In this book the leading sociologist Boaventura de Sousa Santos makes an impassioned case for the politicization of the World Social Forum. Since its inception in Porto Alegre in 2001, the World Social Forum has refused to take political positions on world events, preferring instead to provide a platform for diverse social movements to come together. de Sousa Santos argues, however, that the Forum can only realize its full potential as a force for social, economic and political change, by taking a directly political stand against the evils of neo-liberal globalization, war, famine and corruption. Through a detailed consideration of the WSF's history and organization, he demonstrates that it has always been an inherently political organization. If, he claims, the WSF is able to realize its potential as an institution for a new form of subaltern, cosmopolitan politics, it will become a global power to be reckoned with in the 21st century.