The Crisis of Capitalism, Globalisation and the
Response of the Labour Movement

Conference Press Release

Press release issued by the international meeting in Athens of communist 
and workers parties on May 21-23, 1999 to discuss: The Crisis of 
Capitalism, "Globalisation" and the Response of the Labour 
Movement.

During the three-day meeting held in Athens on the topic "The capitalist 
crisis, globalisation and the response of the labour movement" which was 
jointly convened (as decided during the preparatory meeting of the parties 
held in January 1999) 55 communist and workers' parties from 46 countries 
took part.

A number of parties, while having participated in the preparations for the 
meeting, could not finally attend due to the situation in their countries.

In the sessions held over the three days there was a creative exchange of 
views on the topics as well as on issues arising from recent developments 
such as the unjust and unacceptable intervention made by the US and its 
allies in NATO against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the 
continuing criminal bombings.

Quite a few speakers mentioned the need to make public an appeal for an 
immediate halt to the NATO bombings and for a solution to be sought that 
would establish the autonomy of Kosovo and the rights of all minorities, 
the safe return of all refugees to their homes, ensuring at the same time 
the national sovereignty and integrity of the Republic of Serbia and of the 
FR of Yugoslavia.

In speeches the participants  pointed out the dangers posed to world peace 
and security by the new strategic concept and new doctrine for action by 
NATO which upsets all the rules of international law to date, intensifies 
the militarisation of international relations and uses existing and /or 
non-existent minority issues as a pretext to justify its interventions.

The participants underlined the responsibility of the European governments, 
especially those who are supported by social democrats, who from the very 
beginning supported the aggressive NATO plans.

A considerable number of speakers referred to the existence of local wars, 
and to the flare-up in religious fundamentalism, racism and xenophobia.

The speakers noted that the last world crisis in 1997-1998 shows in the 
most categorical way that not only has the capitalist system failed to rid 
itself of crises but that, in conditions of domination by finance capital 
and gigantic monopolies, these crises are becoming yet deeper and more 
frequent, with destructive effects on the living standards of the working 
people, who constitute the huge majority of the population.

The accumulation of impasses and contradictions in capitalist society, the 
great growth of the economic, political and strategic power of big finance 
capital and multi-national enterprises, the strong assault on basic social 
and democratic rights of the working people highlight how exceptionally 
timely it is to analyse capitalism but also the need and way to overcome 
it.

The existence and operation of organisations dominated by the large 
imperialist powers such as the G8; WTO, IMF, World Bank, NATO and the EU, 
the theories and the even more reactionary policies implemented in the name 
of globalisation and the pressure pushing workers remuneration 
downwards make the rich richer and the poor poorer, cast millions of people 
into poverty, ignorance, disease, malnutrition and underdevelopment, 
intensify the degree of exploitation of the working class, and exacerbate 
the ecological crisis.

Also noted was the constantly broadening gap between the opportunities 
created by new technologies and the way in which capitalism uses them 
against the rights and gains of the working people, against the right to 
work and the peoples needs.

A number of speakers pointed out that these developments give rise to many 
new tasks for the Communist Parties but also to a wide spectrum of forces 
that oppose the neo-conservative policy and the basic choices made by 
international capital.

The need for a broader meeting to be held on these topics and for further 
efforts for joint action and co-ordination was stressed.

The need for fresh initiatives for joint action by Communist Parties on the 
regional and global levels and for all progressive and anti-imperialist 
left forces to rally was highlighted.

It was also stressed that there is a need to develop international co-
operation and joint activities that will contribute to the creation of a 
new counterweight — the counter-weight of the peoples, of social 
and political forces that confront the monopolies and imperialism.

The crucial nature of the situation, the considerable interactions in the 
working class, which is broadening its scope, along with the need for 
communists to collectively elaborate the experience of the socialism we 
have known, demand that we multiply initiatives for mutual briefing and 
broad dissemination of Communist Party positions.

During the meeting, the Parties provided information on their concerns and 
activities.

The need to promote ways in which parties and public opinion in their 
countries can be briefed more fully and rapidly about the activities and 
concerns of communists was underscored.

Quite a few of the speakers expressed their concern about the continuous 
bans, persecution and discrimination against Communist Parties, Communists 
and in general against all who resist capitalist barbarity.