IC Meeting on future of IC / Francine Mestrum - read on 27th march ( photo below) - working group - http://openfsm.net/projects/wsfic_fsmci/wsfic-icfuture-homeLink: /projects/wsfic_fsmci/wsfic-icfuture-home

I.Needs

• -Analytical separation IC/WSF event/WSF process
• -Objective: leads to strategy + structures
• -Self-assessment – different from ‘blaming’
• -Diversity and respect for diversity
• -Democracy/transparency/accountability
• -Common basis for divergent analysis (no ‘pensée unique’) – knowledge
• -Preparedness to listen to each other and understand each other
• -New political culture
• -Usefulness for movements and struggles - facilitation

II.Facts

a)At the political level:

• -Pol sit has changed since 2001: multiple crisis + geopolitcal shifts + greater awareness of need for alternatives: greater responsibility
• -New young political actors practising a new pol culture but working mostly at national levels – sustainability? Can they be integrated? Do they want to be integrated?
• -WE have to adapt – continue as before is no option however brilliant the idea/initiative of the founders was – no times new formulas
• -We live in a global world : struggles have to be articulated at different levels
• -There are power relations and there is power in the IC in spite of discourse on ‘horizontality’ and ‘new pol culture’

b)At the practical level

• -We have a charter of principles
• -Basis of work: volunteering – responsibilities? Compatibilities?
• -Financial problems
• -No secretariat
• -Again, in spite if ‘horizontality’ we have heavy structures

III.Questions for solutions

• -Chico’s proposal: dissolve IC and replace by movement of individuals
• Depending on answer to this first question, we could discuss:
• -Survival of IC: how? (and WSF)
• -Power relations and structures needed for demo/transp/accountab + need for commitments
• -Political and academic country analysis in countries where we meet : against pol tourism
• -Possibility for political debate: not for seeking ‘pensée unique’ but possible convergence / on the basis of written contributions? Possible political alliances?
• -Preparing a global assembly of social movements?
• -Mapping the struggles and attendance of IC meetings
• -Financial problem and secretariat? Contribution from members? Others?

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