In a rapidly evolving globalized world, citizens increasingly experience the consequences of issues that transcend borders. The climate crisis is becoming more visible in our daily lives, and the recent COVID-19 pandemic paralysed the world for over three years. These challenges not only impact the environment and our well-being, but also have significant economic and social consequences, increasing poverty and worsening the lives of not only the most vulnerable but also the middle class.
At the same time, the far right and authoritarian regimes feed on people’s fears, making them feel powerless to change their destiny. To increase their influence, these regimes use disinformation, misinformation, digital propaganda, and bots.
To combat this, we must link the global to the national and reflect this in our local programmes and policies. We must adapt our programmes and vocabulary to the world of tomorrow, and we must utilise technology and AI to reduce inequalities.
These were some of the main issues discussed at the Socialist International ad hoc Committee Meeting on “Progressive Responses to Global and Local Challenges” in Ankara on 7-8 September 2024, hosted by our Turkish member, CHP, on the occasion of their Extraordinary Congress.
At the opening of the Committee Meeting, Chantal Kambiwa, SI General Coordinator, thanked the host party for their hospitality and praised their initiative of including a 50% “women’s participation quota” in their party bylaws to ensure equal representation for women in the decision-making bodies of the party, as well as for initiating an innovative process for drafting their new party programme.
The leader of CHP, Özgür Özel, thanked the Socialist International for the excellent collaboration in organising the ad hoc Committee to highlight the urgency of adapting policies and practices to the challenges of our time.
CHP Secretary-General, Selin Sayek Böke, explained in detail the important changes in the party bylaws and described the participatory process that will lead to the elaboration of a new party programme.
Paulina Lampsa, Socialist International Executive Vice-President, moderated a very fruitful exchange of views between the participants of the ad hoc Committee and members of the CHP leadership, as well as CHP mayors and members of Parliament.
Within the framework of this participatory process, on the second day of the meeting, Socialist International ad hoc Committee participants exchanged views with Congress delegates on how to integrate global issues into party policies and the party programme. These views were included in the Ankara Declaration, which was later adopted by all the delegates of the CHP Congress.
For the Socialist International, this declaration constitutes a step towards extending this conversation, and we aim to include all our party members on all continents in this process.
Ankara Declaration
Faced with an international far-right and rising authoritarianism that is trying to undermine our democracies, our values, our achievements and multilateral cooperation in addressing the challenges of the future, we must take a leap forward. We need to reach the vulnerable and disadvantaged who bear the burden of increasing inequalities, women experiencing a backlash against their rights achieved through centuries long struggles, people who feel left behind by the technological revolution, young people striving to succeed in a hostile environment .
They use disinformation, misinformation, digital propaganda, bots and the politics of fear to pave the way to power.
We can respond by connecting with grassroots movements, adapting our programs and vocabulary to the world of tomorrow, wining the war of ideas, implementing policies that make a difference, and legislating with foresight.
The far-right and authoritarian governments feed on people’s fears and disappointments. One reason some of our citizens are prone to believing conspiracy theories is that they feel powerless to change their destiny, as many of the factors affecting their daily lives seem beyond control.
Therefore we must link the global to the regional, the national and the local.
We need to prove that we understand the complexity of today’s world and can bring forth adequate solutions.
In a rapidly evolving globalized world, citizens increasingly experience the consequences of issues that transcend borders. Climate crisis is becoming visible in our daily lives and the recent COVID -19 pandemic paralyzed the world for over three years. These challenges not only impact the environment and our well-being but also have significant economic and social consequences , increasing poverty and worsening the lives of not only the most vulnerable but also the middle class.
At this year’s General Assembly, the United Nations, through the launch of the Pact for the Future aims to highlight the scope of existential risks to humanity and to show how catastrophic it would be for future generations if we do not change course. They are also raising awareness that advances in knowledge, science, technology and innovation can deliver breakthroughs for a better and sustainable future - if we manage to stay ahead in making the necessary legal, institutional and societal changes, as the future is already here.
