World Economic Forum

The World Economic Forum is a Swiss non-profit international organization founded in 1971 by Klaus Schwab that serves as the premier global platform for convening political leaders, business executives, and influential figures to discuss economic and social issues. Best known for its annual Davos meeting and flagship publications like the Global Risks Report and Global Competitiveness Report, it operates as a high-level agenda-setting platform for global elites while maintaining no formal governmental authority. The organization faces ongoing criticism for representing elite interests without sufficient transparency or democratic accountability, and struggles with ambiguity between its convening role and perceived policy influence.