Globalise Resistance
Encyclopedia
Globalise Resistance is a British anti-capitalist
activist group. The group was established after the emergence of the anti-globalisation movement and sought to bring together a broad array of organisations opposed to neo-liberal capitalism
and corporate power.
The group has organised conferences on the issues of the movement and organised transport to demonstrations at international summits. In 2001, for instance, GR organised a train for those wishing to participate in protests in Genoa. This was banned for a time by the French government, but ultimately reinstated, through threats of strike action by French railway workers and complaints from leading figures in the Genoa Social Forum who were organising the protests.
On its website, the group explains "We believe the broader the movement and the more inclusive it is, the greater its chances of success. We seek to increase the involvement of Trade Unions and to increase collaboration between different strands of the movement, including environmentalists, NGOs, progressive faith groups and other campaigning organisations." Their emphasis on the radical possibilities of younger anti-capitalist activists joining with trade unions (as in the teamster/turtle kids alliance that shut down the WTO in Seattle in 1999) is demonstrated by their co-organising for actions such as the protests held in support of cleaners at Canary Wharf
during the European Social Forum
in London in 2004.
GR has been heavily involved in the three European Social Forum
s. Through involvement in the ESF process GR was key to getting the call for the largest global day of protest against the impending Iraq war on February 15 2003
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php?article_id=3323. Critics have argued that this is a way for members of the Socialist Workers' Party
to participate in the organisation of the events from which political parties are banned.
Although founded in response to the burdgeoning anti-capitalist movement, GR has also engaged with other issues. It opposed the wars against Afghanistan and Iraq and was heavily involved in protests against the visit of the president of the United States George W. Bush
on 21 November 2003.
Globalise Resistance Scotland were heavily involved in the G8 Alternatives
coalition, one of the groups organising protests in Scotland against the G8 in 2005.
Since the G8 Globalise Resistance has been involved in direct action to attempt to shut down the WTO in Hong Kong alongside Korean sister group 'All Together', worked alongside anti-corporate campaigners in Russia on issues such as environment pollution and the unaccountable wealth of Russia's oligarchs and through membership of the committees for the campaign against Climate Change and No2ID helped build respectively the global demonstrations against Climate Change in December 2005, and the ongoing campaign against ID cards in the UK.
Recently, the organisation was represented at the World Social Forum
held in Nairobi
, Kenya
. They participated in a slum march in Kibera
the largest slum district on the outskirts of Nairobi, where people live in appalling conditions. However South African
and Kenyan shack dwellers vigorously opposed this march on the grounds that it had been organised by the Northern NGO left without consultation with the people of Kibera.
movement. For example, SchNEWS
, with contributions from Earth First!
and Reclaim the Streets
, describes Globalise Resistance as a front group for the Socialist Workers Party.
Anti-capitalism
Anti-capitalism describes a wide variety of movements, ideas, and attitudes which oppose capitalism. Anti-capitalists, in the strict sense of the word, are those who wish to completely replace capitalism with another system....
activist group. The group was established after the emergence of the anti-globalisation movement and sought to bring together a broad array of organisations opposed to neo-liberal capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
and corporate power.
The group has organised conferences on the issues of the movement and organised transport to demonstrations at international summits. In 2001, for instance, GR organised a train for those wishing to participate in protests in Genoa. This was banned for a time by the French government, but ultimately reinstated, through threats of strike action by French railway workers and complaints from leading figures in the Genoa Social Forum who were organising the protests.
On its website, the group explains "We believe the broader the movement and the more inclusive it is, the greater its chances of success. We seek to increase the involvement of Trade Unions and to increase collaboration between different strands of the movement, including environmentalists, NGOs, progressive faith groups and other campaigning organisations." Their emphasis on the radical possibilities of younger anti-capitalist activists joining with trade unions (as in the teamster/turtle kids alliance that shut down the WTO in Seattle in 1999) is demonstrated by their co-organising for actions such as the protests held in support of cleaners at Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf is a major business district located in London, United Kingdom. It is one of London's two main financial centres, alongside the traditional City of London, and contains many of the UK's tallest buildings, including the second-tallest , One Canada Square...
during the European Social Forum
European Social Forum
The European Social Forum is a recurring conference held by members of the alter-globalization movement . In the first few years after it started in 2002 the conference was held every year, but later it became biannual due to difficulties with finding host countries...
in London in 2004.
