Expressions of international contestation and mechanisms of democratic control

Abstract

In this article, the authors examine various questions regarding the new expressions of international contestation, analysing answers and reactions from states to the emergence of non‐governmental actors opposed to the present world order who claim to propose alternatives to neo‐liberal governance. To do so, the authors identify some of the more visible movements of contestation against economic globalisation, like the Seattle, Prague, and Genoa demonstrations, and, first of all, the four editions of the World Social Forum that have taken place, first in Porto Alegre and latterly in Mumbai. At the same time, the article shows the interstate relations that aim to control and if necessary repress these movements, particularly after the attacks on 11 September 2001, and surveys the main legal measures adopted by governments and international institutions, in particular within the European Union. Finally, an account is given of certain strategies to “jurisdictionalise” international conflicts, which some new kinds of litigants purport to use to give legitimacy and visibility to contested claims by directing them to a third‐party adjudicator (a tribunal, a mediator, a humanitarian body, etc.).

The external control of the accounts of the 144 municipalities of Pará: an implication in the evolution of Brazilian democracy

“…The demands evidenced the collection of control activities over public expenditures, the implementation of public policies generating accountability or capable tools providing it under the legitimacy of citizens, because in order to exist representative activity public judgment is necessary (Avritzer & Wrampler, 2006;Platt Neto, et al, 2007). The notion that all forms of representation, which are intended to be democratic, pass through the scrutiny of public control finds support in much of the literature that identifies, in external control, a daring mission as instrumentalizer of social control (Rojo, Milani & Arturi , 2004, Avritzer & Wrampler, 2006, Platt Neto et al, 2007 There is a fine line of external control for social control called transparency and it only exists with democracy. If the information produced by external control is elaborated and made available in a clear and timely manner, it will contribute to social control.…”

“…The improvement of democracy is done with citizen participation, public debate and control processes (Almeida, 2014). The notion that all forms of representation that are intended to be democratic, should pass through the scrutiny of public control, finds support in much of the literature (Rojo, Milani, & Arturi, 2004;Avtzer & Wrampler, 2006;Platt Neto et al, ????). However, for the popular representation to exist, it becomes latent, first, that external control happens.…”

Why Local Social Forums Emerge Where They do: Beyond Diffusion, Geographical Appropriation

“…Since its inaugural meeting in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in 2001, the WSF has gathered activists engaged in multiple struggles — environment, poverty and inequality, international solidarity, women, food sovereignty, and so on — under the same banner. From 2001 to 2014 the social forum (SF) phenomenon has changed and proliferated at a multitude of scales (Allahwala and Roger, : 409) and around numerous themes: democracy, human rights, education, and more (Rojo et al ., : 615). Though it is impossible to ascertain a number, we can deduce from the activist agendas published on the WSF website that thousands of events take place each year at societal, local and urban scales.…”

Políticas públicas locais e participação na Bahia: o dilema gestão versus política

“…Sociologias, Porto Alegre, ano 8, nº 16, jul/dez 2006, p. 180-214 descentralização, reivindicação de movimentos sociais (Milani, 2005). A participação compõe a agenda política de órgãos tão diversos quanto o Banco Mundial, a OCDE, a União Européia, as Nações Unidas, muitas organizações não-governamentais e integrantes do Fórum Social Mundial (Rojo, Milani e Arturi, 2004). Os anos 90 corresponderam à institucionalização da consulta da população em geral, de associações, dos sindicatos, dos experts e de segmentos empresariais no processo de formulação de projetos de desenvolvimento e de políticas públicas.…”