Solidarity theme of North-South dialogue
By Sean Healy
NEW DELHI — A round-table discussion on "North-South dialogue: youth perspectives" was held here September 22-23. Organised by the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY), the dialogue involved representatives from 37 organisations in 23 countries.
The South Asian region (India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan) had a particularly strong presence, but there were also delegates from western Europe, Angola, South Africa, Sudan, the Middle East, Japan, North Korea, Vietnam and Australia. International organisations such as the World Federation of Trade Unions, Women's International Democratic Federation and the International Union of Students were also represented.
Particular focus was on environment and development, the new global political situation and the importance of international solidarity.
The dialogue began with presentations by three keynote speakers: Alex Sceberras Trigona, the former foreign minister of Malta and a leading member of the Labour Party; Stephen Robson, the secretary of the Perth branch of the Democratic Socialist Party in Australia; and Romesh Chandra, the president of the United Nations subcommittee on racism, racial discrimination, apartheid and decolonisation.
Trigona focused on the political and economic consequences of the collapse of the Soviet Union, arguing that "the failure of this particular manifestation of communism ... doesn't mean that all experiments have failed. We should see the Soviet Union as a sort of Paris Commune of the last century, as an experiment in changing society."
Trigona also described the increased rate of exploitation of the Third World since the collapse of the Soviet Union. "The rich countries are exploiting their advantages, and certainly there has been no 'trickle down' of wealth from the rich to the poor, just as there hasn't been any 'trickle down' of the 'peace dividend'."
Robson discussed the need for socialists and progressive people to stress a vision of a new society in the face of increasing world misery. "We need to be confident in articulating the principles of the socialist movement: democratic, emancipatory in all aspects."
Focusing on the global imbalance of wealth and power, Robson stated that "humanity today is at a turning point ... it is in mortal danger because of the present unjust world economic and political order."
Robson stressed the need for solidarity and for the progressive movement to take the political initiative internationally. He also drew attention to environmental issues.
The round table provided an opportunity for many other discussions to take place as well. A point stressed by many participants was that solidarity was not a passive or abstract concept, but an active one of siding with the oppressed and exploited peoples of the world.
Participants also wanted to take the discussion broader than just affiliates of WFDY.
The dialogue was followed by a two-day meeting of the General Council of WFDY, planning campaigns on both an international and a regional level.