GR has been heavily involved in the three European Social Forum
European Social Forum
The European Social Forum is a recurring conference held by members of the alter-globalization movement . In the first few years after it started in 2002 the conference was held every year, but later it became biannual due to difficulties with finding host countries...
s. Through involvement in the ESF process GR was key to getting the call for the largest global day of protest against the impending Iraq war on February 15 2003
February 15, 2003 anti-war protest
The February 15, 2003 anti-war protest was a coordinated day of protests across the world expressing opposition to the then-imminent Iraq War. It was part of a series of protests and political events that had begun in 2002 and continued as the war took place....
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php?article_id=3323. Critics have argued that this is a way for members of the Socialist Workers' Party
Socialist Workers Party (Britain)
The Socialist Workers Party is a far left party in Britain founded by Tony Cliff. The SWP's student section has groups at a number of universities...
to participate in the organisation of the events from which political parties are banned.
Although founded in response to the burdgeoning anti-capitalist movement, GR has also engaged with other issues. It opposed the wars against Afghanistan and Iraq and was heavily involved in protests against the visit of the president of the United States George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
on 21 November 2003.
Globalise Resistance Scotland were heavily involved in the G8 Alternatives
G8 Alternatives
G8 Alternatives was a coalition of activist groups set up to co-ordinate actions around the 31st G8 summit held at Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, Scotland....
coalition, one of the groups organising protests in Scotland against the G8 in 2005.
Since the G8 Globalise Resistance has been involved in direct action to attempt to shut down the WTO in Hong Kong alongside Korean sister group 'All Together', worked alongside anti-corporate campaigners in Russia on issues such as environment pollution and the unaccountable wealth of Russia's oligarchs and through membership of the committees for the campaign against Climate Change and No2ID helped build respectively the global demonstrations against Climate Change in December 2005, and the ongoing campaign against ID cards in the UK.
Recently, the organisation was represented at the World Social Forum
World Social Forum
The World Social Forum is an annual meeting of civil society organizations, first held in Brazil, which offers a self-conscious effort to develop an alternative future through the championing of counter-hegemonic globalization...
held in Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. They participated in a slum march in Kibera
Kibera
Kibera is a division of Nairobi Area, Kenya, and neighbourhood of the city of Nairobi, located from the city centre. Kibera is the largest slum in Nairobi, and the second largest urban slum in Africa...
the largest slum district on the outskirts of Nairobi, where people live in appalling conditions. However South African
Abahlali baseMjondolo
Abahlali baseMjondolo , also known as AbM or the red shirts is a shack-dwellers' movement in South Africa which is well known for its campaigning for public housing. The movement grew out of a road blockade organized from the Kennedy Road shack settlement in the city of Durban in early 2005 and now...
and Kenyan shack dwellers vigorously opposed this march on the grounds that it had been organised by the Northern NGO left without consultation with the people of Kibera.
Criticisms
Globalise Resistance has been criticised by many in the anarchist and autonomist direct actionDirect action
Direct action is activity undertaken by individuals, groups, or governments to achieve political, economic, or social goals outside of normal social/political channels. This can include nonviolent and violent activities which target persons, groups, or property deemed offensive to the direct action...
movement. For example, SchNEWS
SchNEWS
SchNEWS is a free weekly publication from Brighton, England, which has been running since November 1994. The main focus is environmental and social issues/struggles in the UK – but also internationally – with an emphasis on direct action protest, and autonomous political struggles...
, with contributions from Earth First!
Earth First!
Earth First! is a radical environmental advocacy group that emerged in the Southwestern United States in 1979. It was co-founded on April 4th, 1980 by Dave Foreman, Mike Roselle, Howie Wolke, and less directly, Bart Koehler and Ron Kezar....
and Reclaim the Streets
Reclaim the Streets
Reclaim The Streets is a collective with a shared ideal of community ownership of public spaces. Participants characterize the collective as a resistance movement opposed to the dominance of corporate forces in globalization, and to the car as the dominant mode of transport.-Protests:Reclaim The...
, describes Globalise Resistance as a front group for the Socialist Workers Party.