 |
In South Africa, the merits of the World Social Forum (WSF) have been
the subject of fierce debate. The difficulty experienced in establishing a national affiliated social forum is just one reflection of ongoing strategic conflict. The ‘Social Movements Indaba’ network, established in 2002, is the closest to a gathering of independent left organizations approximating the WSF, and meets annually. Unfortunately, several logical constituencies – organized labor, churches and health activists (in the Treatment Action Campaign) – have not been attracted to joining the Indaba, because its leading groups explicitly reject work within the ruling African National Congress and its Alliance with the Congress of SA Trade Unions and the SA Communist Party.
Such division may be healed in 2008, depending upon the outcome of the political struggle over ANC succession. Further ANC hostility to labor may generate the long-awaited Alliance breakup.
Read Publication 
|
