Group for Research and Initiative for the Liberation of Africa.

THE GROUP FOR RESEARCH AND INITIATIVE FOR THE LIBERATION OF AFRICA (GRILA) was founded in 1984. It is an autonomous, non-profit, entirely volunteer-based organization of researchers and activists. It functions on the basis of the material and intellectual contribution of its sections, made up of members and supporters. Within its vision of a universalist world, GRILA’s goal is to contribute to the emergence and consolidation of self-directed and self-reliant development in Africa, and to foster international solidarity in support of this form of development. Concretely, this work involves popular education and political action in Africa and internationally. GRILA actively supports democratic and progressive forces in Africa that struggle for:

the destruction of all forms of racism and ethnocentrism;
the respect of collective and human rights;
the overthrow of regimes allied with imperialist interests;
a balance between rural and urban incomes; food self-sufficiency; the fulfillment of basic needs;
the political, economic and social emancipation of women; transformation of sexist mentalities;
popular and civic participation, popular democracy and the promotion and empowerment of Africa's youth;
self-reliant, ecologically sustainable development;
the emergence of regional panafricanist States that are politically and economically accountable to their citizens;
selective delinking from the world system

THE CURRENT SITUATION

For Africa, the "new world order" or globalization is essentially a selective redeployment of the capitalist system of the preceding era, and is a trend that will prevent the emergence of a "national bourgeois project." Certain countries will be able to adjust to the demands of the world system but at the odious price of compradorization. Others, despite their desire for growth, are at its mercy and, as a result, will be progressively marginalized, or kept in reserve for future exploitation.

Unfortunately, most African countries, despite the failures of the past few decades, continue to try to resolve the crisis according to prescriptions put forth by global financial institutions (World Bank, IMF) whose interests lie in maintaining the status quo. The frenetic struggle by elites to control wealth, power and violence is ravaging the continent. The broad sectors of society that contest this monopoly of power by the elites do not have the political space to concretize their vision. Progressive forces are, however, organizing and making their voices heard…

THE ALTERNATIVE

To counter this trend, GRILA believes that democracy and progressive strategies must focus on self-reliant and popular development in other words, Africa relying on its own forces, within a socialist and panafricanist perspective. This form of development entails subordinating external demands to internal needs. A consciousness that is increasingly homogenized by the dominant values of today's world system, however, is incapable of envisaging such a path. GRILA’s task, therefore, is to contribute to repoliticizing the discussion around development, fostering a new political consciousness, and channelling the efforts of an organic intelligentsia that will be capable of building an alternative to the disorder now ravaging Africa.

STRATEGY

To achieve these ends, GRILA has organized itself into working collectives composed of volunteers who focus their research and activism on specific areas, such as: the campaign against impunity; women’s emancipation and the transformation of sexist mentalities; logistical support to political parties and progressive organizations, including political lobbying and promotion of their goals; campaign against comprador regimes; providing informed opinions and information to various organizations and facilitating activities; alternative research and information; consciousness-raising and education…

MEMBERSHIP

Anyone who shares GRILA’s philosophy as described above can become a member. Each member must work within at least one collective, and pay the annual minimum contribution of $50 CDN. Please send us a letter with the following information:
- First and last name:
- Address:
- Telephone number:
- E-mail:
- Areas of interest:
Type of work:
* activism and public relations
* research and consultation
* administration and organisation
Send the above information along with a brief explanation of why you would like to become a GRILA member to the following address:

GRILA
5

GRILA
PO Box 75038
20 Bloor Street East
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M4W 3T3
Tel/Fax:
Montréal:
(514) 499-3418
Toronto :
(416) 926-8713
E-mail: admin@grila.org