The WSF and Political Agency

NIGD News and Notes August 2006

In this issue:

I. Report on Durban meeting about WSF Nairobi
by Immanuel Wallerstein
II. The Intercontinental Youth Camp 2001-2005: Linking Open Space Activism, the World Social Forum, and Imaginaries for Alternative Worlds
by Dan Morrison
III. Librarian Workshop in Nairobi: Training of the Trainers
by Mikael Böök
IV. World Public Finances
V. Rendezvous with NIGD

I. Report on Durban meeting about WSF Nairobi
by Immanuel Wallerstein
Durban, South Africa hosted a two-day meeting, 22-23 July 2006, originally conceived to discuss the strains of thinking within the WSF, as well as possibilities for Nairobi, but morphed into a discussion of how to increase African participation in the WSF. Immanuel Wallerstein reports back from the meeting, highlighting the sentiments of African activists towards local struggles and there link to the WSF. Is the WSF moving in the wrong direction or is the level of debate and positive activism a sign of considerable health?

2. Debate on the WSF and Political Agency: Strategies, Movements and Actions
compiled by Ruby van der Wekken
An exchange of ideas took place under the context of preparations for the WSF-related meetings in Durban, South Africa, and in reaction to the article by Roberto Savio (IPS), "World Social forum: the cradle of global civil society". Authors of the used debate fragments are: Susan George (TNI), Matti Kohonen (TJN & NIGD), Antonio Martins (Liberdade Brasil & NIGD), Heikki Patomäki (NIGD) and Peter Waterman (NIGD).

3. Report Content and Methodology commission WSF International Council
by Francine Mestrum
The consultation process on the WSF 2007 was launched in June in order to have more and better contacts within social movements, to have debate on the content, and to have a democratic way to define the thematic axes. Francine Mestrum reports back from the Methodology and Content Commission meeting held in Rome, 6-7 July 2006 providing an overview of the preparation process for WSF 2007, the consultation process, and the organization of Nairobi. This new dimension will help define issues and strategies, “the ‘memory’ of the forum has to be used to prepare the future and to define what direction to take.”

II. The Intercontinental Youth Camp 2001-2005: Linking Open Space Activism, the World Social Forum, and Imaginaries for Alternative Worlds
Second part
by Dan Morrison
The Intercontinental Youth Camp is a creative effort to turn a space for temporary living into a social world of alternative practices challenging daily life under neoliberal globalisation; it is an expression of experimental social activism, the politics of collective self-management, and the celebration of spontaneous cultural expression. Dan Morrison previews his central thesis argumentation which ends on a critical note that the IYC process has not lived up to its imaginaries; the full thesis will be posted on nigd website in July, 2006.

2. The Social Forum Movement: History and Future Directions
by Marc Becker
Marc Becker reports from a roundtable discussion held at the Midwest Social Forum, in July 2006, about the history and future directions of social forums on a local, national, and global level. Maintaining social relations is essential for building a social movement and this discussion touches key elements, such as, taking advantage of a teachable and buildable moment, linking local and global issues, and overcoming the individualized nature of society.

3. Midwest Social Forum 2006
by Marc Becker
Milwaukee, Wisconsin hosted the 2006 Midwest Social Forum (MWSF) in July bringing together activists from the Midwest for three days to discuss a range of topics including, immigration and racial justice. Acknowledging the growing numbers of detractors from within the movement, Marc Becker reflects on the persistent problems that haunt social forums and the misconceptions they foster. Can the MWSF bring about a willingness to recognize, engage, and address problems with the forum as well as in broader society?

III. Librarian Workshop in Nairobi: Training of the Trainers
by Mikael Böök
NIGD assisted in the planning and realisation of a 3-day workshop in Nairobi on 3-5 July, 2006. 30 East African librarians prepared themselves to be both active citizens and information professionals during their participation at the Nairobi WSF 2007. The workshop was conceived as "training of the trainers", and follow-up workshops are planned in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania ahead of the WSF. The documentation project aims at extending the WSF process through the preservation and dissemination of information about the WSF in public libraries. The July workshop was arranged under the auspices of the Kenya Library Association with financial support from the Finnish Embassy in Nairobi. A day-by-day- report by Kenyan librarians Jane Sange and Fred Kachero, workshop papers by Shiraz Durrani (PALIAct, UK), Mikael Böök (NIGD, Finland), Esther Obachi (KLA, Kenya) and Mary Wanjohi (PALIAct, Kenya), and photos are available.

IV. World Public Finances
The WPF initiative is a platform created by various NGOs through the WSF process, and it uses the WSF methodology to create proposals to regulate the global financial market for the purpose of welfare for all citizens of the world. A new concept paper has now been drafted which includes a proposal for the WPF activities at the WSF Nairobi 2007. Join the initiative!

V. Rendezvous with NIGD
See our Rendezvous page