What Is WEF? Why the World’s Most Powerful Still Gather in the Swiss Alps

Alpine Power

High in the Swiss Alps, Davos looks serene—but every January it becomes one of the world’s most influential crossroads. Leaders arrive knowing that decisions, deals, and quiet alignments formed here can ripple through markets, governments, and global institutions long after the snow melts.

Closed Doors While panels are livestreamed, Davos’s real gravity lies offstage. Private breakfasts, corridor conversations, and late-night meetings often matter more than speeches, shaping trust and direction when global stability feels increasingly fragile.

Stakeholder Shift

Born from Klaus Schwab’s stakeholder theory, Davos challenges profit-first capitalism. The idea is simple but radical: companies should serve workers, communities, and society—not just shareholders. That philosophy still underpins debates half a century later.

Agenda Machine

With 300+ sessions each year, Davos mirrors the world’s anxieties. Climate risk, pandemics, AI disruption, inequality, and energy transitions rotate through the agenda, guided by the Forum’s Global Risks Report released ahead of every meeting.

Policy Catalyst

Davos doesn’t pass laws—but history shows it nudges outcomes. From easing tensions between Greece and Türkiye to global vaccine alliances and trade initiatives, breakthroughs often begin as conversations in the cold.

Elite Myth

Critics call Davos a club for the powerful, yet today’s attendees include activists, Indigenous leaders, youth voices, artists, and academics. The stereotype of “Davos Man” is being steadily challenged by broader representation.

Global Stage

Heads of state, CEOs, civil society leaders, and media converge by invitation only. With delegates from over 120 countries, Davos functions less like a conference and more like a temporary capital of global dialogue.

Green Showcase

The Forum offsets emissions, bans single-use plastics, and runs on renewable electricity during the meeting. Davos is both a climate warning system—and a test case for sustainable large-scale events.

Beyond Panels

Much of Davos happens outside official venues. Governments, corporations, and NGOs host parallel dinners, exhibitions, and negotiations across town, creating a parallel universe of influence beyond the official programme.