2007

The 'Alter-Globalists' Hit Their Stride
by Immanuel Wallerstein, NIGD News and Notes January-February 2007

The WSF is providing a real alternative as an open space that is inclusive of all those who want to change the existing world system as well as encouraging those who want to organize specific political actions. Immanuel Wallerstein’s article is a glimpse at the maturing of the WSF, from its defensive beginnings through to the effective networks forming under its umbrella. This article was originally published by the International Herald Tribune on February 2, 2007.

Reviving the Labour Movement as a Sword of Justice 
by Peter Waterman, NIGD News and Notes January-February 2007
The WSF presents a space for dialogue on the re-invention of a global labour movement and the wider global justice and solidarity movement, yet grouping all WSF activities under the banner of ‘decent work’ caused tensions. Peter Waterman reflects on the reasons for distinguishing between, ‘progressive’ and ‘emancipatory’, ‘unions’ and ‘labour’. Furthermore, why did the international labour movement carry a low profile in Nairobi?

The World Social Forum comes to Africa
by Marc Becker, NIGD News and Notes January-February 2007
The WSF was potentially the most important event to take place on the African continent in 50-60 years. Holding the forum in Africa was a success in itself, yet the predominantly western European and North American face of the forum fell short of energizing the local civil society as it has in the past. Marc Becker provides an overview from the Nairobi WSF, noting both the pitfalls and the innovation. What effect will the Nairobi WSF have on future forums?

World Social Forum Today: Finnish Engagements and Future Visions
by Jarna Pasanen and Ruby van der Wekken, NIGD News and Notes January-February 2007
The WSF is providing a model to strengthen struggles at the local level, but what is the connection between the WSF and local social forums? Written to address the significance of the WSF process to Finnish civil society and its partners, Jarna Pasanen and Ruby van der Wekken seek out recommendations for future engagement in the process. The working paper is available on Kepa's website.

2006

WSF 2009: Dilemma's of Decision-Making on the Periodicity of the forums
by Teivo Teivainen, NIGD News and Notes October 2006
Teivainen writes on the decision reached at the WSF International Council meeting in Parma, Italy that "the decision to call for mobilizations around the dates of the World Economic Forum is an important challenge for the WSF process. It may give some new answers to the question of how the WSF could become politically more useful. ... The decision shows that there has been a learning process among the IC members. Over the past months and years, positions on this issue became more flexible and common ground was constructed. The perceived decision-making capacity of the IC was thereby strengthened."

Report on Durban meeting about WSF Nairobi
by Immanuel Wallerstein, NIGD News and Notes August 2006
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?

Debate on the WSF and Political Agency: Strategies, Movements and Actions July 2006
compiled by Ruby van der Wekken, NIGD News and Notes August 2006
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).

Gendering the WSF Nairobi 2007 process
by Onyango Oloo, NIGD News and Notes Double Issue June 2006
The author, a member of the WSF 2007 Secretariat, extensively addresses Gender and the WSF Open Space process, concluding his critical text with: "When one looks at the gender dynamics informing the WSF 2007 process, one is filled with optimism and left brimming with hope. This despite the parlous panorama painted in the preceding section; this despite the unflattering global audit of power relations between women and men around the world."

The World Social Forum and the Bamako Appeal: Yes, but no
by Francine Mestrum, NIGD News and Notes Double Issue June-May 2006
At the Netherlands Social Forum a discussion was held on the Bamako Appeal with an informal panel of Peter Custers (Dutch NGO, X minus Y), Karamat Ali (WSF Karachi), Helen Hintjens (Institute of Social Studies in The Hague), and Peter Waterman. In her minutes from the session, Francine Mestrum gives attention to the process of the WSF, the democratic content, and the political content.
The Bamako Appeal appearing at the onset of the 2006 Bamako WSF is still being discussed in different fora regarding its content, methodology of production, and the possible merits of such a statement for the WSF process.
See the appeal at http://www.thirdworldforum.net

The Bamako Appeal and the Maturation of the World Social Forum
by Peter Waterman, NIGD News and Notes Double Issue June-May 2006
The Bamako Appeal may have taken a first step towards becoming a global dialogue at the Netherlands Social Forum, writes Peter Waterman. Providing his observations from the first day of the NSF, he concludes: "It is surely time to surpass the originally brilliant slogan, ‘Another World is Possible’. A dialogue on and between documents such as the BA could help to do this."

