Mapping future leadership on the strength of experience
Several topics were debated at the first biennial conference of the Aspen Junior Fellows Alumni, a group embodying a wealth of up-and-coming young talent already adept at conscientiously applying the ethos of Aspen Institute Italia from having taken part in the Aspen Junior Fellows initiative. The focus of the event was to discern, through the exchange of experiences and views, the challenges facing leaders of the future.
Art and democracy
Kick-starting discussions at this Talk-debate event was the observation that art and democracy are closely-intertwined expressions of humanity. Art has accompanied man since prehistoric times. The successions of cultures over the centuries have produced an artistic heritage that was an embodiment of their community and their founding values. It was suggested that the period in which the secular modernity of humanity made its greatest strides was undoubtedly the Renaissance, not only in the arts and aesthetics, but also in the technical and political realms.
Regulating lobbying in Italy
It was noted during this talk-debate session that there are signs of economic recovery in Italy, though the indicators are half those showing for Europe and even lower in proportion than those for Spain, a country which usually registers similar performance to Italy. The level of foreign investment remains very low, with the relationship between Italy and the United States, for instance, being very skewed.
Women in Peace Operations
Women have a growing role in the armed forces, in the general sector of security and in peacekeeping operations. The issue of gender – of the role and power of women – will figure prominently on the agenda of the upcoming G7 meeting in Canada. Clearly, Italy’s commitment during the Taormina G7 and its efforts to keep the spotlight on the discussion of gender equality in international settings played a key role in ensuring this political success.