Immanuel Wallerstein on the Alterglobalization Movement
Discussion
This is from a reading note in 2006, which didn't mention the source article:
Previous anti-systemic movements had a two-stage conception:
- 1) acquire state power
- 2) transform the world
After 1945, they were spectacularly successful in the first stage:
- 1) one third of the world was ruled by communist parties: 1-3 by social democratics, and 1/3 by national liberation movements.
- 2) But, they failed at the 2nd stage and this is what caused the 1968 revolution (1966-1970). The New Left said to the Old Left: "you didn't kept your promises".
Three attempts were then made to find new strategies:
- 1) January 1st 1994: the Zapatista uprising
- 2) Seattle 1999
- 3) Porto Alegre 2001
All 3 were partially successful : Seattle blocked the WTO and united old and new forces. The WSF was global as no other movement had been before, and no longer dominated by the North.
There are 3 basic critiques:
- 1) from the centrist forces, who say the WSF does nothing concrete to change the world
- 2) from the old left organizations, who say that the WSF is objectively counter-revolutionary because it refuses to be socialist
- 3)from anarchists, who claim that there is a hidden hierarchy ready to betray the activists
There are also internal critiques:
- 1) that the open space methods lead to stagnation and inaction
- 2) that if decisions have to be taken, a hidden hierarchy is undemocratic, and transparent structures are needed
For Wallerstein, there are now 3 main geopolitical cleavages:
- 1) between the different centers of accumulation (EU, USA, Japan, China)
- 2) between North and South
- 3) between Davos and the WSF
For Wallerstein, who is certain the current system will collapse in 20-50 years, the key conflict is not about neoliberalism but is about: 'what new system will replace it'
For him, the WSF must become a home for multiple action-oriented alliances who can compare notes; and must become totally transparent.