The Forum has evolved from an opportunity for European corporate stakeholders to discuss business strategies into an organization that today is widely regarded as the world’s foremost multistakeholder platform for public-private partnership.
Together with other stakeholders, the WEF works to define challenges, solutions and actions, always in the spirit of global citizenship. It both serves and builds sustained communities through an integrated concept of high-level meetings, research networks, task forces and digital collaboration.
The WEF was established in 1971 as a not-for-profit Foundation and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. It is independent, impartial and not tied to any special interests, although it works in close cooperation with all major international organizations. It strives in all its efforts to demonstrate entrepreneurship in the global public interest while upholding the highest standards of governance. Moral and intellectual integrity is at the heart of everything it does.
German-born Klaus Schwab, then Professor of Business Policy at the University of Geneva, chaired the initial gathering, which took place in Davos, Switzerland. Professor Schwab’s inspiration for creating the Foundation was his book –Moderne Unternehmensführung im Maschinenbau – in which the stakeholder principle was first defined. This concept states that the management of an enterprise is not only accountable to its shareholders but must also serve the interests of all stakeholders, including employees, customers, suppliers and, more broadly, government, civil society and any others who may be affected or concerned by its operations.
From the beginning, the Forum had considerable impact in improving political, economic and social awareness, acting as a catalyst for major bridge-building efforts. The Forum has provided a critical platform for furthering peace and reconciliation in many parts of the world, promoting understanding between East and West before and after the fall of the Berlin Wall, introducing emerging economies such as China and India to the international community, and bringing to the fore the latest trends and developments in many fields.
The Forum has also been the catalyst for a number of significant global initiatives, such as the Global Compact (developed jointly with the UN); the GAVI Alliance (initially the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization); the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; the expansion of the OECD; and the development of the G20 concept.
Over the last 20 years, the Forum has also evolved the stakeholder principle beyond the corporate level to a truly global sphere, stipulating that political, business and civil society leaders must work together to address the challenges of a globally interconnected world. This enhanced dimension has led to the notion of corporate global citizenship, as outlined by Professor Schwab in a Foreign Affairs article published in 2008.
Complexity, fragility and uncertainty are potentially ending an era of economic integration and international partnership that began in 1989. What is clear is that we are confronted by profound political, economic, social and, above all, technological transformations. They are altering long-standing assumptions about our prospects, resulting in an entirely “new global context” for decision-making.
Related
WEF Summaries: Climate Change
Towards a Global Climate Agreement at COP21 (WEF Summaries)
Business Leadership on Climate Change (WEF Summaries)
Curbing Fossil Fuels - Carbon Pricing and an End to Subsidies (WEF Summaries)
The Value of Investing in Climate Mitigation (WEF Summaries)
Global Economies Feeling the Heat from Climate Change (WEF Summaries)
Collaboration and Cooperation are Imperitive (WEF Summaries)
Risks Associated with Environment, Climate, Water Crisis and Extreme Weather in the WEF Report
The members participating in coming up World Economic Forum deliberations on global economy may also like to have a look at this writer's predictions of May 2014 published on 2 June 2014 in article - Stressful times ahead for world economy in 2015 and 2016 - at www.astrologyweekly.com. This writer had predicted that commencing from November 2014 , the global economy was likely to pass through a phase of turmoil mainly due to oil and gas. Certain commodities and aspects of human life which could impact economy substantially were listed out in the article. A broad description of regions and nations likely to be impacted was also hinted though this part could be an artist's view and not exhaustive. Going by happenings in the sphere of global economy so far since November 2014, it may not be off the mark to say that predictions have been confirmed as accurate. These forecasts cover period from November 2014 to mid- 2016. This writer is of the view that these predictions can guide the deliberations in World Economic Forum at Davos as a torch bearer. Having said that, it may be observed that the predictions of likely trends are indicative and not deterministic suggesting that , in view of scheme of happenings in human life , there is always a room for reform , salvaging and improvement through renewed , sufficient and appropriate strategy. This writer thinks that World Economy Forum 2015 at Davos could perhaps be pursuing the said strategy exercise. Good luck.
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