Description

A roundtable conversation about the history and future directions for social forums on a local, national, and global level, with a particular focus on the WSF in Caracas in January and planning for the USSF in Atlanta next summer.

Who

Marc Becker: Network Institute for Global Democratization, moderator. Patrick Barrett: Midwest Social Forum, A.E. Havens Center. Walda Katz-Fishman: US Social Forum, Project South George Martin, Midwest Social Forum, Peace Action Wisconsin. Jerome Scott: US Social Forum, Project South.

Notes

Marc began this roundtable conversation with an overview of the history and trajectory of the World Social Forum (WSF). George Martin of Peace Action Wisconsin observed the important interface between local and international organizing strategies, and a global platform like the WSF is important for the peace movement, especially to end the war on Iraq. For example, in 2005 in the meeting in Porto Alegre activists from 65 countries came together to organize against the war.

Jerome Scott from Grassroots Global Justice (GGJ), Project South, and an organizer of the United States Social Forum (USSF) explained the importance of building the USSF from the bottom. It is notable that the USSF is meeting in Atlanta in the U.S. South because of a history of slavery, genocide, and Jim Crow laws in the South–we must respect that history. In addition, we need to take advantage of a teachable and buildable moment to build a world movement to counter a world empire. If we do not, we are doomed.

Walda Katz-Fishman, also from GGJ, Project South, and USSF, reported on the outcome of discussions at the recent Southeast Social Forum in Durham, North Carolina. They drafted 5 main points:
1. We need a big tent approach to connect diverse issues.
2. The importance of linking local and global issues.
3. Using these meetings to strengthen networks.
4. Define our vision; another U.S. is possible.
5. Define our relation in the U.S. with the rest of the world.

Patrick Barrett, director of the A.E. Havens Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and lead organizer of the Midwest Social Forum, noted that people are hungry for change. Many people feel alone and isolated. He argued that the U.S. is not inherently conservative, but there are obstacles to building a social movement including the individualized nature of society. We need to break down divisions including, those of class, gender, and age, in order to link struggles. In particular, the MWSF has prioritized opening up space to women, people of color, and other marginalized communities.

We then opened the roundtable up into a broad ranging conversation. One concern was that we just talk to ourselves, but others argued that we are not just doing that. In particular, the MWSF began on Thursday with retreats and caucuses to bring people together. In addition, on Sunday the forum closes with a rally against police brutality that engages local and pressing issues. Another concern is that action is essential, because otherwise people become cynical and drop out of the movement. Again, the MWSF is designed to be a springboard to further action. In particular, the MWSF ends on Sunday with strategy sessions designed to be a springboard to further action. Maintaining social relations are crucial for building a social movement.