“In the hidden Davos,” according to White, “opposing social forces, activists and elites, can put their egos and personas aside to speak freely and find common cause for joint action on the global crises that impact us all – from income inequality to climate change.” Allegedly, there is a “hidden Davos”, and White was going on a great discovery expedition to find it. In an op-ed in the Guardian last week, which was much debated and mocked on social media, self-proclaimed co-founder of Occupy Wall Street Micah White explained why he was “headed to Davos”. Trump has long been domesticated and (the people who drive) the markets love him. PLUTOCRACY VS CAPITALISM FULLWhile his speech was full of distortions and lies, as usual, it raised few concerns among the Davos crowd. This year he returned to boast about “his” economic accomplishments, using it both as a distraction from the impeachment trials and as part of the permanent re-election campaign. He had dominated the 2017 WEF in absence, surprised his audience as a “ pragmatist” in 2018, and skipped Davos again in 2019. There are also some “old change-makers”, less touted but more respected, most notably impeached president Donald Trump. Obviously, “Greta” (who no longer needs a last name) was there, holding the grownups to account, playing on their parental guilt, and giving the international media the quotes they came for: “Our house is still on fire.” Trump has long been domesticated and (the people who drive) the markets love him It touted its “ young change-makers”, who entertained the old(er) change-frustraters with passionate speeches about issues like climate change, gun violence, pollution and racism. The WEF 2020 meeting was yet another example of this routine. Include the most malleable, shower them with praise, write a communique that you have understood their message, make some cosmetic changes and continue with what you have been doing from the beginning. They have learned to adapt to criticism, be it from the anti-globalization movement of the 1990s or from the far right today. Economic leaders rub shoulders with political leaders, and prominent social activists provide a flavor of social responsibility.įor years now the media have been writing that the WEF takes place as “capitalism is in crisis”, but while this might be true in general, the vast majority of the WEF participants continue to do well. Every year a select(ed) group of a few thousand people travel to the remote Swiss town of Davos, many in their own or their corporate private planes, to discuss the global economic, political and social issues of the day, including climate change. T he World Economic Forum (WEF) is an odd event, but also the perfect insight into the problems of political activism in today’s world.
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