For the global social democratic movement, the current times are a defining moment, one in which real priorities and alternatives must now be placed at the centre of the political agenda to guide us out of this crisis. This is not an era of change but instead a change of an era, and financial, economic, social and environmental concerns have to be integrated in a progressive political roadmap which should put people first.
A new paradigm and real solutions should be based on a strengthening of global partnerships in North-South and regional dimensions, reinforcing the legitimate political process across borders to tackle interrelated problems, such as rising food prices, higher energy costs and coping with natural disasters. Equally they must redress the social and economic imbalances and respond to the real needs of citizens with regard to health, social security, education and decent work. To achieve these goals there needs to be a policy coherence, and not policy conditionality, as had been the case for instance with developing countries for too long.
The collapse of neoliberal policies presents two specific challenges that need to be overcome. Firstly, the responses to the crisis should not repeat the same ill founded concepts of the past, and secondly, their collapse will not necessarily lead to a strengthening of progressive politics, but could see the emergence of extremist far right policies caused by fear and marginalisation. The Socialist International, therefore, is committed to moving forward a global vision of responsibility, politics and regulation which should not lead to the continued privatisation of profit and the socialisation of losses, and which should regain the confidence of citizens with transparent and sustainable financial governance to include the establishment of a World Financial Organisation.
The International, in its ongoing support for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) highlighted at this current session of the United Nations General Assembly, underlined the urgent need not to detract from their realisation in the midst of this worldwide financial instability. The Presidium calls for concrete results to be produced at the Financing for Development Conference to be held in Qatar later this year, as the world community is in danger of regressing in its efforts to tackle poverty and global inequalities.
With the specific purpose of setting out guidelines and a roadmap out of this financial crisis, the Presidium agrees the establishment of a Socialist International Commission on Global Financial Issues to present clear and timely proposals reasserting the role of progressive politics in building a fair, viable and humane economy for all the world’s citizens.