This collection contains discussion and information bulletins and various education materials that reflect the political sentiments and educational activities of the Democratic Socialist Party (DSP). The DSP began as the Socialist Workers Party of Australia in 1972, changed its name to the Democratic Socialist Party in the 1990s and then to the Democratic Socialist Perspective in 2001, and merged with the Socialist Alliance in 2010.

The Democratic Socialist Party (DSP), originally called the Socialist Workers Party of Australia (SWP), was an Australian political party that was founded in 1972 by members of the Socialist Youth Alliance. The SWP was affiliated with the 4th International as well as the American Socialist Workers Party until 1986 when the SWP transitioned away from Trotskyist ideology towards Leninism. In the 1990s the SWP was re-named the Democratic Socialist Party (DSP), and in 2001 it changed its name to the Democratic Socialist Perspective, when it became an internal tendency within the Socialist Alliance. In 2010, the Democratic Socialist Perspective voted to merge completely into the Socialist Alliance, effectively ceasing its function as an affiliate organization. The Party believed in the importance of organizing the working class as a way to meet their goal of replacing capitalism with socialism. Although labor unions rely on collective action and solidarity, the Party believed that unions alone were incapable of organizing workers for revolutionary action, and therefore a revolutionary socialist party was needed that could support and strengthen unions through promoting trade union democracy and class consciousness. The Party sought to educate workers about exploitation and oppression under capitalism by disseminating various publications and through various other educational initiatives.

.83 Linear Feet

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

There are no access restrictions on this collection.