Socialist Alternative was invited to join the Socialist Alliance in 2001. The Alliance grouped together the Democratic Socialist Perspective, the ISO, and other Australian far-left groups and individuals. Socialist Alternative eventually declined to joinUniting the Socialist Left: the Australian Experience: An interview with Peter Boyle Socialist Voice, 6 June 2009. Retrieved 8 July 2009. due to the Socialist Alliance's strong emphasis on running in parliamentary elections. This parliamentary emphasis in the flat political climate was seen by Socialist Alternative as a restriction to building activism on the ground and representing a turn towards reformist politics. Socialist Alternative entered into unity discussions with the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), who had split from the DSP in 2012,Conference votes to push forward with uniting revolutionary left Socialist Alternative, 15 December 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2013. and which included the notable member Van Thanh Rudd (the nephew of former Labor Party (ALP) Prime Minister Kevin Rudd).Rudd's nephew fined for 'inciting riot', ABC News, 26 January 2010. Accessed: 8 September 2010. This merger proposal prompted the Socialist Alliance to reopen unity discussions with Socialist Alternative.Australia’s biggest socialist groups begin unity talks Green Left Weekly. 6 November 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2013. In March 2013, Socialist Alternative merged with the RSP. a small organisation which were expelled from the Democratic Socialist Perspective in 2008.Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) launched , Revolutionary Socialist Party, 28 May 2008. Accessed: 6 March 2010.
