-faction/ "Announcement of the ISO Renewal Faction"] (accessed 2014-02-02)</ref> resulting in the organization's first national-level faction fight since the dispute with the British SWP. The faction claimed that the ISO was going through an organizational and political crisis<ref>ISO Renewal Faction, [http://externalbulletin.wordpress.com/2013/11/26/the-organizational-crisis/ "The organizational crisis and its political roots"] (accessed 2014-02-02)</ref> and that members critical of the leadership had been "bureaucratically excluded".<ref>ISO Renewal Faction, [http://externalbulletin.wordpress.com/2013/11/26/in-defense-of-our-comrades/ "In defense of our comrades"] (accessed 2014-02-02)</ref> The ISO leadership denied these claims, stating that "the ISO is more experienced and more engaged than ever".<ref>Eric Ruder and Alan Maass [http://socialistworker.org/2013/11/20/the-challenges-facing-socialists "The challenges facing socialists today"], SocialistWorker.org, 2013-11-20 (accessed 2014-02-02)</ref> In February 2014, the ISO expelled the Renewal Faction.<ref>ISO Renewal Faction, [http://externalbulletin.wordpress.com/2014/02/17/we-are-expelled/ "We are Expelled"] (accessed 2014-02-22)</ref> The following month, the organization's student branch at [[Brown University]] resigned, citing the expulsion of the faction as an indication that the organization had "shown itself to be undemocratic."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://risocialism.org/?p=435|title=Brown ISO: Statement of Resignation - RISocialism.org|first=R. I.|last=Socialism|access-date=2 April 2019}}</ref> Beginning in 2017, many of ISO's cadre began to resign in order to join [[Democratic Socialists of America]].<ref name="leftvoice.org"/>

Each year, the ISO co-sponsors a weekend conference entitled "Socialism," for the purpose of projecting its ideas and organization, and cohering discussion and debates on the radical left. [http://www.socialismconference.org Socialism 2006] was held this past summer in New York City. Its theme was 'Build the Left, Fight the Right.' Approximately 1,500 people attended over the course of the four day conference.

In the mid-2010s, the organization became involved in the new campus [[anti-rape movement]], associated with figures such as [[Emma Sulkowicz]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://socialistworker.org/2014/09/23/moving-rape-out-of-the-shadows-at-columbia|title = Moving rape out of the shadows at Columbia}}</ref> In 2017, ISO members strongly supported the [[Me Too movement]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://socialistworker.org/2017/11/09/the-power-of-metoo|title = The power of #MeToo}}</ref> The organization began to embrace theoretical influences from [[Intersectionality|intersectional feminism]] at this time.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto1"/>

In addition to the national conference, the ISO hosts a series of regional conferences each year, such as the [http://www.nesocialistconference.org Northeast Socialist Conference], which is being held at the City College of New York on Oct. 28-29th this year.

At the ISO's 2019 convention, much of the long-time leadership of the organization was voted out of office over concerns about "unaccountable leadership structures and a damaging internal culture that had a disproportionate impact on people of color and others with oppressed identities."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://socialistworker.org/2019/03/19/a-message-to-our-readers|title=A message to our readers|website=SocialistWorker.org|access-date=2 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://socialistworker.org/2019/03/15/letter-to-the-iso-membership|title=Letter to the ISO membership |date=15 March 2019 |website=SocialistWorker.org |access-date=2 April 2019}}</ref> Soon after, an allegation of rape that occurred in 2013 surfaced against a newly elected leader. It was soon revealed that the leadership at the time forced the national appeals committee of the ISO to overturn an earlier finding of rape in order to clear the accused.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://socialistworker.org/2019/03/20/what-socialists-can-learn-from-metoo |title=What socialists can learn from #MeToo |date=20 March 2019 |website=SocialistWorker.org |access-date=2 April 2019}}</ref> The ISO was thrown into crisis, with up to a third of the membership resigning and several local branches disaffiliating. After several weeks of debate, the ISO membership voted on March 28, 2019 to dissolve itself.<ref name=dissolve />

The ISO holds study groups as well as organizational meetings where the organization's activities are debated and voted on. Some degree of formal [[Rules of order|parliamentary procedure]] is usually followed for debate and voting. Public and activist meetings can either alternate weeks or be separate sections of a single meeting.

