 Peter Goodman, who popularized the moniker “Davos Man” in his book of the same name, described them as “so enriched by globalization and so native to its workings that they were effectively stateless, their interests and wealth flowing across borders, their estates and yachts sprinkled across continents.” Conspicuous consumption aside, Davos Man is a product of the economic liberalism of the late 20th and early 21st century. Today’s CEOs, investors, and policymakers rose in a world that was steadily opening up. Where their money went, political reform seemed to follow, creating a virtuous feedback loop for global capitalism. That world has fractured quickly, leaving Davos and its Men with a choice: embrace the change or fade into irrelevance. The World Economic Forum was once a place for CEOs to tout diversity initiatives and climate pledges. This year’s events are scrubbed of DEI language, and the USA House is a star-spangled cabana sponsored by a crypto venture. In recent years the conference’s big draws have been Donald Trump and Javier Milei, who came to advertise their defiance. The All-In Pod, so influential in Republican circles, roundly mocked WEF from the ground last year with a musical number called “Oh Davos, Kumbaya.” Jamie Dimon chose the Alps backdrop to admit that Trump was essentially right on immigration, China, and tax reform. “Collectivist experiments are never the solution,” Milei told the WEF crowd. The Davos order of the last three decades was a kind of collectivist experiment, and election after election last year tolled its failure. So don’t confuse the men making news at Davos with Davos Men. But if you can’t get enough of the Davos men, keep reading. | 
