The decline of the West? The dilemma of liberal democracies
What is waning more in the West, civility or democracy? There has been talk for a century now of Western “decline”, understood as demographic and economic, but also the decline of fundamental values such as freedom, democracy and openness. Interpretations have gone so far as to speak of a broad decline in moral values. It can be seen as the beginning of a different perception of the world’s diversities.
The future of foreign investment in Italy and Europe
Country system appeal has always been an issue for Italy, the recipient of between 2% and 3% of all direct foreign investments in Europe and the twelfth-ranked nation on the continent. The difficulty in attracting investments is paramount among the concerns to be addressed in ensuring support for and the development of the country’s fabric of small and medium-sized enterprises. Yet, the country presents a marked dualism, not only between north and south, but also between levels of competitiveness and productivity.
Digital society: democracy, information, security
The relationship between information and power is not a new concern. Ancient Greek historian Polybius defined ochlocracy as the degeneration of democracy where the mob is led to believe it is free to exercise its prerogatives while instead becoming the active instrument of one or more groups. The exponential spread of interconnected actors has fed a considerable flow of web-channeled data, the appropriate use of which platforms are required to manage. This endeavor calls for an ability to differentiate between content that is legal and that which may constitute a violation.
Italy 2040: a new social contract to weather the crisis
The United States-China face-off is surely going to dominate in the near future. Washington now considers the bid to involve China in a liberal order, which Beijing itself has deemed illegitimate, a lost cause. Thus, in order to prevent the confrontation from becoming a conflict – or even war – it is going to be necessary to establish some collaborative terrain on global issues in a context otherwise dominated by sharp contrasts. It is not the Congress but rather the American economic world that interacts and is heavily interdependent with the Chinese economy.
Re-shaping finance: the challenges ahead
The world of finance, with its products and markets, is undergoing a deep transformation. Indeed, from the standpoint of technology, the instruments made available to operators over the past 10 years have revolutionized the sector.
Climate change: the COP26 challenge
The COP26 offers a crucial window of opportunity in the struggle against climate change. After the G20 in Naples, the Glasgow conference under the Italian and British presidency will be a moment for the world’s most prominent economies to scrutinize fulfillment of the 2015 Paris Accord pledges and discuss future steps.
EU-Russia Forum
Relations between the European Union and Russia have been turbulent lately, and there are currently no signs of that letting up, if not in terms of specific and limited pragmatic expectations. The two parties agree substantially on the assumption that dialogue is the preferable tack in diplomatic relations, even in the presence of deep differences of opinion and interests. Not even a summit is to be viewed as a reward or concession, yet can be useful as an occasion for frank discussion of the thornier issues.
Digital Platforms
The digital revolution has profoundly changed how goods and services are consumed by increasing their availability online, thereby enhancing the role of web platforms. Indeed, these latter have been an essential tool for extending political rights such as freedom of speech, and for framing new ones, especially within the economic sphere, such as consumer rights. At the same time, however, they have laid the groundwork for a concentration of overriding powers, and the abuse of those powers.
Foreign policy: a lever for economic development
Today’s international scenario is distinguished by a strong interdependence of foreign policy and domestic priorities, particularly as a lever for economic development. The pandemic has once again confirmed the need for broad multilateral cooperation in the spirit of “build back better”. This in terms of sustainable transition (production as well as consumption) and fairness, along with the management of regional and global conflicts and tensions.
Global trade and protectionism: a new balance post-Covid
The pandemic has not halted global trade and, with recovery now in sight, the data offer an encouraging picture. Nevertheless, the scenario has changed dramatically. The globalization of the 1990s and the early 2000s have given way to a global fragmentation that has led various countries to reinforce bonds with historic allies and trusted partners.
A new digital framework: markets, rules and innovation
In what is a changing transatlantic and international context, the European Union has opened a new phase in the debate on the digital economy. It could be said that institutional constraints no longer exist on regulatory activity in this sector; the problem now is, if anything, to direct political will and garner broad consensus on updated rules. The principle of digital taxation has been outlined in general terms, even at the level of the transatlantic dialogue, but the precise legislative details still need to be worked out.
