World Social Forum 2001

The World Social Forum is an open meeting place where social movements, networks, NGOs and other civil society organizations opposed to neo-liberalism and a world dominated by capital or by any form of imperialism come together to pursue their thinking, to debate ideas democratically, for formulate proposals, share their experiences freely and network for effective action.

The first edition of the WSF marked an opposition to the World Economic Forum in Davos, since 1971, has played a strategic role in formulating the thinking of those who promote and defend neo-liberal policies throughout the world. The WSF 2001, about 20000 people attended, including delegates from 117 countries, the camp of Youth and Indigenous Nations participating in the camp.

In this first WSP covered the following topics: the production of wealth and social reproduction, access to the wealth and sustainability, civil society and the public sphere and political power and ethics in the new society.

Since the first world encounter, it has taken the form of a permanent world process seeking and building alternatives to neo-liberal policies. This definition is in its Charter of Principles, the WSF’s guiding document.