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.