Certainly our interconnected challenges require a renewed commitment to international cooperation. However, this commitment must be reflected in our local, national and regional policies and therefore in our political party programs. The Socialist International, organized the ad hoc Committee on “Progressive Responses to Global and Local Challenges”, hosted by our Turkish member party CHP within the framework of their extraordinary party Congress, to launch a participatory process of discussion on this subject and encourage the exchange of good practices.
Undoubtedly, we must consider the different national, economic and social circumstances of each country. But as a broad laboratory of ideas, we must produce creative alternatives and raise awareness about the need to develop a planetary consciousness that can be understood by all our members and society at large.
Therefore we must reflect on the following :
- How can our economies and societies can be more equipped to address “the unprecedented”?
It is the age of poly-crisis and big uncertainties. The consecutive crises of the last fifteen years having affected a big number of countries, caught us unprepared. It became evident that a new global architecture is required, able to address complex and large-scale challenges. At the same time our economies must be designed with the capacity to respond to shocks, build resilience and seize new opportunities in order to provide social protection for all.
Addressing natural and human-made disasters requires global cooperation and the creation of crises-and disastermanagement systems and plans at regional, national and local levels. The lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic should not be forgotten as most vulnerable countries and social groups are still facing the dire consequences.
- How can we measure well-being in our societies by changing the indices we use to adjust our economic policies ?
For progressive parties it is of paramount importance to invest in human-centered societies.
A decent life is measured by many indicators beyond the GDP, as we aim to develop a more comprehensive approach to measure prosperity and well-being. Climate crisis, poverty, resource depletion, health, quality of life, gender equality, income and wealth distribution patterns, and several other dimensions should be taken into account. In this context, Gini coefficient measuring inequality, Human Development Index of the UN and Global Gender Gap Index of the World Economic Forum (WEF), among other indices provide a more comprehensive perspective in measuring prosperity and well-being. Understanding the real challenges that people face in their daily lives is a key factor for combatting populism and the extreme right, as such it is critical to measure these daily challenges and respond to them.
- How can we promote holistic and just environmental policies?
Although the urgency of adopting the necessary measures to address the climate crisis and other environmental problems is at the heart of the UNGA deliberations, the implementation of existing commitments, is too slow.
Therefore, while fighting for bolder international agreements on these issues, we must adopt - at regional, national and local level – holistic environmental policies including adaptation, mitigation and sustainability for a more efficient response to environmental challenges as well as for promoting climate justice.
Economic, social and environmental pillars are interconnected.
Environmental protection based on climate justice must be approached taking into account climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, while addressing social and economic needs of the many.
Cooperation at regional and local level is crucial, for the conservation and the sustainable use of all ecosystems .
Environmental education is essential for including all citizens in the effort of designing the new way of life that climate emergency requires. From city planning and architecture to industry, transport, agriculture and tourism, the environmental factor should be mainstreamed in our party programs and legislation.
Adopting a sustainable energy model is the only way to protect our planet and the future generations.
At the same time, a mitigated energy transition is critical for addressing inequalities and achieving global and regional cohesion.
- How can we implement gender equality in practice?
Although a great progress has been made in adopting legislation guaranteeing gender equality, this is not enough. The glass ceiling is a reality. As the extreme right and conservative groups are fighting hard to spread a narrative against gender equality, we should promote it in all decision-making sectors and take it into account horizontally in all our policies.
Political parties must lead by example not only in their statutes but also in their program and everyday practices.
The shocking increase of violence against women - since the pandemic the number of women and girl victims of sexual and physical violence has almost tripled going up to 736 million - is a proof of the backlash we are facing .
Stereotypes can be changed only through a change of culture and it’s the duty of the progressive family to be the frontrunners in this effort.
- How can we reconcile the changes in life expectancy leading to active older generations with the aspirations of younger people ?
Demographic changes are not the same in all continents and life expectancy is intricately interconnected with economic and social factors.
However, as science and technology are advancing the total number of aging population is increasing. Traditional support systems are also evolving. Projections show that the number of older people remaining active and in good shape for much longer will be rising in the coming years and societies need to adapt to this new reality.
