WSF a Political Test for Brazil

   
As the World Social Forum prepares to begin its meeting in Porto Alegre, the host country itself is providing significant fuel for debate. Conditions in Brazil would seem to be a good example of the issues that the thousands of WSF delegates are due to discuss, top among them alternatives to reduce poverty and misery. On January 23, Brazil's Time-like newsmagazine Veja ran a cover article on "Misery: The Great Challenge for Brazil." While one of the world's leaders in development, Brazil is also one of the most unequal nations in the world. Thirty million of Brazil's 162 million people live in poverty, with an additional 23 million in abject misery. The Veja article has received national exposure at a moment when the Workers Party (PT) feels the pressure of being one of the main contenders in the upcoming national elections. Rising urban crime rates and the images of the riots in Argentina have created fears of social upheaval among Brazilians. The PT would like to capitalize on these feelings, and the World Social Forum could help it advance its agenda.

The potential influence of the WSF on the Brazilian electorate is very important to Luiz Ignacio "Lula" da Silva, the PT leader who has already lost two close races for the presidency. Lula appears to be ready to run again as the PT's presidential candidate in November. The WSF has a close association with his party; both the Mayor of Porto Alegre, Tarso Genro, and the Governor of Rio Grande del Sul, Ol�vio Dutra, are from the Workers Party. Already their political rivals in the city and state are complaining about the large sums of money being spent to support the forum. People are also nervous about the radicalization of some of the guests. Last year, the French farmer Jos� Bove was asked to leave Brazil after he invaded and destroyed a multinational-owned plot of genetically altered plants. Much to the chagrin of the organizers, it appears that Bove will be back this year. Many of the participating organizations are also trying to dissuade Cuba's Fidel Castro from accepting the invitation of the MST, Brazil's powerful landless peasant movement, to attend the WSF. In general, an effort is being made to concentrate less on protest and more on content. Certainly any radicalization, violence or Seattle-like behavior will not help the political agenda of the Workers Party.

While the rest of the world watches the simultaneous unfolding of the WSF and the World Economic Forum in New York City, the Brazilians have a special interest in the throngs that are about to crowd their southernmost state capitol. The Brazilian reaction will also be significant for the United States and Florida, which count on Brazil as a leading trading partner. The administration of President Fernando Henrique Cardoso is already skeptical about the premise of a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). A PT government would adopt an even more negative view. Many Brazilians and outside observers will be watching to see if the Workers Party gets tripped up by the doings at the WSF.