Bamako Appeal strikes controversy

Peter Waterman

13 February, 2006

I thought the Gender section was banal in general, with little heart or bite. Labour, on the other hand, actually proposes, as I may have already said, the most radical existing public position on the matter.

Whether, however, the appeal IS 'open to broader participation and reworking' would seem to depend on two things: 1) the motivation of the authors and 2) the interest of such critics as you, me and plenty of others.

The question has to be raised of why this whole project was not placed WITHIN one or another WSF event rather than being staged separately. 'Placing within' has been done by such other anti-capitalist projects as, Michael Albert's, 'Life after Capitalism', Porto Alegre, 2003; on the other hand, 'the Commoner' was, or felt, obliged to place its, 'Life Despite Capitalism' project outside the official WSF, London ESF, 2004.

Many other questions need asking, such as, many of us have been frequently Posing, with respect to the WSF itself: Promotor(s)? Funding? Relation to social movements, NGOs, parties, unions, states? Ethnic, Socio-Geographical spread? Gender balance?

The key issue, however, is to address what the document actually says.

I have, myself, taken note primarily of what has moved from the traditional positions of the Thirdworldists/Dependency thinkers in the period before the WSF. Others have been pointing out to me, personally, what continues.

The dialogue, hopefully, continues...