World Federation of Democratic Youth
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| Formation | 10 November 1945, London, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Budapest, Hungary |
President | Vacant |
Secretary General | Yusdaquy Larduet (UJC) |
Vice Presidents | Adnan Al Mokdad Amb. Naftal Kambungu Sundar Bhusal |
| Website | www |
| Youth rights |
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| Part of a series on |
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The World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) is an international youth organization, and has historically characterized itself as left-wing and anti-imperialist. WFDY was founded in London, United Kingdom in 1945 as a broad international youth movement, organized in the context of the end of World War II with the aim of uniting youth from the Allies behind an anti-fascist platform that was broadly pro-peace, anti-nuclear war, expressing friendship between youth of the capitalist and socialist nations. The WFDY Headquarters are in Budapest, Hungary.[1] The main event of WFDY is the World Festival of Youth and Students. The last festival was held in Sochi, Russia, in October 2017. It was one of the first organizations granted general consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
History
[edit]On 10 November 1945, the World Youth Conference, organized in London, founded the World Federation of Democratic Youth. This historic conference was convened at the initiative of the World Youth Council which was formed during the Second World War to bring together the youth movements of the allied nations in an anti-fascist front. The conference was attended by over 600 delegates from 63 nations, it was at the time the largest and most diverse gathering of international youth.[2] The conference adopted a pledge for peace. The WFDY was an indirect successor of the World Youth Congress Movement of the 1930s, a popular front of youth of a broad range of political tendencies, from religious to secular, liberal, socialist, and communist, which attempted to advocate a progressive programme and promote world peace.[3][4]
Shortly after the 1945 World Youth Conference, with the onset of the Cold War and Winston Churchill's Iron Curtain speech, the organization was accused by the US State Department of being a "Moscow front". Many of the founding organizations quit, leaving mostly youth from socialist nations, national liberation movements, and communist youth.[5] Like the International Union of Students (IUS) and other pro-Soviet organizations, the WFDY became a target and victim of CIA espionage as well as part of active measures conducted by the Soviet state security.[6][7][8][9]
The WFDY's first General Secretary, Alexander Shelepin, was a former leader of the Young Communist International which had been dissolved in 1943. Shelepin had been a guerilla fighter during World War II (after his work with the WFDY, he was appointed head of Soviet State Security).[6] Both the WFDY and IUS vocally criticized the Marshall Plan, supported the Czechoslovak coup d'état of 1948 and the new People's republics in eastern Europe. They opposed the Korean War.[6]
The main event of the WFDY became the World Festival of Youth and Students, a large-scale political and cultural celebration which aimed to promote peace and friendship between the youth of the world. Most, but not all, of the early festivals were held in socialist nations in Europe. During the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s the WFDY's festivals were one of the few places where young people from the western bloc could meet youth involved in the campaign against apartheid from South Africa, or militant youth from Vietnam, Palestine, Cuba and other nations. Famous people who participated in festivals included Angela Davis, Yuri Gagarin, Yasser Arafat, Fidel Castro, Vladimir Putin, Ruth First, Jan Myrdal and Nelson Mandela.
When the Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc collapsed, the WFDY entered a crisis. With the power vacuum left by the collapse of the most important member organization, the Soviet Komsomol, there were conflicting views of the future character of the organization. Some wanted a more apolitical structure, whereas others were more inclined to an openly leftist federation. The WFDY, however, survived this crisis, and is today an active international youth organization that holds regular activities.
