Ricardo Stein

Soros Foundation, Guatemala

    Mr. Stein discussed the impact of the Summit on the development of civil society and social development organizations. The development of civil society is, to a large extent, determined by historical factors. While world summits are not determining factors in this regard, they certainly are important, and can be used as a starting point to modify internal social processes.

    Summits offer truly significant opportunities to bring about meaningful change, and why it is important to record all the recommendations made, which may be summarised as two basic points:

    The first issue raised in the Copenhagen declaration was the important role played by civil society in promoting social development.

Firstly, social development may only be promoted to the extent that civil society participates in national social development strategies.

Secondly, only with the organised collaboration of civil society may the national skills required to promote social development be acquired.

Thirdly, only when structural adjustment programs are socially monitored can the compensation required to protect the poorest groups from neglect be guaranteed.

    The second point raised in the Declaration is that social development is only possible insofar as the State and civil society maintain close collaborative ties. In the case of governments, these responsibilities include creating effective social development strategies while social development organizations are responsible for ensuring that their members become fully involved in these strategies.

    Three years after the Summit, the situations and conditions prevalent in Central America reflect a process of transition, regardless of the historical particularities of each country. This transitional phase is generally marked by contradictions, a persistent lack of trust between the Government and civil society and confusion among political and social groups.

    Guatemala has made substantial progress through the Peace Accords which, for the most part, address socio-economic and agricultural issues, the rights of indigenous people, and how to increase and reinforce participation and local power.
The five principal challenges that lie ahead during this transitional period are:

1. recognising the legitimacy of a government and defining the social development tasks for which a legitimate government is responsible.
2. establishing parameters and frameworks for action (e.g. participation forums, degree of co-responsibility, etc.).
3. drawing up social agreements and defining the role of social development organizations to gain a better perspective on what they were in the past and can be today.
4. planning for years of responsible participation, which starts with recognising the fundamental principles required to vindicate the law. It is also the responsibility of the State to define how it will encourage participation and reinforce ties within civil society.
5. developing medium-and long-term strategies allowing social development organizations to provide more efficient services.

Ricardo Stein is with the Soros Foundation in Guatemala.