BobKKKindle$
3rd June 2007, 08:18
The G8 Heiligendamm conference is taking place very soon and doubtless those that are taking part will be able to present powerful opposition to the prevaling ideology of neo-liberalism. The development of the anti-capitalist movement following the 1999 WTO Seattle Conference has encouraged communities across the world to resist the privitisation of public services and has inspired other numerous events and struggles including global protests against the war in Iraq which mobilised 14 million people worldwide on 15th February 2003; and the World Social Forums and their regional off-shoots.
However all of the protests at G8 conferences and other such events such as WTO meetings etc have been symbolic and indirect action- they have certainly demonstrated that powerful opposition exists, but they have not actually changed the material conditions in which people live and the economic and political relationships that exist between developed and developing countries are still chracterised by dependency and exploitation. So I want to know - is there a necessity to 'take it to the next step' - is it advisable, for example, to physically prevent world leaders from meeting and even take arms? Or would that be counter productive - is the current movement 'ok' - especially given that the movement is 'inspiring' others to actively resist neoliberalism? Do we have to 'wait'?
I sometimes get very impatient and frustrated when I see the destruction Capitalism creates and yet revolution seems like a distant prospect.
In addition, what do you think of the G8 protest 'community' in general? Do you think the diversity of groups is a strength of a weakness - given that, in the past some groups have acted independently without any concern for others and the broader interests of the movement - such such as the Anarchist Black blocs. Some of the groups are also reformist - like ATTAC (Association pour la taxation des transactions pour l'aide aux citoyens) - does this present problems? And what about Globalise Resistance in particular - it is an SWP organisation so I am sure you all think very highly of it :blush:
However all of the protests at G8 conferences and other such events such as WTO meetings etc have been symbolic and indirect action- they have certainly demonstrated that powerful opposition exists, but they have not actually changed the material conditions in which people live and the economic and political relationships that exist between developed and developing countries are still chracterised by dependency and exploitation. So I want to know - is there a necessity to 'take it to the next step' - is it advisable, for example, to physically prevent world leaders from meeting and even take arms? Or would that be counter productive - is the current movement 'ok' - especially given that the movement is 'inspiring' others to actively resist neoliberalism? Do we have to 'wait'?
I sometimes get very impatient and frustrated when I see the destruction Capitalism creates and yet revolution seems like a distant prospect.
In addition, what do you think of the G8 protest 'community' in general? Do you think the diversity of groups is a strength of a weakness - given that, in the past some groups have acted independently without any concern for others and the broader interests of the movement - such such as the Anarchist Black blocs. Some of the groups are also reformist - like ATTAC (Association pour la taxation des transactions pour l'aide aux citoyens) - does this present problems? And what about Globalise Resistance in particular - it is an SWP organisation so I am sure you all think very highly of it :blush: