Social Organization Through the Internet: Citizens Assemblies in Argentina

SUSANA FINQUELIEVICH

Closing the digital divide: transforming regional economies and communities with information technology

Praeger Publishers

Lugar: Westport; Año: 2003; p. 345 - 367

The crisis that crashed the Argentine financial system in December 3, 2001, did not just generate a powerful social explosion that caused the renounce of two Presidents: it also created a new citizens information outburst. Hundreds of e-mail chains against the Government started circulating among the 3,5 million of Argentine Internet users. The night of December 19, when thousands of indignant citizens went to the streets clattering their pots and pans, in one of the first “cacerolazos”, to protest against the Etat de Siege, was the first of many citizens’ public manifestations. In the beginning, these demonstrations were spontaneous, but in a few days, they were organized through the Internet. Neighbors in different areas of Buenos Aires, and in the largest cities, began to meet in street corners, cafés, or neighborhood clubs. They fixed some evenings a week to meet, and discuss “proposals for a new Argentina”, but they also started electronic forums to continue their face-to-face debates, and to inform the neighbors who couldn’t get to to the meetings. They designed websites to spread their actions and proposals. Gradually, different neighborhood assemblies –currently, there are 43 of them in Buenos Aires- contacted each other, through e-mails, or their websites. Two weeks later, they had inter-neighborhoods Sunday meetings, for debates and proposals. The results are disseminated through web sites, and electronic –as well as paper- newsletters. The new “Assembly” movement claims for a popular-Assembly-based government. Both leaders and members of these movements agree on one thing: this massive organization could not be implemented without the Internet. This paper analyses this innovative ICT-supported massive citizens movement. ·      ¿Are they socially revolutionary, or socially conservative? ·      ¿Are ICTs a mean or a goal in themselves? ·      ¿Do they provide new participation platforms? ·      ¿Are ICTs - supported social movements a way to e-democracy? ·      ¿What is its future, now that the present Argentine government has shown a complete lack of interest towards the Internet, and that the peso devaluation makes it far less possible for the majority of the population to have access to ICT tools? ·      ¿How can global citizen networks support these movements? These and other issues are developed, as a contribution for an international debate. The crisis that crashed the Argentine financial system in December 3, 2001, did not just generate a powerful social explosion that caused the renounce of two Presidents: it also created a new citizens information outburst. Hundreds of e-mail chains against the Government started circulating among the 3,5 million of Argentine Internet users. The night of December 19, when thousands of indignant citizens went to the streets clattering their pots and pans, in one of the first “cacerolazos”, to protest against the Etat de Siege, was the first of many citizens’ public manifestations. In the beginning, these demonstrations were spontaneous, but in a few days, they were organized through the Internet. Neighbors in different areas of Buenos Aires, and in the largest cities, began to meet in street corners, cafés, or neighborhood clubs. They fixed some evenings a week to meet, and discuss “proposals for a new Argentina”, but they also started electronic forums to continue their face-to-face debates, and to inform the neighbors who couldn’t get to to the meetings. They designed websites to spread their actions and proposals. Gradually, different neighborhood assemblies –currently, there are 43 of them in Buenos Aires- contacted each other, through e-mails, or their websites. Two weeks later, they had inter-neighborhoods Sunday meetings, for debates and proposals. The results are disseminated through web sites, and electronic –as well as paper- newsletters. The new “Assembly” movement claims for a popular-Assembly-based government. Both leaders and members of these movements agree on one thing: this massive organization could not be implemented without the Internet. This paper analyses this innovative ICT-supported massive citizens movement. ·      ¿Are they socially revolutionary, or socially conservative? ·      ¿Are ICTs a mean or a goal in themselves? ·      ¿Do they provide new participation platforms? ·      ¿Are ICTs - supported social movements a way to e-democracy? ·      ¿What is its future, now that the present Argentine government has shown a complete lack of interest towards the Internet, and that the peso devaluation makes it far less possible for the majority of the population to have access to ICT tools? ·      ¿How can global citizen networks support these movements? These and other issues are developed, as a contribution for an international debate.