The reform of justice and business
Two underlying problems were identified and discussed during a conversation with Minister of Justice Marta Cartabia: citizens’ limited trust in judges (cited as a “moral issue”), and the excessive length of trials. The latter, especially in the prosecution of tax evasion, has a significant detrimental impact on the economy.
Post pandemic Italy’s banking sector: new challenges, new opportunities for the real economy
As it leaves the health emergency behind, Italy is focusing on economic recovery. The European resources of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan offer major opportunities in a shifting scenario. On the one hand, the crisis was not the result of structural problems, but rather due to a situation created by the pandemic; this means that, despite the difficulties of this forced arrest, reviving the economic machine should not be too problematic. On the other hand, however, these long months of inactivity have compromised the financial situation of many firms.
Economic recovery: strengths and weaknesses in the business world
Apart from the pandemic’s quantifiable and, to some extent, already recognized impact, how it has influenced the economic policies of governments across the globe is another assessment to be made. It is along this dual track that the trajectory of recovery and medium-term development can be examined. The European context has shifted in response to post-pandemic needs that are, nevertheless, even more broadly changing the relationship between the roles of government and how global markets function.
The challenge of pandemic under-preparedness: the size of the problem, its impact and the best strategies for efficient health systems
The Covid-19 pandemic has ramped up the pressure on healthcare systems around the world, burdening already limited resources and existing capabilities. In order to ensure the quality and efficiency of services for all, healthcare systems need to build and improve their ability to be prepared for crises, while at the same time enhancing their essential primary functions. The discussion touched on the crucial aspects to be considered in making systems more efficient by reinforcing prevention.
Recovery and Resilience Facility and “Eurobond”: what news for the EU?
The bulk of the Recovery Plan’s massive investments are in the form of the Eurobonds with which the European Union plans to stimulate the continent’s post-pandemic economy. Nevertheless, their introduction – a proposal dating back to the late 1980s aimed at encouraging investments and infrastructure – could represent a veritable paradigm shift in EU policy. Fostering that, in the first place, would be the continent’s strategic autonomy in a range of sectors currently in need of a common vision with regard to protection and enhancement.
Opportunities and Risks in Europe’s Approach to Technological Sovereignty
Rome, 14 December 2020 – Aspen Institute Italia, in partnership with Google, will be holding an Aspenia Talk on “The challenge of European Digital Sovereignty” in digital mode. The talk will be hosted on the Zoom platform at 18.00 on 17 December 2020.
Policies, Costs and Funding for the Green Revolution in Europe and the United States
Rome, 7 December 2020 – Aspen Institute Italia, in partnership with Enel, will be holding an Aspenia Talk on “A new Green Deal between Europe and the USA” in digital mode. The talk will he hosted on the Zoom platform.
Aspen Forum Italy/France
What were already solid Italian-French relations have become even stronger as the two nations have confronted the challenges posed by the pandemic, the first and most restrictive of these having had to do with the second wave. The continuous coordination France and Italy have set in motion is emblematic of the unified European reaction that followed an initial lack of cooperation during the first phase of the emergency. Today’s joint European efforts on a vaccine is proof that the Union can play a decisive role in this crisis, with benefits across its entire membership.
The new US administration and transatlantic relations: a renewed NATO?
The arrival of a new administration in Washington offers an opportunity to reconsider the broad spectrum of commitments and instruments that NATO uses to pursue its objectives. The Alliance has shown a great capacity for adaptation, but the many challenges of the coming years are going to call for new joint efforts.
The future of Nato
The global security context needs to be interpreted and somehow modelled in order to better evaluate NATO’s trajectory and prospects: the international system seems to be caracterized by a form of “aggressive multipolarity”, as well as by a rather disorderly power competition across the spectrum. The US-China question has inevitably taken center stage, although the evolution of this bilateral relationship is far from clear at this stage.