[R-G] The Life--or Death--of the Anti-Globalization Movement

[Macdonald Stainsby]

this article I originally posted without comment. Here I undo that and add 
the following... after a few comrades have indicated their agreement with 
the "dead" assessment.
--
This well meaning anarchist comrade misses the main point of the 
"anti-globalization" movement-- namely that resistance now, not to aspects 
such as this or that military adventure or particular corporations (by 
themselves) must not only be based on forms of direct action that 
demonstrate a way forward both in target and organizing form, but that 
resistance must comprehend of itself globally. This global aspect is the 
part of our analysis that has been most weakened in the wake of "9-11".

Many of the more dogmatic anarcho and autonomists comrades and fighters 
among us never recognize this and would argue the point, but both Cuba and 
more importantly (in terms of "movement identity") Venezuela are great 
examples of those who understand that any success on the national front 
must be accompanied by the right international conditions, and not 
neccessarily on state terms. Further, that when we conceive of this 
movement as an international one, we will have much greater successes. 
North America-- with Canada becoming xenophobic in response to America 
becoming viciously patriotic-- has been the most destructed into 
nationalism instead of internationalism (and continentalism-- the form the 
next great movements will take). This has been the greatest confusion out 
of the post 9-11 "reality", but in the Global South, the movement to 
understand "neoliberalism" "globalization" "free markets" "hidden hands" 
and capitalism in its most ugly and regressive form continues unabated.

The third world is always, due to its placement on the end of the imperial 
ladder, the first to gain the greater consciousness and will continue to 
lead. The World Social Forum and other movements of progressives that grew 
during the intial excitement of the "new" anti-globalization movement are 
all still here.

They are now led almost completely by the third world members, whether 
those liberating factories in Argentina, building alternatives in Venezuela 
or elsewhere. Certainly, as is hardly new, the third world has taken the 
current lead, manifesting in the hundreds of thousands against the various 
institutions and policies that "anti-globalization" activists in the Global 
North did a year and a half ago... but should our friends declare the 
movement "dead" because the North no longer leads?

This kind of globalised, regional strategy is not "dead". Dare I say, it 
has only just begun. What is truly dead are the narrow nationalist ending 
hallways, the ones of protectionism & anti-international politcs in 
imperialist states of lesser power, such as Spain, Canada and Australia, 
and good riddance to that.

Consciousness will (re)catch up here, or else we shall perish. Simple as that.


-- 
Macdonald Stainsby
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/rad-green
In the contradiction lies the hope
		--Brecht.