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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):

Liberal International Membership Chart

Sources: YIO (to 1981); EAIO (from 1986)