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International Roundtable

  • Meeting in digital format
    • 1 December 2021
     
     

    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.

    • Rome
      • 31 January 2020
       
       

      The future of the European economy: the new Commission’s choices

        The European Union is confronting a series of long-term structural challenges that, nevertheless, require the immediate implementation of high impact, broad-spectrum policies. An initial issue is climate change, naturally a planet-wide concern for which Europe has already set goals, such as carbon neutrality within 2050 (which will obviously have direct effects on the energy sector).

      • Rome
        • 5 June 2019
         
         

        The post-election European Union: internal dynamics and global competition

          One possible initial interpretation of the European parliamentary vote focused on the retreat of both main traditional parties (People’s and Socialist) and the success of two other pro-Europe parties (Liberals and Greens) that almost offset it, and on a softening in euro-skeptic parties’ positions that seems traceable to changes from within. These latter are certainly a significant force, but they do not appear capable of deeply inflecting the work of the Parliament.

        • Rome
          • 20 February 2018
           
           

          Technology and Innovation. The Case of Israel and potential partnerships

            Creating and nurturing a local innovation ecosystem with wide potential spinoffs for the economy is a great challenge, but real success stories are still relatively rare. Israel may well be one such case, particularly looking at Tel Aviv and Silicon Wadi. More broadly, the Israeli economy has come to share several traits with the most advanced and creative innovation centers.

          • Roma
            • 13 February 2018
             
             

            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.

            • Roma
              • 7 May 2018
               
               

              The EU and the UK after Brexit: saving the security link

                Managing post-Brexit relations between the UK and the EU is a special challenge in the security sector, and all parties seem to agree that this requires a specific framework, insulated from the broader negotiations. A few basic principles were put forward to facilitate what will inevitably be a delicate transition.

              • Rome
                • 25 July 2017
                 
                 

                Trump and the politics of uncertainty

                  Looking at the Trump presidency, the international media – and actually, the American media, too – have lost sight of some background data that have to do with America in general, and far less with the White House. This point emerged from a discussion with Walter Russell Mead, known above all for his studies on the various schools of American foreign policy (from this standpoint, Trump is a “Jacksonian President”) but also thoroughly versed in the United States’ political culture and electoral cycles.

                • Rome
                  • 31 July 2014
                   
                   

                  From vulnerabilities to resilience: strengthening human development

                    Education, welfare and the gender gap were at the top of the agenda of discussions at this international roundtable, which featured guest speaker Khalid Malik, Director of the UNDP’s Human Development Report Office. The Office’s 2014 report sets out to measure progress in long-term human development against three main areas of achievement: a long and healthy life, access to knowledge, and a decent standard of living. Also taken into account are the capacity to enjoy equal opportunity of access, and to exercise the universal right to the same opportunities in life.

                  • Rome
                    • 23 February 2011
                     
                     

                    The bull commodity markets return

                      During this roundtable session, a number of factors were identified as contributing to the volatility in energy, agricultural commodity and food prices, including: the significant increase in demand from the major emerging countries, speculation in derivatives markets (and, more generally, the growing importance of the financial – as opposed to the real – economy), the management of energy production by many governments according to political criteria, and the increasing correlation between the (historically high) volatility of oil prices and that of other commodity prices.

                    • Rome
                      • 10 October 2011
                       
                       

                      China and the European crisis

                        This international roundtable, which saw the participation of a delegation from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, provided an opportunity to discuss developments in the euro crisis and China’s views regarding the same. The core issue debated regarded the nature of the crisis and the motives behind the speculative attacks against certain countries.

                      • Milan
                        • 24 May 2010
                         
                         

                        The China challenge

                          At the same time as the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue, a seminar was held in Milan with Edward Tse, Booz & Company’s Chairman for Greater China and one of the major experts on the Chinese market. The meeting was an opportunity to discuss the economic context businesses find in China, as well as the Chinese government’s main choices in this phase of serious international gravity.

                        • Milan
                          • 26 January 2009
                           
                           

                          Europe’s economy after the financial crisis

                            Created by the implosion of the US financial system, the last of the “bubbles” – that of the housing market – is the culmination of over a decade of shortsighted American monetary policies and an inadequate monitoring system. The situation is particularly grave, with forecasts that world growth will fall from 5% in 2007 to little more than 1% in 2009. As yet, it is not possible to predict how long the recession will last.

                          • Rome
                            • 10 May 2007
                             
                             

                            Industry, government and university in the defense business world of today

                              The roundtable's opening address was given by Dr. James F. Albaugh, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems and Executive Vice President of The Boeing Company. Dr Albaugh alerted the gathering to the lack of young talent in the aerospace and high tech industries. He also underlined the gap between Europe and the United States in the defense industry and public allocations for acquisitions and research in the sector. In 2005, EU countries spent 35 billion dollars in arms investments compared to the 103 billion spent by the US.

                            • Rome
                              • 20 June 2007
                               
                               

                              Energy Security in Italy-Russia relations

                                The roundtable began with speeches by Italian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Massimo D’Alema and First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and President of Gazprom Dmitri Medvedev. The encounter was a unique opportunity to examine the state of Italian-Russian relations with a special focus on the energy question. The debate highlighted the excellent trend in relations between the two countries and the encouraging prospects for future agreements, not only in the energy sector but also in other sectors – the high-tech one in particular.

                              • Milan
                                • 25 May 2006
                                 
                                 

                                Economic and political stability in the Balkans: opportunities and risks

                                  This event represented an important occasion to assess the enlargement process of the EU towards the Balkans, primarily Romania and Bulgaria. Participants analyzed possible reinforcement policies which should favor economic integration, as well as issues such as immigration, security and human capital. The presence of important Romanian personalities was also an occasion to present the project of Aspen Romania in Italy to a selected number of Institute members and local experts.

                                • Rome
                                  • 1 December 2005
                                   
                                   

                                  Dinner in honor of the U.S. Ambassador to Italy, Ronald P. Spogli

                                    The meeting with the US Ambassador to Italy Ronald P. Spogli was an important occasion for Aspen Institute Italia and its members. During the evening the Ambassador illustrated the objectives of his mission to Italy, underlining the excellent relations between Italy and the United States achieved through mutual political and military support in the fight against terrorism. Participants agreed on the need for greater economic exchanges which would favor trade relations that, albeit good, can still be improved.