On the occasion of the anniversary of the 2001 Genoa protests against the G8 Summit, this series of events focuses on the political significance of the European Social Forums and the paths and prospects for alternative global movements. Watch the full recordings.
Events:
1. Genoa and Beyond. The Development of the Alter-Globalisation Movement and the European Social Forum
2. The Crisis of Globalisation and the Prospects for the Alternative
3. International Assembly – 20 Years After G8 in Genoa
Twenty years ago, in July 2001, 23-year-old protester Carlo Giuliani was shot dead by a policeman in the course of the demonstrations against the G8 Summit in Genoa. This summit went down in history for the enormous scale of police brutality, exerted not solely in the streets and at Piazza Alimonda, where Giuliani was killed. Protesters sleeping in the Armando Diaz School became its victims as well along with those tortured at the Bolzaneto detention facility.
The demonstrations were directed against neoliberal globalisation, against the policy of the newly founded World Trade Organization (WTO) acting in the interest of global capital, against the deregulation of the financial markets that has endangered the livelihood of millions of people, particularly in the Global South.
The G8 (and G20) protest movement – the Alter-Globalisation Movement – now can look back on a 20-year history. It made possible new forms of organising: Inspired by the World Social Forums in Latin America, the European Social Forums (ESF) have been cultivated as spaces for alternative thinking and practices. Inspired and supported by the ESF new anti-capitalist movements emerged throughout Europe, with major impact also on party politics. These movements ultimately led to new forms of cooperation between left parties in Europe and to the formation of the Party of the European Left.
1. Genoa and Beyond. The Development of the Alter-Globalisation Movement and the European Social Forum
Note: We apologize for the technical difficulties between minute 26 and 30.
The contributions are recorded in their original language (English, Italian).
This event focuses on the political significance of the European Social Forums and their strategies but also their limitations, as well as their impact on left parties all across Europe.
12 July 2021
18:00 – 20:00 (CET)
Speakers:
- Fausto Bertinotti, former secretary of the Rifondazione Comunista and former President of the Party of European Left
- Raffaella Bollini, former spokeperson of the Genoa Social Forum
- Yiannis Bournous, SYRIZA;
- Marga Ferré, Co-president of transform! europe
- Gabriele Zimmer, DIE LINKE, former chair of the GUE/NGL group in the European Parliament
Moderation:
- Roberto Morea, transform Italia
- Cornelia Hildebrandt, Co-president of transform! europe;
2. The Crisis of Globalisation and the Prospects for the Alternative
Note: The contributions are recorded in their original language (English, Italian).
The victory of neoliberal globalisation has led to an unprecedented catastrophe in which the risks of war increase with the climatic, social, and democratic crisis. ‘Socialism or Barbarism’, as already Rosa Luxemburg said: What are the paths and prospects for an alternative to current capitalism?
Friday, 16 July 2021
18:00 – 20:00 (CET)
Speakers:
- Vittorio Agnoletto, former spokesperson of the Genoa Social Forum
- Katerina Anastasiou, transform! europe
- Judith Dellheim, Rosa-Luxemburg-Foundation
- Marisa Matias, Secretariat of the Party of the European Left, MEP
- Riccardo Petrella, Professor Emeritus, University of Leuven
Coordinator:
- Paolo Ferrero, Vice-President of the Party of the European Left
3. International Assembly – 20 Years After G8 in Genoa
transform! europe was invited to speak at the International Assembly.
Part 1 including the contribution of transform! europe‘s Co-President Cornelia Hildebrandt
Activists of the 2001 Genoa protests, the social forums process, and social movements all around the world discuss on current struggles and ways to rebuild a global connection of social movements.
20 July 2021
9:30 – 13:30 (CET)
Among the speakers are:
Christophe Aguiton (France), Manon Aubry (The Left in the European Parliament, formerly: GUE/NGL), Walden Bello (Philippine), Phyllis Bennis (USA), Heinz Bierbaum (Party of the European Left), Zé Correa (Brazil), Batool Karim Hamdi (Iraqi Social Forum), Cornelia Hildebrandt (transform! europe), Ashish Khotari (India), Kamal Lahbib (Marocco), Edgardo Lander (Venezuela), Marta Lempart (Polish women’s rights activist), Thenjiwe McHarris (Black Lives Matter, USA), Armando De Negri (Brazil, World Social Forum), Carola Rackete (Activist, Sea-Watch), Asad Rehman (COP26 Glasglow 2021), Edmilson Rodriguez (Mayor of Belém, Amazonia), Nandita Shah (India), Moussa Tchangari (Niger), Natasha Theodorakopoulou (Party of the European Left)