TRANSEUROPA NETWORK: A STEPPING STONE TO AN ALTERNATIVE DEMOCRACY?

Borislava Miteva

Communication & Democracy

Human[i]ties Conference, 11.11.2011

OUTLINE

Transeuropa Network Structure Essence & Principles Means of action

Democracy issues People Power Participation project Transeuropa Festival 2012 Democratic participation Alternative democracy

TRANSEUROPA NETWORK (TN)1.1. STRUCTURE

Board: 2 co-presidents of European Alternatives Transnational (legal entities), two elected ordinary members, 2 elected representatives of the Cooperative, the Treasurer, the staff secretary

Cooperative: 13 local group representatives

Members: international & local, active in 13 local groups (London, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Lublin, Bratislava, Cluj-Napoca, Belgrade, Sofia, Rome & Bologna & in transnational meetings

1.2. ESSENCE & PRINCIPLES

Citizen-run, transnational-membership network of activists from throughout Europe

TN promotes democracy, equality and culture beyond the nation state Europe is understood as a space of exchange,

rather than in geographic or ethnic terms “In an increasingly globalised world, decisions

taken in any part of the planet, at any level, potentially have huge impacts in other parts of the world. Politics and democracy must reflect this fact and empower individuals to decide in what world they want to live.”

1.3. MEANS OF ACTION

In order to bring about political, social and cultural change TN promotes transnational action

Positions & Publications Ex. Access to detention centers;

Campaigns Ex. Media freedom in Europe, Europe w/o borders

Projects People Power Participation (PPP) Transeuropa Festival Democracy

principle

2. DEMOCRACY ISSUES

Demos=people /Cratos=power should be representative & accountable, but is it? “Indignados” movement (80% support rate) “Occupy” city protests 15.10 & 11.11. common rallies EU democratic deficit

Global economy/MNCs social, political & cultural effects (R. Munck, 2005)

National democracies/EU vs. “global” democracy

What role could civil society

play in building it?

3.1. PPP PROJECT

Developed under Stockholm Programme 2010-14

Citizens consultations 6 themes: migrants’, LGBT, Roma & labor

rights; legality/rule of law; freedom of expression

6 countries: UK, FR, SP, IT, BG, RO Travelling participants & presenters

3 forums per theme in 3 different cities “world café” forum=presentation + roundtables

(different theme issues) + panel discussion issues & recommendations to be

presented at EP on Nov.30th (“Real Alternatives” initiative)

3.2. TRANSEUROPA FESTIVAL Promotes dialogue & action through diverse events

(debates, workshops, installations, theatre, etc.) 2012 edition: semi-simultaneous in 13+ cities

1 common opening simultaneous events in 3-4 cities spread over 2 weeks 1 common forum with participants from all cities

3 themes: economic instability (labor rights, precarious living, alternatives to austerity), migration (borders, economic migration, voting rights, integration), democratic participation

w/e 2

w/e 1

w/e 3

Key word: public space

Key issues: Political participation (decreasing in nation-states?) vs.

collective identity belonging (ex. transnational protests) Conditions for political participation alternative

medium Traditional forms of participation (assemblies, unions) &

modern forms (occupations, flashmobs, social media) Turn discussion into action

CIVIL SOCIETY TN ALTERNATIVE DEMOCRACY

TN’s demos=global citizens “global” democracy TN’s cratos=elected representatives TN encourages political participation via alternative

(art events) & diverse (projects) means TN relies on traditional & modern forms of

participation TN promotes transnational action (“Real

Alternatives”)

TN=innovative experiment in transnational, bottom-up democracy

HTTP://WWW.EUROALTER.COM/PARTICIPATE/

Other participatory projects?

Increasing TN membership?

Improving the

festival?

Civil society cooperation?

Global democracy?