Socialism has its language, and many people misuse it. The goal of this glossary is to dispel any misunderstanding when exchanging between Socialists. Many words have different definitions depending on the speaker’s position on the political spectrum, so we use the format explained on the website Political Center.
The Core
These words are the core of Socialism, and their use is ingrained in the Socialist identity. Stopping their use is not just changing the round wheels on a car, but removing them altogether.
Comrade
The most important word in Socialism, as it describes the human relationship between us. It simply means
fellow party member. Camaraderie and Friendship are not the same thing.
"The Internationale" is an international anthem that has been adopted as the anthem of
various anarchist, communist, socialist, and social democratic movements.
It has been a standard of the socialist movement since the late nineteenth century, when
the Second International adopted it as its official anthem.
Socialism, Social Democracy or Democratic Socialism
It’s a movement where the quest is “Freedom,” “Liberty” and “Emancipation.” It’s not an economic system designed to replace Capitalism.
Cadre
A member who is actively engaged in the organization and fully dedicated to its politics and strategy.
The Commune
The Paris Commune was a short-lived, radical socialist and revolutionary government that ruled Paris from
March 18 to May 28, 1871 formed after France's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War and the collapse of
Napoleon III's Second Empire, as Parisian workers and the National Guard rejected the conservative
national government led by Adolphe Thiers. Haled by the international left and figures like Karl Marx as a
historic prototype for a working-class government, while condemned by conservatives as a violent rebellion.
The modern socialist strategist that established the Trotskyist methods to establish Socialist policies in the United States by electing Socialists in the Democratic Party.
A “Christopher” refers to a particular form of seemingly violent, New York-style heckling. The term started with Christopher X. Brodeur and is now embodied by Christopher Leon Johnson. The format is usually the same: a citizen gets frustrated and decides to jump into political circles, only to discover that getting the attention of the press requires grabbing attention. The person gets attention at first as a novelty, and then, after the initial 15 minutes of fame fade, the person escalates the outrageous behavior. This practice has been elevated to an art form by individuals like Crackhead Barney.
The Second International iis the precursor of the Socialist International, and it is used in the SDA context as a transitional phase to bring the Socialist International back into its original Democratic Path.
The Social Democrats of America, being organized in the United States, have claimed the
Committee of the Second Socialist International as a rallying cry to every Socialist in the world who is tired of seeing anti-democratic methods performed in our parties.
The Progressive Alliance is a breakaway organization led by the European Socialists who were uneasy with the inclusion of undemocratic political movements into the organisation following the Arab Spring.
The Progressive International was formally inaugurated in November 2018 via an open call by the Democracy in Europe Movement (DiEM25) and the Sanders Institute and launched in May 2020 for progressive forces to form a unified front. The open call echoed two twinned appeals which were published in 2018 by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and former Greek minister of finance Yanis Varoufakis to form an international movement to combat the rise of authoritarianism represented by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The Benjamin Franklin Circle is an organization created by Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin Franklin was pretty into self-improvement.
In 1880, the French Socialists organized CONGRÈS SOCIALISTE OUVRIER DU CERCLE FRANKLIN after the first Socialist Congress in 1879. The tradition continues to this day without calling it Ben Franklin.
Today, SDA has revived its student groups, the
Benjamin Franklin Second International Socialist School Name Student Circles.
Slang term for a DSA member who pays dues but does not otherwise participate in the organization; “They’re not really involved in DSA, just a paper member.”
Socialist in Office (SIO)
a DSA-backed state or New York City lawmaker who meets regularly with DSA representatives to discuss legislative and political strategy and often votes as a bloc with fellow SIOs; “The SIOs voted against the austerity budget.”
Electoral Working Group (EWG)
internal group responsible for recruiting NYC-DSA candidates for elected office and then coordinating with their campaigns; “EWG is hosting a candidate forum next week.”
National Political Committee (NPC)
the 27-member national leadership body for the DSA elected at its biennial national convention, which is the DSA’s highest decision-making body in between conventions; “The NPC voted not to expel AOC.”
stack (for/against)
to speak in favor of or opposition to a specific proposal at a DSA meeting; “He stacked against endorsing Reynoso.”
Beyond specific jargon
NYC-DSA also has an array of acronyms. Here are some of the most common ones.
AWWG
Anti-War Working Group, NYC-DSA group focused on foreign policy and anti-imperialism
B&R
Bread & Roses, an internal caucus
B/UM
Bronx/Upper Manhattan branch of NYC-DSA
CBK
Central Brooklyn branch of NYC-DSA
CLC
Citywide Leadership Committee, 71-member leadership body for NYC-DSA
ETOC
Emergency Tenant Organizing Committee, a DSA project to help organize new tenant unions
EWG
Electoral Working Group (see above)
EWOC
Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee, joint project of the DSA and United Electric, Radio and Machine Workers of America to support workers looking to organize their workplace
GW
Groundwork, an internal caucus
IC
International Committee, national DSA group focused on foreign policy and anti-imperialism
IJWG
Immigrant Justice Working Group, NYC-DSA group focused on defending immigrants’ rights and opposing ICE
LHV
Lower Hudson Valley DSA chapter
MHV
Mid-Hudson Valley DSA chapter
MUG
Marxist Unity Group, an internal caucus
NBK
North Brooklyn branch of NYC-DSA
NEC
National Electoral Commission, the DSA’s national group focused on electoral campaigns
NPC
National Political Committee (see above)
NYC-DSA
New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, representing the five boroughs
OC
Organizing Committee, the elected leadership of each working group or branch
R&R
Reform & Revolution, an internal caucus
RJWG
Racial Justice Working Group, NYC-DSA group focused on defunding the NYPD and abolishing prisons
RS
Red Star, an internal caucus
SBK
South Brooklyn branch of NYC-DSA
SC
Steering Committee, a small group of elected leaders that runs an organization on a day-to-day basis; can refer to the 21-member subset of the Citywide Leadership Committee that runs NYC-DSA or the eight-member subset of the National Political Committee that runs the national DSA
SIO
Socialist in Office (see above)
SMC
Socialist Majority Caucus, an internal caucus
SOR
Springs of Revolution, an internal network of members
TRBA
Trans Rights and Bodily Autonomy Working Group, NYC-DSA group focused on defending trans rights and abortion access
YDSA
Young Democratic Socialists of America, the DSA’s youth and student section with chapters on college campuses
The Democratic Party's Socialist Caucus