Towards a new politics

This is a process-oriented account of the history and future directions of the World Social Forum by one of the moving spirits in its creation and to this day one of its leading 'insiders'.

The WSF has become by far the most famous international arena in which social movements - new and old - gather each year in order to clarify their criticisms of the world as it is (in both political and economic terms), and to debate the fundamental principles on which an alternative world could and should be built.

Chico Whitaker charts how the idea of the World Social Forum came out, its early history from its first meeting in Porto Alegre in 2001 to the present day, and the internal issues it faces.

He presents basic principles of how to organize social forums effectively on the basis of the lessons the WSF has learned in its short history. And he sets out the choices now confronting the movement and his own ideas as to the future course of action it should follow.

His book is a vital set of signposts for all participants - past and future - in the World Social Forum process. It will also be useful to scholars trying to understand this extraordinary and sui generis new international social movement.