Bernard Cassen - The History of the World Social Forum

Summary

In this reflection on the creation of the World Social Forum, the speaker shares the journey of its inception in January 2001, sparked by a conversation with Brazilian activists after their experience at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Emphasizing the need for a counterpoint to the elite gatherings in Davos, they chose Porto Alegre, Brazil, as the ideal location, drawing on its participatory budgeting practices. The forum was conceived as a gathering of social movements, distinct from political parties, with support from Brazil's PT party but maintaining independence. The speaker also touches on the complex relationship between social movements and political parties.

Takeaways

• 😀 The World Social Forum (WSF) was launched in Brazil in January 2001 as an alternative to the World Economic Forum in Davos.
• 😀 The idea to create the WSF emerged after a meeting in Paris with Brazilian comrades who were disillusioned with the World Economic Forum in Davos.
• 😀 The initial goal was to create a counter-event to Davos, focusing on social movements and organizations, rather than individuals.
• 😀 Brazil was chosen as the location for the WSF due to its strong popular movements, the PT (Worker's Party), and the success of Porto Alegre's participatory budget.
• 😀 The first WSF was organized by Brazilian social movements, with no direct involvement or control from the PT, though they provided logistical and financial support.
• 😀 The event was held in Porto Alegre, a city chosen for its symbolic connection to participatory democracy.
• 😀 Lula, the then leader of the PT and future President of Brazil, supported the idea but ensured the forum remained independent from political party influence.
• 😀 The WSF was designed as a platform for organizations worldwide, not for individual political figures, and it maintained a distance from political parties.
• 😀 The PT, despite being politically supportive, did not attempt to control the direction or content of the WSF, which allowed it to maintain its autonomy.
• 😀 The WSF aimed to create a space for social movements, where they could collaborate and present alternative global solutions, without being dominated by political parties or elites.

Q & A

What was the main motivation behind the creation of the World Social Forum (WSF)?

The main motivation was to create an alternative to the World Economic Forum in Davos, which was seen as an elitist event dominated by bankers, businessmen, and governments. The WSF aimed to provide a space for global social movements to come together and discuss alternative policies and solutions.

Why was Brazil chosen as the location for the first World Social Forum?

Brazil was chosen because of its strong presence of popular movements, the Workers' Party (PT), and organizations that were active in promoting participatory budgeting, especially in Porto Alegre. The city symbolized a place where social movements were already actively involved in governance.

How did the idea of a counter-Davos event evolve into the World Social Forum?

The initial idea of organizing a counter-Davos event was sparked by the negative experiences of two Brazilian comrades who had attended Davos. However, after considering the challenges of organizing such an event in Europe, the decision was made to hold it in Brazil, creating the broader vision of the World Social Forum.

What role did the Workers' Party (PT) play in the creation of the World Social Forum?

While many members of the organizing committee were affiliated with or close to the PT, the party did not directly control the WSF. The PT provided significant logistical and financial support, but allowed the forum to remain independent of party influence, maintaining the autonomy of the social movements involved.

What distinguishes the World Social Forum from other movements like Occupy?

The WSF was a forum for organizations, not individuals, to come together. It focused on social movements from around the world, whereas the Occupy movement was more about individual actions and protests. The WSF emphasized the collective role of organizations in promoting social change.

What did President Lula's involvement in the World Social Forum entail?

Before becoming president, Lula supported the idea of the WSF but kept a distance from directly controlling it. He met with the organizers to understand its goals and provided backing, but the PT did not interfere with the forum's structure or decisions.

How did the relationship between political parties and social movements influence the WSF's development?

The WSF maintained a careful balance between working with political parties like the PT for logistical and financial support while ensuring that it remained independent of party control. This allowed for the inclusion of various social movements without direct political interference.

What is meant by 'parallel convergences' in the context of the World Social Forum?

The concept of 'parallel convergences' refers to the idea that social movements and political parties can work toward similar goals without necessarily aligning or merging into a single entity. Social movements can advocate for specific measures, while political parties can pursue their agendas independently but in parallel with each other.

What role did the city of Porto Alegre play in the first World Social Forum?

Porto Alegre was chosen because it was already known for its participatory budgeting process, which involved citizens in decision-making. This was seen as a symbolic and practical example of the type of social engagement and governance that the WSF aimed to promote.

How did the World Social Forum differ from traditional political forums like the World Economic Forum in Davos?

The World Social Forum was focused on grassroots organizations and social movements rather than business leaders, governments, and elites. It provided a space for organizations to discuss global issues from a social justice perspective, unlike the World Economic Forum, which mainly addressed economic policies from a top-down approach.