[asia-apec 1028] International Conference: Economic Sovereignty in a Globalising World

[Kevin Li]

************  Urgent Announcement  **************

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

Economic Sovereignty in a Globalising World: 
Creating People Centred Economics for the 21st Century

23-26 March 1999
Bangkok, Thailand

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REGISTRATION
For more information and registration, please go to our website 
http://focusweb.org and click to 'Upcoming Focus Conference'

If you have difficulties sending the registration form from the website, 
please print the completed form and fax to us at 66 2 255 9976. 

You will also find the registration form at the end of this message. 
You can fill it in and send it to Jim at jim at focusweb.org

All registrations will be acknowledged within three days, so if you do 
not hear from us please contact Jim at jim at focusweb.org

Registrations close on 7 March 1999

PLEASE NOTE: ALL SPEAKERS, PANELISTS AND 
PARTICIPANTS MUST REGISTER USING THE FORM ON 
THE WEBSITE OR AT THE END OF THIS MESSAGE


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ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

Economic Sovereignty in a Globalising World
Creating People-Centred Economics for the 21st Century
Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University
Bangkok, March 24-26, 1999


WHY ARE WE HAVING THIS CONFERENCE?
While financial analysts assess the global financial crisis in terms of 
stock market indexes and currency values, the real impact is being 
borne by the millions of people who are being pushed further into 
poverty as we approach the new millennium. Generations will inherit a 
debt not of their making, and as the human costs of the crisis continue 
to mount, speculators and currency traders escape virtually unscathed.

Uncontrolled speculative investment and currency trading have a 
devastating effect on economic stability and long-term development. 
The crisis has shown that national economies no longer have control 
over vital aspects of economic policy, and that they too are subject to 
the whims of the market.

The inability of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank to 
respond to the crisis with appropriate policies has called into question 
their capacity to understand and react to the needs of people in a 
rapidly changing global economy. A growing number of critics are 
now calling for a thorough review of these institutions' policies and 
decision making processes.

The dire human consequences of this demand our attention. It is 
imperative that international economic relations be reviewed and 
reshaped to control speculation, regulate financial markets and reduce 
inequalities between nations, while promoting economic democracy 
and fostering sustainable development.

All these measures and reforms should aim to give local communities, 
national governments and regional groupings the chance to pursue 
economic policies which meet the needs of people, instead of the 
markets.


WHAT ARE WE AIMING TO DO?
Develop a deeper understanding of the nature and role of financial 
capital and its impact on local, national and regional economic 
development; closely examine existing and proposed regulatory 
mechanisms, with the aim of regulating financial capital, fostering 
productive investment and promoting sustainable 'people-centred' 
development. 

Review national, regional and international financial institutions and 
their programs; propose new mechanisms and institutions, or reforms 
to those already in existence, in order to increase their accountability 
and democracy. 

Create a platform of joint action that articulates agreed principles, 
defines common objectives and demands, and produces concrete 
proposals for economic reform. 


WHY IS THIS CONFERENCE DIFFERENT?
The unique feature of this conference is that it brings together 
individuals and networks from all regions of the globe at a time when 
the issues of financial regulation and financial architecture are high
on 
the international political agenda.

During the conference, there will be four working groups, focusing on 
the areas of: Institutional Reform & New Institutions; Market Reform 
& Regulatory Mechanisms; National Political & Policy Reform; and 
People-Centred Alternatives. Each working group will identify 
priorities, articulate demands and proposals, and develop education 
and campaign strategies. Each participant will select a working group 
for the whole conference.

Plenaries have been scheduled each day, which explore a broad range 
of topics related to the conference. There will also be in-depth panels 
providing information on pertinent issues, such as local responses to 
the crisis, speculation taxes and capital controls.

WHO IS SPONSORING THE CONFERENCE?
The conference is being hosted by Focus on the Global South, and is 
co-sponsored by Development Alternatives for Women in a New Era 
(DAWN), the Structural Adjustment Participatory Review Initiatives 
Network (SAPRIN) and Focus on the Global South. Focus, DAWN 
and SAPRIN have already initiated discussions with groups 
worldwide. 

We hope that national and regional working groups can informally 
prepare for the conference, contribute to the development of the 
agenda, identify key participants and follow-up after the conference.

