A polycentric forum...
...for a convergent social movement
Eric
Toussaint
The next World Social Forum is to be... polycentric.
It will take place in 2006, in a «decentralised» fashion,
in Caracas (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Bamako
(Mali) and Karachi (Pakistan).
Defining priorities and common axes
Interview
with Eric Toussaint by Sergio Ferrari in collaboration
with UNITE (Platform of Swiss NGOs for cooperation
and solidarity).
To grasp the potential of
the World Social Forum (WSF) you first need to evaluate
the present state of the social movement on a global
scale, given the close relationship between the forums
and mobilisation. «In that respect,
I am very optimistic, if the increase in mobilisation
in 2005 is anything to go by», asserts Eric Toussaint,
a Belgian historian and activist and president of
the Belgium-based Committee for the Abolition of the
Third World Debt (CADTM). Eric Toussaint - who is
also a member of the WSF’s International Council (i.e.
the coordinators) considers that this next step «needs
a clear definition of the priorities of the citizens’
agenda on a global level». The process is already
under way ... or at least, it has begun.
Sergio
Ferrari (S.F.) : A year after the 5th World
Social Forum at Porto Alegre (in Brazil, in January
2005), in what frame of mind is the international
social movement?
Eric
Toussaint (E.T.) : In 2005, there was a significant
revival of mass mobilisation after a slump between
mid-2003 and late 2004. In fact, the next WSF will
take its place in a two-sided world picture. One side
is very gloomy: the barbarity in Iraq, the continuing
brutal repression of the Palestinians, the determined
attacks on the mechanisms of collective solidarity
throughout the world by businesses and governments,
mass redundancies, the undermining of economic, social
and cultural rights. In a word, the neo-liberal offensive
is forging ahead, despite the fact that its ideological
foundations have lost all credibility in the eyes
of the world’s populations.
On the other side is a glimmer
of hope : a significant revival and spread of social
and citizens’ struggles, with an increased ability
to foil specific political projects, such as the European
Constitutional Treaty, or economic ones, such as the
Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA). Without
a doubt, 2005 is ending on more positive and interesting
perspectives for the social movements than did 2004
(see below).
S.F.
: Given the context, then, what are the main aims
of the coming polycentric session of the WSF, in January
2006?
E.T.
: First of all, it’s important to remember the success
of the 5th WSF at Porto Alegre, at the beginning of
this year, with its 150,000 participants. And the
1st Mediterranean Social Forum in Barcelona, in June
2005, where over 1000 delegates from the Arab world
and numerous Europeans took part.
The 6th WSF presents us
with a challenge that was not planned for. In 2004,
the frenetic rhythm of the « World Social Forum process
» was opened up to debate within the International
Council. A number of national and continental forums,
as well as various campaigns and movements (including
the CADTM), considered that the frequency of WSFs
was far too high and that it would be preferable to
organise them on a biennial basis. Finally, it was
agreed to carry on holding an annual session throughout
2005, 2006 and 2007, but to decentralise it to several
venues in 2006.
From Porto Alegre to the three continents
S.F.
: So the new polycentric forum, will also be held
in Caracas and in Bamako, at the end of January 2006,
then in Karachi a few months later...
E.T.
: That’s right. But again, instead of avoiding overload,
all the WSF actors will be coming under intense pressure
at an even faster pace all through the first half
of 2006. In January, there will be a North-African
pre-forum to prepare the forum at Bamako (capital
of Mali), due to take place from 19 to 23 January.
From 24 to 29 January, the Caracas meeting will attract
particular attention due to the Bolivarian revolutionary
process in that country. The third decentralised session
will be held several months later in Karachi (Pakistan),
preceded in January by a national preparatory meeting
in Lahore. The Pakistani organisers of the WSF have
had to delay their session by a few months after the
recent earthquake in Kashmir. Other activities are
also planned in South-East Asia. Then in late April
or early May, the 4th European Social Forum will take
place in Athens (Greece). In other words, we have
a very busy programme ahead...
S.F.
: What are the biggest challenges of the polycentric
process?
E.T.
: The main aim is to develop regional dynamism while
avoiding fragmentation. There is a definite risk of
this in 2006, since by not having a single venue,
there will not be the opportunity for campaigns and
movements to exchange views and to discuss and define
their priorities of action, just when the need to
progress in defining collective action is felt to
be most pressing.
Decentralised unification
S.F.
: Should we expect to see certain contradictions arise
between the clarification of options and a decentralised
process?
E.T.
: That is certainly happening, but I am convinced
that the dynamics of the social movement will prevail
and that priority will be given to unifying the process.
I came out of a recent international meeting in Geneva
in October feeling very optimistic. A number of active
networks and movements from all four corners of the
world were present, including Via Campesina, the CADTM,
Focus on the Global South, the CUT of Brazil (the
Unified Workers Confederation), several groups of
ATTAC and European trade unions. We took stock of
the last few years’ actions and we made headway in
clarifying certain future priorities. Everything points
towards a process of broad consultation to draw up
these essential axes.
S.F.
: With such an unusual procedure, can the International
Council, as the coordinating instance of the WSFs,
really manage to keep up with the entire process?
E.T.
