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      • Milan
        • 28 January 2008
         
         

        The importance of social responsibility

          Western businesses are increasingly focused on social responsibility, making a point of thinking not just of profits but of the environment and workplace safety, for example. It is not just a matter of “doing good”: today, the market demands such attention. The consumer is aware, and a company’s social responsibility is a meter by which it is judged – turning good works into a clear marketing tool. Social responsibility represents value added, and is considered part and parcel of a given organization.

        • Rome
          • 23 January 2008
           
           

          The role of Foundations in Italy’s development

            Discussion focussed on the strategic role played by bank foundations, especially following the Constitutional Court’s 2003 ruling that they are specifically involved in guaranteeing social liberties. Foundations have a mission to guarantee horizontal subsidiarity and, therefore, support the country’s intermediaries (from the private sector to the state), today charged with maintaining development strategies and social cohesion. The 88 bank foundations currently existing in Italy have a patrimony of 47 billion euro; between 1993 and 2006 that sum grew at an annual average of 5.7%.

          • Berlin
            • 30 March 2007
             
             

            Global Europe: from Rhetoric to the Real World

              The 2007 edition of the Aspen European Dialogue the conference focused on several crucial elements of the European debate, in both political and economic terms. Adjusting to globalization is a must if the European project is to be relaunched: in this process, new domestic challenges such as the EU’s internal security and a new social compact are intertwined with the future of the euro as well as external issues such as global trade imbalances. Key institutional reforms are also indispensable, whether or not in the form of a Constitutional text.

            • Rome
              • 11 December 2007
               
               

              The Marshall Plan 60 years on: legacy and lessons for Transatlantic relations

                Discussion opened with an evaluation of the historic Marshall Plan: its origins, the postwar conditions behind its development, the underlying philosophy of US aid to Europe, the inevitable political and security implications that led to a strong reaction from the USSR. Much was said about the farsighted, multilateral approach taken by the United States at that time, despite its obvious military and economic superiority. American awareness that a complex and flexible international economic system could only be based on cooperation as well as competition was also crucial.

              • Milan
                • 3 December 2007
                 
                 

                Islam’s many manifestations

                  The roundtable represented a unique opportunity to reflect upon relations between the West and Islam. Since September 11, 2001, it has been clear that this relationship represents one of the world’s key problems. Nor can the relationship be dealt with in the manner of “normal” international relations: they involve broad, complicated meanings and many different dimensions. In other words, even if the word “clash” is too strong, there is undoubtedly an ongoing comparison, discussion and study between the two cultural approaches.

                • Milan
                  • 30 November 2007
                   
                   

                  Developing and supporting research in Italy

                    The underlying premise of the Conference discussions was that the future and competitiveness of Italy depend on the further development of the country’s research sphere and on the productivity of its university system. Greater investment is thus needed, as are, above all, new rules and new organizational models which ensure a leading European role for the country in sectors where Italy already holds a strong position and which enable it to face the challenges posed by the United States, China and India.

                  • Parma
                    • 26 November 2007
                     
                     

                    Is the individual the key to development?

                      On the stage of the Regio Theater in Parma, the Friends of Aspen met for their twelfth annual conference. Debate focused on the role of the individual in the world’s advanced capitalist societies: how the rules of global competition have changed, how the current economic value system affects immaterial goods and creativity, whether the “person” remains key in economic development, innovation and competition. Participants stressed the need to define new roles and clear and transparent principles with which to manage the individual’s role today, with an accent on freedom and responsibility.

                    • Milan
                      • 23 November 2007
                       
                       

                      Italy’s patrimony: value added in global competition

                        The forum “Italy’s patrimony: value added in global competition” was part of the Institute’s National Interest project, which has posted a rich selection of documents in Italian and in English on this website in an ongoing discussion of the value of identity, culture, language and skills in this country. In order to better meet the challenges posed by current globalization trends, the forum highlighted the need for Italy to bet on its rich heritage. The Italian language, in particular, has a long and important history, and represent many of the roots of Western civilization.

                      • Marseille
                        • 22 November 2007
                         
                         

                        Constructing the Euro-Mediterranean Space: Where are We Headed?

                          The conference “Constructing the Euro-Mediterranean Space: where are we headed?” dealt with the political, economic and technological divide that currently persists between the northern and southern shores of the Mediterranean, and the effect these gaps will have once the region becomes a “free trade area”, in 2010. Much of the discussion was dedicated to consideration of the Mediterranean Union (MU), a “variable geometry” organism to be launched in June 2008 and which should breathe new life into Euro-Mediterranean cooperation.

