A-Infos (en) CLAAACG8 Journal: G8 - An Instrument of World Domination

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The G7 was set up in 1975 by Giscard d'Estaing in order to
provide a focal point for the leaders of the most powerful
states to have informal discussions on financial and economic
matters. It brought together the U.S., Japan, France, Germany,
Canada, the United Kingdom and Italy; in effect,  an alliance of
the main powers on the 'right' side of the Iron Curtain. It was
only in 1994 that Russia joined this very closed circle.

Officially, the G8 is happy to issue 'recommendations'. These
are implemented by international institutions like the
International Monetary fund (IMF) and the World Bank, whose
richer members are the major players) or the World Trade
Organisation (WTO), dominated itself by the same countries.

The G8 is a 'democratic' institution in the sense that it brings
together the 'elected' heads of state. But let us not forget the
mechanisms of representative democracy: the media's 'manufacture
of consent', the blank cheque granted to the loudest (or
richest) voices, and a complete lack of popular control on the
actions of these same 'elected' officials. Because of this, the
G8 cannot avoid normal rules of behaviour, and without the
so-called 'anti-globalisation' movement, very few of us would be
aware of the role and the nature of the debates that take place.
Although it would defend itself against the accusation, the G8
is an example of a self-proclaimed world government.

It is, also, an example of the general process by which economic
and political power is concentrated into the hands of a few
individuals, sharing a unique vision of the world: OSEC (The
Organisation for Security and Economic Cooperation which groups
together the 29 most industrialised countries), the World Bank,
the IMF, the WTO and the G8 operate in mutual agreement. Let us
take a look at the remarkable efficiency of this cartel: a
concentration of wealth and power for some; uncertainty, 
poverty and repression for others. Never has the gulf in
inequality been so great: each day 100,000 people die of
starvation; in some 70 countries where approximately a billion
people live, the levels of consumption are today less than what
they were 25 years ago; 1% of the wealthiest people on the
planet have an income equal to that of 57% of the most
impoverished.   
 
In other words, less than 50 million of the most wealthy possess
as much as 2.7 billion of the most poor.  Never have attacks
against the foundations of our systems of social welfare (free
education, health for all, pensions, drinking water etc...) been
so aggressive and consistent. The politics of social breakdown
are a direct result of the actions taken regarding economic
competition. When the Jospin government opens up the capital of
the FEB -French Electricity Board (The Barcelona summit)  or
undertakes the privatisation of pensions (the Charpin
Commission), it is in line with agreements taken at these
meetings.

If the globalisation of trade (in ideas as well as goods)
follows directly from the communication networks which give rise
every day to new technologies, the unequal distribution of
wealth, and the pursuit of a production based politics are the
choices of society where responsibility lies with the political
and economic elites. All these decisions lead to disastrous
effects on society (lack of job security, a lowering of buying
power and the minimum wage) and on the environment (oil-slicks,
deforestation, a rise in traffic and other kinds of pollution.
To maintain social order, these decision-makers rely on the
media to fight their corner since information itself is an
industry, obedient to similar mechanisms. Television, with all
of its revenue and publicity is not in a position where it is
likely to express a point of view hostile to that of 'eat,
consume and die'. Fortunately, there is still the book trade, or
is there? In France arms dealers are in possession of 80% of
school books and 70% of the distribution of all books.

And if that is not enough, the secular arm of the state is there
to bring back to the fold any sheep that stray from the flock.
On this, the G8 at Evian will not fail to cooperate with police
and add its piece to the ring of steel.  Under the cover of the
war against terrorism, the group of 8 will take the opportunity
to prescribe a powerful police force in order to keep its
stranglehold around the borders of the 'free world'. It is not
often that the notions of political asylum and freedom of
movement are allowed to circulate around the corridors of power.
 
Anti-immigration politics have been responsible for several
hundred deaths of all ages and serve the mafia networks which
feed the traffic of individuals and maintain a state of tension.

The G8 leaders also can be found at the UN Security Council or
at the heart of NATO. At times their manifold interests prevents
them from speaking with one voice. Yet these discussions serve
only to keep up the  'democratic' smile on the faces of the
principal leaders whose role is to organise the militarisation
of the world, and to defend the economic interests of the
multinationals. And so the G8 fulfils a tripartite mission of
organising the economy, the police and the military, allowing
the powers that be to maintain their hold over entire
populations.

The mobilisation of organised masses outside the summits of this
world government makes it necessary to alter 'our' communication
network. 'They' need to disarm their critics by integrating the
least radical fringe of the movement and criminalising the
actions of the most subversive elements. All the major powers
fear popular direct action, the autonomy of social movement, the
means of functioning at odds with the logic of power. This is
because for them, all disputes not settled in the parliamentary
domain and which do not express themselves in a vote, are
dangerous.

At the same time, they are trying to convince us that the next
G8 summit is more open to 'poor' countries by proposing minor
roles to 'humanitarian NGOs' so that they can participate in
certain debates. Even the least protesting NGOs these days
mostly refuse to make us of their security. As for 'developing'
countries invited to Evian, they will naturally be represented
by their ministers (and not by unions and the actors of 'civil
society'. When we consider the relations between the North and
the South, the pressure that the U.S. brings to bear on the
domestic politics of many poor nations, what can we expect from
these discussions? The G8 will be a G28 for a day, will chat
under the gaze of a compliant media, between glasses of
champagne, and will work out how to integrate them to the
dominant capitalist model that our guardians present as ' the
shortest route to development', But it is for toxic dumping
grounds, oil reservoirs, raw materials or cheap manpower that
these nations have been invited to participate in the plundering
of the planet.  It is not enough, apparently, just to cancel the
debt of the poor countries so that its populations can attain a
better life.

As far as we are concerned, these are the social struggles led
in these countries and it is those who make them live like this
that will be of interest of us during our Anti-G8 meetings.

Let us not look for in the recomposition of a new part of the
left an advanced social dynamic and a popular reflection. Let us
not look for a return to keynesianism, to the state regulation
of capitalism or to the delegation of power, the means of our
emancipation. We will find this in the practical alternatives
which make the break from capitalist logic, in direct action
initiatives which call into question the various aspects of
domination.

Like capitalism, the G8 cannot be reformed. It must disappear
since it cannot deliver what we most want: freedom and justice.


>From CLAAACG8 Journal, No.1 (March 2003)

http://www.claaacg8.org/english/

[Translated from the original French by M@latested
Anarchist Federation http://www.af-ireland.cjb.net]

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