Progressive Party (United Commonwealth)

Progressive Party
Founded	March 18th, 1981
Preceded by	Democratic Party (Factions) Social Democratic Party USA Progressive Party (1948–1955)
Headquarters	Boston, Massachusetts
Youth wing	Youth Progressive Federation
Ideology	Majority: Progressivism, Social Democracy, Anti-Communism Factions: Rooseveltism, Republicanism, American Patriotism, Radicalism
Political position	Center-Left to Left Wing
Continental affiliation	Pan-American Progressive Federation
International affiliation	Socialist International
Slogan	"There can be no appeasement with ruthlessness"
Anthem	"The Battle Cry of Freedom"

The Progressive Party is one of several Major Political Parties in the United Commonwealth of America. Formed in 1980, mainly by more left-wing Democrats and some members of the Social Democratic Party, it joined the "Lincoln Coalition" formed by the Democratic and Republican parties in February 1980. The Party's combination of social democratic principles and American iconography is often credited with helping the coalition win the 1982 election. Despite having more socialist internal factions, the party maintains an anti-communist ideology much like the former Social Democratic Party USA.

History

Background

In the aftermath of the collapse of the United States, surges of left-wing sentiments rose across the former union, resulting in the formation of various blocs vying for power. In the United Commonwealth, initial skirmishes between the Communist Party USA and the newly formed government saw the banning of the party, resulting in Communists forming the Socialist Party with more moderate socialists in an attempt to follow the 'Popular Front' model. This less outwardly communist but still pro-soviet party made gains in polling in late 1981, joining the Democratic Socialist Party UCA to form an electoral coalition for the upcoming 1982 election. After fears of a Socialist success, many in the Democratic and Republican parties eventually agreed to a temporary coalition, but still fearing a loss, many more left-wing Democrats and members of the former Social Democratic Partyand (then) current SDPUCA, most notably Penn Kemble, formed the Progressive Party in march of 1981, negotiating entry into the Union Preservation Alliance.

After the election

After a UPA victory in the 1982 election, many more hardline socialists would begin to fall out of favor, and by the large UPA successes of the 1984 congressional elections and the 1986 presidential election, the Socialist front would collapse, and before the 1990 election, the UPA would dissolve, with the Progressive Party emerging as one of the largest parties in the nation.

Mergers with other parties

By 1990, the Social Democratic Party UCA had mended its rift, only to split once again at the formation of the Commonwealth Socialist Party, a much more moderate merger of the Socialist Party UCA and DSUCA, with a majority of the Social Democrats joining the Progressive Party.

Affiliations of the Party

Iron Front

Main Article: American Iron Front

The American Iron Front is a paramilitary organization that rose to prominence during the Providence Rebellion, eventually becoming unofficially tied to the party. The Iron Front takes its name and symbolism from the German Iron Front, which fought to uphold liberal democracy and republicanism in the final days of the Weimar Republic. The AIF has sent countless 'volunteers' in various post-collapse conflicts.

In other nations

• New Deal Commission (Hawaii)
• Alabama-Georgia Progressive Party (Free Revolts)
• Brown Station Committee (Kansas)

In the Commonwealth administrations

• Progressive Party of Lakota
• Progressive Party of Sequoyah
• Progressive Party of Florida
• Progressive Party of Alaska

Ideology

Radicals

Main Article: Progressive Radicalism

The largest and most notable faction are the Radicals, also known as the Rooseveltists and rarely, Jeffersonians, falling generally left of the center. The Radicals idolize so-called "Americanism", taking much of their symbolism from American history. Many of their ideals are claimed to be based on Theodore Roosevelt's planned Square Deal and New Nationalism programs, and much of Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal programs, as well as his overall interventionist, anti-fascist stance. The Radicals have been criticized for their positions that fall generally away from the leftist mainstream, and as such, Rooseveltism has been accused of being a branch of neoconservatism, much like what the former SDUSA was accused of for their own anti-communist, interventionist stances. The party itself denies this label, and it has been condemned by many political scholars.

Libertarians

Not to be confused with the Libertarian Party.

The LIbertarians a broader grouping of further-left groups opposed to Moscow and Chicago. They tend to be more economically radical and interventionist, while generally being more opposed to international intervention and the more authoritarian tendencies of both the oppositional Commonwealth Socialist Party (CSP) and, to a lesser extent, the Progressive Radicals. The Libertarians have less support within the Progressive Party, with their beliefs typically being covered by the various other factions and parties within the nation, though they gather some support from labor unions and disaffected leftists. On social and international matters, they tend to vote along with the Democratic and Libertarian Parties, while they align with the CSP and the rest of their party on economic and welfare matters.

Liberals

Not to be confused with New Liberalism or Neoliberalism.

The New Liberals make up the most moderate faction of the Progressive party, made up mostly of old disaffected democrats and centrist progressives. They tend to advocate for a European-style welfare state with mixed economic intervention, while generally maintaining friendly relations with businesses and industry. They are the smallest faction within the party, although are vital in getting support from other, centrist and right-wing parties for various proposals. The Liberals are usually considered to be at least partially descended from George McGovern's failed "new politics" program and some of the doctrines of last fully recognized US President Jimmy Carter.

Allegations of Authoritarianism

Some have compared the Progressive Party's ideology to a successful iteration of the ideals of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's Kemalism and a moderate version of Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Tridemism, though these claims have been disputed by both members of the party and political experts.