Global Democracy and the World Social Forums (International Studies Intensives) (International Studies Intensives)

“Davos” has become synonymous with everything bad about globalization—capitalist imperialism, elitism, secrecy, and antidemocratic operations. Dating from the first confrontations at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in 2001, the World Social Forum has become the largest political gathering in human history and offers a direct challenge to the extreme inequities of corporate-led globalization. The forums are an experiment in global and participatory democracy, bringing together networks, organizations, and activists from around the world to create visions of a just and liberated global society. This book is itself an experiment in collaboration among twelve leading scholars, all of whom have participated in World Social Forums around the globe. Recounting dozens of dramatic firsthand experiences from their attendance, these authors draw on their knowledge of global politics to introduce the World Social Forum process, explain its foundations, and discuss its relevance to ongoing transnational efforts toward freedom, peace, and democracy. In keeping with the spirit of the World Social Forums and the collaborative authorship of the book, royalties will be donated to Grassroots Global Justice.