2010 is the 10 year anniversary of the World Social Forum (WSF) but, as Alec van Gelder reports, the event does not help address the real problems facing impoverished people around the world. Disguised by anti-globalisation rhetoric the forum lacks a pragmatic approach to economic development and trade. Contrary to the WSF’s socialist ideology poorer countries actually need more access to, and less protection from, global markets.

Forcing businesses to be introspective behind protectionist walls will only harm long term competiveness and lead to the breakdown of service provision experienced by ex-Soviet countries and, more recently, Venezuela:

 “More and more countries around the world, whether they are left leaning or right leaning understand that they're in a global competition and the only way to win is to become more competitive.”

Citing India as a case in point van Gelder argues that free trade is needed for the world’s poorest to enjoy access to the benefits of modern living, such as life-saving medicines and state of the art hospitals.

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