Porto Alegre Consensus: Emergence and Evolution of the World Social Forum
Abstract
The World Social Forums and corresponding Forum movement marks a shift in transnational social movement methodology and solidarity. The Forums work to thicken linkages between global civil society actors, liberate communicative action, and horizontally integrate the struggle for global social justice. This study outlines a theoretical dialogue linking the concepts of transnational public spheres, political opportunity structures and cosmopolitan democracies to the Forums' process. The study also discusses the idea of a Porto Alegre Consensus evolving to challenge the economic logic of the Washington Consensus. This Consensus coalesces around agreed upon methodologies guiding the Forums development partly laid out in its Charter of Principles, but, more importantly, interpreted and re-negotiated by participants engaged in the Forums' many diverse manifestations. I contend that this reflexive process between Forum incarnations and the participatory assessment and corresponding revisions of Forum methodology is at the heart of the movement's success.
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- OSU Theses [15752]