: The next meeting of the International Council is
in March 2006, when we will see how the first three
forums went. There is a risk that we might find it
hard to keep abreast of events, even though we are
well aware of the efforts required to respond to the
new challenges.
Convergence of contents
S.F.
: What will these decentralised forums be about? Will
each session have its own programme, or will there
be an identical agenda for all?
E.T.
: If we analyse the central themes of these three
big meetings, we see a clear convergence. In this
sense, I don’t think there is any risk of political
fragmentation. For example, an important axis from
the Porto Alegre forum of 2005 was « Political power
and struggles for social emancipation » will be present
in all three meetings. Still, the biggest and most
crucial challenge is to identify priorities for common
action. It’s nothing new : the same need was emphasized
both in the « Porto Alegre Manifesto », presented
by a group of well-known intellectuals at the 5th
session of the WSF and by the Assembly of Social Movements
at the same gathering. At Porto Alegre, in 2005, we
agreed on an agenda of common activities. Now we absolutely
must decide on our priorities. We can have 2 or 3,
but not 15 or 20... I get the impression that most
of the constituent members of the WSF, in all their
diversity, agree that this is necessary, so I am very
optimistic about it.
Consultation on priorities
S.F.
: What will these priorities be?
E.T.
: Opposition to war, for example. That could be put
into effect by a big international mobilisation on
the anniversary of the attack on Iraq. Solidarity
with the Palestinian people could be added to it as
another shared preoccupation; and so could opposition
to the occupation of Afghanistan and other war-mongering
projects, like Plan Colombia. We’re trying to find
a single date for all these mobilisations, probably
in March 2006.
Anti-debt campaigns are
another essential axis, broadly debated at the Havana
meeting, in September 2005. It would be highly symbolic
if we could organise the occupation of the World Bank
and International Monetary Fund (IMF) premises in
several countries on the same day. Furthermore, if
- as all indications seem to suggest - the ministerial
meeting of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), to
be held in Hong Kong in December 2005, ends once more
in failure, mobilisation against the continuation
of the negotiations which this institution orchestrates
will become a rallying point for the social movements.
For the time being, I must
insist, these are only proposals. Which is why we
need a far-reaching process of consultation to define
the two, three or four priorities that will be shared
by the entire World Social Movement.
Social Movements : a
dynamic upswing
For Eric Toussaint, 2005
saw a dynamic upswing in the social movement on a
global scale. “Mass mobilisation against the international
institutions has taken off again... In early July
2005, 250,000 people took part in the demonstration
against the G8 in Scotland - as many as in Genoa,
in 2001. At the end of September in Washington, there
was a large mobilisation against the World Bank and
the IMF. At the same time, in the United States, thousands
were demonstrating against the war in Iraq, which
had not happened the previous year. Then there were
the anti-WTO demonstrations in Geneva in July and
October, and the big demonstration against the FTAA
at the Peoples’ Summit in Mar del Plata (Argentina)
in early November. And so on.”
Parallel to these movements,
the Belgian historian reports, “in recent months,
certain events have shown that the neoliberal project
is undergoing a deep crisis of legitimacy. There have
been George Bush’s failures in the United States,
over his handling of the hurricane disaster which
particularly affected Louisiana; his total military
failure in Iraq; the fact that the US president cannot
travel abroad without provoking huge demonstrations
of opposition; the failure of the concept of « Blairism
», in Britain and in Germany, and even of “ Lula’s
way” in Brazil. All these elements are part of the
neo-liberal crisis”.
As for Latin America, Eric
Toussaint emphasises certain positive points, which
bring hope: “ The Zapatistas’ new initiative, “The
Other Campaign”; the possibility that Evo Morales
might win the Bolivian elections in December - and
the discussions underway in that country about recovering
their natural resources; the mobilisation in Ecuador
to overthrow President Lucio Gutierrez; and of course
the ongoing Bolivarian process in Venezuela, with
its massive popular support”.
In Europe, he goes on, “
three things seem to me to be important: firstly,
the multiplication of ’classic’ social struggles waged
by workers (in France, Belgium, Italy, etc.). Secondly,
the riots that have erupted in the proletarian suburbs
of several French towns, which are perfectly legitimate
and which will force the various social movements
and political parties to reconsider their positions
and to take action - not just to talk more about it.
That also concerns the World Social Forum. Finally,
the resounding failure of the draft project for the
European Constitutional Treaty, enacted by the French
and Dutch referenda. Not forgetting the critical struggle
against the “ Bolkestein Directive” - fought with
the participation of the European Confederation of
Trade Unions (ECTU). The Directive aims to increase
competition in the labour market between workers within
the European Union”.
Eric Toussaint concludes
that it has been a year of citizens’ struggles, a
year of renewed social mobilisation which also affects,
in one way or another, and with their own characteristics,
several Asian and African countries.
Sergio Ferrari
Eric Toussaint is President of the
Committee for the Cancellation of the Third World
Debt (CADTM).
Social
Forum
Another
Africa is Possible - January 2006
Mediterranean
Social Forum: Womens Assembly meets - July 2005
Mediterranean
Social Forum - June 2005
New
Successes, New Challenges - February 2005
Globalise
Struggle, Globalise Hope! - February 2005
Source: www.internationalviewpoint.org/article.php3?id_article=923
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