United yet autonomous: Indymedia and the struggle to sustain a radical democratic network

In the fall of 2002, the Indymedia global network was in crisis. A $50,000 Ford Foundation Grant solicited for an international network-wide IMC (Independent Media Center, i.e. Indymedia) conference had seemed imminent, but months of preparation came to naught when one member organization, the IMC in Argentina, exercised what amounted to a 'block' in the consensus process, thus bringing the money and the conference to a halt. Argentina IMC members considered Ford Foundation money tainted by historical ties. To accept the money, in their opinion, would irreparably compromise IMC principles.