[Campaignforrealdemocracy] [rdwg] Building a real democracy movement

[Mark Barrett]

reposted at http://www.peoplesassemblies.org/2012/09/28939/

On 21 September 2012 19:42, Steve Freeman <49sfreeman at googlemail.com> wrote:

> Dear all
>
>
> FYI  the following was published in Occupy Times
>
> *
> *
>
> *Building a Real Democracy movement  *
>
>
>
> Every day millions of people struggle against the conditions capital
> imposes on society. People are confronted by economic and social injustice,
> environmental degradation, and the threat of war. Popular democracy appears
> when people begin to act together to organise protests, demonstrations,
> strikes, occupations, and revolutions. The appeal of democracy is universal
> because it offers the prospect of people governing themselves and
> determining their own future.
>
>
> Capital and Democracy are fundamentally opposed. The power of money
> confronts the power of people. Should money *or *people rule the world?
> Capital concentrates more power in the hands of the minority. Democracy
> seeks to mobilise the power of the majority. Both are engaged in a
> protracted worldwide struggle for power, which will decide the future of
> humanity and the survival of the planet.
>
> In the last twenty years the struggle for democracy swept across Russia
> and Eastern Europe, South Africa, Burma, China, Iran, Iraq, Kurdistan, and
> Palestine. Liberal or parliamentary democracy holds out the promise that
> the ‘will of the people’ will prevail and civil liberties will be secured.
> However, the experience of liberal democracy has shown that financial and
> corporate power continues to rule. Around the world people are increasingly
> disillusioned with liberal democracy because it cannot resolve the issues
> of economic injustice and sustainability.
>
> *Democracy’s opportunity *
>
> The Occupy movement was one of many responses to the crisis of capital.
> Spontaneous action caught the authorities off-guard. Now they have regained
> their composure and control. Consequently, Occupy faces a major decision
> regarding whether to convert itself into a more ‘permanent’ organisation
> with long term goals and strategies, or to accept defeat and move on to the
> next protest campaign.
>
> We do not, however, have to invent a new strategy or aims. We need to
> understand the contradictions and alternative pathways within the movement
> itself. The future of Occupy is already there. Three objectives stand out –
> real democracy, economic and social justice, and a sustainable environment.
> It is not that they are opposed to each other. It is more a question of
> strategic priority, emphasis and linkage.
>
> *Movement – campaigns, parties and actions *
>
> Although the US movement began with economic focus on Wall Street, in
> ‘Scenes from Occupied America’, Rebecca Solnit identified the two issues at
> the centre of the movement - “economic justice and real democracy”. She
> says that by “living out that direct democracy every day through assemblies
> and committees”, the movement is “winning through people power”. New York
> Occupiers, like Marina Sitrin, urged people to take the real democracy
> route: “Soon, I hope, in our plazas and parks, our neighbourhoods, schools
> and workplaces, we will all be saying something similar: Real Democracy!”
>
> Real Democracy is the means by which people power can implement economic
> and social justice, and a sustainable environment. Without it, the people
> can protest against injustice and ecological disaster, but like King
> Canute, we cannot stop the tide of capital lapping over us. Occupy has a
> future primarily as an international movement for real democracy. It has to
> win the argument that real democracy is the road to economic and social
> justice and a sustainable environment.
>
> A movement is not a single organisation. The environmental movement, for
> example, has a range of parties, campaigns, think-tanks and direct action
> groups. There is the Green Party, the Alliance of Green Socialists,
> Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Climate Change, Climate Camp and more.
> The trade union movement remains the prime focus for struggles for economic
> and social justice. It has many organisations, publications, and campaigns
> gathered around it.
>
> In contrast, there is no recognisable Real Democracy movement. Occupy
> should become the catalyst for a Real Democracy movement with a range of
> Real Democracy institutions, parties and think-tanks. Occupy should be the
> first organisation to take Real Democracy seriously, but eventually become
> one voice within a broader movement. We should not try to ‘own’ or control
> such a movement but play our part in building it.
>
> [Published in September 2012 Occupy Times]**
>
>
> Steve
>



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