As the British left staggers from the wreckage of Your Party, we are coming together to discuss what we can learn from the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Their new programme, titled ‘Workers’ Deserve More’, has been met with widespread dismay from the Democratic and Republican establishment, but with a focus on making life easier, freer and more democratic, the DSA has captured the aspirations of workers.
Promoted as a comprehensive roadmap to end capitalist oligarchy, the DSA programme offers an ambitious list of demands, including a Green New Deal, universal healthcare, massive wealth taxes, social housing, and a working-class foreign policy.
These discussions will interrogate the fundamental strengths and weaknesses of the new programme. We will bring these lessons directly home by considering how demands on abolishing ICE speak to a universal socialist commitment to ending oppressive border regimes; for us, that means dismantling the entirety of Fortress Europe. We will discuss how to build a mass socialist party, one rooted in democracy, collective struggle, solidarity and liberation for all.
You can join the discussion in person in Manchester, where we will have snacks and an activity for children or online, where we will be joined by DSA members from the United States, including a member of the programme drafting committee.
Saturday 15 August @ 12 noon, Work For Change, 41 Old Birley Street, M15 5RF
Sunday 23 August @ 7 pm BST/ 2 pm EDT – Online: meet.google.com/vxu-esjd-ywn
Read the programme in advance:
Suggested contextual readings:
- Should the British Left build its own DSA? by Vik Chechi-Ribeiro & Rob Owen: https://revsoc21.uk/2026/07/29/should-the-british-left-build-its-own-dsa-two-views-from-rs21
- Yes, We Want to Destroy Capitalist “Culture” and “Civilization” by Maris M: https://www.marxistunity.com/yes-we-want-to-destroy-capitalist-culture-and-civilization/
- The Democratic Socialists of America want to expand democracy by Ben Burgis: https://jacobin.com/2026/07/dsa-platform-socialism-democracy
