The original purpose of the World Economic Forum was quite remarkable: it gave an organic structure to an international forum outside multilateral organizations such as the UN or WTO. It has since spread its ambitions to other conferences that focus on regional issues. However, it has transformed itself from being a place for debate and discussion to an arena where a Hollywoodesque celebrity culture meets retail news, a place where peacocks fan their feathers to show their mountain-sized egos at a Swiss mountain retreat.

Somehow debate, discussion and the presentation of alternative views in the search for consensus has given way to a herd mentality of affirming the status quo, perhaps in fear of being trash-talked by media coverage of the event. Alas, globalization’s retreat at Davos this year was an eye-opener. If all of these “leaders” in their respective communities (be it politics or business or social affairs or planning) are collectively ill-equipped to take stock of the present economic disaster and the forthcoming tsunami of unemployment, then are we not in deep trouble? How is it not time for a reality check given the massive devaluation of savings, pensions and investments in the developed world? Whatever happened to thinking further ahead than tomorrow’s headlines, or three months from now? Have we simply bet our future on the whim of a politician and a 30-second burst of hollow commentary in front of microphones and cameras?

It is hard to imagine that the current mess will turn around and the future of the world will be bright before the next Super Bowl weekend in 2010. The World Bank and the IMF are forecasting up to 40 million more people will lose their job. American unemployment statistics report monthly increases at a rate of half a million people. Against such a background, it is impossible to set aside reality.

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