Attac International

Attac International
Name	Attac International
Founded	1998
Founders	UTCC; activists linked to Alter-globalization
Type	Non-governmental organization
Headquarters	Toulouse, France
Region served	Global
Fields	Social justice, Finance reform

Attac International is a global network of activist groups formed in 1998 to campaign for regulation of financial markets and alternatives to neoliberal globalization policies. It emerged from civil society responses to decisions made at summits such as the G8 Summit and the 1999 WTO Seattle Ministerial, and has affiliated groups in dozens of countries including members linked to movements around European integration, Latin American social movements, and anti-austerity coalitions. Attac became prominent during the late-1990s and 2000s protests that involved networks connected to the Alter-globalization movement and coordination with organizations involved in the World Social Forum.

History

Attac formed amid contests over IMF programs, World Bank conditionality, and the liberalization initiatives promoted at the WTO and G7 summits. Founders included economists and activists influenced by debates around the Tobin tax and critiques outlined in works like Joseph E. Stiglitz's analyses of Washington Consensus policies; early coordination drew on networks associated with the European Social Forum, CGT, and other trade union federations. The organization institutionalized during protests at the Seattle demonstrations and the Cologne mobilizations, and later featured in controversies at the Genoa and Cancún protests. Over the 2000s Attac expanded globally, connecting with civil society actors in Brazil, India, South Africa, and Spain.

Organization and Structure

Attac is organized as a federation of national and regional sections, with coordinating bodies inspired by models used by the Social Forum networks and the Alter-globalization movement. Its internal governance has involved assemblies and committees similar to structures in the European Anti-Poverty Network and some trade union federations, with national sections maintaining autonomy like the Greenpeace national branches. Leadership roles have rotated among activists who have been associated with parties such as the French Socialist Party, Communist Party members, and independent scholars linked to institutes such as the Institute for Policy Studies and Transnational Institute. Funding sources have included member dues and donations, comparable in transparency debates to groups like Amnesty International and Oxfam.

Goals and Advocacy

Attac advocates for measures including the implementation of a Tobin tax on currency transactions, regulation of derivatives and Hedge fund activities, and tax reforms aimed at reducing avoidance practiced by multinational corporations headquartered in jurisdictions such as Luxembourg and Switzerland. It has articulated positions opposing policies promoted at forums like the World Economic Forum and supporting alternatives promoted by the UNCTAD and United Nations bodies. The network has aligned with proposals from economists such as James K. Galbraith and Joseph E. Stiglitz while engaging with social movements influenced by leaders and thinkers like Noam Chomsky and Vandana Shiva on questions of financial sovereignty and development policy.

Campaigns and Activities

Attac has run global campaigns targeting institutions and events such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund annual meetings, the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, and G20 summits. Notable activities include advocacy for the Financial Transaction Tax at forums that also include NGOs like Tax Justice Network and coordination with protests alongside groups such as Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and Friends of the Earth. Attac sections have produced policy briefs, organized teach-ins referencing works by Thomas Piketty and Ha-Joon Chang, and participated in electoral debates in countries including France, Germany, and Italy. Tactics have ranged from street demonstrations akin to those staged by Sécurité Sociale-aligned unions, to online petitions and participation in citizen hearings alongside organizations like Civil Society Forum participants.

Criticism and Controversies

Attac has faced criticism from political parties and commentators including figures from Les Républicains and pro-business groups, who have accused it of anti-market stances similar to critiques leveled at Occupy Wall Street. Some national sections encountered legal and political challenges; in France, debates involved lawmakers and courts with comparisons to actions against groups like Lutte Ouvrière and scrutiny similar to that applied to La Confédération Générale du Travail during high-profile protests. Scholars aligned with Chicago School economics criticized Attac's policy proposals while conservative media compared its anti-globalization posture to movements such as Black Bloc participants. Internal controversies have included disputes over affiliations with political parties and debates mirrored in other networks like the European Left.

National and Regional Sections

Attac operates through national and regional sections in Europe, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and North America, analogous to federations such as Friends of the Earth International and Greenpeace International. Prominent sections have been active in France, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Italy, Sweden, United Kingdom, Japan, and India. Regional coordination has interacted with platforms such as the World Social Forum and the CLACSO, and collaborated with local organizations including trade unions like CUT in Brazil and activist networks tied to Movimiento al Socialismo-linked social movements in Bolivia.

Influence and Impact on Policy

Attac contributed to public debates that influenced proposals for financial regulation promulgated in the aftermath of the 2007–2008 financial crisis and discussions around taxes and transparency that fed into initiatives associated with the European Commission and G20 working groups. While its core proposals such as a global Tobin tax have not been universally adopted, Attac's advocacy intersected with policy shifts including enhanced reporting standards promoted by OECD frameworks and media attention that pressured institutions like the European Central Bank and national treasuries to consider measures against tax avoidance highlighted by leaks like the LuxLeaks revelations. Its role mirrors that of other civil society actors such as Tax Justice Network and Oxfam in shaping discourse on Multinational corporation taxation and financial transparency.

Category:Non-governmental organizations