Wikipedia
International Democracy Union
The International Democracy Union (IDU; known as the International Democrat Union until September 2023)[3] is an international alliance of centre-right political parties.[4][5] Headquartered in Munich, Germany,[6] the IDU consists of 84 full and associate members from 65 countries.[7] It is chaired by Stephen Harper, former prime minister of Canada, two affiliated international organizations (International Young Democrat Union and International Women's Democracy Union) and six affiliated regional organizations (Union of Latin American Parties, Asia Pacific Democrat Union, Caribbean Democrat Union, Democrat Union of Africa, European People's Party and European Conservatives and Reformists Party).
| Abbreviation | IDU |
|---|---|
| Formation | 24 June 1983 |
| Purpose | World federation of right-of-centre/moderate-to-conservative political parties[1][2] |
| Headquarters | Munich, Bavaria, Germany |
Region served | Worldwide |
Membership | 84 political parties and 8 organizations |
Official language | English |
Chairman | Stephen Harper (Conservative) |
Deputy Chairman | Brian Loughnane (Liberal) |
| Website | idu |
The IDU allows centre-right conservative political parties around the world to establish contacts and discuss different views on public policy and related matters. Their stated goal is the promotion of "democracy and [of] center-right policies around the globe".[8] The IDU has some overlap of member parties with the Centrist Democrat International (CDI), but the CDI is more centrist and communitarian than the IDU.[9]
Though the IDU was founded to be politically on the centre-right, a number of its member parties have been increasingly seen as further right on the political spectrum.[10][11]
The group was founded in 1983 as the umbrella organisation for the European Democrat Union (EDU), Caribbean Democrat Union (CDU), and the Asia Pacific Democrat Union (APDU). Created at the instigation of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and U.S. Vice President George H. W. Bush, the organisation was founded at a joint meeting of the EDU and APDU in London, United Kingdom.[12]
Founding edit
The IDU was founded in London on 24 June 1983.[13] According to Richard V. Allen, to be admitted as a member, a party must qualify as a "mainstream conservative" party influenced by classical liberalism.[14]
The founding declaration was signed by 19 persons:[15]
Member parties edit
This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. The specific problem is: meaning of "in government" can differ in presidential systems vs semi-presidential and parliamentary systems, where one party can hold the presidency but not a majority in the legislature, and vice-versa. (October 2022) |
Full members edit
The IDU has 84 member parties.
| Country | Party | Abbreviation | Government | Lower Chamber | Upper Chamber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | Democratic Party of Albania | PD | Opposition | 59 / 140 (42%) | |
| Argentina | Republican Proposal | PRO | Government | 37 / 257 (14%) | 9 / 72 (13%) |
| Australia | Liberal Party of Australia | LIB | Opposition | 42 / 151 (28%) | 31 / 76 (41%) |
| Austria | Austrian People's Party | ÖVP | Government | 71 / 183 (39%) | 26 / 61 (43%) |
| Azerbaijan | Azerbaijan National Independence Party | AMIP | Extraparliamentary opposition | 0 / 125 (0%) | |
| Bangladesh | Bangladesh Nationalist Party | BNP | Opposition | 7 / 350 (2%) | |
| Belarus | BPF Party | BNF | Extraparliamentary opposition | 0 / 110 (0%) | 0 / 64 (0%) |
| United Civic Party | AHP | Extraparliamentary opposition | 0 / 110 (0%) | 0 / 64 (0%) | |
| Belize | United Democratic Party | UDP | Opposition | 5 / 31 (16%) | 3 / 13 (23%) |
| Bolivia | Democrat Social Movement | MDS | Extraparliamentary opposition | 0 / 130 (0%) | 0 / 36 (0%) |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Party of Democratic Action | SDA | Government | 9 / 42 (21%) | 3 / 15 (20%) |
| Party of Democratic Progress | PDP | Opposition | 2 / 42 (5%) | 0 / 15 (0%) | |
| Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina | HDZ | Government | 16 / 98 (16%) | 14 / 58 (24%) | |
| Croatian Democratic Union 1990 | HDZ 1990 | Opposition | 2 / 98 (2%) | 0 / 58 (0%) | |
| Brazil | Brazil Union | UB | Independent | 81 / 513 (16%) | 7 / 81 (9%) |
| Bulgaria | GERB | Government | 66 / 240 (28%) | ||
| Union of Democratic Forces | SDS | Government | 2 / 240 (0.8%) | ||
| Canada | Conservative Party of Canada | CPC / PCC | Opposition | 115 / 338 (34%) | 15 / 105 (14%) |
| Chile | Independent Democratic Union | UDI | Opposition | 23 / 155 (15%) | 9 / 43 (21%) |
| National Renewal | RN | Opposition | 25 / 155 (16%) | 8 / 43 (19%) | |
| Colombia | Colombian Conservative Party | PCC | Government | 21 / 172 (12%) | 14 / 108 (13%) |