Appraising the Bamako Appeal: A Contribution to the Debate
by Peter Custers, NIGD News and Notes Double Issue June-May 2006The author provides an elaborate commentary on the BA, concluding: "With all its limitations, contradictions and defects, the Bamako Appeal has forcefully posed the need for a programmatic document against the still hegemonic model of neo liberalism. Only by taking this debate forward constructively and non dogmatically, can the WSF itself reach the aim of a defeat of the forces that continue to impose destructive neo liberal policies on the large majority of countries in the world."

The WSF And Grassroots Struggles
By Raphael Hoetmer, NIGD News and Notes April 2006
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?

Beauty Queens And Empire At The WSF In Caracas
By Marc Becker, NIGD News and Notes April 2006
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?

The WSF Of Porte Alegre: What Future?
By Francine Mestrum, NIGD News and Notes April 2006
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?

The Bamako Appeal: A Post-Modern Janus?
By Peter Waterman, NIGD News and Notes April 2006
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?

The WSF Towards Karachi And Nairobi
By Tord Bjork, NIGD News and Notes April 2006
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?

Discussions On The WSF: Some Basic Questions With A View On Nairobi
By Robyn Milburn, Ruby van der Wekken, and Tuomas Ylä-Anttila, NIGD News and Notes April 2006
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.

The European Social Forum
By Matti Kohonen, NIGD News and Notes April 2006
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.

United States Left And United States Social Forums
By Marc Becker, NIGD News and Notes April 2006

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.

Hard Questions on the WSF Debate: the relationship between the WSF, political parties and governments.
Compiled by Ruby van der Wekken, NIGD News and Notes February-March 2006
On 10 January 2006, Jai Sen, CACIM, India brings up for debate a main issue which he believes has been left unaddressed in the period leading up to the polycentric WSF 2006, namely the relation between the WSF, political parties and governments. Read the debate that took place between Jai Sen, Teivo Teivainen and Immanuel Wallerstein.

The WSF needs to seriously discuss its relationship with political parties and states
by Marcus Aurelius, NIGD News and Notes February-March 2006
In this interview of Marcus Aurelius with Teivo Teivainen, which appeared in the Brasilian magazine Carta Maior, Teivo addresses the issue of the WSF, political parties and states and throws the hypothesis that “the WSF process has been facing difficulties in answering a question... how is this other world possible, and how can we get to it?... We have a dilemma to solve...”

The interview is followed by a comment from Moema Miranda, Ibase, and collective responsible for the office of the WSF, on what actually constitutes the political of a politicised WSF.

Caracas 2006 – A Chávez show or not?
by Anna Ylä-Anttila, NIGD News and Notes February-March 2006
The author ponders the question of whether the Caracas forum was a showcase of the boliviarian revolution and Chavez regime? Touching the topics of Chavez financial, logistical, and personal support and his overwhelming media attention, Anna explains that “El Presidente did use the opportunity to his best advantage but it did not dominate the actual content of the forum”.

The World Social Forum and the Bolivarian Revolution
by Hanna Laako, NIGD News and Notes February-March 2006
In these footnotes of a novice to the WSF as she calls her article, Hanna recounts her “street view” experiences at the WSF complemented with her background knowledge of the “so called leftist phenomena in Latin America”, and discusses its two sides: “the common front for alternartives” and the “be the change you want to see”. Hanna concludes by asking “what does all this mean for the left wing processes?”

Bamako Appeal spikes controversy
Compiled by Ruby van der Wekken, NIGD News and Notes February-March 2006
On 18 January 2006, one day before the opening of the Bamako polycentric WSF 2006, a gathering took place of some 80 invited altermondialists from different parts of the world. The gathering was not an official WSF activity but issued a statement at the end of the meeting, the Bamako Appeal, a text organised around 10 bullet points. The conference and the appeal gave rise to controversy and debate, both regarding its process and the content of the Appeal. Read a compilation of the exchanges between NIGD and Debate list members.

 ...That Another World is Possible
by Antonio Martins, NIGD News and Notes February-March 2006
“Recent criticisms against the World Social Forum (WSF) have been made by well-intentioned people, but reveal a reactionary thinking. They introduce a certain logic into the alterglobalisation movement that characterises the Left in the 20th century, and led it to a historic failure.” This is the opening statement of Antonio in his article, which addresses certain recent writings regarding the WSF, as well as the Bamako Appeal. He makes a “criticism of the criticisms” of the WSF process they entail.

2005

The World Social Forum : Democratic Structurelessness?
by Tuomas Ylä-Anttila, NIGD News and Notes December 2005
The methodology of the WSF has been characterised as an open space. However, Tuomas Ylä Anttila argues that recognising the existence of power relations and the need to come up with decisions, implies that the WSF needs two different normative frameworks for its debates : one for the Forum itself, and another one for the International Council.

