Communist-backed “world federations” billed themselves as voluntary associations of national delegations. Such delegations were far easier to build in eastern bloc countries, where Communist Party “social organizations” monopolized civic life, than in non-communist democracies, where federation heads faced a difficult choice: Support the USSR and be derided as fronts in the Western “world press,” or seek UN sanction as legitimate, nonpartisan NGOs at the cost of ideological consensus. Holding events outside of the eastern bloc was one tactic that the fronts employed to assert their political independence.
Trade Unionists–World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)
Women–Women’s International Democratic Federation (WIDF)
Lawyers–International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL)
Youth–World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY)
Students–International Union of Students (IUS)
Anti-War–World Peace Council (WPC)
Anti-Nazi–International Federation of Resistance Fighters (FIRR)
Scientists–World Federation of Scientific Workers (WFSW)
Teachers–World Federation of Teachers Unions (FISE)
Journalists–International Organization of Journalists (IOJ)
Christians–Christian Peace Conference (CPC)
Media–International Radio and Television Organization (IRTO)
