Social Democratic Alliance & The Next Conference in Sulaymaniyah

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By: Shanaz Hirani

The Social Democratic Alliance in the Arab World is a political and social gathering dedicated to promoting democracy and social justice within the framework of moderate democratic governance. The Alliance embraces a socio-economic vision that balances free-market mechanisms with state intervention, ensuring the equitable distribution of wealth and the provision of essential services to all citizens. It operates through a coordinating body and specialised committees addressing key issues, including those related to women, youth, and the labour force, and incorporates women’s and youth organisations alongside regional coordination networks.

The Alliance seeks to consolidate democracy and strengthen the social democratic movement in the Arab world by organising conferences in member states to discuss regional challenges, opportunities, and current events in an attempt to reach achieving democracy. This effort is especially critical in a region plagued by terrorism and widespread violence. In these circumstances, democratic forces must unite to confront the threats facing member states and the broader region. At the same time, the space for democracy has shrunk, and the revolutionary goals of achieving strong democratic societies remain under pressure.

A brief review of the modern history of democracy illustrates the challenges and opportunities for the Alliance:

First wave: Following the American and French Revolutions, democracy spread across Europe and the Americas in the nineteenth century, particularly after the “European Spring” of 1848. By the early 1920s, there were 29 democratic countries, but this number fell to 12 by 1942 due to the rise of communism and fascism.

Second wave: After World War II, democracy re-emerged in Western Europe, Japan, India, and newly independent nations, increasing the number of democracies to 36.

Third wave: Beginning in the early 1970s, democratic transitions occurred in Southern Europe (Spain, Portugal, Greece) and later in South and Central America. The number of democracies rose to 60, further expanding with the weakening of the Soviet Union, the fall of the Eastern Bloc, and the Berlin Wall in 1989, ultimately reaching 117 of 191 countries worldwide.

However, the fall of authoritarian regimes does not automatically guarantee democracy. Many countries that overthrew authoritarian rulers subsequently experienced civil war, state failure, or replacement by new dictatorships. Early democratisation efforts in Latin America, Europe, Africa, and parts of the Arab world often faltered under structural and societal pressures. Such danger is evident today in countries such as Libya, Yemen, Syria, and Iraq. The nature of a country’s prior political, social, and economic structures is crucial in determining its capacity for democratic governance. Equally important is national unity: democracy is, by definition, rule by the people, and without a shared understanding of who constitutes “the people,” establishing a stable and enduring democracy becomes extremely challenging.

Stable democracy requires not only national unity but also a foundation of constitutional and legal traditions, functional electoral institutions, political pluralism, an effective bureaucracy, security institutions, a vibrant civil society, an independent judiciary, a free media, and regulated economic institutions. Countries with these institutional legacies find it easier to establish and sustain democratic governance. Given this context, the forthcoming conference in Sulaymaniyah holds particular significance, both intellectually and politically.

The Alliance traces its origins to a preparatory meeting on 20 January 2013 in Cairo, which agreed to form a political network of social democratic parties in the Arab world. The founding conference took place on 24–25 June 2013 in Rabat, followed by subsequent meetings in Amman, Sulaymaniyah, Tunis, the last of which was Cairo meeting (September 2024). These gatherings have established mechanisms for cooperation and coordination, aiming to promote democratic and social principles and deepen inter-party relations across the region.

The Social Democratic Alliance in the Arab World comprises the following member parties:

1. Somali Socialist Unity Party – Somalia
2. Yemeni Socialist Party – Yemen
3. Progressive Socialist Party – Lebanon
4. Jordanian Social Democratic Party – Jordan
5. Egyptian Social Democratic Party – Egypt
6. The Struggle Front – Palestine
7. Palestinian National Initiative Movement – Palestine
8. Fatah Movement – Palestine
9. Socialist Party of Popular Forces – Morocco
10. Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Party – Iraq
11. The Coalition for Labour and Freedoms (Coalition) Party – Tunisia
12. Kurdistan Social Democratic Party – Iraq
13. Syrian Democratic People's Party – Syria
14. Socialist Forces Front Party – Algeria
15. National Democratic Action Society Movement – Bahrain

Main Objectives of the Alliance:

1. Building a unified Arab social democratic front: To foster partnership, coordination, and the exchange of ideas and resources among established and emerging parties across the Arab world.
2. Promoting democratic and social values: Disseminating principles such as equality, freedom of expression, and the rights of women and minorities, while formulating the intellectual framework and political programmes of social democratic parties.
3. Enhancing regional and international cooperation: Developing integration, coordination, and understanding across political, economic, and cultural spheres, both within the Arab world and globally.

Core Values and Principles:

- Political, cultural, and intellectual pluralism
- Social justice
- Democracy, human rights, and citizenship
- Transparency, accountability, and responsibility

The Alliance also prioritises unifying positions on issues of common interest at both regional and international levels. It engages with international platforms such as the Socialist International, the World Progressive Alliance, and the Organisation of European Socialist Parties, as well as networks of youth, women, trade union organisations, and elected representatives.

Upcoming Conference in Sulaymaniyah

The next Social Democratic Alliance conference will be held in Sulaymaniyah on 28–30 August 2025, with a mini-women’s conference taking place on 27 August. This event will build upon previous conferences, aiming to implement the Alliance’s programmes on the ground and achieve its strategic objectives.

The conference will strengthen Arab-Kurdish relations, promote peace and brotherhood across the region, and provide a forum to discuss current regional developments and measures to support the success of the peace process.

Women and youth will be central themes of the conference, with dedicated discussions to develop actionable plans for their empowerment within society. The event will examine the status of women in member countries, fostering dialogue and proposing solutions for social, political, and cultural challenges.

The organisers hope the conference will succeed on all fronts—political, economic, intellectual, and social—to contribute to building a better society and a bright future for new generations, with the outcomes and recommendations of the conference guiding future Alliance initiatives.