The WEF, founded in 1971 by Klaus Schwab, hosts annual meetings in Davos, Switzerland, bringing together global leaders to discuss economic and social issues. While it aims to improve the world through cooperation, its influence and methods have drawn significant criticism.

Elitism and Accountability:

Some view the WEF as an exclusive club for the super-rich, with critics arguing it lacks transparency and accountability, making decisions without public input. This perception is fueled by its invitation-only events and high-profile attendees, such as billionaires and CEOs, who are often perceived as being out of touch with ordinary people.

Globalist Agenda and Sovereignty:

The WEF's push for global cooperation is viewed by some as undermining national sovereignty, with policies that favour multinational corporations over local interests. This has led to accusations of promoting a new world order, although the evidence suggests it is more likely a platform for dialogue rather than control.

Conspiracy Theories:

Various conspiracy theories, such as the WEF planning to depopulate the world or eliminate private property, have gained traction, particularly around the "Great Reset" initiative. These claims, such as the misinterpreted "own nothing and be happy" prediction, are often baseless but contribute to a negative perception.

Environmental and Economic Concerns:

Critics highlight the WEF's environmental footprint, citing meetings that emit significant carbon, and its promotion of stakeholder capitalism, which is seen as limiting free markets. Some argue that it favours corporate interests, potentially widening wealth gaps and adding to the controversy.

The World Economic Forum (WEF), established in 1971 by Klaus Schwab and headquartered in Cologny, Switzerland, with additional offices in New York, Beijing, Tokyo, and Seoul, is an international organisation for public-private cooperation.

It convenes annual meetings, notably in Davos, to shape global, regional, and industry agendas, engaging leaders from politics, business, and civil society. While its mission is to improve the state of the world through dialogue and cooperation, it has faced significant criticism, leading some to perceive it as a force for evil. This note explores the detailed reasons behind these perceptions, drawing from various sources and analyses.

One of the primary criticisms is the WEF's perceived elitism. Described as a gathering of the ".000001%" rather than the 1%, it brings together corporate titans, plutocrats, and political leaders, often in exclusive settings like invitation-only receptions and ski slope business deals (Brookings Institution). Critics argue that this exclusivity, with billionaires lobbying for all-access badges and sharing selfies with the "Davos" logo visible, underscores a lack of democratic accountability.

The organisation's tax-exempt status and unclear decision-making processes and membership criteria further fuel perceptions of opacity, as noted in Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Economic_Forum). This lack of transparency is perceived as enabling unaccountable decisions, with some suggesting that it institutionalises the corporate capture of global and democratic institutions.

Some interpret the WEF's emphasis on global cooperation and stakeholder capitalism as promoting a globalist agenda that undermines national sovereignty. Its initiatives, such as the Great Reset, aim to revamp capitalism to address issues like inequality and climate change. Still, critics, including conservative political figures, accuse it of pushing policies that favour multinational corporations over local economies (BBC).

For instance, the WEF's vision, as detailed in Klaus Schwab's 2021 book Stakeholder Capitalism: A Global Economy that Works for Progress, People and Planet, promotes long-term value for all stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, and communities. However, The Spectator argues that this aligns with corporatism, limiting market competition and encouraging top-down control, which potentially disenfranchises voters and privileges well-connected businesses.

Conspiracy theories significantly contribute to the perception of the WEF as malevolent, particularly about the Great Reset launched in June 2020. This initiative, aimed at rethinking global investment and government expenditure post-COVID-19, has been misinterpreted as a plot to undermine capitalism and establish a one-world government, with claims that it would restrict what people can eat or own (Full Fact).

A notable example is the phrase "you'll own nothing and be happy," which originated from a 2016 WEF video based on an essay by Ida Auken rather than being a policy goal. The WEF clarified that it supports individual ownership and private property (Wikipedia); however, this has been taken out of context, fueling conspiracy theories. Canadian conservative commentators, like Ezra Levant, have claimed it resembles a conspiracy, with petitions like "Stop the Reset" criticised for giving oxygen to such theories (Wikipedia).

Despite its focus on climate change, the WEF faces criticism for environmental hypocrisy. The annual Davos meetings have a staggering carbon footprint, with participants' emissions noted as significant and many corporations attending which are responsible for close to 70% of global emissions (The Guardian, via the Brookings Institution).

This contradiction is highlighted by critics who view commitments, such as Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff's pledge to plant 1 trillion trees, as token gestures rather than systemic change, especially given the Industrial Revolution's loss of approximately 3 trillion trees (Brookings Institution).

The WEF's economic policies, particularly stakeholder capitalism, are seen as favouring corporate interests, potentially widening wealth gaps. The Spectator notes that it discourages innovation, produces inflexible labour markets, and privileges well-connected companies, creating insiders and outsiders, such as young entrepreneurs without connections.

This is seen as limiting freedom, encouraging groupthink, and marginalising dissenters, with examples such as postwar Western Europe's corporatist models, like Germany's employee board representation, cited as parallels. Critics argue that this could eliminate the middle class, leaving only the wealthy (owners) and the impoverished (those owning nothing), as suggested in analyses like Samuel Leeds' Property Education. However, this is part of broader conspiracy narratives.

The WEF's Young Global Leaders program, which trains future leaders such as Angela Merkel and Justin Trudeau, is criticised for potentially grooming them to implement its agenda. Klaus Schwab's claim to "penetrate the cabinets" has been highlighted, with critics seeing it as exerting undue influence over global politics (Samuel Leeds Property Education). This is part of broader concerns about unelected individuals, such as Schwab, lobbying for transformative ideas and raising questions about their legitimacy and power (BBC).

To organise the criticisms, the following summarises key aspects:

The perception of the WEF as evil stems from a mix of legitimate criticisms, like its elitism and environmental footprint, and unfounded conspiracy theories, particularly around the Great Reset.

While it aims to address global challenges, its methods and influence raise concerns about accountability, sovereignty, and economic freedom, contributing to polarised views. As of April 2, 2025, these debates continue, with the WEF maintaining its role as a platform for dialogue yet facing ongoing scrutiny.