The World Economic Forum at Davos, which tends to focus on ‘green issues’, shifted its gaze a little this year; the overarching theme for 2012 was The Great Transformation: Shaping New Models, an exploration of whether 20th century capitalism is failing 21st century society. Given that the last year was defined by spontaneous demonstrations of ‘people power’ and bottom-up change, the notion of the world’s elite gathering to address the entire world’s problems seemed a tad anomalistic, if not downright archaic. Photographer Nefer Sehgal captured moments from the five-day conference, which she described as “a global village, where Ravi Shankar can casually stroll by with his entourage, while Karen Armstrong converses with Hamid Mir and Paulo Coelho asks you about the DSLR camera you own.”
Davos diary
The bridge leading to Davos-Klosters
Imran Khan, at a dinner attended by Arif Naqvi, CEO of Abraaj Capital, defence analyst Ikram Sehgal and businessman and new PTI recruit Jehangir Tareen.
Davos, apart from hosting the World Economic Forum each year, is also home to one of Switzerland’s largest ski resorts.
Hotel Steigenberger Belvedere's manager's dog. “He was oblivious to the fact that there were many important people about,” says photographer Sehgal.
Indian businessmen and their wives outnumbered Pakistanis at the Steigenberger Belvedere hotel’s Lounge East to hear Imran Khan speak.
Yingluck Shinawatra, aged 44, is Thailand’s first female President and its youngest in over 60 years.
Karen Armstrong, author of A History of God: The 4,000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, enjoys a light moment at Davos.
A discussion on the future of emerging markets. The debate was hosted by CNN.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, spiritual leader and founder of The Art of Living Foundation. The Foundation envisions a ‘stress-free, violence-free society’.
An end-of-conference black-tie social with a Brazilian theme.
