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Overview Reinventing Globalization 2005 is a two-day conference scheduled to take place in New York City, over the weekend of November 19th and 20th. Sponsored by a consortium of NGOs and foundations, it will take place at Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations on East 34th Street in Manhattan. The goals of the conference are simple:
The fundamental premise of the conference is that most of what we see in the current model of globalization is not inevitable. In fact, the only dimensions of globalization that may be inexorable are the rapid spread and reduced cost of global communications and the dramatic reductions in the cost of transportation. All of the rest – the institutions of governance for globalization, the multilateral trading system, the rules and regulations – have been “invented” by governments, some elements of civil society, and multinational corporations. And there is little evidence that they were invented in the only way in which they could possibly function. As the shortcomings of the current model of globalization become more apparent, the need to identify positive alternatives to the existing processes and institutions calls for reinventing globalization so that it meets better the needs and aspirations of all stakeholders around the world. And that process is already underway! Hundreds of organizations, spread around the world, are promoting new approaches to the governance of globalization, new strategies for strengthening local and regional economies and cultures to resist the negative impacts of globalization, and creative ways to distribute the benefits of globalization more equitably. Reinventing Globalization 2005 will bring together representatives of a sample of these efforts to discuss “what’s working” and “what’s not.” It will expose the participants to many different strategies and tactics that are working in different contexts. And it will explore ways to strengthen the efforts of all who participate by seeding “communities of practice” on a range of possible topics, including framing and reframing globalization issues, building unusual coalitions, pressuring international institutions and multinational corporations in innovative and effective ways, and engaging in more effective media work. In brief, communities of practice are defined as “groups of people who share a concern, a set of problems, or a passion about a topic, and who deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area by interacting on an ongoing basis.”[1] Practitioners connect to solve problems, share ideas, set standards, build tools, and develop relationships with peers and stakeholders. A community of practice is a particular type of network, which is distinguished by its focus on collaborative learning and innovation as well as collective action.[2] Finally, communities of practice are informal and emergent by nature—conference participants will decide which topics merit further attention and collaboration. This meeting is the second in a series that began with 30 NGOs and funders in October 2004. It will include approximately 70 participants from grassroots organizations, policy and action NGOs, and academic and media institutions, as well as approximately 30 participants from the funder community. Unfortunately, space constraints at the School of Industrial and Labor Relations limit us to a maximum of 100 participants. If it proves useful, there are likely to be opportunities to expand the meeting further in coming years.
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