== Publications ==

==External links==

The ISO published a daily online and monthly print newspaper, ''[[Socialist Worker]]'', with a bi-monthly Spanish language supplement, ''Obrero Socialista''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://socialistworker.org/2008/02/22/new-era-socialist-worker|title=A new era for Socialist Worker|website=SocialistWorker.org|accessdate=8 August 2023}}</ref> The ISO also distributed the ''International Socialist Review'' and titles from the publishing house [[Haymarket Books]], both of which were run by the non-profit [[Center for Economic Research and Social Change]].<ref>[http://www.cbsd.com/pubdetail.aspx?id=330 Consortium Book Sales & Distribution | Publisher Information] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611083604/http://www.cbsd.com/pubdetail.aspx?id=330 |date=2007-06-11 }}. (accessed 2008-06-26)</ref>

* [http://www.internationalsocialist.org International Socialist]: ISO website.

* [http://www.socialistworker.org ''Socialist Worker'']: The newspaper of the ISO.

* [http://www.isreview.org International Socialist Review]: The theoretical magazine of the ISO.

* [http://haymarketbooks.org/ Haymarket Books]: The publishing house of the ISO.

* [http://nyc.haymarketforum.org Haymarket Forum]: An bimonthly event in New York hosted by Haymarket Books.

* [http://www.marxists.de/trotism/fisk ''Socialism From Below: origins of the ISO''] by Milton Fisk, published in 1977.

* [http://xpress.sfsu.edu/archives/breaking/005187.html Article from the Golden Gate XpressOnline]: Socialists at SF State.

* [http://www.socialismconference.org Socialism 2006] Conference website.

== Electoral actions ==

===Criticism===

The ISO participated in several local and national progressive movements. These include the antiwar movement,<ref>[http://www.campusantiwar.net/news/counter-recruitment/sf_state_students_hold_rally_counter_marine_recruiters.html "SF State Students Hold Rally, Counter Marine Recruiters"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080212223506/http://www.campusantiwar.net/news/counter-recruitment/sf_state_students_hold_rally_counter_marine_recruiters.html |date=2008-02-12 }}, October 26, 2006, Campus Antiwar Network website.(accessed 2008-06-26)</ref> efforts to end the death penalty,<ref>[http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/newab020/protest.html "Protesting Bush's Execution Machine"], ''The New Abolitionist'', Issue 20, July 2001. (accessed 2008-06-26)</ref> support for gay marriage<ref>[http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews37_45/page5.cfm] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606084216/http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews37_45/page5.cfm |date=2011-06-06 }} "SGN Exclusive Interview: Sherry Wolf speaks on the National March"], ''Seattle Gay News'', Volume 37 Issue 45, 6 November 2009.</ref><ref>[http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2012/01/before_mayor_mikes_meeting_wit.php "Before Mayor Mike's Meeting With LGBT Leaders, A Rally Outside City Hall Last Night"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130095441/http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2012/01/before_mayor_mikes_meeting_wit.php |date=2012-01-30 }}, ''Dallas Observer'', 28 January 2012 (accessed 2012-2-12)</ref> and abortion rights<ref>[http://socialistworker.org/2009/02/09/activists-defend-madison-clinic "Activists defend Madison clinic"], ''Socialist Worker'', Issue 690, 9 February 2009.</ref> as well as the [[2006 U.S. immigration reform protests|struggle for immigration rights]],<ref>[http://www.columbia.edu/cu/iso/history.html "Barnard/Columbia International Socialist Organization History"] Last update 19 March 2007, visited 18 December 2009.</ref> among others.

* [http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jul2005/iso-j01.shtml "How not to build an antiwar movement: a comment on the politics of the ISO"]

* [http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=7933 "The Antiwar Movement and Iraq"]

* [http://www.impassionedinsurrection.info/ISOfornationalism.html "Which Side is the ISO on, Working Class Socialism or Nationalism and Islamism?"]

