Global Democracy: Civil Society Visions and Strategies (G05) M ay 29-June 1, 2005 M ontréal, Québec, Canada Conference Report Table of Contents___________________________________________ Introduction............................................................................................i Part 1: Opening Plenary Sessions.....................................................1 W elcome ................................................................................................1 Lynn Muthoni Wanyeki ................................................................................................1 Nigel Martin .................................................................................................................1 Rajesh Tandon............................................................................................................2 Opening Panel........................................................................................3 Key Visions and Questions on How to Advance Global Democracy ............................3 1) Empowering a Democratic Civil Society: The World Social Forum (WSF) and Other Major Civil Society Initiatives .......................................................................................4 2) Democratizing the Global Economy and Global Governance: Rethinking the Roles of Multilateral Institutions, Rules, and Key Actors at the Global Level..........................5 3) Realizing the Democratic Potential of Parliamentary Initiatives: National, Regional, and Global Possibilities ...............................................................................................6 4) Building Democratic Linkages at the Local, National, Regional, and Global Levels: Identifying Strategic Possibilities for Responsive Democratic Governance ..................6 Parallel Fora: Building Strategies to Achieve Key Civil Society Visions of Global Democracy .............................................................................7 1) Empowering a Democratic Global Civil Society: The World Social Forum and Other Major Civil Society Initiatives .......................................................................................7 2) Democratizing the Global Economy and Global Governance: Rethinking the Roles of Multilateral Institutions, Rules, and Key Actors at the Global Level..........................9 3) Realizing the Democratic Potential of Parliamentary Initiatives: National, Regional, and Global Possibilities .............................................................................................12 4) Building Democratic Linkages at the Local, National, Regional, and Global Levels: Identifying Strategic Possibilities for Responsive Democratic Governance ................15 . elcome Reception.............................................................................18 Dialogue w ith the United Nations .......................................................19 Part II: Thematic Summary of Conference Tracks.......................22 Track 1: Civil Society Engagement: Changing Territorial Priorities?.22 Diverse Experiences..................................................................................................23 New Avenues for Civil Society Within the Framework of Regional Blocks .................24 Regional Integration Strategies .................................................................................25 Knowledge-Sharing Strategies ..................................................................................27 Other Strategies ........................................................................................................28 Track 2: International Treaties/International Law : A Hierarchy of Values?................................................................................................31 Accountability ............................................................................................................31 Fundamental Conflicts...............................................................................................32 Compliance, Enforcement, and Legal Challenges .....................................................33 Marriage to Other Movements ...................................................................................35 Shifting the Balance of Power....................................................................................35 The Importance of the Citizen....................................................................................36 Loss of State Power ..................................................................................................37 Big Bad Corporations? ..............................................................................................38 Alternative International Bodies .................................................................................39 Summary of Successes.............................................................................................39 Track 3: Global Security: Undermining Democracy?..........................39 Discussion.................................................................................................................40 Strategic Proposal #1: Establish an International Reconciliation Commission on Terrorism...................................................................................................................41 Strategic Proposal #2: Establish a New Partnership between the Military and Civil Society ......................................................................................................................43 Strategic Proposal #3: Make the UN More Transparent and Accountable to Citizens 44 Strategic Proposal #4: Focus civil society efforts on increasing democracy at local levels.........................................................................................................................45 Track 4: Civil Society Participation; Opportunities and Responsibilities...................................................................................47 Making International Institutions Accountable............................................................47 The Cardoso Panel: A Time for Damage Control?.....................................................48 Inside and Outside: Preparing for September............................................................49 A World Parliament ...................................................................................................49 A Hierarchy of Values................................................................................................50 Closing the Loop on Citizen Engagement..................................................................51 Community Capacity to Engage on Global Governance ............................................52 Partnerships across Civil Society...............................................................................53 Accountability and Transparency within Civil Society.................................................53 Track 5: How to Democratically Regulate the Global Economy?.......55 Discussion.................................................................................................................55 Debt ..........................................................................................................................57 International Financial Institutions..............................................................................57 Corporate Social Responsibility.................................................................................58 Trade.........................................................................................................................59 Sustainable Development..........................................................................................59 Financial Flows..........................................................................................................60 Summary...................................................................................................................61 Track 6: Cultural Diversity—M aintaining Cultural Diversity in Global Solidarity?............................................................................................62 The Threat to Cultural Diversity .................................................................................62 Cultural Sustainability, Especially in Relation to Indigenous Cultures ........................63 Linguistic Diversity.....................................................................................................65 The Role of the Media, Especially “Pro-People” Media..............................................66 Pros and Cons of Globalization for Culture and Cultural Diversity .............................67 Three key recommendations: ....................................................................................68 Tw elve M ost Relevant Civil Society Proposals for Building Global Democracy...........................................................................................68 Track 1: Civil Society Engagement; Changing Territorial Priorities ............................68 Track 2: International Treaties, International Law; A Hierarchy of Values? ................69 Track 3: Global Security—Undermining Democracy? ................................................69 Track 4: Civil Society Participation; Opportunities and Responsibilities .....................69 Track 5: How to Democratically Regulate the Global Economy? ...............................69 Track 6: How to Maintain