Klaus Schwab's warning of an angrier world shared out of context amid France protests

By: Annet Preethi Furtado
July 7 2023

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Context

In a video posted on July 3 on Instagram, a portion of World Economic Forum (WEF) Chairperson Klaus Schwab’s speech stating “there is a lot of anger already now, but probably it's going to increase by the end of this year” is being misrepresented. The visuals behind Schwab in the video depicted various scenes of unrest, including rioting, fires, fireworks, and a car crashing into a storefront. The text over visuals stated, "Klaus Schwab 'We have to prepare for more angrier world,"' alongside an image of French President Emmanuel Macron.

The post's caption highlighted the ongoing riots in France and speculated on potential emergence of similar large-scale protests in the Netherlands. It made an allegation that Schwab, the “self-proclaimed leader of the New World Order,” supposedly instructed the Dutch Prime Minister to seize 3,000 privately owned farms and forcibly evict the farmers from their long-established homes.

The alleged objective behind this action was to create space to accommodate migrants, as there were reported plans for a significant increase in migration. This Instagram post has garnered over 19,000 likes.

However, the caption is misleading, and the video of Schwab is being shared out of context.

In Fact

During a July 2020 interview, Schwab did emphasize the importance of being prepared for a world where anger could potentially escalate. However, his primary focus was highlighting the repercussions of job losses and social inequalities within the gray economy - a reference to the unregulated informal sector. 

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Schwab emphasized the importance of addressing these issues to prevent social unrest and advocated for a fairer world. Schwab's statement was unrelated to any specific directives or agendas intended to incite anger or endorse riots. His statement has been shared out of context amid the France protests, leading to misinterpretations about the ongoing protests.

Further, since at least July 2019, Dutch farmers have protested against the Netherlands government's plans to reduce livestock numbers to combat nitrogen emissions significantly. The Dutch ruling coalition has set an ambitious goal of reducing national emissions of nitrogen oxide and ammonia by 50 percent by 2030.

In May 2023, the European Union (EU) approved a €1.5 billion initiative, as reported by Reuters, to acquire agricultural holdings from Dutch farmers as part of a comprehensive strategy to address nitrogen emissions. This initiative involves allocating approximately €1.5 billion to compensate farmers who voluntarily choose to close down their farms, particularly those located near natural reserves. According to AP News, it is estimated that around 3,000 farms will be eligible for this compensation. Contrary to the claims made in the post, the plan is entirely unrelated to migrants or mass migration.

There is also no reliable evidence to substantiate the allegation that Schwab instructed the Dutch prime minister to seize privately owned farms or evict farmers from their homes. This allegation is a distorted representation of the events in the Netherlands. It is essential to note that Schwab and the WEF lack the authority to initiate such actions. Therefore, any claims suggesting his involvement in such activities are unfounded and lack supporting evidence.

Moreover, there is no connection between the protests in France and the events in the Netherlands. The riots in France were sparked by the police shooting of 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk during a traffic stop in Nanterre, Paris. 

Schwab and the WEF have often been the subject of conspiracy theories associated with the New World Order, with some alleging that Schwab is the self-proclaimed leader of this global entity ‘seeking world dominance’. However, it is essential to emphasize that these claims are entirely speculative and fall within the realm of conspiracy theories.

The Verdict

Schwab's 2020 warning on global unemployment and job losses has been wrongly associated with the protests in France. His comments focused on economic inequalities, specifically in the informal economy.