Feminists from around the world met at the recently concluded 3rd Feminist Dialogues in Nairobi, Kenya to discuss the challenge of establishing feminist democracy to counter the formal liberal democracy that is in place, among other things. What strategies have feminists agreed on to bring to the larger social movements?

A colourful African cultural performance accompanied by an anthem of struggle greeted delegates at the opening of the 3rd Feminist Dialogues in Nairobi, Kenya last January 17-19. But things turned more somber as feminists from all over the world, with a seriousness of purpose, began to work on what they came here to do: to achieve a two-way political exchange—to effectively intervene in the broader World Social Forum process as feminists organising for change, and to establish strategic and politically relevant links with other social movements.

Mama Koite, Chair of the African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) gave the opening speech. FEMNET works in advancing African women’s development, equality and other human rights through advocacy, training, and communication.

Wendy Harcourt of the Society for International Development, an international network that promotes social justice and fosters democratic participation, in her plenary speech, presented the contradiction and limits of formal liberal democracy.

Democracy, Harcourt said, was imposed through “peace building” exercises and “development aid regimes” in the disguise of ensuring order in the face of terrorism and fundamentalism. Further, she suspects that democracy was used as an entry point for post colonial authority and global markets through institutions that enforce and bolster political, economic, and social inequalities.

“Democracy today seems not to be about human rights [and] open politics deeply connected to values of social justice [and] gender equalities. So, given these scenarios, what are the possibilities for liberal democracy? What are the questions we, as feminists, need to consider in translating the conceptual radicalism of democracy...into praxis and change so that democracy becomes truly a way of organising social life?” Harcourt said.

Among the five key areas that Harcourt suggested in building strategies for feminist democracy include the following:
- challenging static gendered embodied identities;
- engaging in shared authority;
- acknowledging disputes and agreements;
- building on local experiences of the women's movement, seeing feminists as leaders in new forms of democracy; and
- negotiating within a liberal democracy.

During the workshops that followed, feminists engaged in redefining democracy, rights, and citizenship. They also looked at how neo-liberalism, militarism, and fundamentalism impact on democracy. As a result, feminists working autonomously and those in the social justice movements, agreed to work together in order to meet the challenges posed by the contradictions and complexities they presently face.

Participants also stressed the importance of their contribution to the different World Social Forum events, which also took place in Nairobi, immediately after the Feminist Dialogues. Feminists promised fifty percent participation of women in all key spaces so as to ensure strategic links with other social movements.

For more information, visit the website <http://feministdialogue.isiswomen.org/>.