Seattle, 1999: Thousands of protestors from around the world converge on Seattle,
Washington and show that the powerful forces of economic globalization will
not be left un-opposed. Security and law enforcement agencies are unprepared
for what will becomes one of the largest anti-globalization movements up until
that point. Organized labour, environmentalists, anarchists, Marxists, socialists,
communists, social democrats, concerned citizens, etc. - just as a glimpse of
who was in attendance - took to the streets and voiced their concerns. The World
Trade Organization met its match in the crowds and they collectively managed
to shutdown the meetings. This would not be the last time such a mobilization
would occur.
Who were these groups? What movement were they apart of? What is this concept
of ‘anti-globalization’? Why would anyone want to oppose the wonders
of a global market where the dreams of capitalism are finally being achieved?
With the multitude of anti-globalization movements, groups, and activists, as
well as ideological, intellectual, theoretical, and practical currents over
the globe, it should come as little surprise that internal debates emerge within
these circles. If anything should be derived from the term ‘anti-globalization’,
it should be one that highlights the heterogeneous nature of this phenomenon
– not all camps involved in this debate share a common view about what
action needs to be taken, the means of confronting challenges, nor what the
outcome or future should look like.
Many anarchist and Marxism groups, for instance, have extremely conflicting
views about the role of the state, class, labour, as well as the use of militancy/violence.
Social democratic groups, environmental, anti-war, and feminist movements do
not all relate with respects to what part of globalization needs primary attention
or what steps should be taken to tackle particular tendencies (global capital,
patriarchy, ecological destruction). Unfortunately the menace(s) they face are
much more unified in their project: liberalism/neo-liberalism, free-trade, deregulation,
low taxes, and increasingly restricted public rights all seem to be common threads
inside the pro-globalization tribe.
A common perception of this broad movement is one marked with violent protest,
and subsequently an even more violent repression by police and paramilitary
forces. What is often left out are the problems many of these protestors confront:
corporatization, privatization, poverty, and oppression. Whether particular
movements confront state power or free trade, they share a mutual perception
that the current unfolding of events are not inevitable; that progressive social,
economic, and political change is possible.
Anti-Corporate/Free Trade/WTO/IMFMovements
for Localization
The Project for the New American Century