Toward a Nordic Social Forum?

Since 2002, several local, municipal and national social forums have taken place in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. Have civil society organisations in the Nordic countries sown seeds for organising a Nordic Social Forum? Katarina Sehm Patomäki contributes to the discussions of organising a Nordic Social Forum as part of the polycentric concept of the World Social Forum. Katarina has taken part in and spoken at numerous social forums in Finland and Sweden.

Recently, the idea of a Nordic Social Forum has resurfaced in discussions on e lists and meetings within civil society in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. The discussions on an NSF took off soon after the International Council of the World Social Forum at their meeting in March in Utrecht, the Netherlands, decided that the format of the WSF in 2006 would be a 'polycentric' happening.

A 'polycentric' World Social Forum?

In practice, the meaning of a 'polycentric' WSF has been interpreted in different ways. One proposal is that several World Social Forums would take place in many parts of the world on a given date coinciding withthe dates of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Alternatively, 'polycentrism' could mean that multiple social forums held throughout the year 2005, starting on the dates of the WEF meeting, all form part of a chain of the polycentric WSF process. To date, it seems that there will be a World Social Forum in Venezuela and there is also a chance for instance of a Maroccan Forum in July 2005, yet also part of this polycentric WSF.

The enthusiasm behind the policy of polycentrism is that the format would facilitate participation in the process also for those civil society organisations and movements geographically far away from Proto Alegre in Brazil or Mumbai in India where previous WSFs have taken place. Politically, the idea of polycentrism can be traced back to the mass mobilisations of 15 February 2003 when millions of people around the globe demonstrated against the war against Iraq.

Different roots, common concerns

In general, it is fair to say that the social forums held in the Nordic countries have been spared from logistical problems because of too many participants. On the contrary, most social forums have been quite modest in terms of number of participants.

In the Nordic countries, the various social forums that have taken place have operated in quite distinctive and differing ways. For instance, social forum events in Denmark, Finland and Norway claim to be national social forums where as in Sweden, only local social forums have taken place. In practice, however, the Finnish social forums held in Helsinki have so far reflected characteristics of the capital rather than the country as its name would suggest. In addition to the Finnish social forum, various local forums have taken place (Pirkanmaa Social Forum, Turku Social Forum, among others). In Sweden, a kind of a de facto polycentric Swedish social forum took place in May 2004, when four social forums were organised in four towns (Skåne, Stockholm, Uppsala, Luleå) on a given weekend. The Norway Social Forum again has profiled as an internationally renowned event. What we today know as the Norway Social Forum was initially organised as a series of conferences on globalisation. In subsequent years, the conference adopted the name of Norway Social Forum.

At the Finnish Social Forum 2004, Asbjörn Wahl from Norway replied negatively to the question on whether to organise the European Social Forum in the Nordic countries. His view was that the civil society of the Nordic countries is too weak. Asbjörn Wahl's line of thinking is easy to support given the modest participation - if measured in number of participants - of the social forums in the Nordic countries. On the other hand, Thomas Wallgren, a long time activist in Finland and Azril Bacall, active in particular in the Uppsala Social Forums in Sweden, have on pointed out that global civil society may also not be all that strong. The first World Social Forum was organised in order to strengthen the movements. Azril Bacal and Thomas Wallgren underline that a Nordic Social Forum could in itself serve as a tool of strengthening social movements in the Nordic countries.

For the preservence of the well-fare state?

As regards substance, discussions at social forums in the Nordic countries bear much ressemblence. The Nordic countries are richer than ever before and yet the governments systematically cut down on social spending. What happened to the health care system? And what about the education system? Why do we not see decreases in unemployment rates? Building on this, some have sugested that a Nordic Social Forum is organised around the theme of preserving the well-fare state. This suggestion seem to point toward organising a thematic forum rather than a regional forum. Since 2002, Social Forums can be organised in various ways: either local, regional or then as thematic forums. Examples of thematic forums include for instance a social forum on drugs in Colombia in 2002.

Also in various e mail discussion the idea of including the Baltics in the organisation of a Nordic Social Forum has again surfaced. This point may be valid, but the idea is not automatically supported by everyone. The Baltics have different issues than we do (are they defending the welfare state?). Are we discussing a thematic social forum or a regional one?

In discussions on organising a thematic social forum and in addition to the defence of the well-fare state, also other themes may prove appropriate. For instance, another theme could be the environment. Earlier this winter we have read how the sea bed of the Baltic Sea is dead and how the level of pollution in the sea is becoming irreversible high.

The World Social Forum Olympics...

In particular during the discussions prior to the decision on the organisation of the WSF in India, the WSF was compared to the Olympics. This took place at meetings of the International Council where heated discussions suggested competition between the Africans and the Indians on where to host the WSF in 2005. Rather, the decision of where to organise the World Social Forum must be a result of carefully weighted factors such as availability logistic support, the existence of a strong and diverse civil society and mechanisms to ensure the funding of the forum.

And what about the site of the Nordic Social Forum? Sweden is of course geographically situated in the centre of the region and its strong record (measured in Nordic terms) of past social forums is important. But what about the Norway Social Forum, an organisation that has been internationally recognized and that seemingly has funds for their work?

Funding?

As we know, the WSF secretariat (Brazil) has accumulated a debt of some USD 1 000 000. At WSF IV, the deficit was around USD 100 000 which means that this debt has grown tenfold in a year only. This financial plunge has taken place regardless the fact that every World Social Forum has seen a 'surprise' explosion in the number of participants, which should mean that registration fees must've exceeded the anticipated income from these. The reasons behind this financial surge listed by the Brazilian part of the WSF secretariat are manyfold. Partly, the deficit as measured in US dollars has arisen because of the depreciation of the Brasilian reais. Partly, the local authorities have failed to execute the support they promised prior to the organisation of the event. The organisation of a social forum requires resources. If the funding is not granted the organisers risk accumulating a debt.

Next steps?

In order to proceed with the development of a Nordic Social Forum, the first thing might be to draw up a joint concept paper. A concept paper could also include where in the Nordic countries (or Baltic states?) the forum would take place and weigh the alternatives of a thematic vs a regional forum. Only then can we form a true organising committee with persons who know what they are planning and where and raising funds for.

Finally, it seems ambitious to set up a Nordic Social Forum in January 2006.Would it be wise to wait until 2008 (the WSF concept/format has not yet been decided beyond 2007)? The time in-between could be used to prepare and actively take part in the various local Nordic social forums?