                        • Turin
                          • 16 November 2007
                           
                           

                          Shaping our Future – Merit, not age, as the discriminating factor

                            The Conference described and analyzed proposals for generational turnover in Italy and Europe. Participants focused on fostering merit in the areas of economics, politics and academia. Regarding generational turnover, proposals included lowering the active and passive voting age in the Senate, and limiting the number of terms in office they may seek (as with mayors in Italy).

                          • Rome
                            • 5 November 2007
                             
                             

                            China’s rise and Europe: dealing with mutual challenges

                              The discussion highlighted the speed at which China’s role as a world power is evolving: its influence is growing visibly, although in the presence of undeniable macroeconomic imbalances (internal and external) that are of serious concern for the future.\r\nFrom a strictly economic point of view, a change of perspective is underway, from the prominence of export to investment and partnership – a development fostered by the sizeable liquid assets available to Chinese operators.

                            • Rome
                              • 25 October 2007
                               
                               

                              The importance of education and training for Italy’s leaders

                                The debate focused on the ideal approach for providing Italy’s managers with a training process that encourages personal maturity, pushing students to abandon an enduring adolescent phase. In an era of exponential fragmentation of knowledge, the leaders of the future will need new methodologies for understanding, and a solid sense of the necessity of continuing education. First, we need to recover the virtuous cycle of training-transmission-training and make the principle of “returning to school” part of our mindset.

                              • Siracusa
                                • 12 October 2007
                                 
                                 

                                Infrastructures: between development and competition

                                  This seminar was also part of the national interest cycle. The discussion aimed to formulate proposals on how to create an integrated system of physical infrastructures, to boost Italian competitiveness in global markets. Infrastructure networks are an architecture around which multiple services can be developed. These, in turn, contribute to the growth of the economic system.

                                • Siracusa
                                  • 12 October 2007
                                   
                                   

                                  Institutions, markets, enterprises: new rules to modernize Italy

                                    This seminar, part of a cycle of meetings on important issues dedicated to Italy’s national interests, addressed the main approach that should be taken to affirm the culture of value and quality of rules. In Italy, the perception that there is a lack of respect for the rules goes hand in hand with an unwieldy regulatory system lacking transparency. If those same rules were well designed and synthesized, they would contribute to social and economic development. Today, however, they are perceived as – and indeed sometimes are – an impediment to the country’s growth and modernization.

                                  • Siracusa
                                    • 12 October 2007
                                     
                                     

                                    The “Italia” brand to foster the country’s competitiveness

                                      This seminar examined those elements that constitute the strength and value of Italy’s namebrand, to understand possible strategies that can help build up a distinctive position for the country in the global market. Thanks to our first-class historic/artistic heritage, together with a proclivity for innovation, our past has given us a privileged position in the world. Italy’s strengths lie in its creativity, lifestyle, love of beauty and innate aesthetic sense. These are the elements on which “Made in Italy” is based; they should be further taken advantage of to develop Italy’s brand name.

                                    • Siracusa
                                      • 12 October 2007
                                       
                                       

                                      The TLC and media industry’s frontiers: opportunities for development and new markets

                                        Innovation has had a very strong impact on the world of telecommunications and media, and is profoundly changing the industry. This seminar sought to analyze the consequences of this revolution in order to understand new opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors, and to assess the transformation of individuals and society in an increasingly interconnected future. Web 2.0 is redefining identities and local boundaries and represents a challenge for politics and governments worldwide.

                                      • Rome
                                        • 27 September 2007
                                         
                                         

                                        The Left and the Right: merit, rights, opportunities. Redefining values for generations to come

                                          This conference focussed on the evolution of traditional political categories, from reform liberalism to liberal socialism, from economic values to development and equal opportunity, from individual merit to corporate mentality, the role of the state and the independence of enterprise. Different solutions have been developed throughout Europe: from the Grosse Koalition in Germany to “neocentralism” in the UK, to a definitive abolishment of the left-right divide (as some defined it) in France.

                                        • Milan
                                          • 17 September 2007
                                           
                                           

                                          Listening to the Word

                                            This roundtable was born of a bitter truth: in this era of communication, talking and listening – which should be the pillars of our interpersonal relations – are considered less important than looking. Dialogue is no longer a balanced and respectful form of interaction, as it should be between two speaking individuals. Everyday relations in the workplace are an example: those higher up in the hierarchy often forget that they are surrounded by valid elements, by thinking human beings who are worth listening to. Participants agreed that today images often replace words.