Progressive Alliance: A Network of Progressive Forces for the 21st Century

The progressive, democratic, social-democratic, socialist and labour movement is based on a common commitment to human rights and the joint pursuit of freedom, justice, social equality, including gender equality, sustainability and international solidarity. The present day and age is marked by rapid change and historical, economical and political upheaval. Many countries around us are battling with huge economic problems, while in other parts of the world people are enjoying better prospects for the future than ever before. With globalization, the social matter has come to the fore again in a new guise,
as inequality in our societies and between the rich and the poor states of the world has increased. This new social issue must be addressed in order
to make participation possible, prevent distribution conflicts and ensure the ecological balance of our environment.

Today in the globalized 21st century humanity can only solve our age‘s existential challenges together. To create just jobs and ensure equal pay for women and men, to fight unemployment, curb climate change, restrain rampant financial markets with sensible regulations, counter increased inequality in societies, secure peace and human rights as global public goods, stop the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and put an end to hunger and poverty once and for all. Challenges like these can only be tackled by working together and not against each other. At the same time these are challenges for a new order of the world, which the progressive forces worldwide have to fight for.

We want to contribute to the establishment of a cooperative world order which makes shared solutions of problems and construction of the future possible. Together with social and workers movements and groups of civil society, we want to shape the future with the aim of advancing global peace, justice, equality – including gender equality – and sustainability.

We have seen how the politics of injustice and inequality have divided our societies and have undermined social cohesion and solidarity. Neoliberalism
has failed miserably.

The time is ripe for a progressive, global political and economic system which places humans at the centre of attention again. We need a progressive
answer which gives people hope instead of fuelling fear, allows women and men to have equal opportunities and be part of society instead of excluding them, and which encourages cooperation instead of confrontation.

As progressive parties, we want to make the 21st century a century of democratic, social and ecological progress. In order to achieve this goal, we have to understand the needs of our fellow human beings and work out modern political approaches to satisfy these needs. For that to happen, we need to strengthen our parties, our organisations and our campaigns.

And for this very reason, we, the progressive parties, wish to improve our cooperation and establish a progressive alliance of political parties, welcoming cooperation with other progressive social forces, trade unions, foundations, think tanks and NGOs.

The Progressive Alliance is a network which is open to progressive, democratic, social-democratic, socialist and labour parties and party networks. The Progressive Alliance is funded by voluntary contributions.

The values of democracy, gender equality, justice and solidarity we advocate are the basic operational principles inside of the Progressive
Alliance.

Parallel and complementary to other associations operating at an international level, the Progressive Alliance builds on existing and evolving
networks and forums.

For global political challenges like strengthening the social dimension of globalisation and sustainable progress, combating climate change,
strengthening human rights, including women’s rights, and democracy, as well as peace and security, the Progressive Alliance is the platform for
formulating common, progressive answers.

What we do

As progressive parties, we want to make the 21st century a century of democratic, social and ecological progress. In order to achieve this goal, we have to understand the needs of our fellow human beings and work out modern political approaches to satisfy these needs. For that to happen, we need to fortify our parties, our organisations and our campaigns.

Specifically through the Progressive Alliance we need to:

• Ensure sharing of best practice with regards to party development, organization, campaigning, running elections, engagement and policy development;
• Build the campaign capacity of progressive parties. So that right around the world progressives and our agenda win electorally;
• Strengthen our networks of young leaders and parliamentarians: So that succeeding generations of progressives contribute to the on-going work of the network;
• Ensure greater cooperation between the leaders of the world’s progressive political parties: So that significant decisions can be informed by a common approach and common thinking from the political leadership of our network;
• Build a truly global network of progressive parties: Including political parties in North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific so that our network is truly global and reflects the needs of developing and developed countries, and also working with the think-tanks and institutions that already provide a degree of global coordination.

PA Basic Document (PDF)