Integrating the Green Political Spectrum within a Party Organization.

• Author: Butcher, Allen
• Position: Thinking Politically

All political organizations are comprised of an internal political spectrum, and the success of a particular party has much to do with how this diversity within a political party is managed. The issue of how to integrate left, center and right Greens is an opportunity for at least our local and state Green Party organizations to develop in a way that builds upon the strength of our diversity, if not addressed these different Green perspectives could cause problems, as we've seen with regard to the G/GPUSA vs. ASGP.

So the question is how to use to our advantage this natural dynamic of a political spectrum within the Green Party.

A suggestion is to create committees within at least the local and state Party organizations representing each of these three primary Green perspectives, and give them the autonomy to create projects and programs respecting their missions. At the same time, affirm that the Party organization as a whole, through its bylaws and regular meetings, has oversight and overrule authority, based on the right of any member to appeal any committee decision. In this way, people with different Green perspectives can work on issues of importance to them, and collaborate as a whole when desired, welcoming people from other committees to work on a particular committee"s project.

In the Denver Green Party (DGP) we've created three committees called "managerships," which are areas of responsibility created by the DGP through its standard meeting process, with the work of the managerships overseen by the co-presidents. Managerships may be managed by a single person or by co-managers, with any member of the DGP having the power to appeal any managerial decision to the co-presidents. If any member is not satisfied with the decision of the co-presidents, they may then appeal the decision at a scheduled DGP meeting using standard meeting process. These managerships are:

1. Coalition/Diversity Committee (Left Greens, Radical Politics)--which will tend to hold onto radical interpretations of Green values, with a more left/feminist/deep ecology/socialist/anarchist leaning activist orientation

2. Campaign Committee (Centrist Greens, Electoral/Realistic Politics)--as it races to the political center for mass appeal

3. Green Economy Committee or GECo (Right Greens, Conservative Politics) --as it involves businesses, government regulation of the economy and taxation.

   Here are their job descriptions or committee mandates:

1. Coalition/Diversity Committee:

   * Plan and maintain outreach programs including statements of support for minority and ethnic communities, intentional communities, neighborhood initiatives, and issues and causes consistent with the Greens 10 Key Values and the goals of the DGP;

   *...