internation

Internation is a term primarily used to refer to a series of international political organizations, most notably the socialist and communist internationals that emerged in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The word itself derives from the French “internationale,” meaning “international,” and is applied to federations of parties or groups sharing a common ideological framework that operate across national borders.

The First International, formally known as the International Workingmen’s Association, was founded in 1864 in London. It aimed to unite various labor and socialist movements, providing a platform for coordination, mutual support, and the exchange of ideas among workers’ groups in Europe and the United States. Although it dissolved in 1876 amid internal disputes, it set a precedent for transnational political cooperation.

Subsequent bodies adopted the “Internation” label. The Second International, established in 1889, brought together socialist parties that pursued reformist strategies within parliamentary systems. It persisted until the outbreak of World War I, when national loyalties fragmented its unity. The Third International, or Communist International (Comintern), was created in 1919 under Soviet leadership to promote worldwide communist revolution. It operated until 1943, when it was officially dissolved.

Later, the Fourth International emerged in 1938, continuing the Trotskyist tradition, while various other internationals—such as the Socialist International (formed in 1951) and the International Union of Socialist Youth—have carried forward the concept of coordinated, cross‑national political activity.

In contemporary usage, “internation” can also describe any organized network of parties or movements that transcends national boundaries, emphasizing solidarity, common goals, and shared ideology. The legacy of these organizations continues to influence global political discourse and the structure of transnational advocacy.