| Croatia | Croatian Democratic Union | HDZ | Government | 61 / 151 (40%) | |
| Cyprus | Democratic Rally | DISY | Government | 17 / 56 (30%) | |
| Czech Republic | Civic Democratic Party | ODS | Government | 34 / 200 (17%) | 18 / 81 (22%) |
| TOP 09 | Government | 14 / 200 (7%) | 6 / 81 (7%) | ||
| Denmark | Conservative People's Party | DKF | Opposition | 13 / 179 (7%) | |
| Dominica | Dominica Freedom Party | DFP | Extraparliamentary opposition | 0 / 21 (0%) | |
| Dominican Republic | National Progressive Force | FNP | Extraparliamentary opposition | 0 / 190 (0%) | 0 / 32 (0%) |
| Ecuador | Social Christian Party | PSC | Opposition | 19 / 137 (14%) | |
| El Salvador | Nationalist Republican Alliance | ARENA | Opposition | 14 / 84 (17%) | |
| Estonia | Isamaa | Opposition | 8 / 101 (8%) | ||
| Finland | National Coalition Party | Kok | Government | 48 / 200 (24%) | |
| Georgia | United National Movement | ENM | Opposition | 36 / 150 (24%) | |
| Germany | Christian Democratic Union of Germany | CDU | Opposition | 152 / 736 (21%) | 22 / 69 (32%) |
| Christian Social Union in Bavaria | CSU | Opposition | 45 / 736 | 4 / 69 | |
| Ghana | New Patriotic Party | NPP | Government | 137 / 275 (50%) | |
| Greece | New Democracy | ND | Government | 158 / 300 (53%) | |
| Grenada | New National Party | NNP | Opposition | 5 / 15 (33%) | 3 / 13 (23%) |
| Guatemala | Unionist Party | PU | Government | 3 / 160 (2%) | |
| Honduras | National Party of Honduras | PNH | Opposition | 44 / 128 (34%) | |
| Hungary | Fidesz | Government | 117 / 199 (59%) | ||
| Iceland | Independence Party | XD | Government | 16 / 63 (25%) | |
| India | Bharatiya Janata Party | BJP | Government | 303 / 543 (56%) | 95 / 245 (39%) |
| Israel | Likud Party | Likud | Government | 32 / 120 (27%) | |
| Jamaica | Jamaica Labour Party | JLP | Government | 49 / 63 (78%) | 13 / 21 (62%) |
| Kenya | Democratic Party of Kenya | DP | Opposition | 1 / 394 (0.3%) | 0 / 67 (0%) |
| Lebanon | Lebanese Forces | LF | Opposition | 19 / 128 (15%) | |
| Lithuania | Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats | TS–LKD | Government | 50 / 141 (35%) | |
| Maldives | Maldivian Democratic Party | MDP | Government | 65 / 87 (75%) | |
| Malta | Nationalist Party | PN | Opposition | 35 / 79 (44%) | |
| Moldova | Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova | PLDM | Extraparliamentary opposition | 0 / 101 (0%) | |
| Party of Action and Solidarity | PAS | Government | 63 / 101 (62%) | ||
| Mongolia | Democratic Party | DP | Opposition | 12 / 76 (16%) | |
| Montenegro | Movement for Changes | PzP | Government | 5 / 81 (6%) | |
| Morocco | Istiqlal Party | Government | 81 / 395 (21%) | 24 / 120 (20%) | |
| Namibia | Popular Democratic Movement | PDM | Opposition | 16 / 104 (15%) | 2 / 42 (5%) |
| New Zealand | National Party | NAT | Government | 49 / 123 (40%) | |
| Nicaragua | Conservative Party | PCN | Opposition | 1 / 92 (1%) | |
| North Macedonia | VMRO-DPMNE | Opposition | 36 / 120 (30%) | ||
| Nepal | Rastriya Prajatantra Party | RPP | Government | 14 / 275 (5%) | 0 / 59 (0%) |
| Norway | Conservative Party | H | Opposition | 36 / 169 (21%) | |
| Panama | Democratic Change | CD | Opposition | 18 / 71 (25%) | |
| Paraguay | Partido Colorado | ANR-PC | Government | 48 / 80 (60%) | 23 / 45 (51%) |
| Peru | Christian People's Party | PPC | Extraparliamentary opposition | 0 / 130 (0%) | |
| Portugal | CDS – People's Party | CDS–PP | Extraparliamentary opposition | 0 / 230 (0%) | |
| Romania | National Liberal Party | PNL | Government | 79 / 330 (24%) | 36 / 136 (26%) |
| Russia | Union of Right Forces Movement | SPS | Extraparliamentary opposition | 0 / 450 (0%) | |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | People's Action Movement | PAM | Government | 4 / 11 (36%) | |
| Saint Lucia | United Workers Party | UWP | Opposition | 2 / 17 (12%) | 3 / 11 (27%) |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | New Democratic Party | NDP | Opposition | 6 / 15 (40%) | |
| Serbia | Serbian Progressive Party | SNS | Government | 95 / 250 (38%) | |
| Slovenia | Slovenian Democratic Party | SDS | Opposition | 27 / 90 (30%) | |
| South Africa | Inkatha Freedom Party | IFP | Opposition | 14 / 400 (4%) | 2 / 90 (2%) |
| South Korea | People Power Party | PPP | Government | 114 / 300 (38%) | |
| Spain | People's Party | PP | Opposition | 88 / 350 (25%) | 97 / 265 (37%) |
| Sri Lanka | United National Party | UNP | Government | 1 / 225 (0.4%) | |
| Sweden | Moderate Party | M | Government | 68 / 349 (19%) | |
| Republic of China | Kuomintang | KMT | Opposition | 38 / 113 (34%) | |
| Tanzania | Chama Cha Demokrasia Na Maendeleo | CHADEMA | Opposition | 20 / 393 (5%) | |
| Turks and Caicos Islands | People's Democratic Movement | PDM | Opposition | 1 / 15 (7%) | |
