SocialForum,World

Abstract

The first World Social Forum (WSF) was organized by a group of Brazilian and French activists in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in January 2001, coinciding with the meeting of the World Economic Forum, and challenged neoliberal globalization under the slogan “Another World is Possible.” Organized under a set of principles outlined in its charter, the WSF was intended to be an “open meeting place” for civil society actors to commit to “reflective thinking, democratic debate of ideas, formulation of proposals and free exchange of experiences” (World Social Forum 2002). While explicitly critiquing neoliberal globalization the gatherings were also meant to be a “permanent process of seeking and building alternatives” and “open to pluralism and diversity.” Politically, social forum activism is characterized by more radical versus mainstream approaches to social change and is focused mainly on social justice and human rights concerns regarding models of development; gender, indigenous, labor, and environmental issues; and the forces of globalization writ large.