The World Social Forum: An exploration of the movement through an alternative development lens

Mainstream and alternative approaches to development exist on opposite ends of the development spectrum. Mainstream development has long concerned itself with one primary goal: economic growth. Neo-liberal organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank claim to be genuinely concerned for the world's poorest nations, yet these claims are, time and time again, defied by adverse actions. Development strategies are proposed and implemented at the cost of human dignity and, in extreme cases, at the cost of human life. The alternative development movement acknowledges that economic growth is a necessary component of development but it is just one factor among a myriad of other factors. Human development, rather than economic growth, is the ultimate concern. Despite their enormous differences, alternative development would not exist without mainstream development.;Initially, I examined the differences between alternative and mainstream development. The main pillars of both approaches to development were established. Following this, a qualitative content analysis was performed on thirty-eight documents, divided into four recognizable categories and published by the WSF, to determine over-arching themes. The themes from the documents were considered in relation to the pillars of alternative development to determine if and how the WSF is a concrete expression of alternative development.;WSF participants believe that their discussions, actions, campaigns and networking will lead to the realization of another possible world. The many themes and sub-themes emerging from its documents and uncovered during this research process speak to the WSF's important role in the search for alternatives.;This thesis explores the World Social Forum (WSF) as a concrete expression of alternative development. The WSF, established in 2001, is a multi-country movement which encourages open and inclusive participation. Members seek the creation of an alternative world through networking, the collective work of social movements and social cohesion.