- For the earlier political party, see the Social Democratic Party (USA).
Social Democrats USA (SDUSA), a successor to the Socialist Party of America, is a small coalition of intellectuals and trade unionists. Formed in December 1972 when the followers of Trotskyist veteran Max Shachtman gained control of the Socialist Party of America, the organization retains its membership in the Socialist International despite its relatively conservative orientation. This may not be as idiosyncratic as it might seem however - under Tony Blair, with the domination of his Labour Party in concert with the former ruling parties of the Soviet bloc over the International, it has come to generally favor the international policies of the United States under George W. Bush.
As a result of the Shachtmanite takeover two dissident groups were formed: the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee and the Socialist Party USA. Although most of SDUSA's members are Democrats, the organization has maintained ties with both major political parties and has, in the past, supported a strongly interventionist foreign policy. It has been unwavering in its support for the State of Israel, and also strongly supported the 2003 war in Iraq.
Cold War and work in Reagan Administration
In the 1970s and 1980s, members of the SDUSA were sometimes derisively referred to as "State Department socialists" for their support of hard-line Cold War policies. Prominent SDUSA members served in the Reagan Administration on the staff of the State Department, Labor Department and on Jeane Kirkpatrick's staff when she was US Ambassador to the United Nations. SDUSA members have long been prominent at the National Endowment for Democracy and Freedom House.
Influence on Neoconservative movement
A number of former members of the SDUSA serve in the current administration of George W. Bush including Paul Wolfowitz, Elliott Abrams, and Ken Adelman.
Although some former members are now neoconservatives, and as an organization had a major role in the birth of neoconservatism, they profess to have many differences with neoconservatism. For instance, they strongly support workers' rights at home and overseas and oppose many of the Bush administration's domestic policies. In the 1980s the SDUSA was perhaps best known for its support of Poland's Solidarity trade union.
One of its leading members was the late civil rights hero Bayard Rustin, though by the 1980s he was distant from the organization and focused most of his energies on the issue of gay rights. Other notable members have included Ben Wattenberg, Sandra Feldman, and Ronald Radosh.
There has been much speculation that the death of the group's long time leader Penn Kemble will be SDUSA's demise. This tone was strongly felt in the recently published reminiscences of SD veteran Joshua Muravchik in Commentary magazine.