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      • Venice
        • 13 October 2006
         
         

        The national interest: what it is and how to defend it

          “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.

        • Venice
          • 13 October 2006
           
           

          Post-modern society: new social actors and new protagonists

            “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.

          • Rome
            • 29 September 2006
             
             

            Italy and Germany in the future Europe

              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.

            • Rome
              • 21 September 2006
               
               

              Italy’s energy policy: security and efficiency in an open market

                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.

              • Milan
                • 11 September 2006
                 
                 

                Virtue: a new lifestyle?

                  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.

                • Milan
                  • 17 July 2006
                   
                   

                  The new frontiers of biotechnology: development opportunities

                    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.

                  • Florence
                    • 7 July 2006
                     
                     

                    The Aspen Dialogue on World Economy – The Asia-Pacific link. How the East is reshaping the West

                      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.

                    • Rome
                      • 6 July 2006
                       
                       

                      The Transatlantic community: from regional alliance to global security hub?

                        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.

                      • Rome
                        • 20 June 2006
                         
                         

                        Fighting poverty

                          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.

                        • Rome
                          • 13 June 2006
                           
                           

                          Liberalization and privatization: a challenge for the Italian state

                            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.

                          • Milan
                            • 5 June 2006
                             
                             

                            Italians abroad: a case study on Italian Genius

                              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.

                            • Rome
                              • 31 May 2006
                               
                               

                              Italians and the national interest

                                The National Interest, topic to which Aspen has always paid great attention, needs to be redefined and set in a European context. The recent EU laws have in fact removed market barriers, yet there is still a significant difference within national economic systems and their laws. The problem lies within the political and economic establishments which are not capable of dealing with important challenges, this also due to a lack of generation turnover which is particularly bad in Italy.

                              • Milan
                                • 25 May 2006
                                 
                                 

                                Economic and political stability in the Balkans: opportunities and risks

                                  This event represented an important occasion to assess the enlargement process of the EU towards the Balkans, primarily Romania and Bulgaria. Participants analyzed possible reinforcement policies which should favor economic integration, as well as issues such as immigration, security and human capital. The presence of important Romanian personalities was also an occasion to present the project of Aspen Romania in Italy to a selected number of Institute members and local experts.

                                • Milan
                                  • 22 May 2006
                                   
                                   

                                  The role of local banks in Italy’s banking system

                                    The Roundtable highlighted the important role played by the Italian banking system due to the nature of the economic system which is characterized by a large number of small and medium enterprises in the industrial and services sector. In Italy there are currently 37 local banks and 439 banks of cooperative credit for a total of 14,8% of the Italian banking system.

                                  • Rome
                                    • 19 May 2006
                                     
                                     

                                    Italy’s economic leadership

                                      The volume Chi guida l’economia contains a study of a statistics survey on private and public sector leadership with particular attention to Aspen Institute Italia members who are also part of Italy’s Entrepreneurs Association and the Public Administration Management School. Positive and negative aspects of the Italian economic leadership emerged from this study which includes a substantial uniformity in the education and competency of private and public managers, the lack of internationalization and a limited presence of female figures in roles of high responsibility.

                                    • Tivoli
                                      • 19 May 2006
                                       
                                       

                                      Defining a New Patriotism: culture, economy and society

                                        The Aspen Junior Fellows annual conference focused its debate on redefining a new patriotism in terms of economy, culture and society. Patriotism founds itself on freedom and the search of common good and therefore does not represent a threat to other countries, nor an obstacle to stable and positive relations with Europe and the rest of the world. In the economic field, being patriotic does not necessarily imply protectionism, position which could – in the long run – damage Italian interests; it means applying a “careful liberalism” as professed by Einaudi.

                                      • Rome
                                        • 15 May 2006
                                         
                                         

                                        From Tlc to communications: the multimedia enterprise

                                          From the meeting it appears that a convergence of the different platforms opens new scenarios for content producers as well as for broadcasters and new entrants in the market. In order to maximise the potentials of this sector, participants focused their attention on a few priorities. First of all, technological neutrality which is a must for the future.

                                        • Rome
                                          • 21 March 2006
                                           
                                           

                                          An Energy Pact for Italy

                                            Debate touched on issues of strategic relevance, including the supply, cost, and distribution of energy in Italy. The country needs an effective energy policy that can bring together security and efficiency, in a national pact between political and business leaders. Panellists stressed the need to modify Italy’s current energy mix, which favors gas, and to use “clean coal” technology, renewable energy sources, and perhaps even reconsider the nuclear option. Italians also need to save more energy.