Invited speakers will be asked to prepare a short discussion paper on 
a given topic. The deadline for papers is March 7, 1999. This will 
allow time for the papers to be processed and posted to the 
conference website: http://www.focusweb.org. Panelists will prepare 
a brief synopsis of key issues, problems and policy recommendations 
related to their topic, also due by March 7, 1999.

It will be assumed that all participants will have read the conference 
papers beforehand so that the conference itself can focus on the 
debate of substantive issues and preparing an agenda for action.
We are excited about this conference and its potential for developing 
an international network armed with strategies and committed to 
action. We look forward to seeing all of you in Bangkok in March. 

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CONFERENCE PROGRAMME
(To Be Finalised)

Evening of 23 March 1999

Opening session
Welcome by representative of Thai peoples' organisation 
Welcome by Chair of the Board of Focus on the Global South, 
Gothom Arya, Election Commission of Thailand
Keynote speech: Rubens Ricupero, Secretary-General United 
Nations Conference on Trade and Development (invited)       

Plenary I

Why are we having this conference now?
A short history of neo-liberalism: twenty years of elite economics and 
emerging opportunities for structural change
Susan George, author, France
Strategies and alliances for effective action
Walden Bello, Focus on the Global South, Thailand

Plenary II

Global financial markets
How the financial casino works.     
Hazel Henderson, author        
Can finance be controlled? 
Manfred Bienefeld, Carleton University, Canada 
Governance of the global economy Kamal Malhotra, Focus on the 
Global South, Thailand


Plenary III

The management and prevention of financial crises (to be advised)
The link between national and international financial controls
Walden Bello and Marco Mezzera, Focus on the Global South, 
Thailand
Regulation or reform: Who benefits from establishment proposals?
Patrick Bond, Wits University, Republic of South Africa & Nicola 
Bullard, Focus on the Global South, Thailand


Plenary IV

Beyond the Keynesian consensus
What is Keynesian economics and what are its limitations?
Jayati Ghosh, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India
Women: a missing factor in traditional economics
(to be advised)
Production, scarcity and the environment
Dr Elmar Altvater, FU Berlin
The Keynesian State. Yash Tandon, International South Group 
Network, Zimbabwe


Plenary V

Political strategies and campaigns
Turning the international agenda into local action - lessons from the 
MAI and 'fast-track' campaigns: Lori Wallach, Public Citizen, USA
Obstacles to and opportunities for local action: Forum of the Poor, 
Thailand


Parallel panels scheduled over three days, four at a time

1. The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank
The IMF in Russia: Boris Kagarlitsky, economist, Russia
What lies beyond the Washington consensus? Joseph Stiglitz, Chief 
Macroeconomist, World Bank (invited)
Is the Washington consensus really cracking? Robin Broad, American 
University, Washington DC
Is the IMF reformable? Richard Leaver, Flinders University, South 
Australia

2. Food, natural resources and finance
The financial crisis and food security in Indonesia: Oba'dullah Khan, 
former Asia regional director for FAO (invited)
Natural resources and the environment: silent victim of the financial 
crisis: Emmy Hafild, WAHLI, Indonesia
Food as a commodity - a case study of shrimps: Yadfon Association, 
Thailand and Peter Riggs, Rockerfeller Brothers Fund, USA
Alternative Farmers Network, Fisherfolks Network and Natural 
Resources Network, Thailand
La Via Campesina

3. Finance, foreign direct investment, foreign ownership and 
privatisation
Jayati Ghosh, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India
Charles Abugre, Third World Network, Ghana
Jessica Woodruff, World Development, UK
The Korean experience of FDI and foreign ownership: Joosung Jun, 
Ehwa University, Korea 
Breaking the dependence on foreign finance: Patrick Bond, Wits 
University South Africa
Privatisation: a case study of Malaysia: Subramanian Pillay, University 
of Science, Malaysia 
Privatisation with peoples' participation: Bangchak Petroleum 
Company, Ltd. Thailand

4. International measures: Bankruptcy and debt
Standstill and orderly workouts - prevention & cure? (top be advised)
An international Chapter 11: Zhi Cui, Massachusetts Institute of 
Technology 
When dictators pass debt to democrats: The Doctrine of Odious Debt 
and the legacy of apartheid-caused debt in Southern Africa, Dr 
Molefe Tsele, Jubilee 2000, South Africa

5. International measures: Speculation taxes
Filomeno Santa Ana, Action for Economic Reform, Philippines
Is the Tobin Tax do-able? Roger Schmidt, Fellow of the Canadian 
International Development Research Centre , Vietnam
Is the Tobin tax a red herring? Bruno Jetin, ATTAC, France