Pledge
[edit]We pledge that we shall remember this unity, forged in this month, November 1945
Not only today, not only this week, this year, but always Until we have built the world we have dreamed of and fought for We pledge ourselves to build the unity of youth of the world All races, all colors, all nationalities, all beliefs To eliminate all traces of fascism from the earth To build a deep and sincere international friendship among the peoples of the world To keep a just lasting peace To eliminate want, frustration and enforced idleness
We have come to confirm the unity of all youth salute our comrades who have died-and pledge our word that skilful hands, keen brains and young enthusiasm shall never more be wasted in war
— Pledge of the World Federation of Democratic Youth
General Assembly
[edit]The WFDY conducts a General Assembly every four years, the last taking place in Nicosia in 2019.[10] During the Assembly, leadership and a General Council are elected and an organizational declaration is approved.[11]
Member organizations
[edit]Africa
[edit]| Country | Name | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juventude do Movimento Popular da Libertação de Angola | Youth wing of MPLA | [12] | |
| Organization of Revolutionary Youth (OJRB) | [13] | ||
| Independent Socialist Youth Union (USJIB) | [13] | ||
| JRR Burundi | [13] | ||
| Youth of PAICV | Youth wing of PAICV | [13] | |
| Front of Socialist Youth (FSY) | [13] | ||
| UJS Congo | [13] | ||
| PPRD Youth League | Youth wing of the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy | [13] | |
| National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students | [12] | ||
| Ethiopian Youth League | [12] | ||
| Democratic Youth League of Ghana | [13] | ||
| African Youth Command | [13] | ||
| African Youth Amílcar Cabral | Youth wing of PAICG | [13] | |
| LYF Lesotho | [13] | ||
| KDTM Madagascar | [13] | ||
| LYM Malawi | [13] | ||
| YASED Malawi | [13] | ||
| Mozambican Youth Organisation | Youth wing of FRELIMO | [12] | |
| SWAPO Party Youth League | Youth wing of SWAPO | ||
| Namibia National Students Organisation (NANSO) | |||
| National Youth Council of Nigeria | [13] | ||
| National Youth Council of the Ogoni People (NYCOP) | [13] | ||
| JML São Tomé and Príncipe | [13] | ||
| Mouvement de la Jeunesse Démocratique | Youth wing of the Democratic League/Movement for the Labour Party | [13] | |
| Democratic Youth Union Alboury Ndiaye | Youth wing of the Party of Independence and Work | [13] | |
| SFYO Sierra Leone | [13] | ||
| African National Congress Youth League | Youth wing of the African National Congress | [12] | |
| South African Students Congress | [13] | ||
| Young Communist League of South Africa | Youth wing of the South African Communist Party | ||
| Sudanese Youth Union | Youth wing of the Sudanese Communist Party | [13] | |
| Umoja Wa Vijana | Youth wing of Chama Cha Mapinduzi | [12] | |
| United National Independence Party Youth League | Youth wing of the United National Independence Party | [13] | |
| ZANU-PF Youth League | Youth wing of ZANU-PF | [12] | |
| Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union (ZICOSU) |
Asia and the Pacific
[edit]Europe and North America
[edit]Latin America and Caribbean
[edit]North Africa and Middle East
[edit]Former members
[edit]Afghanistan - Democratic Youth Organization of Afghanistan
People's Socialist Republic of Albania - Bashkimi i Rinisë së Punës së Shqipërisë
Argentina - Juventud Intrasigente Argentina
Australia - Eureka Youth League
Belgium - Graffiti Jeugendsdienst
Bolivia - Confederación Universitaria Boliviana
Brazil - Juventude do PCB
Bulgaria - Dimitrov Communist Youth Union
Byelorussian SSR - Leninist Communist Youth Union of Belarus
Cambodia - People's Revolutionary Youth Union of Kampuchea
Chile - Juventud de la Izquierda Cristiana de Chile
China - Communist Youth League of China
Colombia - Federación Juvenil Obrera
Congo - Union de la jeunesse congolaise, Republic of Congo
Costa Rica - Juventud del Pueblo Costarriquense
Czechoslovakia - Union of Czech Youth
Dominican Republic - Juventud Revolucionaria Dominicana
Ecuador - Departamento Juvenil del Central de Trabajadores de Ecuador
El Salvador - Asociación General de Estudiantes Universitarios de El Salvador
Faroe Islands - Føroyskir Sosialistar
Finland - Democratic Youth League of Finland
Germany - Socialist Youth League Karl Liebknecht
Greece - Greek Communist Youth (Internal)
Grenada - Maurice Bishop Youth Movement
Guadeloupe - Union de la Jeunesse Communiste Guadeloupe
Guatemala - Juventud Patriótica del Trabajo
Guyana - Young Socialist Movement
Haiti - Jeunesse Communiste de Haiti
Honduras - Federación de la Juventud Comunista
Iceland - Revolutionary Communist Youth League
Indonesia - People's Youth (Indonesia)
Italy - Italian Communist Youth Federation
Jamaica - Young Communist League of the Workers' Party (Workers Party of Jamaica)
Japan - Democratic Youth League of Japan
Luxembourg - Jeunesse Communiste Luxembourgoise
Martinique - Union de la Jeunesse Communiste Martinique
Mexico - Frente Juvenil Revolucionario
Mongolia - Revolutionary Youth League (REVSOMOL)
