Evaluation on ESF in Florence, 6-10th november 2002

Paris, 7th december 2002

1. ESF in Florence : an undoubtful success

The ESF in Florence was an extraordinary event, due to the quantity and quality of the participation in the Fortress - 60.000 people (almost 3000 French, 1500 Germans, 1500 Greeks, 1500 Spanish State, 1500 Great Britain, 600 central-eastern ) - and in the streets, almost one million. An enormous quantity of young people expressed their will to change society and world. This quantity, exceeding the expectations, and even the offer, ...in certain situations created organisational problems : the problems were overcome by the good clima, the patience, selfcontrol and concerne of all participants, the commitment of translators, ( the first european Babel experience gave a good result) the tireless work of hundreds of volunteers, the full committment of all the european coordinators.

The political campaign against the Forum, leaded by Italian Prime Minister and some right wing media, the attempt to close the boardars and terrify the inhabitants of Florence, the attempt to criminalise the movement of the movements, was defeated by the strength of Forum and its allies.

2. A new generation

In Florence it was expressed very clearly and in new forms a political relationship between a new generation and traditional left. It is important to go ahead in this direction, using forms that really can allow an exchange, (that was sometimes difficult in Florence, because of the enormous quantity of people, like in the "dialogue" movement-parties) and giving to young people real chances to be actors and not "users" of the Forum.

But young people attended in a collective and political way : for the first time it is possible to see a political active generation after the "empty" 80ies-beginning of 90ies

3. Unity, radicality, authonomy

The most impressive result was the plurality and differencies among all the actors of the ESF, (more than 500 associations and networks) also at individual level, the radicality that was expressed in rejecting neoliberal policies and war, and the strong request for new and broader universal rights.

Unity and radicality - the only possible way to answer to neoliberal policies and war - are conditions for the authonomy of the movement. It means that it is not accepted any political and instrumental design from outside, any side.

For the same reason we reject any attempt to catch the success by moderate forces (some, specially in Italy, opposed the ESF, before it happened) as well as we reject any negative and unrealistic evaluation (article in Le Monde), based on a definition of "extermistic forces" , splitting the left...

The originality and strength of the movement is to have deep roots in the civil societies all over Europe and the world : this is the reason why the dominant politics try to catch or claim it, or even criminalise and divide it (arrests in Italy !), for the same reasons the movement of the movements must be able to keep going on in authonomy, that guarantees to maintain unity and radicality.

4. A public space : a creative fusion and interaction

The ESF was a really open public space, where were active also actors usually far from the networks, groups, social forums, generally speaking, social movements who, with their plural and unite attitude made possible the event. It means that it was possible for the first time at european level to start building a bridge between social movements, peace movements, trade unions. The ETUC was fully involved and the dialogue must go ahead with better organised opportunities. There was an effective dynamic and no separation among activists, intellectuals, a real creative fusion and interaction.

5. A chance for participation and democracy

The ESF was the first real chance for central and eastern countries to be involved in a common project (12 countries attended the ESF) : this common project, to spread and deep democratic feelings and attitudes, started before and took place during the ESF. It was not easy, but we have to go ahead and improve building of exchange and communication between very different cultures, historical backgrounds and economic-social conditions.

6. Improving the protagonism of social movements

The experience was really extraordinary, a sort of birth of an european social movement : what we have definitely to improve is the transversality of some issues, like women cultures and environment culture (after Johannesburg there was a globalisation of the issue), and of some actors : young people, women and migrants. There was a lot of debates about them, but few of them were really expressing themselves. The call of social movements and the agenda approved in Florence on the 10th is an opportunity to build together, in the time before the ESF2003, a process of exchange and integration : in the different campaigns a real european cooperation was expressed, after the three days af meeting and building networks.

6. Keeping on with large and incluive process

For all these reasons, we believe that it is necessary that a more large and inclusive process takes place, and we believe that the next ESF in Paris-Saint Denis will be the chance for all to make a common effort to overcome limits, to better the Florence heritage, using its "spirit" for an open and public space, where participation will be improved and all the social actors will be able to exchange issues, practices, campaigns : a public space belonging to all and everybody.