Mission Statement
Ratified on 2/9/2022 by the GL DSA Political Education Committee
We are a committee of the Greater Lansing Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Our function is to accomplish internal and external political education. External political education involves communicating to the public our organizations’ ideas. Internal political education involves educating our members on and encouraging them to develop socialist theory and practice (praxis) and the DSA’s political positions so that our members can articulate our positions to the public. Related to internal political education, our committee is also responsible for new member onboarding, which consists of introducing new members to the DSA’s aims, theory, procedures, and activities..
Political education must include many topics. This education is necessary to understand the often complicated socialist theory used in our movements, as well as learning and interpreting the historical context of socialist writings and actions of the past. In addition, this education must also consist of analysis of current events to understand what is happening through a socialist lens. Finally, this education must include explanations, critiques, and responses to critiques of the DSA’s positions.
Political Education can take many forms. Our committee may organize book clubs focused around the reading and discussion of socialist texts, the preparation of educational presentations on specific issues for our members and the public, and the development of curricula and teaching of classes. We may also create local political platforms or statements related to local political topics for presentation to the public. This list is not meant to be exhaustive, as political education can take many diverse forms.
Political Education is a key component in any socialist project. It is necessary to turn our members into educated representatives of the socialist cause, so that we may educate the public on what our ideas actually are and advance the political platform of the DSA. We have a world to win.
Projects
Black Reconstruction Book Club
New Member Onboarding (In Development)
Political Platform of the Democratic Socialists of America