The event was introduced by the reflection on presentism, or the lack of collective attention in a country overly concerned with the present and which is losing its strategic vision. Presentism is the product of “real time” which has been brought on by technological advancement. Faced with weighing benefits in terms of quality of information and the growth of opportunities, the present has expanded and it has taken over our past and future. In this way, in economic terms, the world financial crisis came about due to an excessive focus on the short term. In politics, living in “real time” means that the traditional pace of democracy has been accelerated. This pace however should be determined by elections which are sufficiently spaced over time and which have fixed dates ensuring the ability to govern. Instead today the Italian political scene is experiencing permanent oversight driven by opinion polls and by the proof that local elections have an immediate impact at the national level.
The current crisis also weighs heavily on the inter-generational transfer of inequality: 29.5% of those cited as “young” by ISTAT are currently searching for employment. The bipartisan policies that have been adopted have privileged social security cushions in order to assist those in their 50s and reduce the social consequences of the crisis. However, the attention on young persons, who are treated as outsiders, has remained limited. Still it is important to highlight that the financial crisis is turning out to be a catalyst in the acceleration of the structural reforms that the country needs in order to thrive a world which is ever more competitive.
Another aspect examined during the event was Italy’s aging population, which is second only to Japan among advanced countries. Certainly this is an important goal that Italy has met in terms of life expectancy and quality of life. Indeed we are living longer, however this added to the fall in birth rate has created a demographic gap which will result in the loss of the equivalent of an entire generation of Italians over the next 20 years. In Anglo-Saxon countries, modernity has been accompanied by a public environment that favors the birth and education of children. Italy has not created these conditions, and at the same time the patriarchal family model is in decline. Women are therefore left with domestic and professional responsibilities along with duties required to raise children. Among the effects of longevity it is important to highlight the aging of the ruling class. The question is how can we coercively promote the success and development of youth? How can we reduce co-opting in politics and in professions in order to raise competition and recognize merit? How can we create conditions in which youth leave home earlier in order to advance their careers and create their own families?