Congress of the Workers' International

A Congress of the Workers' International, also widely and informally known as an InterCon, is a large, plenary meeting held by the Workers' International. Typically, they are organised annually, and hosted in different cities from year to year; figures and organisations with relevance to the socialist movement internationally are invited to attend, for the purpose of making statements, corresponding on policy, setting out tactics and such. The first Congress was held in 1901, at the founding of the Workers' International.

InterCon has great significance for the socialist parties and states of the world because of its wide ambit and prestigious history. While earlier in its history, it was often the scene of turbulent events, today it tends to be more organised, and controversial motions worked out beforehand. Negotiations which take place behind the scenes at InterCon, though not officially part of its proceedings, are also important; it is a convenient venue for such talks because of the wide range of simultaneous attendees.

Structure

At each conference, there is a large plenary session, where all delegates assemble for ceremonies (such as the singing of the International) and statements and resolutions of a more general nature. Voting is conducted on what delegates will be recognised next conference, while a Secretary is also elected, who is responsible for administering the next conference with their team; they typically have some discretion in the running of the conference. Early in the history of InterCon, these procedural matters were more contentious, but are now largely technically handled.

While not formally part of the Congress, an indispensable part of its contemporary function is in the private negotiations or smaller groups which gather to talk after the plenary events, with more substantive disputes and agreements made out here. Time is usually allotted for such processes before the closing of the conference, where the plenum regathers, often summarising important results of the unofficial recess talks, and formally concludes. Frequently, discussions between smaller groups continue even after this, however.

Attendees

The following states and organisations were invited to and did send at least one voting delegate to InterCon (many more groups are observers, which carries less significance). Some attendees have no legal status or are banned in the places in which they operate, while others do not recognise each other, which can cause issues, but the InterCon itself ultimately decides who it will recognise as an attendee.

List of current attendees

Sender	Type	First attendance
Alslandic Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1920
Asalewan Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1912
Bahian Council Republic of Asase Lewa	State	1953
Belmontese Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1903
Chistovodian Workers' State	State	1931
Eldmarsk Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1941
Estmerish Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1901
Gaullican Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1901
West Arucian Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1946
Independent Trade Union Federation of Estmere	Trade union federation	1909
Kirenian Council Republic	State	1921
Left United for the Republic	Political party	2015
Lemovician Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1981
The Magadi Workers' Party	Political party	1992
Miersan Federative Council Republic	State	1968
Montecaran Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1938
Paretian Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1913
People's Republic of Lavana	State	1981
Piraese Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1901
Ravnian Socalist Front	Political party	1952
Reformed Amathian Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1979
Republic of Dezevau	State	1981
Revolutionary Liberation Front	Political party	1933
Senrian Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1912
Socialist Republic of Champania	State	1981
Socialist Republic of Kabu	State	1941
Vinalian Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1904
Weranic Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1901

List of former attendees

Sender	Type	First attendance	Last attendance
Amathian Council Republic	State	1935	1959
Amathian Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1902	1959
Amathian Independent Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1959	2015
Aucurian Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1915
Azmaran Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1901	2003
Caldish Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1901	1931
Champanian Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1935	1981
Dezevauni Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1914	1980
Etrurian Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1900	1924
Federation of Free Shangean Workers	Underground trade union	1976	1994
Gulbistan Revolutionary Party	Political party	1997	2010
Gulbistani Section of the Worker's International	Political party	1946	1959
Kirenian Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1901	1920
Lavanan Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1931	1981
Lavanan Section of the Workers' International (Khouphists)	Political party	1937	1948
Miersan Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1901	1967
Obergondan Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1939	1953
People's Republic of Vinalia	State	1981	1992
Rajyani Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1943	1964
Satrian Section of the Workers' International (Anti-Revisionist)	Political party	1920	1934
Senrian Masses Party	Political party	1905	1908
Shangean Section of the Workers' International	Militia/political party	1901	1942
Soravian Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1901	1928
Tengarian Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1901	1957
United Rahelian People's Republic	State	1968	1977
United Rahelian Section of the Workers' International	Political party	1968	1977
Working People's Party (Eldmark)	Political party	1901	1941