What is GROUNDWORK?
Groundwork is a group of DSA members organizing to change DSA into what we all want but don’t have: a force strong enough to meaningfully influence politics on the scale of the next presidential election, potential general strike, and whatever other national ruptures may come.
The only way to do so is to become a genuine, mass political party. An organization in the millions, that anyone whose values align with ours can easily hear about, understand, support, join, and learn to organize in. The kind that can transform and run nations.
Our POints Of UNITY
We are in DSA to build DSA into a world-historic political force. Here is what we believe:
DSA Will Be The Party: DSA built the only mass socialist organization in the US because of things only DSA can do, not in spite of them. Our public reach, formal political power, and ability to turn ordinary people into organizers now give us the unique potential to build the mass party.
We Are Fighting The Clock: All decisions and analysis must start from our fundamental reality: the existential threat of the climate crisis, and the rise of fascist power. Urgency is not optional.
Build To Win, Win To Build: Our victories today are only as good as the battlefields they open tomorrow. We must prioritize organizing to unite divided sections of the working class, enable mass participation and recruitment into the party, and build the power for even bigger wins.
Seize State Power: Only the state can operate at the speed and scale to transform our economy from an engine of extinction to a tool of liberation. Giving up on state power is just giving up, consigning the global working class to ecocidal suffering and death unseen.
More Labor, More Left: Only a left labor movement can build the foundation a mass party requires to take the power we need. We must forge stronger bonds with aligned unions, align unions that aren’t, and strategically build new unions where there are none.
Socialism Beats Fascism: Only an unapologetic left can wage the popular ideological warfare it takes to shatter the overton window, stop the fascist scapegoating of trans people, immigrants, women, and near everyone else, and point mass outrage where it belongs: capitalists.
Whatever It Takes: Only a multifaceted strategy wielding state power, strike power, and street power together can beat the ruling class permanently. Leave nothing on the table.
The Party Leads: Only a DSA that prioritizes pushing for real change can build party power. Deference to nonprofit/NGO groups, spokespeople, or elected officials—even our own—can’t.
Mass Party, Mass Democracy: Only true, bottom-up member buy-in can change DSA from patchwork to party. It’s time to build the democratic mechanisms whose lack has paralyzed DSA for years, and enable rank & file members to make defining political decisions through votes.
Want to learn more? Get more in depth with our Tasks & Perspectives
Ready to build DSA with us?
Applications to join Groundwork and get involved with our organizing are open now.
OUR YDSA POINTS OF UNITY
Socialism Beats Fascism: Only an unapologetic left can wage the popular ideological warfare it takes to shatter the overton window, stop the fascist scapegoating of trans people, immigrants, women, and near everyone else, and point mass outrage where it belongs: capitalists. YDSA should always be upfront about our politics, aim to lead coalitions, and be confident in our socialist vision.
YDSA Chapters to 1000 Members and Beyond: The success of YDSA is contingent on its ability to recruit and grow, a task doubly important given that the YDSA members of today will be the DSA cadre of tomorrow. A priority for YDSA must be training the leaders who will be the future of DSA.
A Student Movement, not a Subculture: Campuses provide a unique opportunity to reach thousands of students who are sympathetic to our politics. Socialism has net favorability with Americans under 30, and campuses are some of the most well organized and politicized spaces in the country. YDSA should build on-campus coalitions into the vibrant student socialist movement we need.
Putting the DSA in YDSA: YDSA should view itself as a component part of DSA, not a separate political project. We should work collaboratively with DSA on national campaigns, encourage YDSA members to join and participate in their local chapters, and encourage DSA chapters to create YDSA liaisons and bring local YDSAs into their campaigns.
Do Something: YDSA should be laser focused on running public facing campaigns that meet the moment. We must build power in the communities where we reside, be that by supporting student worker unions, joining off-campus organizing efforts, or organizing thousands of students around campus demands.
Mass Democracy, Mass Socialism: Only true, bottom-up member buy-in can change DSA from patchwork to party. YDSA’s democratic structure separates it from the student socialist groups of the past. YDSA should build the democratic mechanisms—such as introducing One Member, One Vote for the NCC—which enable rank & file members to make defining political decisions through votes, and restore hope for the future of democracy through socialism.