[DEBATE] : Concerns: UN Conference on World Crisis (G192)

[peter waterman]

Patrick:

I agree with your UNScepticism.

As to whether Francois Houtart is a 'marvellous comrade' as well as a nice
guy? To my mind it is a question of whether he can explain to the movement
(or anyway to me)how he combines his social-movement sympathies with his
UN (interstate) activities.

I note similar ambiguities in the public positions struck by Walden Bello
- another nice guy. Within the space of a month or so, I noted him
recommending anti-capitalist positions to the Belem World Social Forum and
then Global Neo-Keynesian positions (my characterisation) to the Institute
of Social Studies in The Hague.

Given that neo-liberalism has its knickers in a serious twist, it seems as
if 1) various instances of global capitalism are casting around for new
ideas/ideologues, and 2) that various intellectuals associated with the
global justice and solidarity movement are acting in the capacity of
individual lobbyists, consultants, specialists within or around such
instances.

Me, I think this is the moment for maximum radicalism, together with the
movements. But there is within, for example, the World Social Forum, a
powerful tendency towards Global Neo-Keynesian solutions. As well as long
experience of lobbying the hegemons. I think we should preserve or extend
clear blue water between them and us. To paraphrase: if you play in pig
pens, the pigs love it, but you get covered with pig shit.

Engaging, as individuals, with the hegemons means getting into dialogue
and bargaining with individuals and organisations 1,000 times stronger
than we are. We should therefore maximise critique and protest/proposition
activity of the social movements. This is not to reject the notion of
dialogue and bargaining but simply to put this in its right place and in
the right order.
And then to ensure that the movements we claim to speak for, or are
associated with have ownership of any such bargaining, and that it takes
place in the full light of the relevant public.

Best,

Pw


-- 
Peter Waterman
Jacob vd Doesstr 28
2518xn The Hague
Netherlands
Tel: +31 (0)70 3631539
Mob: +31 (0)60 1753 1257
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Riaz K Tayob wrote:
> Both the future of humankind and the planet are at stake...
>
>

Hi Riaz,

I'm not following this conference closely enough but my reading of the
January 2009 summary statement of the group's work left me utterly
depressed that Stiglitz's commission would come up with anything new and
different. Why should Francois' appeal be taken seriously in terms of
content, aside from the fact he's a marvellous comrade?

Haven't we had too many UN ruses in global poli-econ?

Cheers,
Patrick
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