An exchange of ideas that took place in the context of the preparations for the WSF-related meetings in Durban, South Africa, and in reaction to the article of Roberto Savio (IPS) "World Social forum : the cradle of global civil society".

Compiled by Ruby van der Wekken

In this article Savio expresses a pessimism re the WSF and writes that "It has not been possible to move past the idea of an 'open space', which allows for the exchange of ideas and experiences and the creation and strengthening of alliances but prevents the formulation of proposals or calls for concrete action by the forum. ... In all likelihood the WSF will not make significant progress into the political realm and will remain a major exceptional occasion for civil society to meet."

An exchange of ideas took place on different e-lists.

Susan George (TNI) writes on 20 July on the social forums e-list that although she does not share Savio's ideas totally, she does think "we are in some real danger of becoming invisible to the larger society and nothing but a self-referential, increasingly closed culture and community. This is why I have been asking various friends in the movement for nearly two years to support a move so that the WHOLE MOVEMENT supports a world-wide 'coming out' on any subject."
Read the full contribution of Susan George

In response, Antonio Martins (WSF Collective Brasil, NIGD) writes on 20 July that "I've been thinking a lot on the risk of disappearing" and proposes "A world march (organized in many countries and cities) that would propose anti-hegemonic *values* (Dignity, for instance) that all of us support, and under which all concrete proposals can feel included.... A huge Seattle march, but worldwide..."
Read the full contribution of Antonio Martins

Heikki Patomäki (NIGD) points in his intervention of 21 July to "the background against which we should understand the fierce resistance in the WSF against any joint positions on any concrete issue of world politics." and writes in response to Susan and Antonio that "Although I wholeheartedly welcome your concrete initiative for an action day or anything similar, it may also be that time is now ripe for new steps to be taken. One important possibility would be the forming of a democratic global political party (see http://www.nigd.org/globalparties for some tentative considerations)"
Read the full contribution of Heikki Patomäki

"I would just like to tell all the wonderful young people out there, from the lofty height of my 72 years: Whatever you may think now, you don't have all the time in the world. Movements can die, just like people. I've seen it happen. Carpe diem. " writes Susan George on 22 July in a second contribution to the debate, in which she also comments on the idea of a global political party.
Read the full second contribution of Susan George

In his contribution to the debate, Peter Waterman (NIGD) writes on 22 July that "I do not feel that either Heikki or Susan so far suggest a formula, methodology, ethic or principle that actually surpasses the limitations. And, unlike all three of the above, I guess, I fear that individual or group negotiation or consultation with the state-national or inter-state hegemons are going to end up like the Young Lady of Niger (Who went for a ride on a tiger; They finished the ride with the lady inside; And a smile on the face of the tiger)." after which he elaborates on the WSF/Global Justice and Social Movement and the concepts of Autonomy and Engagement.
Read the full contribution of Peter Waterman

Heikki answers on 23 July to both Susan and Peter regarding his proposal that " we should try to move on and develop new ways of organizing our activities, including the possibility of forming a global political party." and writes that "The 'we' in my proposal should be read as an open invitation to those who are not content with mere occasional global gatherings among the diverse critics of neoliberalism, violence and imperialism, but would like (i) to experiment with new forms of democratic agency and (ii) transform the prevailing global framework of institutions into something less violent and ecologically destructive, in order to create a more democratic, just and sustainable world."
Read the full second contribution of Heikki Patomäki

Peter continues on 24 July in response to the idea of a global political party and ends on the note that "I will watch with interest your attempt to create a global political party that is radically-democratic, non-western, that acts as a REARGUARD for social movements and a radically-democratic civil society (i.e. one autonomous from and struggling to surpass the perverse and destructive capital-state nexus). I will, however, continue to believe that life is elsewhere. Neither the state-nation nor capitalist economy nor political party (nor the supposedly democratic trade union) can be abolished. But they can be circumvented or outgrown..."
Read the full second contribution of Peter Waterman

" .. back to 'what is to be done' ... I propose we make several declarations at the Nairobi WSF that borrow the methodology of open space.. Each strand or thematic group in my view should call a first seminar where campaign issues, political proposals and statements are collected. And then another seminar is planned for those who want to put together a declaration out of the content gathered at the first seminar. The wording can be a mix of calls for co-ordinated action, and proposals for change of international legal conventions, or starting up new international institutions or organisations. ... writes Matti Kohonen (TJN and NIGD) on 24 July, as he concludes that " A 'global solidarity economy' with its own institutions and internal regulation, challenging the WTO, growing out of the fair trade and Southern 'solidarity economy' and rural rights movements would be an equally great achievement of the GJM as the global political party"
Read the full contribution of Matti Kohonen