Discussion opened with an analysis of how tomorrow’s leaders might approach the issue of meritocracy, especially as regards politics, and closed with an analysis of how to apply that meritocracy to the formation of human resources – from school to on-the-job training. The underlying issue is whether the demand for meritocracy is purely utopian in Italy’s economic and social context.
Discussion focused on Italy’s system of higher education, in a search for new strategies and proposals to relaunch the nation’s universities’ competitiveness. Participation by the deans of important schools in Italy and abroad as well as Italian researchers with experience in the US rendered the debate particularly fruitful. Issues discussed included the public and private financing of higher learning and how best to make use of the limited funds available.
During the roundtable, participants discussed several fundamental aspects of the ongoing transition to a very different sort of television. By 2012, tv will be made up of a sort of “digital pie” in three pieces: paid and free satellite – with hundreds of channels; cable – with sixty or so channels; and IP – with hundreds, or even thousands of channels, including accessible libraries and programs on demand. Markets will change accordingly, as will the primary players and the norms regulating it all. To this end, participants considered the Italian Gentiloni Bill on television reform.
“Public works and infrastructure for Italy”, another of the Aspen Seminars for Leaders, focused on the need to relaunch the debate on public works and infrastructure programming in Italy. The discussion also centered on whether an actual plan or simply a framework of reference is needed, on how to identify the decision-makers and on how decisions can be kept in line with available resources.
On Friday, October 13, as part of the Aspen Seminars for Leaders program, a special reading from Dante’s Divine Comedy took place. Vittorio Sermonti offered a learned, highly enjoyable introduction and then read aloud Canto XXVI, an event that was greatly appreciated by all.
“The European identity: social models and immigration”, another of the Aspen Seminars for Leaders, reiterated the concept that “Europe” has always been an evolving reality. Every time there is a change in its institutions or governmental structure, the identity of Europe’s citizens – and their sense of belonging – becomes uncertain. Common interests and spaces coexist with national loyalties and regional and local roots. In this framework, immigration – a wide-scale, enduring phenomenon – heavily influences the EU’s evolution.
“Global markets, enterprises, competition: Europe and Italy”, part of the Aspen Seminars for Leaders program, started with a discussion of globalization and the internationalization of the market, leading to new forms of competition in Europe and the individual member states. The seminar examined some important, unresolved questions. First, there was a discussion of the various types of competition, according to company size, country systems and competitive strategies. Second, the seminar examined the various business “forms” that can meet this kind of challenge in Italy and Europe.
“The national interest: what it is and how to defend it”, part of the Aspen Seminars for Leaders program, was based on the concern that national and international experts see Italy as a country at risk of decline, or already declining. It was deemed that the passive attitude towards this negative assessment depends partly on a lack of awareness of Italian identity. In order to overcome this, people must realize that identity does not only depend on the State, the Republic and local communities, cities and regions.
“Post-modern society: new social actors and new protagonists”, part of the Aspen Seminars for Leaders program, focused on the great challenge of contemporary society: how to effectively handle dialogue between the new emerging society and the culture of mainstream modernity, and the descendents of an archaic culture. This edition of the seminar put the spotlight on the main actors of postmodern society and the role they play in its development, partly with the aim of helping the business world operate in brave new contexts.
The conference opened with a reflection on the Italian and the German economies, their differences and similarities. The priority for Germany is to strengthen domestic demand, given their good performance on international markets and a restructured private sector. Italy needs to become more competitive and to guarantee greater discipline in its fiscal policy. The two countries face some of the same challenges, especially as regards reforming their respective pension systems and health sectors.
This conference focussed on possible options for a better national energy program, able to guarantee both security and efficiency. Discussions touched on how responsibility should be divvied up between institutions, the private sector and public administrations as well as between local, regional and European governments. Participants considered Italy’s high energy costs, its supply difficulties and imbalances as regards access to and provision of energy resources.
Debate focused on a general renewed interest in “virtue”, defined as a series of absolute and eternal values. Without forgetting more traditional virtues, such as prudence, justice, strength and temperance, as well as others linked to Christianity – faith, hope, charity – participants also examined more contemporary conceptions of virtue: from respect for nature to resource management, to narrow issues such as intellectual property rights and patents on medicines developed in rich countries and unaffordable to the world’s poor.
This conference dealt with strategic themes of great current interest, highlighting the economic feedback made possible by investment in the biotechnology sector. Participants focussed on how both the private and public sector can improve research opportunities and on the need to identify areas of excellence in which to best capitalize on Italian capacity, so as to attract national and foreign capital. Several proposals were made to favor the link between public research, private research, industry and the market: it was agreed that the “brain drain” must be reversed.
The Institute’s annual appointment to discuss the global economy concentrated on major challenges facing the international economic community this year. The meeting opened with a discussion of imbalances between “big savers” and “big spenders” in a phase of fluid geopolitical shifts throughout the world. Attention was focussed on the dynamic Asian markets – not just in China and India, but in a recovering Japan – throughout the conference. Even in the sessions dedicated to energy supply and security, Asia remained a protagonist.
This meeting offered the opportunity to discuss US security policy and priorities with regard to European allies. The luncheon guests considered crucial issues facing Western democracies today, from Afghanistan to Iraq, from Iran’s nuclear ambitions to the development of a greater multinational force capable of intervening quickly around the world. They also discussed issues of a more purely political nature on the transatlantic agenda, such as the direction Russia is taking in its political development and the possible enlargement of NATO as far as Ukraine.
The roundtable “Fighting poverty” was hosted by the Community of Sant’Egidio and offered participants the opportunity to consider how Italy – a G8 member state – might better fight widespread poverty. Greater commitment is needed if the planet’s poorest regions are to recover, especially in Africa. Most of the aid promised by donors is in fact aimed at Africa, yet the continent remains desperate. Promises must be kept and new strategies must be developed if our objective of halving poverty by 2015 is to be realized.
This conference, part of the Italy’s Current Affairs series, highlighted a number of proposals to favor competitiveness and to guarantee quality service but sustainable costs for both companies and consumers. Participants agreed that greater liberalization is called for in professions and in services that could, in turn, bring significant advantages to the country and its citizens. Particular attention was paid to the question of public utility ownership and to the risks and opportunities inherent in a total lack of state control.
The annual Spring Meeting of the Friends of Aspen was held in Palazzo Bocconi, a historical palace which was used, on this occasion, to discuss a topic of current interest: Italians abroad: a case study on Italian genius. As usual, the meeting was also an occasion to discuss possible topics for the annual conference to be held in the Fall and to introduce new associates. The meeting focused on a community of Italians – from the experience of an online forum – which includes men and women who want to give a contribution and wish to be involved in Italy’s doings, albeit from abroad.
