International Conferences

Conversations that Matter: The Forum’s International Conferences

The Forum convenes highly diverse sectors from around the world and a wide spectrum of disciples to discuss and take action on the full spectrum of human concerns, from the scientifically secular to the spiritually profound; and from the most controversially political to the most personally transformative. At this unique transitional moment in history, questions are more important than answers, dialogue more constructive than dogma. All participants and all issues are given equal place in an atmosphere of mutual respect. The Forum promotes a heightened sense of personal and civic responsibility by exploring new models of thought, action, communication and participation.

Below is a summary of the main highlights of each gathering.

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - JUNE 18 – 20, 2003
THIRD ANNUAL MEETING OF THE COMMISSION ON GLOBALIZATION
National Sovereignty and Universal Challenges:
Choices for the World After Iraq

The Foundation in Support of the Commission on Globalisation, an independent non profit organization established as an affiliate of the Forum in Europe to cultivate greater European support for the Commission, hosted this special conference which drew specialists from around the world and from conservative and liberal perspectives to examine the phenomenon of US power; the deepening fissures in the transatlantic alliance; and what can be learned from the development of the European Union.
Please click on the links below to view the various documents that make up the conference report:

Conference Executive Summary (208 KB Word document)
Breakout Session Summaries (pdf file)
Selected Speeches (pdf file)
Conference Program (pdf file)
List of Conference Participants (pdf file)
Speakers and Rapporteurs Biographies
Conference Background Papers (pdf file)
Conference Briefing Papers (pdf file)
Conference Record (161 KB Word document)

MEXICO CITY - DECEMBER 4-7, 2002
SECOND ANNUAL MEETING OF THE COMMISSION ON GLOBALIZATION

Over 150 Co-Chairs, Commissioners and specially invited guests participated in the second annual gathering of the Commission convened in Mexico City December 4-7, 2002. To view the final list of participants, please click here.

During the two full days of meetings, Co-Chairs, Commissioners and invited guests from Mexico representing the government, business sector and civil society, came together to discuss issues including the war on terrorism and human rights, free trade and social equity, migration and the displacement of peoples, risk management in the global economy, and pathways to a sustainable civilization. In addition, Policy Action Group and Special Initiative leaders organized small-group roundtables and provided special briefings for the entire conference. A full-day special session on Poverty and Globalisation, funded by the Canadian International Development Agency, was organized on the opening day of the conference, which was followed by the opening dinner sponsored by Booz Allen Hamilton. To see the final agenda for the conference, please click here.

View the final report of the Second Annual Commission Meeting.

INAUGURAL CONFERENCE OF THE COMMISSION ON GLOBALIZATION
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 13-15, 2002

State of the World Forum Secretariat launched the formal activities of the Commission on Globalization at the London Business School December 13-15, 2001. More than eighty Co-Chairs and Commissioners attended the two full days of wide ranging discussions on the strategy and goals of the Commission; provided reports on the special projects and Policy Action Groups which comprise the work of the Commission; participated in energetic business meetings in which a highly diverse and competent Steering Committee was elected; and engaged in substantive dialogues about important global issues.

The Inaugural Meeting, attended by 100 Co-Chairs, Commissioners and special guests brought closure to many months of preparation and provided a sense of direction and common purpose. A lot of hard work lies ahead, but the challenges can now be approached with a sense of community and strength.

A Joint Statement, signed by over 100 Co-Chairs and Commissioners, appeared in the global edition of the Financial Times on December 13, 2001 and attracted thousands of hits on our website and numerous other inquiries. This statement contributed to the overall press coverage the event drew.

The next Commission meeting is planned for December 4-7, 2002 in Mexico City. In the interim, the Forum and its collaborating partners will seek to strengthen the composition of the Commission's participants, expand its political and corporate influence, enhance its thought leadership and intellectual capacity, as well as continue to work with its Policy Action Groups and Special Initiatives.

View the final report of the Inaugural Meeting.

FORUM 2000:
Convening the Community of Stakeholders
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 4 – 10, 2000

For the Millennium, the Forum convened in New York, timed to coincide with the United Nations Millennium Summit, the largest gathering of Heads of State in modern history. A few blocks away at the New York Hilton, Forum 2000 gathered over one hundred worldwide partners and upwards of 2,000 leaders of civil society, government and business, including a number of Heads of State, to discuss perhaps the most compelling challenges currently confronting the human community at the turn of the century: How do we govern globalization? What do we think actually constitutes globalization? How do we ensure that it is equitable? And how do we make it more democratic?