| Uganda | Forum for Democratic Change | FDC | Opposition | 32 / 375 (9%) | |
| Ukraine | Batkivshchyna | VOB | Opposition | 25 / 450 (6%) | |
| European Solidarity | YeS | Opposition | 27 / 450 (6%) | ||
| United Kingdom | Conservative and Unionist Party | CON | Government | 355 / 650 (55%) | 262 / 786 (33%) |
| United States | Republican Party | R / GOP | Opposition | 221 / 434 (51%) | 49 / 100 (49%) |
| Venezuela | Project Venezuela | PV | Extraparliamentary opposition | 0 / 167 (0%) | |
Former members edit
- Argentina – Justicialist Party
- Canada – Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
- Dominican Republic – Social Christian Reformist Party
- France – Rally for the Republic
- France – Union for a Popular Movement
- Guatemala – National Advancement Party
- Japan – Liberal Democratic Party
- Portugal – Social Democratic Party
- Russia – Union of Right Forces
- Serbia – Democratic Party of Serbia
- Serbia – United Regions of Serbia
- Spain – People's Alliance
- Spain – People's Democratic Party
Chairmen edit
| Chairperson | Term Start | Term End | Political Affiliation | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Hague | 1997 | 2002 | Conservative | United Kingdom |
| John Howard | 2002 | 2014 | Liberal | Australia |
| Sir John Key | 2014 | 2018 | National | New Zealand |
| Stephen Harper | 2018 | incumbent | Conservative | Canada |
See also edit
- Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe
- Asia Pacific Democrat Union
- Caribbean Democrat Union
- Centrist Democrat International
- Democracy Union of Africa
- European People's Party
- European Conservatives and Reformists
- Union of Latin America
- Political internationals: such as Liberal International, the corresponding liberal organisation; and Socialist International
References edit
- ^ "Declaration of Principles, London 1983". idu.org. February 2018.
- ^ Hunter, Marjorie; Weaver, Warren Jr. (24 July 1985). "Briefing; A Parties' Party". The New York Times.
- ^ @internationaldemocracyunion (4 September 2023). "As part of celebrating 40 years of championing #democracy and #freedom, the IDU Executive approved the re-launch of our organization as the 'International Democracy Union'. While our values remain constant, this small adjustment clarifies our cause as we work to expand our network in support of democracy worldwide. Welcome to the International Democracy Union! #idu40". Retrieved 16 October 2023 – via Instagram.
- ^ Weisman, Steven R. (23 September 1989). "Conservative Figures See 'Bright' Future". The New York Times. New York City. ISSN 1553-8095. from the original on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ Sanger, David E. (11 June 2002). "Bush in Terrorist Warning". The New York Times. New York City. ISSN 1553-8095. from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
President Bush warned an international group of conservative and moderate politicians at the White House tonight that terrorists could attain 'catastrophic power' with weapons of mass destruction and would readily use that power to attack the United States or other nations. The president made his remarks to about 100 members of the International Democrat Union, a group of international center and center-right political parties that met today and Sunday for a conference in Washington.
- ^ Burnell, Peter J. (2006). Globalizing Democracy: Party Politics in Emerging Democracies. London: Taylor & Francis. p. 63. ISBN 978-0-415-40184-5.
- ^ International Democrat Union. . idu.org. Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
- ^ IDU — History. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ Mohr, Alexander (2010). The German Political Foundations as Actors in Democracy Assistance. Boca Raton: Universal-Publishers. p. 151. ISBN 978-1-59942-331-9.
- ^ "Scott Morrison signs on with global political network home to 'intolerant far right'". thenewdaily.com.au. 14 September 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
- ^ Ennser, Laurenz (21 December 2010). "The homogeneity of West European party families". Sage. 18 (2): 151–171. doi:10.1177/1354068810382936. S2CID 146782908.
- ^ Goldman, Ralph Morris (2002). The Future Catches Up: Transnational Parties and Democracy. London: Taylor & Francis. p. 418. ISBN 978-0-595-22888-1.
- ^ "The Founding Meeting Of The Union" (PDF). International Democrat Union. 24 June 1983. (PDF) from the original on 10 December 2022.
- ^ "By Any Other Name, Conservative". The New York Times. 27 July 1985. from the original on 10 December 2022.
- ^ "International Democrat Union, minutes of founding meeting, 1993" (PDF).[permanent dead link]
External links edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to International Democrat Union.
- IDU official website