[WSF-Discuss] Participatory Socialist International

[Karl-Heinz Thier]

Being one of the few Europeans who are poor enough not to go to such an event as a Participatory Socialist International in Venezuela and who support Peter Waterman's comments on it, I try to outline the concept behind them - in my view.

In the fight against capitalism, there was one current which can be described like this: emancipation of the individual, self-determination, self-government (by Round Tables of councillors on various levels: neighbourhood, district, town, region - always eligible for being voted in and out; no need for a national state or a political party; no desire of power over somebody else), emancipation from  barter and money (by helping each other through sharing and co-operatives; money is not the center of life; no labour, only voluntary work), respect of nature (by the notion that man cannot dominate the earth), self-sufficiency, subsistence-farming, regionalisation of production (by people not wanting to become rich, but just to have a good life, wanting to be independent of export, economioc growth and international competition), compassion and solidarity with other people on earth who feel likewise. Due to historical contingencies, this current within the movement against capitalism was subdued by the movement, and, on the other hand, is reflected nowadays by the way of life and self-portrait of most indigenous communities.Shortly: Learn from people outside capitalism. Learn from their culture. Dig out your culture, update it.

Actually, we don't need so much a Participatory Socialist International, but rather a lot of communities and grassroot collectives practising this culture. And such a world is not only possible, it's present! Be aware of true socialism emerging and capitalism declining, before true socialism is swallowed up by the cataclysm of capitalism!

Karl-Heinz Thier
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