Davos is the name of the Swiss resort town where the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) unfolds. This summit is sponsored by the richest global companies (perhaps not-so-rich-now) and therefore brings together, by invitation only, influential business leaders and politicians.These “fat cats in the snow”, as Bono dubbed them, go from meeting to meeting shaping the global economy for years to come. As if to make a point, this year’s theme is called “Shaping the post-crisis world”. They cannot wait for the crisis to end before planning their vengeance.
It would be futile to expect productive actions towards the crisis from the WEF, given that the current financial tsunami unravelled, and was encouraged, under the watch of these same ‘Davosmen’-- a term that political scientist Samuel Huntington defined as people who are part of the world’s elite whose interests are not shared by the nationalist majority of the people.
The WEF seeks to restore the phantom wealth, which is “creating money out of nothing through financial bubbles…” as David Korten explained in his book "Agenda For a New economy: From Phantom Wealth to Real Wealth."
The Latin American neoliberal ideology in the WEF is represented by Alvaro Uribe, who attended the forum with commerce and foreign ministers, in the hopes of attracting more multinational corporations to invest in the country. The real wage freeze in the salary of Colombian minimum wage earners is highlighted on the brochure that Uribe and his obedient ministers are handing out to CEOs.
By attending this summit, the Colombian government appears confident in having this crisis under relative control. A recent statement by the International Monetary Fund certainly boosted this confidence. However, this organisation has been widely discredited for failing to warn more assertively of the looming financial crisis.
It is important to note the reservations that other countries have taken towards the WEF. For instance, the US government has prevented high level economic advisers and cabinet members from attending. This is in stark contrast to the Bush’s administration approach. The only other Latin American quota in the forum, Mexico's Felipe Calderon, has received some criticism.
The forum that should be the focal point, instead, is its antithesis, the World Social Forum (WSF) being held in Brazil, which seeks to counteract the neoliberal policies that have all but doomed the world.The WSF was established with the conviction that “Another world is possible.” This summit does seek solutions to concrete problems that affect the real economy.There are about 100,000 attendees discussing not only a new model of economic development, but also on the environmental crisis and food insecurity.
A sizable number of Latin American presidents are attending the WSF, among them Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Brazil), who desisted from attending the WEF. Thus, sending the signal that lessons of the current crisis are being learnt and an alternative path to the traditional neoliberal agenda is being pursued.
However, the events that some presidentshave chosen to attend also send the signal that Latin America's similar struggles are being tackled through different ideologies.This highlights the deepening divide that exists in the region, despite the recent economic cooperation between Colombia and Venezuela.
In the new paradigm national economies and industries are being fortified to the benefit of the countries’ population.This is the opportunity that the crisis presents. Ironically, Colombia is nurturing national industries but of the wrong kind; USD4 billion has been spent on arms and military equipment and a number o fthese arms will be assembled in the country.
While most other countries are seeking to protect their most deprived, Colombia-- as if there never was a financial crisis -- continues to cement a neoliberal agenda. The current WSF is an important summit for working on a concerted effort to drastically amend social and economic goals. Another world may be possible as long as the failed dogma of free markets can be discarded. This is something that the 'Colombian Davos men' will not tolerate.
Author Sebastian Castaneda is Colombian and studies psychology and political economy at the University of Hong Kong.
