260/YOUR MONEY OR YOUR LIFE!Globalisation has had the positive side-effect of forcing organisa
tions genuinely committed to defending the interests of the oppressed
to link up with other like-minded organisations. Indeed, how can
anyone hope to defend effectively the right to asylum without an
overall view of the situation in the Third World? Or, in the current
situation, how can workers resist the temptation to back 'their'
employer to save a job in 'their' workplace, to the detriment of
workers in neighbouring countries? In short, how can class con
sciousness be sustained? Surely, getting directly involved in debates
and exchanges on an international level is the only solution. How can
an NGO ensure that it remains independent short of linking up with
others in its own country to promote the same demands for social
justice that it raises in far away lands? How can any progress be made
in the fight against exclusion and unemployment without an
ongoing dialogue with the trade union movement?
One often hears the complaint that it is increasingly difficult to
determine exactly who is 'in charge'. The target is no longer the local
boss but rather the board of directors of a multinational company. It
is useless to take on national governments, since the European
Council of Ministers calls the shots. To be sure, it is necessary to adapt
strategy to the changing landscape. But the new forces that can be
harnessed to overcome what is said to be 'impossible' to overcome,
are potentially many times more powerful than before. The key thing
is to be aware of the problems - but also the potential advantages -
of the current situation, and moreover to spare no effort in seeking to
harness this potential. It is important to stress that the need for
determined political will does not imply the stifling of internal debate
within movements. On the contrary, the wealth of social movements
is rooted in their diversity and pluralism. These inner strengths must
be fully protected by ensuring the fullest democracy in relations
between the various component parts of social movements.
Obstacles and New Forms of Organisation
The world over, the labour movement is experiencing a crisis of rep
resentation. The trade union movement and left-wing parties are no
longer seen as the legitimate representatives of their theoretically
natural constituents. The trade union movement is increasingly
unable to defend the interests of workers and their families. Nor has