Arab Evolutions. The Mediterranean after the global slowdown
Kick-starting talks at this session of the Aspen Mediterranean Initiative was the observation that the arduous and variegated evolution of the Mediterranean region needs to be viewed within the prevailing global context.
Media and politics in the digital age: participation, transparency, and responsibility
Participants at this Aspen Seminar for Leaders session were unanimous in their agreement that social networks are neither good nor bad per se, but that what is open for debate is the way in which social media interact with democracy, and the way in which governments are responding to the growing power of new communications tools. While those in attendance were left in no doubt that the popular protests of today – such as those that erupted in North Africa – take off and gain momentum online, the internet does not always suffice to ensure that any resulting change is permanent.
Of culture and networks: strategies to spur innovation and growth
The opening premise of this National Interest roundtable was that although Italy boasts a cultural heritage without equal, it is unfortunately not exploited to best advantage through a uniform and identifiable strategy actually capable of generating economic benefits comparable to those produced in other countries despite having a much poorer cultural offering.
The power of the net: new challenges for leaders
Opening up discussions at this national roundtable on the power of the web was the observation that the internet has changed the face of politics, especially in terms of the processes of building consensus and managing leadership. There were already clear signs of this in Barack Obama’s winning election campaign of 2008, with two million supporters marshaled via the net, 8 and a half million unique visitors to the main campaign website, 13 million newsletter subscribers and 30 million dollars raised in online donations.
For a new creative leadership: culture and innovation for economic growth
The 14th Annual Conference of the Friends of Aspen, held at the Palazzo Litta in Milan, featured a debate on the ways in which a combination of culture and innovation could give rise to new forms of leadership capable of revitalizing Italian economic life – particularly its entrepreneurial scene.
As is now customary, the Conference – chaired for the first time by the group’s new president, Beatrice Trussardi – also provided an opportunity to introduce new members to the group and to present the group’s activities to them.