Discussions at this Aspen Seminars for Leaders session centered around trust, accountability and meritocracy as the keys to piecing back together a country suffering for some time now from serious afflictions and dysfunctions. The picture painted was one of institutions that do not trust the general public or private enterprise, with the result that the country’s political and economic life is marked by growing hyper-regulation. This excess of rules was characterized as the product of a lack of trust, and, in turn, as producing greater corruption and disreputable behavior. The surfeit of rules, in many cases misguided and dictated by ignorance, was also seen as the cause of rife uncertainty and a pervasive “downbeat” attitude.
The situation was likened to a worrying short circuit, in which the parliament legislates, but the political system as a whole no longer enjoys the confidence of voters or the business community. While a legal vacuum was certainly not considered an option, simplifying or reducing the plethora of regulations was not seen as sufficient either. It was suggested that in order to reinstil mutual trust, it would be worthwhile coming up with a new vision for Italian society, starting from the Constitution.
Given the grave crisis that has overtaken political parties and trade unions in the country, the participants pointed to intermediate social bodies as the missing element in the relationship between the State and citizens. Breeding grounds for political and business leaders were also deemed to be in short supply. It was noted that, in the past, state-controlled enterprises, political parties, and the management schools of major corporations fulfilled this function. Although Italy did not have France’s École nationale d’administration (ENA), there were (whether good or bad) places dedicated to training up leaders – and most importantly, there were political and business cultures, and a model of society from which to draw inspiration.
The question of political leadership was viewed as one of the key problems, with a return to divisive behavior in evidence. In the past, opposition parties accused the government of illegitimacy, labeling it unconstitutional, today it is those who represented the past that are blamed. For years now, a charismatic model has prevailed, overlooking the fact that without a party to back it up, charisma might help someone become a leader, but much more is needed to build a legacy. That, in fact, can only be done if a leader has a vision for the future of the country and the ability to set in motion the means – training etc. – to make it a reality. It was noted, on that point, that the traditional career pathways that pass for a sort of “training ground” for those working in local administrations still play an important role. When, however, there is no party structure, it makes it impossible for ordinary people to gain access to and participate in grass roots politics and that makes politics a middle and upper class preserve.
There was an acknowledgement that while the class struggle in its nineteenth-century and Marxist sense seems to have disappeared, the fact remains that it has not been replaced by as competitive a model for society and the battle of ideals. For its part, the middle class, under pressure from the financial crisis and globalization, is disappearing, especially in Europe and in the United States, and what is left of it is drifting more and more towards political abstention. At the same time, the middle class is flourishing in the emerging powers, particularly in Brazil, China and India.
The real problem – it was suggested – is that, in Italy and throughout the world, the intelligentsia has refrained from developing a coherent and cohesive model, capable of uniting society, economy and politics for a shared future. On the other hand, from the midst of this “fluid” post-industrial society, certain institutions have emerged – such as the judiciary, the Catholic Church, and the military – that are held together by a shared model, a strong sense of discipline, and a vision for the future. It was further felt that an important contribution could also be made by a high-caliber, competent, and politically independent public administration, with its ranks recruited not according to questionable personalized criteria, but on the basis of merit-based procedures underpinned by national competitive exams.
Much was made of the fact that the “fluid” society of the era of globalization has wiped away certainties and prospects, leaving citizens without the necessary means for interpreting the future. Indeed, the changes were deemed to have been too rapid to allow for a correct interpretation, with the explosion of individual rights leaving society in tatters.
The upshot of the scenario depicted was seen as often involving a widespread visceral, emotional, and defiant reaction – a compulsion to react against the ruling class regardless. Meanwhile, the ruling class, without a cultural and intellectual model to draw on, seems in thrall to the mood of the moment. There was thus calls for the reestablishment of a small core set of clear rules, endorsed by the majority of members of society, since it is only when rules are respected that a sense of belonging is engendered.
In closing, it was remarked that without responsible citizenship, a vicious circle is created that increases fear and mistrust, with the result that the political sphere, society, and the education system all lose out. In order to avoid this outcome, the participants urged for a major educational push, starting from schools and universities, with educators also being accorded renewed standing and financial recognition. In addition, it was deemed essential to reestablish a virtuous cycle between responsible citizenship and accountable leadership, since only responsible citizens can bring into being a political class able to rise to the challenges of today and capable of standing against populist thought and demagoguery, which might seem to yield an immediate return, even in electoral terms, but in reality entail a short-sighted and detrimental long-term vision.