Changes

The 1950s was the period of another 'Red Scare,; this time driving left-leaning groups to less popularity, including socialists, particularly during the period of Mccarthyism and the House Un-American Activities Committee. It was only in the 1960s, with the New Left movement, that socialists in the United States reemerged. The Progressive Labor Party was one political party that emerged in 1962, where it helped lead and organize on more local scales, including organizing demonstrations against the Vietnam War. Michael Harrington became a well known author of socialist ideals, where he wrote the book <i>The Other America</i>. He became a founding member of the Democratic Socialist of America (DSA). The DSA strategy included working through the main Democratic party to get left-leaning candidates influenced or elected by democratic socialist ideals, similar to Europe. In effect, this was a transformation that began to mimic what happened to Europe early in the 20th century, as different socialist factions emerged that also opposed more pure Marxist ideals. After 2017, the DSA has now become the largest socialist party in the United States, with over 32,000 members and includes US House of Representatives members Rashida Tlaib and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as members. Overall, 20 DSA membres hold elected office today.<ref>For more on DSA and emerging democratic socialism in the late 20th century, see: Harrington, M. (2011). <i>Socialism: Past and Future</i>. Arcade Publishing: New York. </ref>