The WSF And Grassroot Struggles

NIGD News and Notes April 2006

In this issue:
I. The WSF And Grassroots Struggles
II. The WSF Of Porte Alegre: What Future?
III. The European Social Forum
IV. Global Political Party Formation
V. At the IC Of The WSF In Nairobi
VI. Rendez vous with NIGD

I.The WSF And Grassroots Struggles
By Raphael Hoetmer
In Caracas, many grassroots activists did not find an open space where they could have their story heard, or realize the contacts they hoped for; they expected more, different, and clearer politicisation of, for example, the Colombian situation then the forum offered. The point Raphael Hoetmer emphasises is the discussions on the future of the Forum, Bamako appeals, and worldwide demonstrations are important, but we need not forget about the people who are really risking their lives for a better world. How can the Forum contribute to their struggles?

2. Beauty Queens And Empire At The WSF In Caracas
By Marc Becker
Trying to build another world based on principles of participatory democracy and social justice raises the question of what the WSF will do to assure more participatory democracy in terms of gender balance? Marc Becker provides an overview of the discrimination, prejudices, and injustices against women and marginalized peoples traditionally and systemically faced throughout Venezuela. Internal contradictions remain in the WSF, but can it support the construction of a new humane society based on principles of social justice and gender equality?

3. Union Organisations, Social Movements And The Augean Stables Of Global Governance
By Peter Waterman
Traditional international union organisations are reproducing the logic of the hegemonic global institutions of capital free trade in a series of ‘social partnerships’ initiatives at the global level, most prominently, global governance. Peter Waterman explores the reinvention of social emancipation to operate in places related to the age of globalised networked capitalism. Under the new global dispensation, discourse on global democracy needs to replace that of global governance.

II.The WSF Of Porte Alegre: What Future?
By Francine Mestrum
One strength of the WSF is its willingness to question itself and seriously look at its future. Francine Mestrum boldly asks how ‘another world possible’ when the objectives of many of the participants are not equal, and the dividing lines concerning content and process do not run parallel. The WSF has to be cautious of becoming a victim of its own success. Is one blueprint for a specific type of world necessary, or why not four or five different programmes?

2. The Bamako Appeal: A Post-Modern Janus?
By Peter Waterman
Peter Waterman makes the connections between the BA and its historical predecessors for social transformation, and traces it present appeal to current movements. The BA faces the political past and the social future, but does it represent a new threat to the WSF and the GJ&SM more generally?

3. The WSF Towards Karachi And Nairobi
By Tord Bjork
Differing perspectives within the WSF show its vitality, but questions remain around how to build a balance between being able to practically and politically organise the huge event, and to carry forward the process in order to form a coherent social forum process. Tord Bjork illustrates the challenges facing the WSF process through analyses of the Karachi WSF, the mass boycotts of Danish goods, and NGO lead campaigns. Is it possible for the WSF to be a place to make conscious choices between different kinds of campaigning, and political actors that are able to challenge the present world order?

4. Discussions On The WSF: Some Basic Questions With A View On Nairobi
By Robyn Milburn, Ruby van der Wekken, and Tuomas Ylä-Anttila
Oduor Ong'wen (SEATINI, Nairobi 2007 organising committee) visited Helsinki on invitation from the NIGD/ATTAC debt group; his visit gave rise to a series of initiatives in which the WSF was discussed both in and around the Finnish Social Forum. It was a chance to get back to some basics: Why should one engage in the WSF process and what is the WSF meant to give to Kenyan or African movements and organisations?
Find a compilation of reports and reflections in which the road to Nairobi, the future of the forum, and the need to engage in the WSF are discussed. The compilation contains a link to the Concept Paper for Nairobi 2007, drawn up by the Regional Council of the African Social Forum process.

III. The European Social Forum
By Matti Kohonen
Will the Athens ESF be a re-enactment of the London ESF? The ESF is a very different type of a political space largely as a consequence of three possibly things, the role of the local organising committee, the role of the hosting city council, and the large number of independent spaces around the ESF everywhere it goes. Matti Kohonen reflects on the previous ESF in London highlighting its shortcomings, and building possibilities for a stronger ESF, beyond Athens.
Following the text is a comment on the social forum process in Europe by Peter Waterman. Recognising that contradictions exist between and within the process, what seems to be developing is a SF model with a centre, and one or more peripheries.

2. United States Left And United States Social Forums
By Marc Becker
The struggle for social justice in the United States has taken various shapes, and organising social forums has become one of its most significant and empowering expressions. Marc Becker recounts the dialogue held in Caracas reflecting the potential of the US left, how to advance the agenda of social forums, and the significant barriers that need to be overcome in order to realise visions of alternative worlds in the United States.

3. Midwest Social Forum
By Marc Becker

Committed to making a better and more just world, activists from the Midwestern United States are planning to hold the annual Midwest Social Forum. Marc Becker introduces the evolving MWSF as it finalises its preparations for its annual forum 7-9 July, 2006 in Milwaukee. The MWSF is poised for a significant leap forward into a more diverse, dynamic, and inclusive gathering working towards strengthening the social justice movement.

IV.Global Political Party Formation
At the third polycentric WSF 2006 in Karachi, NIGD hosted a fifth dialogue on the elements for global political party formations. In preparing for the event, some of the material received is compiled here.

V. At the IC Of The WSF In Nairobi
By Mikael Böök

There are calls for more openness and transparency in the work of the IC, the most recent IC meeting is an opportunity to see if those calls are being heard. Mikael Böök provides his notes from the four days of IC meetings held in Nairobi, 19-22 March, 2006. The topics covered include: the expansion of the IC, new IC members, the role of libraries, preparation for the 2007 WSF in Nairobi, the methodology of the WSF, and interpretation during the WSF.
Following these reports are the general agenda for the IC meeting, and a letter written by Teivo Teivainen making a very simple proposal in response to the criticism that IC is not sufficiently transparent and that the meetings are held behind closed doors.

VI. Rendezvous with NIGD
See our Rendezvous page