European Social Forum

Friday September 13, 2002 16:00

by Tina Becker

Grasp the opportunity

More than 150 people attended the latest organising meeting for the European Social Forum, which will take place from November 6-10 in Florence.

Comrades gathered last weekend in Brussels to finalise speakers for the various conferences and seminars that will take place, and to discuss a number of other matters, such as translations, transport and accommodation. Although the meeting was pretty technical, in part quite tedious and characterised by a certain apolitical atmosphere, representatives from over 15 countries debated these questions in a fraternal and open way. The more interesting and political discussions always happen in the smoker's corner or afterwards in the pub.

As before, apart from the Socialist Workers Party/Globalise Resistance and CPGB nobody else from Britain was present. The ESF mobilising committee in England is firmly in the hands of the SWP. This fact becomes clear when one takes a closer look at the speakers that it has put forward: Lindsey German, Alex Callinicos, Asad Rahmed, Tariq Ali, John Pilger, Gary Younge, etc. The usual suspects.

As before, the SWP was only present in its Globalise Resistance disguise. However, it is not alone in its attempt to present itself as a 'social movement'. Members of the Ligue Communiste Révolutionnaire in France attend the ESF meetings as trade union delegates. A member of the German Party of Democratic Socialism takes part as the representative of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation. And nobody wants to admit to being a member of Rifondazione Comunista, although RC is the backbone of the Italian anti-capitalist movement and the main organisation in the ESF.

There was some disagreement over who was allowed to put forward speakers or suggest seminars. It looks as though some organisations have done so without being part of their national mobilising committee. "I don't know who the hell put Oskar Lafontaine [former minister in Gerhard Schröder?s government] forward," complained a German comrade, for example. Chris Nineham from the SWP protested that he had never heard of the British 'Campaign against Student Fees', which has proposed a speaker. However, the meeting decided - quite correctly - that everybody would be allowed to put forward speakers or suggestions for seminars. Firstly, this does not necessarily mean that these suggestions will be taken up. Secondly, some national committees are firmly in the hands of one particular organisation, which leaves smaller groups or campaigns no other avenue to participate.

Unfortunately, few people were unduly concerned by the apolitical method of selecting speakers. Apparently, the skin colour and sex of a person are far more important than the likely content of their contribution. Not once did anybody enquire about the political position or ideas of a proposed speaker. "We need women, black people and young people on the platforms," argued comrade Asad Rehman from Globalise Resistance. Quite correct, but should we not also ask what they want to talk about? Apparently not.

I suggested that at our next general assembly meeting (Barcelona in October) we should have a political meeting on the Saturday night - maybe on the situation in Iraq. At the last assembly meeting in Thessaloniki, an interesting debate on Israel-Palestine was organised. For technical reasons it started very late and was badly prepared, but the general idea was a good one, I argued. No one supported my suggestion unfortunately. If the ESF is to become more than an annual talking shop, we need to start engaging politically with one another. How can we unite on a higher level if we do not even know what our political differences are?

However, my suggestion to talk about the future of the ESF in Barcelona was taken up. We urgently need to discuss how we carry on organising. Most comrades seem to agree that we need to move to a higher organisational stage, that we need to build international campaigns, demonstrations and initiatives outside the annual ESF gathering. So far, though, it is unclear how this could be realised.

I will again be putting forward proposals for the election of an accountable and recallable leadership with authority to act. For example, there could be an 'International day against the war on Iraq', where organisations in all participating countries take part in protest activities and demonstrations. Imagine the impact such a well coordinated, international campaign could make. So far, there has not been much enthusiasm for this suggestion. The voices of those who fear centralised organisation are too strong. Yet without centralisation the ESF will turn out to be an impotent shell.

The Social Forum presents an opportunity to regroup and unite the European left. We cannot afford to let this chance slip through our fingers.

Tina Becker