Morocco - Istiqlal Party Youth
Netherlands - Algemeen Nederlands Jeugd Verbond
Hungary - Kommunista Ifjúsági Szövetség
Panama - Juventud del PRD
Paraguay - Federación Juvenil Comunista de Paraguay
Peru - CGTP Sección Juvenil
Poland - Związek Socjalistycznej Młodzieży Polskiej
Puerto Rico - Federación Universitaria para la Indpendencia
San Marino - Federazione Giovanile Comunista San Marino
Saudi Arabia - Union of Democratic Youth in Saudi[23]
Sri Lanka - Congress of Sama Samaja Youth Leagues
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - Vanguard Youth Organization
Surinam - National Youth Movement
Sweden - Ung Vänster (1975–1992)
Switzerland - Jeunesse Communiste Suisse
Tunisia - Destourian Youth
Turkey - İlerici Gençler Derneği
Ukraine - Komsomol of Ukraine
United States - Young Socialist Alliance
Uruguay - Juventud Socialista del Uruguay
Soviet Union - Committee of Youth Organizations of the USSR
Venezuela - Juventud Socialista-MEP
Observers
[edit]- Youth for Communist Rebirth In France (Youth of the Pole of Communist Rebirth in France)
- Communist Youth of Luxemburg (Refounded youth organisation of the Communist Party of Luxembourg), Luxembourg
- Revolutionary Communist Youth (Youth organization of the Communist Party), Sweden
See also
[edit]- Christian Peace Conference
- International Association of Democratic Lawyers
- International Federation of Resistance Fighters – Association of Anti-Fascists
- International Organization of Journalists
- International Union of Students
- Women's International Democratic Federation
- World Federation of Scientific Workers
- World Federation of Trade Unions
- World Peace Council
- World Youth Congress Movement - the 1930s precursor to the WFDY
Notes
[edit]- ^ Not confused with Korean Youth League in Japan (Hancheong), the youth wing of the Union for Korean Democratic Reunification in Japan.
References
[edit]- ^ Choi, Charles Hongseok (2021). "Preferential Refugee Policies in Postwar Canada". Undergraduate Review. 16. Bridgewater State University: 113.
- ^ McDuffie, Erik S (2011). Sojourning for freedom. Duke University Press. p. 247. ISBN 978-0-8223-9440-2.
- ^ Kotek, Joël (1996). Students and the Cold War. St. Martin's Press. pp. 48–85. ISBN 0312158777.
- ^ Kotek, J., Blumenau, t. R. (2015). Students and the Cold War. United Kingdom: Palgrave Macmillan UK
- ^ Richard Felix Staar, Foreign policies of the Soviet Union, Hoover Press, 1991, ISBN 0-8179-9102-6, p.84
- ^ a b c The cultural Cold War in Western Europe, 1945-1960. Giles Scott-Smith, Hans Krabbendam. p. 169
- ^ A century of spies: intelligence in the twentieth century. Jeffrey T. Richelson. p. 252
- ^ Soviet foreign policy in a changing world, Volume 1986. Robbin Frederick Laird, Erik P. Hoffmann. p. 211
- ^ Europe since 1945: an encyclopedia, Volume 1. Bernard A. Cook. p. 212
- ^ "ΡΙΚ και υπόλοιπα κανάλια "δεν είδαν" την 20η Συνέλευση της ΠΟΔΝ". Dialogos. 4 December 2019.
- ^ "Approved Political Declaration Of the 19th Assembly of WFDY (1).pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am "Members". wfdy.org. Archived from the original on 11 November 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "African Member Organizations". World Federation of Democratic Youth. 13 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2 January 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "WFDY - CENA Member Organizations". World Federation of Democratic Youth. June 2015. Archived from the original on 2 August 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "Asia & Pacific Member Organizations". World Federation of Democratic Youth. 13 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2 January 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
- ^ United States Congress, House Committee on Un-American Activities (1956), Soviet Total War: "Historic Mission" of Violence and Deceit, vol. 1–2, U.S. Government Printing Office, pp. 589–90
- ^ "DKU's vedtægter". DKU - Danmarks Kommunistiske Ungdom (in Danish). 2022-05-11. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
- ^ "The CJB is a member of the World Federation of Democratic Youth". Website of the Communist Youth Movement of the Netherlands. 20 November 2022.
- ^ Lynch, Maicol David (4 December 2019). "CPUSA youth leader greets WFDY meeting in Cyprus". Communist Party USA.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Latin American & Caribbean Member Organizations". World Federation of Democratic Youth. 13 June 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Middle East Member Organizations". World Federation of Democratic Youth. 13 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2 January 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
- ^ Kalicka-Mikołajczyk, Adrianna (23 February 2021). "The international legal status of Western Sahara". Opole Studies in Administration and Law. 18 (4): 44. doi:10.25167/osap.3429.
- ^ Matthiesen, Toby (August 2020). "The Cold War and the Communist Party of Saudi Arabia, 1975–1991". Journal of Cold War Studies. 22 (3). MIT Press: 42. doi:10.1162/jcws_a_00950. ISSN 1531-3298. S2CID 221118100.
External links
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