bluebird
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... Why don't you keep your socialist opinions to yourself. Or better yet, why don't you go live in some socialist "utopia" like the ones Hugo and Fidel are building. I am sure you will fit in well there! |
Adriaan Alsema (Colombia Reports)
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... @ bluebird, Try being a little more constructive. All opinions are welcome to be expressed here. If you disagree with the writer, start a discussion instead of telling people to shut up. |
chris
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... @ bluebird I know if we where in Colombia right now your action would be more than words maybe respecting and learning from other points of view will bring a better understanding for you! Paying a hit man to shut people up will not solve anything at all! |
iceburner
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... The socialist agenda has never worked. Socialist victim mentality always blames someone or something else for the failure of their economic model. Convincing people the fault lies elsewhere supports the control agenda. This of course is the exact same tactic the other side offers as well. The more things change the more they stay the same. |
Will
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... Iceburner and Bluebird, You don't seem to understand the point of this post. There is nothing socialist or anti-capitalist in this piece, but it is definitely anti-neoliberal which is simply to oppose one extreme market variant of capitalism. The variants that exist in Western and Northern Europe as well as the periods of greater state-led development in Latin America in the 1960s and 1970s do not, and did not, represent failures...Sweden might represent a "socialist" state to you, but most of its economy and wealth are created by capitalist enterprises and its far from a failure, but the state has been involved in nationalizing specific sectors as well as seeking ways of reducing the inevitable inequality associated with capitalist systems. Thanks Sebastian for the interesting piece and I hope you are enjoying your time in Hong Kong. Best, Will |
gringo michae
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... The one thing I find in most of this writers opinions here he loves to throw around the word neo liberal. He condems President Uribe for bringing a deal back home where arms will be made in Colombia, thus creating much needed jobs, He seems to forget his homeland still as an armed conflict going on, requiring much of it's money spent on Military ,to t make Colombia a safer place. His writings a clear bais towards socialism , it is his opinion which is not shared by many inColombia. but after all easy to sit from a far and criticie,being one of the lucky one to be able to flee. Many of my Colombia friends that have been able to go aborad , have praise for Uribe for changing Colombia for the better, for they have returned home over the last two years to see a more modern Colombia, of cities much safer then when they fled. They will tell you that Colombia still has problems but there is now hope that these can be addressed now that people are safer then before. |
miguel
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... This is a very interesting story. I dont watch much corporate US news but from what I have seen the World Social Forum is not being covered. Its likely it will not get mentioned. Remember that Americans are the most propagandized "free market" victims there are. I believe only in US vassal states such as colombia or Puerto Rico is is the propaganda as bad as in the US. I have lived in 2 of the those 3 areas (puerto rico being a colony) and have taken to checking Colombian papers in English and Spanish so my opinion is based on something. |
miguel
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... Well iceburner let me pinpoint precisely where the fault does lie, since you seem to not know and accuse people "socialists" as you say of pointing the finger "elsewhere". The fault lies in this corrupt system set up to control people and government alike - savage undemocratic capitalism; - IMF, World Bank, World Trade Organization and supporting World Economic Forums. There is a deficit of democracy purposefully purged from the world economic system (fore mentioned organizations) to assure the disempowerment of national sovereignty as well prohibit individual democratic participation. Why dont you go ahead and tell me what the "socialist agenda" is because I have no idea what you are referring to and I dont think you do either. |
Sebastian Castaneda
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... @ Bluebird No one is suggesting converting Colombia in a socialist state. This article is calling for increasing debate in the best economic systems that would seek to benefit all Colombians instead of the traditional elite. What countries other countries such as Brazil and Bolivia are doing is following a more sustainable path where social programs take centre stage. That’s not to say that these countries have solved the social, economic and political structural problems that they have. However, their social programs do seem to address these problems. |
Sebastian Castaneda
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... @ Will: Thanks for your comment and I appreciate your understanding on the central idea of this column. A more responsible capitalism where profit is not king and greed is not the feeling dictating plans of action would certainly be in the interest of the majority of Colombians. Man cannot be left to decide and control greed and this is where government steps in to protect the interests of the population as a whole. |
Sebastian Castaneda
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... @ Gringo I agree that some of Alvaro Uribe’s policies have contributed to a rapid economic growth. These policies have also brought some confidence to the population. However, It’s naïve to praise the work of this presidency by taking into account only GDP growth, FDI and successful military campaigns against the guerrillas. One needs to look at the gini coefficient of inequality, the unemployment rate, poverty rate and the so-called “false positives”. It is important to examine who is benefiting the most from some of these policies and whether their benefits justify the costs. There needs to be an examination at the trend in other countries towards the economic system that was left untouched for too long and now the consequences are apparent. Moreover, this all out war will reach an impasse and a serious peace process would be necessary. Building factories for arms manufacturing would only exacerbate the arm conflict. 40 years is enough. |
