Communist Parties at World Social Forum

Representatives of about 30 communist parties were among the 155,000 people from 135 countries taking part in 2,500 separate events at the 5th World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil, held Jan. 26-31.

It may seem normal enough that at a gathering of people who believe "another world is possible," communists would be present. After all, they are resolute fighters for a socialist alternative to war, capitalist economic depression and exploitation. This is just what is needed to build that other world.

Yet the communist participation marked a big step forward for this year's WSF.

Two years ago in Porto Alegre, the Cubans had no official standing, either as a country or a communist party. No parties were allowed. Even the Communist Party of Brazil (PC do B) had to hold its activities outside the WSF.

This year the Cubans and Venezuelans shared a solidarity tent. The PC do B and other parties had welcoming tents near the administrative center of the WSF. The Vietnamese comrades both explained about their economic opening to the world market and campaigned against Agent Orange's ravages on their country.

The WSF organizers--most of whom represent either newer tendencies in the anti-globalization movement like ATTAC, social-democratic tendencies from the "South" like the Workers Party in Brazil, or older social-democratic groupings like the Socialist Party in France--focused on controlling the final statement and overall thrust of the WSF. They more or less let the different other tendencies--whether more revolutionary or more conservative--organize their own activities without interference.

The communist parties, which are beginning to recover from the breakup of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe from 1989-1991, focused on two main areas: anti-war activities and analysis, and preparing a struggle for socialism.

CP of Brazil

Since the WSF was meeting in southern Brazil, it was no surprise that about 70 percent of the participants came from Brazil and another 25 percent from across Latin America. The second-largest grouping came from Argentina. More than 30,000 were young people camping out in a park along the shore of the Guaiba River. There seemed to be more young women than men.

Among the communists, the PC do B had the largest presence. This party claims 60,000 members and 140,000 sympathizers throughout all parts of Brazil and had a large, youthful delegation at the WSF. It played the central role among the communist parties in the WSF.

During the WSF, the PC do B announced the publication of a new book about the 1972-1974 guerrilla uprising against the military dictatorship. The party led this struggle in one of the Amazonian states, holding a 10,000-troop army at bay for three years.

The anti-war organization close to the PC do B is called CEBRAPAZ. This group organized a meeting of 1,000 people on Jan. 27 to hear anti-war and anti-imperialist organizations from around the world, including the Palestinian ambassador to Brazil.

Cuban Vice President Ricardo Alarcon showed up by surprise during the meeting to explain the danger that there could be an attack from U.S. imperialism against Cuba. He also appealed for support for the Cuban 5 political prisoners, who he described as "fighters against terrorism."

About 20 speakers from different countries took part, including representatives of both the International Action Center and the World Peace Council from the U.S. movement. Speakers from Vietnam, China, Venezuela, Greece, India and movements in other countries from Europe and Latin America also took the floor.

Fight for socialism

On Jan. 30, the Mauricio Grabois Institute--a publishing center associated with the PC do B--hosted a meeting of 26 Marxist institutes, publications and parties. The goal was to bring the need to struggle for socialism to the anti-globalization movement.

Among the communist parties represented were those of Cuba, China, Viet nam, Uruguay, Peru, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Catalonia, Greece, Para guay, Portugal, Venezuela, France and Spain, as well as the Workers Party of Belgium, the CP of India (M), the CP of Denmark-ML, the New CP of the Nether lands, the Refoundation CP of Italy, and the CPUSA and Workers World Party from the United States.

Renato Rabelo, president of the PC do B, described the current international economic situation as "unsustainable" with the tremendous development of the productive forces taking place on one side and unemployment and marginalization for millions of people on the other.

He also evaluated the strategic setback of the loss of the Soviet Union toward the end of the last century. It hurt the communist parties but the people in each area were gathering experience and new struggles could break out on a much larger scale.

The PC do B participates in the Workers Party government led by President Luis Ignacio "Lula" da Silva, who is the first president of Brazil from a working-class background and party. The role of the Lula government is controversial on the Brazilian left, and was the topic of many debates among Brazilian trade unionists and political activists during the WSF. This is true especially as President Lula has compromised on many fronts with the Brazilian ruling class, which still holds the real power in the country.

Rabelo of the PC do B defended the decision to bloc with Lula as necessary to "defeat the neo-liberal project" that imperialism is trying to impose on Latin America.

Many of the speakers pointed to the dangers of new wars from U.S. imperialism. A number also called attention to the heroic struggle of the Iraqi people as a lesson that U.S. imperialism could be defeated.

The Workers World Party speaker said: "We live in the center of world imperialism, but we can still contribute to the struggle. Our working class is under attack and must fight back. Our youth are avoiding entering the military because of the experience with Iraq. We pledge ourselves to join the struggle in solidarity with those fighting for their rights against imperialism. The struggle is certain. Victory for a socialist world is possible."