Political international

A political international is a trans-national organisation of political parties or activists. The international works together on points of agreement to co-ordinate activity.

Political internationals have increased in popularity and influence since their beginnings in the political left of 19th century Europe, as an increased attention has been paid by political activists to developments for or against their own ideological favor in other countries and continents. After World War II, other ideological movements formed their own political internationals in order to communicate among aligned parliamentarians and legislatorial candidates, as well as to communicate to intergovernmental and supranational organizations such as the United Nations and, later, the European Union. Internationals also form supranational and regional branches (i.e., a European branch, an African branch) and maintain fraternal or governing relationships with sector-specific "wings" (i.e., Youth wing, Women's wing).

Political internationals have often expelled member parties for various abuses, such as political malfeasance or financial corruption among members.

List of Notable Internationals

• Fourth International, founded by Leon Trotsky in 1938 and later split into several competing "Internationals" and subsequently reunified in 1963. (Communism)
• Socialist International, a federation of political parties dedicated to social democracy and democratic socialism founded in 1923.
• Liberal International, founded in 1947 and constituted by the Oxford Manifesto. (Liberalism)
• Libertarian International Organization, activist and party-notation federation for Libertarians.
• International Democrat Union (Conservatism)
• Centrist Democrat International (mainly Christian Democrats, also social Christians, centrists, liberal conservatives, conservative liberals, reformist centrist, religious democrats from other religions and other moderate right, centre and centre-right forces)
• Humanist International (Humanist Movement)
• Global Greens (Green politics)
• Pirate Parties International (intellectual property reform, freedom of information, open government and network neutrality)

Defunct:

• International Workingmen's Association, commonly known as the First International (communism, anarchism and revolutionary socialism), founded in 1864 and defunct since 1876)
• Second International (Socialism), founded in 1889 and dissolved in 1916
• Comintern (also known as the Third International), a federation of communist parties founded by Lenin in 1919 and dissolved by Stalin in 1943

Not internationals but similar in functioning

• Alliance of Democrats (centrist, social liberal, moderate conservative, moderate populist, moderate social democratic and other groups similar in outlook to the European Democratic Party and the United States Democratic Party
• Transnational Radical Party (political association of progressive liberal and radical citizens, parliamentarians and members of government of various national and political backgrounds, associated with the United Nations Economic and Social Council)
• International Conference of Asian Political Parties

See also

• List of left-wing internationals