Asalto al poder

The report maps 103 multistakeholder initiatives (MIs) to demonstrate how transnational corporations and philanthropic entities are displacing state-led multilateralism. It argues that the 'multistakeholder' rhetoric masks deep power imbalances, allowing the private sector to set global agendas, define standards, and implement market-based solutions that often undermine human rights and democratic accountability. The analysis highlights the central role of the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in driving this trend, particularly through the instrumentalization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• Multistakeholderism is characterized as a systemic phenomenon where the private sector, supported by some states and philanthropic entities, is 'acaparando la gobernanza del mundo' (seizing the governance of the world), shifting decision-making away from the multilateral system toward mixed mechanisms dominated by private interests.
• The World Economic Forum (WEF) is identified as a primary driver of the privatization of global governance, promoting a model of 'stakeholder capitalism' and the 'Great Reset' to increase corporate power under the guise of building a better society.
• Many multistakeholder initiatives (MIs) use the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a legitimizing framework, though they often selectively focus on goals that align with market interests rather than radical socio-economic transformation.
• In the environmental sector, the report identifies a trend of 'accumulation by dispossession,' where nature is treated as 'capital' to be priced and traded, promoting 'nature-based solutions' that can lead to land grabbing and the displacement of indigenous peoples.
• The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) exerts disproportionate influence over global health governance, creating a relationship of dependency for multilateral institutions like the WHO and prioritizing techno-biological paradigms over systemic public health equity.
• Global internet governance is described as 'partially monarchical' (dominated by the US) and 'partially oligarchic' (dominated by a few large tech companies), with MIs often serving to maintain this power balance rather than democratizing it.
• In the education sector, MIs are increasingly driven by commercial interests, treating education as a 'new gold vein' for the market and promoting privatization and standardization over human development.
• The report notes a 'revolving door' phenomenon where key experts transit between MIs, the UN, and corporate boards, creating self-referential 'epistemic communities' that reinforce a specific neoliberal narrative.
• There is a significant democratic deficit in MIs, as 'stakeholders' are often appointed by the conveners rather than elected, and affected communities are frequently excluded or represented by large international NGOs (BINGOs).
• The UN system is criticized for acting as a 'strategic partner' that legitimizes corporate-led governance, effectively facilitating the erosion of state-led multilateralism.

APA

Brennan, B., Berrón, G., Drago, M., Paranhos, L., Manahan, M. A., & Kumar, M. (2021). Asalto al poder. Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Asalto-al-poder_mapeo-del-multistakeholderismo-en-la-gobernanza-mundial_2021.pdf

Chicago

Brennan, Brid, Gonzalo Berrón, Martín Drago, Leticia Paranhos, Mary Ann Manahan, and Madhuresh Kumar. Asalto al poder. Friends of the Earth International, 2021. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Asalto-al-poder_mapeo-del-multistakeholderismo-en-la-gobernanza-mundial_2021.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Brennan |first1=Brid |last2=Berrón |first2=Gonzalo |last3=Drago |first3=Martín |last4=Paranhos |first4=Leticia |last5=Manahan |first5=Mary Ann |last6=Kumar |first6=Madhuresh |title=Asalto al poder |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |date=December 2021 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Asalto-al-poder_mapeo-del-multistakeholderismo-en-la-gobernanza-mundial_2021.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{brennan2021asalto, author = {Brennan, Brid and Berrón, Gonzalo and Drago, Martín and Paranhos, Leticia and Manahan, Mary Ann and Kumar, Madhuresh}, title = {{Asalto al poder}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2021}, month = dec, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Asalto-al-poder_mapeo-del-multistakeholderismo-en-la-gobernanza-mundial_2021.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }