SI 75 years anniversary: the relevance of the Frankfurt Declaration

Seventy-five years ago, following World War II, on July 3, 1951, in Frankfurt, Germany, and rooted in the 19th-century workers’ movement, the Socialist International was founded as a global federation of socialist and social democratic parties.

The Congress was chaired by Morgan Philips, General Secretary of the British Labour Party.

The thirty participating parties adopted the historic Frankfurt Declaration, the founding document of modern democratic socialism.

Since 1951, the Socialist International has expanded across all continents, adapted its structure, and successfully faced numerous challenges.

The Frankfurt Declaration sets out core principles that remain highly relevant today and clearly define democratic socialism.

An anniversary is an opportunity to remember the principles that unite us and give meaning to our collective work.

The Frankfurt Declaration states that:

• Socialists aim to build a society in freedom through democratic means.
• Democracy is government of the people, by the people, for the people, guaranteeing fundamental rights such as freedom, equality before the law, and judicial independence.
• Democracy requires political pluralism and the right to opposition.
• Socialism defends economic and social rights such as work, healthcare, rest, economic security, and adequate housing.
• Socialism fights against the fears created by political and economic insecurity.
• Democratic socialism is internationalist and seeks to free all people from all forms of domination.
• It sees the United Nations as a key step toward an international community based on its Charter.

In November 2026, the Socialist International will celebrate its 50 years of presence in Africa in Dakar.

The current global context gives more reasons than ever to mobilize around the initiative born in Frankfurt in 1951.

Happy anniversary to all citizens, parties, movements, activists, and leaders who make up our International.