6. National measures: Capital controls
The debate about capital controls: Sumangala Damidara
Country studies: Policy objectives and effectiveness
Taiwan and India: Jayati Ghosh and CP Chandrasekar
Malaysia: Martin Khor, Third World Network, Malaysia
Chile: Andreas Uthoff B., CEPA (invited) 

7. National measures: Banks and financial institutions
Case studies of Thai and Mexican financial sector reform: who wins, 
who loses? Paiboon Wattanasiritham, Foundation for Thailand Rural 
Reconstruction Movement & Enrique Valencia, Observatorio Social, 
Mexico (invited)
The role of Central Banks and the Bank for International Settlements 

8. National measures: Budgets and taxes
Democratising the Budget: Leonor Briones, National Treasurer, 
Philippines (invited)
Peoples participation in budget analysis: Madhusudhan Mistry, 
DISHA, India (invited)

9. Local responses
Alternatives to big banks: community currencies and co-operatives: 
Thai Savings Group, Thailand and SEWA, India, Vijay Mahajan, 
BASIX, India (invited), Luis Lopezllera, Promocion del dessarroyo 
popular, Mexico
Microfinancing: market ideology dressed up as development? (to be 
advised)
Case study from Via Campesina

10. National alternatives
The myth of the weak state or Belarus: the country that can say no! 
Boris Kagarlitsky 
Indonesia: buying back the nation: Faisal Basri, University of 
Indonesia  (invited)
Mexico: developing an economic policy from the ground up: 
Alejandro Nadal, Mexico
South Korea: alternatives to the corporate state? KCTU (invited)

11. Regional alternatives
Americas Area Alternatives: Alejandro Villamar, RMALC, Mexico 
and Roberto Bissio, Instituto del Tercer Mindo, Uruguay (invited)
ASEAN: clinging together or sinking together?  Suthad  
Setboonsarng, ASEAN Secretariat (invited), Manuel Montes, East 
West Centre, University of Hawaii (invited)
Europe: Miren Etxezarreta, Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona, 
Spain 
Japan: The Asian Monetary Fund and the Miyazawa Initiative: 
Hirakawa Hitoshi, Japan (invited)
Pacific Island States: Claire Slatter, DAWN, Henry Wira, Pacific 
Islands Association of Non-government Organisations, Solomon 
Islands (invited),  Lopeti Senitulu, Pacific Resource Centre, Fiji 
(invited)
Africa: Yassine Fall, Association of African Women on Research and 
Development, Senegal & Dr Molefe Tesle, Jubilee 2000, South Africa

Four core working groups will have scheduled meetings over three 
days

Institutional reforms & new institutions 
Market reform & regulatory mechanisms 
National political & policy reform 
People-centred alternatives

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ABOUT THE CO-SPONSORS
SAPRIN arose out of a major initiative with World Bank President 
Jim Wolfensohn to assess the impact of various adjustment measures 
on diverse population groups, economic and social sectors. The 
Structural Adjustment Participatory Review Initiative (SAPRI) makes 
proposals to the World Bank and governments for changes in 
economic adjustment programs and in economic policy making 
processes. Through this, the SAPRI Network (SAPRIN) seeks to 
legitimize local knowledge in the analysis of economic-reform 
programs, and institutionalize grassroots involvement in 
macroeconomic decision-making. It thereby attempts to help 
governments and international institutions understand how adjustment 
measures move through local economies and into peoples' lives.

DAWN is a network of women scholars and activists from the 
economic South who engage in feminist research and and are 
committed to working for equitable, just and sustainable development. 
DAWN's current program cycle is emphasizing work at the regional 
level to connect more closely with the priorities of women's and civil 
society organizations, and help strengthen their capacity to deal with 
issues arising from the impacts of globalization. DAWN's research 
themes provide the central focus for its work at both global and 
regional levels. These research themes are Political Economy of 
Globalization, Sexual and Reproductive Rights, Sustainable 
Livelihoods and Political Restructuring and Social Transformation.

