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Blog PostsThe next steps for IOPS
By Anders Sandstrom at Jan 16, 2011 |
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One of the main purposes of a regional federation could be to, as a response to a request from a group or organization within the region, offer help and support with the activities needed when starting a local chapter/organization and to help already existing organizations in their work to organize, develop and grow. More specifically the help could include sending people from one of the more advanced organizations within the region to the country requesting help and there participate in workshops, seminars, forums, give talks and so on. The regional federation could organize certain sub councils that focused on different tasks such as producing and organizing helpful introduction material, planning talks and so on. In my view this would be a very powerful resource for organizations that are in an initial state and not yet so developed. Talking from own experience it is very hard to get things going when you are only a handful of people in a country devoted to parecon/parsoc. Having access to regional resources would help immensely, not least by increasing motivation.
All of this would of course create costs and would need financing. This is potentially one of the more controversial questions. It is an example of a question that our organizations need to develop a way to deal with that is consistent with parsoc values. Initially a regional federation would have to rely on donations but it is important to explore other more long term possibilities one of which could be to introduce a system where an organization, when it applies for membership of the regional federation accepts to pay a regional due. Over time the federation could build up funds to be used for these expenditures.
One important aspect of the work to establish and run regional federations in the way described above is that it introduces many difficult and most likely controversial questions that would need to be solved in a manner that is consistent with parsoc values. In this way it would also work as a testing ground and “school” for decision making and so on within parsoc organizations.
A project like this would need a lot of work and effort but would be worthwhile in my view. A first step could be to assemble regional meetings where possible and to discuss these matters and for the more developed organizations to discuss the prospects internally. For obvious reasons the more advanced organizations would have to be leading in these efforts.
Anders Sandström
regional support
By Chrysostomou, Jason at Jan 17, 2011 19:31 PM
"Talking from own experience it is very hard to get things going when you are only a handful of people in a country devoted to parecon/parsoc. Having access to regional resources would help immensely, not least by increasing motivation."
Developing structures for greater support between ourselves is a priority at this stage. In most places parsoc advocates will find themselves isolated and disconnected and so finding ways to overcome that is very important. I think establishing regional groups in areas where people are making attempts to organise around parsociety would be a sensible step and I believe that there is potential in Europe to do that. There seem to be enough motivated people, even if small in number springing up in different places to warrant the discussion. A European gathering, as we have started to talk about already via email, would be an opportunity to talk about a European Regional Grouping.
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Re: regional support
By Marty, David at Jan 20, 2011 11:07 AM
Glad to continue our discussion here on Z.
Well, as you know, I agree with both of you. Anders has summed it up really well. I think the part about motivation is an important one.
Motivation is an immaterial asset but at our early stage I believe it to be essential. In our 'infant' stage, isolation is our number one problem, indeed. Isolation is an abstract, yet very real monthly fee substracted from our limited motivation 'budget'. A contribution from a federation of motivated people ready to exchange ideas should cover that 'expense' and allow us to proceed to the next stage where those local chapters would become self-sufficient regarding motivation. I have witnessed the case of one person trying to create discussion within the CNT in Spain and ending up quitting for not receiving any attention, but not necessarily because of discrepancies. At the moment of giving up, this person received emails from other members ready to discuss the proposal, after having ignored it. It was incredible to see how this person who was about to quit suddenly felt 'reloaded' and motivated. (The question now should be: How many people have we lost on the left because of this? I guess that would be another topic for another forum.)
My point is that motivation is as real and necessary as money, and in the early stage of a movement it could rely on the support of an established network ready to provide it through ideas, discussions or plain encouragement. As Anders and Jason have highlighted, this could be one of the functions of a federation. In fact, were it its ONLY function, I personally still would find it enough reason for a federation to exist.
Anders also suggests another role the federation could play, one that would require financial support. I also find this question very important. Anders suggests the idea of...
"...a system where an organization, when it applies for membership of the regional federation accepts to pay a regional due. Over time the federation could build up funds to be used for these expenditures"
I find this to be a good idea, but I also think it requires qualification. Following the same logic as with motivation, I wonder whether this would be applicable at an early stage. In the beginning, my impression is that a local chapter would need to be helped rather than asked a contribution. Perhaps it is what Anders had in mind, I don't know. Maybe you could explain in more details what your idea is.
But the suggestion of a regional federation financed by established local chapters - so that it would be able to help other 'nascient' chapters - is an interesting idea.
Next month (feb 25th) I am meeting for the first time with Anders and other members of PPS, mostly from Scandinavia, in Stockholm. These questions, and many more, will be some of the topics I will be looking forward to talking about.
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