At the same time as our multi-stakeholder dialogues on globalization were taking place in the Grand Ballroom, several parallel programs presenting other aspects of globalization were also convened. The International Space Sciences Organization and the John Templeton Foundation convened a “Future Visions” track of leading scientists and spiritual leaders to discuss how these two very different disciplines could come together to re-imagine the human future. Additionally during the conference a number of European partners convened a three-day “Enterprise Summit” specially designed for business executives. And on September 6, Co-Chair of the Forum Wally N’Dow convened a special session on The World’s Fresh Water & Wetlands in the 21st Century.

Out of the “post Seattle” dialogues on globalization held at Forum 2000 came the commitment by the Forum and a number of partnering organizations to establish a Commission on Globalization to continue the multi-stakeholder dialogues begun at the event.

Read more about Forum 2000 on the 21st Century Learning Initiative’s website.

STATE OF THE WORLD FORUM FOR EMERGING LEADERS

Civic Participation: Building the New Millennium

 MONTERREY, MEXICO – JANUARY 28 – 30, 1999

In partnership with the Instituto Tecnologíco y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey Student Government, the Forum hosted the first State of the World Forum for Emerging Leaders, "Civic Participation: Building the New Millennium" held on the Institute's campus in Monterrey, Mexico. The conference, entirely organized and led by youth, was attended by over 600 emerging leaders from 40 countries.

During the conference The Emerging Leaders launched the Forum’s Emerging Leaders Program, led, staffed and funded entirely by youth. 

The Challenge of Reconciliation:
Diversity and Community in a Global Age

BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND & DUBLIN, IRELAND – MAY 4 – 9, 1999

In partnership with the Belfast City Council and Project Planning International, the Forum convened an international gathering in Belfast and Dublin to discuss The Challenge of Reconciliation: Diversity and Community in a Global Age.

This regional conference was convened to launch the Coexistence and Community-Building Initiative, begun in partnership with the Abraham Fund in 1996 as a Strategic Initiative of the Forum to convene high-level groups of policy analysts, practitioners, educators and theorists to deliberate upon how to enhance international interest in coexistence and community building and to make specific recommendations to governments and educational institutions.

During the Conference, the initiative launched A Plan of Action for the 21st Century, a platform providing the basis for an international coexistence movement and network. This Initiative became an independent organization later in 1999.

Additionally, during the conference:

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals AND
their Impact on Human Health

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – MAY 1997

In partnership with the Chemical Impact Project and Global Legislators for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE), the Forum convened a conference in the European Parliament on the issue of ‘Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and their Impact on Human Health.’

As a result of this conference:

Tanzania Children's Task Force

KIGOMA, TANZANIA – JUNE 1997

In collaboration with the Jane Goodall Institute, the Whole Child Initiative, and the TACARE Reforestation and Education Project, the State of the World Forum created the Tanzania Children's Task Force, which worked to relieve the suffering of local citizens in the Kigoma Region of northwest Tanzania, home to the Gombe Stream Research Center, an area impacted by the thousands of war refugees who had fled from nearby Rwanda and Burundi.

As a first step, the Task Force:

LATIN AMERICA STATE OF THE WORLD FORUM

GUANAJUATO, MEXICO – NOVEMBER 21 – 23, 1996

The first regional State of the World Forum, convened by Vicente Fox, then Governor of Guanajuato Province, Mexico, examined the fundamental trends shaping the future of Latin America and its relationship to the global marketplace and emerging global culture. Over 700 people from 20 Latin and North American countries attended the conference.

As a result of the conference:

STATE OF THE WORLD FORUM
The First Five Years: 1995-1999

The first State of the World Forum was held in San Francisco in October 1995 at the historic Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco where in 1945 the UN Charter was negotiated. Convened by Mikhail Gorbachev and fellow Co-Chairs Oscar Arias, Ruud Lubbers, Thabo Mbeke, George Schultz, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Maurice Strong and Ted Turner, more than 500 innovative leaders from 50 nations came together.

Through 1999, the Forum convened its annual conferences in San Francisco to explore the multi-dimensionality of the ‘state of the world’. Major portions of these conferences have been broadcast to worldwide audiences through partnerships with CNN and BBC World Television.

1996 State of the World Forum Archive
1997 State of the World Forum Archive
1998 State of the World Forum Archive

GATHERING OF THE GLOBAL SECURITY PROGRAM
NEW DELHI, INDIA – OCTOBER 1994

The Gorbachev Foundation/USA, the precursor to the State of the World Forum, in partnership with the Gorbachev Foundation/Moscow and the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation for Contemporary Studies developed a Global Security Program comprised of forty specialists from around the world. Mr. Gorbachev, Senator Alan Cranston, and a number of dignitaries met in Moscow in September 1993; in Washington in May 1994; and in New Delhi in October 1994, where the Global Security Program was adopted. A report was published by the Rajiv Gandhi Institute and released in October, 1994.