2. WSF info via Public Libraries
By Mikael Böök, NIGD News and Notes December 2005
The idea of a public library is to make all information available without delay to all people. This idea is democratic, indeed, democracy is not possible without a well-developed, modern public library system. Well-developed means, that the society has invested and continues to invest in its library system. Modern means that the internet is recognized as a new branch on the growing tree of the library. Citizens need to know about the World Social Forum via the libraries. Read more on this NIGD project which is planning its upcoming events in Bamako.

The WSF : committing to activism
by Ruby van der Wekken, NIGD News and Notes December 2005
The Africa commission of the WSF in Finland (ACWSF) continues in the run up to WSF 2006. In a recent meeting of the Commission, visiting guest Anthony Baah (African Labour Researchers' Network) compared the going to a WSF with the going to a Haj and said that the commitment made to activism was an important result coming forth out of participating in the WSF process. Read more in the report from this meeting as well as other news from the commission at the ACWSF website

Report African Social Forum process 2004-2005
NIGD News and Notes December 2005
This report issued by the Secretariat of the African Scoial Forum process, provides an extensive overview of the continental african social forums as well as regional council meetings in the African Social Forum process of 2004-2005, with a view towards WSF Bamako 2006 and WSF Kenya 2007.

II. Global Civil Society : A Concept Worth Defining; A Terrain Worth Disputing
by Peter Waterman, NIGD News and Notes December 2005
Peter Waterman discusses Global Civil Society, and the case of the WSF and ILO and concludes that utopianism is a necessity : a map of global civil society that does not have a utopian dimension is not even worth a first glance.

2. WSF Bamako
by Antonio Martins, NIGD News and Notes November 2005
Antonio Martins (Attac Brasil and WSF Secretariat) wrote a report to the newly established Africa Commission of the WSF in Finland (ACWSF), after his attendance to a preparatory meeting of the polycentric WSF 2006 in Bamako, Mali (30 September – 3 October).

A Debate on the Role and Nature of the WSF
Marc Becker, Patrick Bond, Andile Mngxitama, Trevor Nwgane, Heikki Patom�ki, Teivo Teivainen and Peter Waterman
The debate starts off with an article of �Heikki Patom�ki and Teivo Teivainen: The World Social Forum: an Open Space or a Movement of Movements?�, followed by a critique by Peter Waterman.

Marc Becker writes on the return of Hugo Chavez to the WSF, and Peter Waterman poses questions around the enthusiastic reception Chavez, however not Lula, received this year.

Trevor Nwgane shares with us two essays in connection to the WSF 2007 coming to Africa. Andile Mngxitama also writes about the WSF coming to Africa, in his article "WSF: The colonisation of resistance?"

The debate is closed with �The Third way� by Heikki Patom�ki, written in response to the articles of Trevor Nwgane and Andile Mngxitama. The Third way is a reflection on the NGO-reformism versus radical, spontaneous grass-roots activism dichotomy often posed also in relation to the WSF. This is followed by a commentary of Patrick Bond on Heikki�s �Third way�.

Making The Road Whilst Walking
Peter Waterman, NIGD News and Notes May 2005
This paper was provoked by attendance at a meeting of the World Social Forum's International Council and in particular its Communications Committee, which took place from March 28th until April 2nd in the Netherlands . Part description, part experience, part commentary and part conceptualisation, it attempts to understand the WSF in terms of cultural politics (or a global emancipatory culture). It is extended by links, bibliography, resource listings and appendices

Toward a Nordic Social Forum?
Katarina Sehm Patomäki
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?

Is Structurelessness Democratic?
Tuomas Ylä Anttila
The methodology of the WSF has been characterised as an open space. However, Tuomas Yl� Anttila argues that recognising the existence of power relations and the need to come up with decisions, implies that the WSF needs two different normative frameworks for its debates : one for the Forum itself, and another one for the International Council.

Strategies from within..
Katarina Sehm Patomäki, NIGD News and Notes February 2005
This speech was delivered on 22 February 2005 at the seminar �Why Global Democracy?� at the London School of Economics and on 23 February 2005 at a seminar on the future of global justice movements at the �Framtidsbaren� in Malm�, Sweden

2004

Un Espacio de Movimientos, un Espacio que se Mueve: Pedagog�as del Foro Social Mundial
Teivo Teivainen
The WSF 2005 of Porto Alegre was launched on the 14th of June 2004 in S�o Paulo. Teivo Teivainen sat in the panel at the launch of the Fifth WSF in S�o Paulo and talked about the Pedagogy of the World Social Forum (Spanish)