SCHOLARLY PRESENTATIONS

Anthropology News, September 2006: pp. 33-34.

Wedel Speaks at the “Civil G8” in Moscow

Stacy Lathrop

Janine Wedel, a professor in the School of Public Policy at George Mason and co-convener of the AAA Interest Group of the Anthropology of Public Policy, was invited to speak at the "Civil G8" conference held in Moscow’s World Trade Center, July 3–4, prior to the G8 summit in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Ella Pamfilova, the coordinator of the Russian national working group of the Civil G8- 2006, stated the aim of the project was "to declare NGO approaches to the priority issues of the G8 Russian Presidency," such as energy security, education and the fight against infectious diseases, as well as presenting other important issues in the international NGO-community’s perspective. As a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty report of the event noted on July 11, 2006, it provided an opportunity for civil groups to address the Kremlin’s "tightening grip on politics, civil society and the economy." According to Pamfilova, "the Civil G8 was to serve as a forum to work out suggestions that could be taken into account by officials in preparing G8 future agendas." Thus, it was significant that Wedel and other delegates to the Forming Global Social and Economic Policies for Sustainable Development forum were able to meet with Russian President Putin.

During the forum Wedel spoke on the topic "Holding Governments and International Organizations Accountable," a timely subject given reported tensions surrounding not only Putin’s administration but among the NGO-community.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that organizers of the Civil G8 claimed that "some 20 delegates had been harassed, arrested or beaten as they traveled to the conference," and that several Western diplomats, including the British Ambassador, attended despite warnings from the Kremlin. At the same time, the leading liberal parties Yabloko and Union of Rightist Forces in Russia did not attend because of the participation of groups understood to be extremist, noted Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Other groups supportive of the Russian government demonstrated in front of the Civil G8.