Liberal International (LI)
Website: http://www.liberal-international.org/
Category: Political Parties
Year of Foundation: 1947
Location of Foundation: Oxford, UK
Location of Headquarters: London, UK
Brief Description: The Liberal International describes itself as 'the world federation of liberal and progressive democratic political parties.' (source: www.liberal-international.org; accessed 7 April 2010).
Founding Rationales:
The Liberal International was set up with the objective of uniting 'not only political Liberals, but freedom loving people of all nations so that a united stand might be made against the enemies of democracy. ... Democracy had been divided and conquered too often; it was now offered a creed by which it might be united and a method of achieving that end.'
Source: Peter Hughes, 'The Oxford Conference' in Viscount Samuel et al, 'Spires of Liberty: Speeches made at the Oxford Conference in May 1947, as a result of which the Liberal International was inaugurated, and at the First Conference of the Liberal International at Zurich in 1948.' (London: Herbert Joseph, 1948), p. 15.
Evolution of Membership (Organizations):
Sources: YIO (to 1981); EAIO (from 1986)