Changes in employment policies, social security, care industry, housing are necessary.
Housing has become a huge problem both for young and older people.
Health promotion and disease prevention is of paramount importance to sustain social security systems.
The tension between an older generation that, for economic reasons, wishes to or is obliged to remain active and a younger generation struggling for decent work and the right to have a voice in decision-making leads to a fractured society.
Therefore, designing of new policies adapted to the demographic transformations need to be complemented by investing in improved public services that ensure economic and social rights and in inter-generational solidarity. Only then can we achieve our aim to create inclusive and harmonious societies. Political parties can contribute extensivelyin this direction by promoting a balanced representation of all age groups.
- How can technology be ethical, secure and trustworthy while bridging digital divides?
Managing and regulating big data is a key challenge for the future.
As the rising concentration of power in digital markets is extremely worrying, considering data as public good represents an important first step. Furthermore, open source software is very valuable in this direction.
Ethical issues in technology are related with cybersecurity, spyware, misuse of personal information, proliferation of misinformation and deep fakes, use of AI, health tracking, facial recognition, robotic machines and weapons.
Today there is a lack of clarity regarding where responsibility lies in relation to many of the above issues.
A global approach is necessary in combination with national measures to secure a moral use of data and resources, avoid the weaponization of technology and create a culture of responsibility.
At the same time it is crucial to reduce the digital divide - access divide, use divide, quality of use gap - by increasing connectivity, improving digital literacy, enabling affordable and equitable access to technological tools.
- How can education be adapted to the changing world?
Our educational systems are very slow in adapting to the rapid changes in technology and society. In many countries basic infrastructure is lacking, curricula are obsolete and educators have to manage fleeting attention gaps .
Securing a high level quality public education is inherently related with promoting equality. Equality of opportunities and fairness in education is a key element in progressive politics.
Pedagogical innovations should incorporate the latest technology in the classroom while safeguarding the encouragement of critical thinking. Teacher’s training is essential for achieving this goal.
Replacement of jobs due to the development of AI increases the importance of reskilling and upskilling through life-long life education and training more than ever.
To enable both children and adults to benefit from new technological tools and reduce the risks of manipulation , training schemes on digital literacy should be introduced. The prevention of violence against women and discrimination of all kinds is also linked to the modernization of educational curricula.
- How will the workplace landscape be transformed in the coming years ?
Climate crisis, shifting demographics, population movements have already changed the way we work.
Globalization and the technological revolution are creating new possibilities but also disrupting existing work arrangements.
Technological evolution can be positive if used to remove structural barriers, close the gender gap and reduce inequalities. But despite positive productivity effects we see a rise of precarious employment and discriminatory practices . Unpaid work still affects millions of women and both theshadow and informal economy is dominant in many parts of the world.
This evolution also impacts workers’ rights to association and collective bargaining as well as the functioning of trade unions.
Therefore it is necessary to fight for global decent labour standards including basic occupational health and safety norms. We should ensure full implementation of the ILO core conventions and guidelines as well as implementation of the SDG number 8 seeking to achieve inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work.
During the pandemic remote work increased, making hybrid arrangements a new reality. Legislation should guarantee the protection of the socio-economic rights of remote work and tele-working including the right to disconnect. To respond to societal changes, in many countries a debate has opened on reducing working hours while maintaining the same pay.
As companies utilizing AI drastically reduce their human workforce, they should have the responsibility to ensure the employability of their workforce through lifelong training schemes.
A new social contract is needed for a society centered on human needs, solidarity, public interest and the indivisibility of human rights.
- How can we prevent the spread of local, national and regional crises ?
Solidarity between nations and investment in humanitarian and development aid are the best ways to prevent climate and health crises as well as the large scale forced human displacement . International law must be applied without discrimination.
Existing wars, breaches of international law, instability and the militarization of foreign policy are also hindering efforts to address the key issues on the global agenda. Therefore, multilateral efforts for conflict resolution, peace- building and conflict prevention must be actively supported.