The World Social Forum:
Inactive Path

Osvaldo León

The "end of history", that ideological discourse that in the 90´s sold
the message across the world that neoliberalism is the "only" possible
and "inevitable" social conception of humanity, finally seems to be
reaching the end of its tether, and history is retrieving its
dialectic dimension. The scenario: the World Social Forum (FSM) that
took place in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on January 25-30.

Convened under the slogan "Another World is Possible," the FSM
surpassed the expectations of organizers and participants. Around 2,
500 delegates were expected, however, there officially arrived 4, 702
representatives from 122 countries – whose registration was supported
by social bodies and organizations – 165 guests, 104 panelists and 1,
870 journalists. There was a total of approximately six thousand
people in the workshops, meetings, and other programmed activities.

Beyond the numbers, which are no small matter, the event was a
wonderful opportunity in that it allowed for the gathering and offered
an environment of thought and exchange for a number of forces and
initiatives that, particularly after the demonstrations in Seattle,
were coming together to mobilize against the governing financial
organizations of neoliberal globalization, but in a scattered manner.

The design of the Forum contributed to the gathering’s focus on
alternatives and proposals. The agenda was organized around two broad
themes, wealth and democracy, which overlapped on four points: the
production of wealth and social reproduction; access to wealth and
sustainability; the affirmation of civil society and public spaces;
and political power and ethics in the new society.

In the morning, well-known figures took the stage in plenary sessions,
exploring in depth the above-mentioned themes. The afternoons, on the
other hand, were given to the participants by way of workshops
autonomously organized by different entities and organizations, which,
without a doubt, was the site of the event’s rich variety. In over
400 workshops that took place, the common denominator was the exchange
of experiences and proposals, the definition of shared agendas, and
the search for agreements for follow-up and future solidarity. It is
worth noting that, aside from the "tourist" quota, there was a general
sentiment that the FSM was not simply an event but rather a link in a
larger process. Finally, in the evenings, testimonies of struggle
illustrated the strong points of resistance to neolibralism.

In the framework of the Forum specific conclaves also took place, such
as that between members of parliament and local authorities, while
young and indigenous people formed camps around the Catholic
University, which served as the meeting’s headquarters. A series of
non-programmed meetings were also held on-site, like that of the
social movements (who delivered Porto Alegre Call for Mobilisation), which
doubtless contributed to giving the process a more solid footing.

This sense of timeliness also has to do with the fact that the FSM
presented itself as the antithesis of the World Economic Forum, which
on the same dates usually meets in Davos, Switzerland, bringing
together the world’s economic élite. A teleconference was established
between the two events, which ended in legitimizing the meeting in
Porto Alegre, since the detailed agenda elaborated for the Davos
meeting was forced, under the circumstances, to recognize that the
opponents of globalization were greater in numbers than was supposed,
and, as such, to tackle the social theme.

Given the non-deliberative character of the FSM, there was no final
report or manifesto. Neither do the organizers anticipate any
synthesizing document, so as not to detract from the event’s
multiplicity and wealth of experiences. The proposals and resolutions
from the different conferences, workshops, encampments and meetings
will be released this April on the internet:
www.forumsocialmundial.org.br.

Beyond the achievements and organizational errors, what stood out in
Porto Alegre was the pluralism and diversity articulated in the
conviction that human beings and not money must be at the center of
all decisions. In this sense, the Forum was a catalyst for the new
social energies developing around the world after the protests in
Seattle, which challenge us to again take inactive.


Proposal of the Organizing Committee:

1. To hold World Social Forums every year.

2. To hold these Forums on the same date as the Economic Forum in
Davos.

3. Based on a charter of principles and orientations, pre-established
on the basis of the experience of the Forum, as well as
consultations that will be made with its participants, to hold a
new Forum in Porto Alegre in 2002, at the same time encouraging
Forums to meet in other parts of the world on this date.

4. In the course of this process, to establish an International
Council of the World Social Forum.

5. To hold in another country a World Social Forum in 2003 that will
live up to the highest standards of the 2002 Forums.

6. To hold in 2004 a new round of Forums in many countries,
successively. The Organizing Committee of the FSM in Porto Alegre
will prepare, until April 2001, the charter of principles and
orientations for the Forums of 2002.