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Resources for Creating Another World: Financial Strategies of the World Social Forum

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Abstract

Liliana Diaz analyzes the financial structure and strategy of the World Social Forum (WSF). Considering the importance of the ‘participative budget’ as an initiative promoted by the Forum, she looks at this as a strategy to finance the WSF, and as a model by other social movements. Diaz examines six different funding arrangements in each of the Forums looking at the consequences of the financing arrangements for the sustainability of the Forum process.

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Notes

  1. ‘The WSF does not have a legal identity; all contracts are concluded in the name of the Brazilian Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (ABONG), and the brand ‘World Social Forum’ has been registered – in Brazil and internationally – in the name of ABONG’ (Schönleitner, 2003: 130–131).

  2. The Brazilian site of the Forum mentions ‘74,121 participants’, Simonson (2004) states ‘nearly 100,000’ and Rousset suggests ‘more than 130,000’. We chose the latter to make our own calculation of the ‘cost per participant’ since Rousset provides the most detailed information.

  3. It should be noted that the system of differentiated registration fees between the North and the South was also applied in the other forums. The system applied in India (tiered structure) included, in addition to these two categories, a third one for the local organizations, plus an invitation for additional contributions.

  4. ‘Governador abre 5° Forum Parlamentar Mundial’, http://www.estado.rs.gov.br/principal_busca.php?inc=noticias/noticias_vieu.php&not…, 29 January 2005.

  5. ‘Governo reafirma apoio ao Forum Social Mundial’, http://www.estado.rs.gov.br/index.php?inc=noticias/noticias_view.php&notid=37057&menu=13&submenu=73&vac=&corede=&opcaomenu=.

  6. ‘Setores publico e privado destacam a realização do FSM no Estado’, http://www.estado.rs.gov.br/principal_busca.php?inc=noticias/noticias_vieu.php&not…, 12 January 2004

  7. ‘Numeros confirman grandeza do Forum’ http://www.portoalegre.rs.gov.br/fsm2003/Default.asp?ml=8737&m1=8737.

  8. ‘Pesquisa da Prefeitura vai definir perfil do turista’, http://www.portoalegre.rs.gov.br/fsm2003/Default.asp?offset=20&ml=8658&m1=8658.

  9. ‘Setor hoteleiro mostra euforia com lotação total’, http://www.portoalegre.rs.gov.br/fsm2003/Default.asp?offset=50&ml=8561&m1=8561.

  10. http://www.estado.rs.gov.br/principal_busca.php?inc=noticias/noticias_vieu.php&not…, 11 November 2002.

  11. ‘WSF India can, at its discretion within the parameters laid down in the WSF Charter as adopted in India, seek funds from Indian industry and Commerce.’ Funding policy http://wsfindia.org/Funding_Policy.php.

References

  • Anheier, Halmut K. and Siobhan Daly (2004) ‘Philanthropic Foundations: A new global force?’, in Halmut K. Anheier, Mary Kaldor and Glasius Marlies (eds.) Global Civil Society 2004/5, London: SAGE.

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  • International Council (2005) Annexes to the letter of 7 July 2005 of the Resources Commission of the International Council to request help from the organizations to cover the deficit for 2005.

  • Le Monde (2004) ‘Une subvention du Quai d’Orsay à Attac, 2 February 2002.

  • Rousset, Pierre (2002) Eléments de réflexion sur le processus indien du FSM.

  • Schönleitner, Günter (2003) ‘World Social Forum: Making another world possible?’, in John Clark (ed.) Globalizing Civic Engagement. Civil Society and Transnational Action, London: Earthscan.

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  • Simonson, Karin (2004) World Social Forum Mumbai: The World's Second Superpower? NGO & Civil Society Perspectives January 16–21, 2004, prepared for the Programme on NGOs and Civil Society, Geneva: Centre for Applied Studies in International Negotiations (CASIN).

  • Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) (2003) Urbanews No. 7, February..

  • Wallerstein, Immanuel (2004) The Rising Strength of the World Social Forum.

  • Whitaker, Chico (2004) ‘Résumé d’un débat avec Chico Whitaker, le 9 février 2004 à l’Institut de la FSU.

  • World Social Forum India (2003) ‘Report of the Meeting of the International Council, Miami, USA, June 23–26, 2003.

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Authors
  1. Liliana Diaz
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Examines six different funding arrangements of World Social Forums

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Diaz, L. Resources for Creating Another World: Financial Strategies of the World Social Forum. Development 49, 93–101 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.development.1100243

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