Focus on the Global South is dedicated to regional and global policy 
analysis and advocacy work. Focus also concentrates on linking 
grassroots experiences to macro level issues such as trade 
liberalisation and the International Monetary Fund. Focus is working 
to strengthen the capacity of organisations of the poor and 
marginalised people of the South, to better analyse and understand the 
impacts of the globalisation process on their daily lives.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact Geoffrey Keele on (T) 66 2 218-7363 (F) 66 2 255-9976 
or Email at g.keele at focusweb.org

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REGISTRATION FORM 
SPEAKERS & PANELISTS

Economic Sovereignty in a Globalising World :
Creating People-Centred Economics for the 21st  Century
March 23-26, 1999
Bangkok, Thailand

Name
Organisation
Position
Postal address
Country
Telephone
Facsimile
Email
Website

Flight schedules 
*participants should arrive by the evening of 23 March for the 
opening session

* Arrival : 		Date			Flight number
* Departure : 	Date			Flight number
Estimated airfare cost (US dollars)

Reimbursement method
* cash
* bank transfer
You will need to bring all receipts and your bank account details to 
the conference before we can process your reimbursement. You can 
claim visa fee, departures taxes and airport transfers. All 
accommodation and meals will be paid by the organisers in Bangkok.

Accommodation
You will be booked at the university hotel or a hotel nearby and 
accommodation and meals will be fully paid for the duration of the 
conference. If you have to stay longer due to flight schedule 
restrictions, the conference will cover costs. Any other costs, for 
example extra nights, telephone, 
laundry, etc.  are your own responsibility.

Working Groups Selection
Working groups will meet throughout the conference to draft the 
conference action plan. Please indicate which group you would like to 
join :

* I. Market reform & regulatory mechanisms
* II. Institutional reforms & new institutions
* III. National political & policy reform
* IV. People-Centred alternatives
(delete the groups you DO NOT select)

Dietary requirement (if any)

Please return your registration to jim at focusweb.org or fax number 
662-255-9976 attention to Jim by March 5, 1999.


************************************************

REGISTRATION FORM
PARTICIPANTS

Economic Sovereignty in a Globalising World :
Creating People-Centred Economics for the 21st  Century
March 23-26, 1999
Bangkok, Thailand

Name
Organisation
Position
Postal address
Country
Telephone
Facsimile
Email
Website

Note: participants should arrive by the evening of 23 March for the 
opening session *

Do you need any financial assistance ?		yes		no
If yes, how much is your airfare ? 			(US dollars)
Can you or your organisation offer financial 
assistance to other participants ?			yes		no
If so, how much ?

Reimbursement (if applicable)
* cash
* bank transfer
(delete the option you DO NOT select)

Please note that accommodation will be receive an accommodation 
allowance of US$25 per night (including breakfast) not the actual 
cost. 
You will need to bring all receipts and your bank account details to 
the conference before your claim can be processed.

Working Groups Selection
Working groups will meet throughout the conference to draft the 
conference action plan. Please indicate which group you would like to 
join :

* I. Market reform & regulatory mechanisms
* II. Institutional reforms & new institutions
* III. National political & policy reform
* IV. People-centred alternatives
(delete the groups you DO NOT select)

Dietary requirement (if any)

Accommodation
You need to arrange your own accommodation. 

Participants receiving financial assistance will receive an 
accommodation allowance (including breakfast) of US$25 per night, 
not the actual cost. Any additional cost will be the responsibility of
the 
participants. See Accommodation (on website) for hotel listings.

Please return your registration to jim at focusweb.org or by fax number 
662-255-9976 attention to Jim by March 5, 1999.

*************************************************


Focus on the Global South (FOCUS)
c/o CUSRI, Chulalongkorn University	
Bangkok 10330 THAILAND
Tel: 662 218 7363/7364/7365/7383	
Fax: 662 255 9976		
E-mail: admin at focusweb.org
Web Page   http://www.focusweb.org   

Staff email addresses:
----------------------
Walden Bello		W.Bello at focusweb.org
Kamal Malhotra		K.Malhotra at focusweb.org
Chanida  Bamford	C.Bamford at focusweb.org
Nicola Bullard          N.Bullard at focusweb.org
Ehito Kimura            E.Kimura at focusweb.org
Li Kheng Poh            Lk.Poh at focusweb.org
Marco Mezzera           M.Mezzera at focusweb.org
Regina Abesamis         R.Abesamis at focusweb.org
Soontaree Narkviroj     Soontaree at focusweb.org
Jim Charoonpatarapong   Jim at focusweb.org
Ranee Hassarungsee      Ranee at focusweb.org
Mayuree Ruechakieattikul	Nok at focusweb.org
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