The ISO did not support the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] or [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], both of which it viewed as political representatives of corporate power. However, the group campaigned for the [[Green Party of the United States|Green Party]] in electoral races and assisted [[Ralph Nader]]'s presidential campaigns in 2000 and 2004.<ref>[http://www.socialism.com/drupal-6.8/?q=node/600 "The Green Party: offering a real challenge to business as usual, or just Capitalism Lite?"], ''Freedom Socialist'', Volume 27, Issue 6, December 2006 - January 2007.</ref> In California in [[2006 United States Senate election in California|2006]], ISO member Todd Chretien ran against [[Dianne Feinstein]] for the [[United States Senate|Senate]] seat on the Green Party ticket, receiving 139,425 votes (1.8 percent).<ref>California Secretary of State, [http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2006_general/ssov/us_sen_sum.pdf Supplement to Statement of Vote - United States Senator - Statewide Summary"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626070059/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2006_general/ssov/us_sen_sum.pdf |date=2008-06-26 }}, ''Statement of Vote, 2006 General Election'', at www.sos.ca.gov website. (accessed 2008-06-26), [http://www.smartvoter.org/2006/06/06/ca/state/race/usseng/ "United States Senator; Green Party Election Information June 6, 2006 Election"], at www.smartvoter.org website. (accessed 2008-06-26)</ref> In 2013, the ISO endorsed [[Socialist Alternative (United States)|Socialist Alternative]]'s [[Kshama Sawant]] in her successful [[Seattle City Council]] election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://socialistworker.org/2013/10/31/socialist-seattle-city-council|title=A socialist on the Seattle City Council?|date=31 October 2013 |website=SocialistWorker.org|access-date=2 April 2019}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[Socialism]]

== Socialism conference ==

* [[Marxism]]

The ISO was the co-sponsor, along with the Center for Economic Research and Social Change, of an annual conference titled Socialism.<ref>[http://www.socialismconference.org/ SocialismConference.org website].</ref> Speakers at past Socialism conferences include filmmaker and author [[Tariq Ali]], actors [[Wallace Shawn]] and [[John Cusack]], ''[[The Nation]]'' writers [[Jeremy Scahill]] and [[Dave Zirin]], journalists [[Amy Goodman]], [[Glenn Greenwald]], scholar [[Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor]], environmental writer [[John Bellamy Foster]], science-fiction author [[China Miéville]], Iraq Veterans Against the War member [[Camilo Mejía]], Palestinian rights activists [[Omar Barghouti]] and [[Ali Abunimah]].<ref>[http://socialistworker.org/2010/06/22/ideas-for-changing-the-world “Ideas for changing the world”], SocialistWorker.org, 22 June 2010.</ref><ref>[http://socialistworker.org/2008/06/24/socialism-offers-alternative “Socialism offers the alternative”], SocialistWorker.org, 24 June 2008.</ref>

* [[Trotskyism]]

== Notable former members ==

* [[Paul Le Blanc (historian)|Paul Le Blanc]], activist and historian

* [[Brian Jones (activist)|Brian Jones]], schoolteacher, activist, actor and 2014 Green Party of New York nominee for Lieutenant Governor

* [[Nancy MacLean]], historian and [[National Book Award]] finalist<ref>MacLean stated she has been "politically active in the International Socialist Organization since 1980." Steven Freiss, "War thrusted some students, profs from apathy to activism" Daily Northwestern, January 16, 1992</ref>

* [[Michael Letwin]], public defender<ref>{{Cite web |title=Guide to the Michael Letwin Papers TAM.464 |url=https://dlib.nyu.edu/findingaids/html/tamwag/tam_464/ |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=dlib.nyu.edu}}</ref>

* [[Jesse Sharkey]], president of the [[Chicago Teachers Union]]

* [[Sharon Smith (writer)|Sharon Smith]], journalist, author and [[women's rights]] activist

* [[Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor]], sociologist and activist

* [[Dave Zirin]], sports writer

* Ahmed Shawki, influential Steering Committee member and author<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ahmed Shawki (1960–2023)|url=https://internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article8009 |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=internationalviewpoint.org/}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[International Socialists (United States)|International Socialists]]

* [[List of Trotskyist internationals]]

* [[Workers' Councilscouncil]]

* [[International Socialists (US)|International Socialists]]

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

== Further reading==

* [https://archive.org/details/1202IsoMemberstoolkit ''International Socialist Organization Members' Toolkit'']. International Socialist Organization. February 2012.

== External links ==

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20191009074537/https://www.internationalsocialist.org/ International Socialist Organization official website].

* [http://www.socialistworker.org/ ''Socialist Worker'' website]. ISO's official organ.

* [http://www.isreview.org/ ''International Socialist Review'' website]. ISO's theoretical magazine.

* [http://www.haymarketbooks.org/ Haymarket Books website]. ISO's publishing house.

* [http://www.socialismconference.org/ "Socialism" Conference website]. Annual conference sponsored by the ISO.

{{American New Left}}

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