The Social Forum ProcessThe Social Forum Process

Into the Belly of the Beast

Atlanta ’07

Disclaimer!Disclaimer!

• This presentation is but one perspective on the WSF & USSF

• It is not an “official” document of the process

• Do not operate heavy machinery during this presentation

United States Social ForumUnited States Social Forum

• Atlanta, GA

• June 27 – July 1, 2007

• www.USSF2007.org

• Part of the World Social Forum process

Some Goals of the USSF (1)Some Goals of the USSF (1)

• To unite the struggles of the oppressed here with those of the oppressed in the Third World

• To be a place where the most marginalized & oppressed from Indigenous communities can be heard

Some Goals of the USSF (2)Some Goals of the USSF (2)

• To ensure the full & equal participation of the undocumented

• To link US-based youth organizers, activists, and cultural workers w/counterparts abroad]

• To send a message that there is an active movement in the United States

Some Goals of the USSF (3)Some Goals of the USSF (3)

• To build national networks that will… collaborate with international networks and movements...

• To initiate an ongoing process to contribute to strengthening the entire movement

Adapted from, “We believe…” USSF2007.org

How does a How does a Social Social Forum help Forum help achieve these goals?achieve these goals?Answer lies in the ongoing experience of the

World Social Forum process. So, • What is the World Social Forum?• From where does it come?

Caracas ’06 - Photos by Marc Becker, Taina Vargas & Tim Ledwith

What is the WSF? (1)What is the WSF? (1)

• Global gathering of social movements, activists and thinkers challenging corporate globalization

• Started in 2001 in the Global South– Porto Alegre, Brazil– Counter point to global elite meeting in

Davos, Switzerland

What is the WSF? (2)What is the WSF? (2)• It challenges 2 core features of the current

global order– Neo-liberalism

• Think: Privatization; Cutbacks; Bad Jobs; Tax Cuts/Fee Increases; War on the Poor

• First experiment: Overthrow of democratic government in Chile (1973, year later comes the neoliberal agenda)

• Class alliance: corporate and governing elites around the world hook up…

– Militarism• Think: War Abroad; Imperialism; “Empire”; Drug Wars

What is the WSF? (3)What is the WSF? (3)

• So far it has met annually in the Global South– Brazil (2001, 2002, 2003 & 2005)– India (2004)– Venezuela, Mali & Pakistan (2006)– Kenya (2007)

• But there are hundreds of local, national and regional social fora

• It now involves more than a 100,000 people meeting over nearly a week

• It consists of thousands of events– Marches; rallies; protests– Lectures; workshops; testimonies– Cultural performances; exhibits; parties

What is the WSF? (4)What is the WSF? (4)

What is the WSF? (5)What is the WSF? (5)

• This jamboree-like atmosphere marks the social fora’s key feature:

It is a “open space” where social movements, their activists and thinkers interact

So what’s an “open space”? (1)So what’s an “open space”? (1)• Everyone opposed to militarism and neo-

liberalism is welcome• Most programming is self-proposed by the

participants• Many global political traditions come together in

the forum, for example:– 19th Century (socialism, anarchism, & nationalism)– 20th Century (anti-racism, feminism, new social

movements based on sexuality, disability, alternative lifestyles, participatory democracy)

So what’s an “open space”? (2)So what’s an “open space”? (2)

• The forum does not issue a declaration either on behalf or binding on all its participants

• The forum as a whole does not set movement priorities

So nothing gets done?So nothing gets done?

• To the contrary, movements get together and share strategies, ideas and organize for action

• But neither the process nor any “higher power” forces them to reach pre-determined goals

Where does it come from?Where does it come from?

• Immediate experiences: Seattle 1999, opposition to the World Trade Organization, to “free” trade treaties

• Other global experiences like “People Plan 21” and parallel peoples’ gatherings/alternatives to World Summit on Sustainable Development

So it is totally recent?So it is totally recent?

Important historical forerunners include:

• The socialist “internationals”

• The Pan African congresses

• Antislavery movements

• Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom

But what’s different is…But what’s different is…

• Brings organizers, thinkers and grassroots activists together

• Scale of the encounter (facilitated by globalization)

• Wide range of issues• Expanded tools for ongoing

coordination in-between meetings

So how do we getSo how do we getstarted…started…

……on the USSF?on the USSF?

Work out want we want…Work out want we want…

Will our grassroots be energized by hooking up with others who face the same problems they do… but in other parts of the country?

Work out want we want… (2)Work out want we want… (2)

Are other folks taking on the same kinds of battles?– The same corporations? (Equity

Investments, Coca-Cola, Walmart, ExxonMobil, etc.)

– The same policies? (redlining, cutbacks, gentrification, criminalization; etc.)

Figure out who we need with usFigure out who we need with us

• Who needs to go from our base?

• Which of our allies must be there?

• Are there other folks around the country who we should be speaking with?

Let’s put our heads together!Let’s put our heads together!

• Can we do workshops with that will teach us more about our problems?

• Can we imagine “another world” that solves those problems?

• Can we figure out how to get to that “world”?

• The USSF encourages us to do all three

Propose an eventPropose an event

• www.USSF2007.org

• Look for “Session Proposal” on the site

• Contact people you meet here about hooking up with others

Spread the word…Spread the word…

• Contact your allies and friends everywhere…point them to www.USSF2007.org

• Think about your newsletter, community radio, TV… and see how you can start talking about the USSF

Getting there!Getting there!

• Today we can figure out transportation to & accommodation in Atlanta

• Get a logistics crew together and work on the options

• We can put these up the website: www.USSF2007.org/ne