A compass in the world at war between bombs, energy crisis and rights
Unpredictable scenarios. The attack on Iran and Trump's tantrums, the Gaza tragedy, Russia against Ukraine, the role of China and that of Europe
Trump's tantrums. The wars. Hezbollah and Iran. The trade tariffs. The Strait of Hormuz and rising petrol prices. In sports bars, it is no longer just about football: the poor performances of the national team, of course, help this diversification. But there is a new fact from a few years ago that has taken the first place in coffee shop chatter: the economy and international politics have entered everyone's discourse and concerns. For several reasons.
Meanwhile, the war nearby, Russia's war in Ukraine, a few hundred kilometres from Italia, which after 70 years of peace and relative stability, has brought bombs and civilian and military deaths back to Europe. And then the tycoon returned to the White House. A second presidency full of high uncertainties.
America's self-appointed Nobel Peace Prize candidate has decided to open a war against Iran, with only Israel's side already engaged in an interminable conflict against all for territorial and military supremacy in the Middle East. The attack on Iran was supposed to last two or three days, in the White House's estimation. It did not. In the US, Trump's opponents but also many of his former party supporters have dubbed it the forever war. A war that is undermining the global economy due to inflationary pressures and energy price increases caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the damage to oil and gas infrastructure in the Gulf countries and Iran. Trouble that adds to the other troubles: a global economy already tested by Trump's protectionist tariffs and other wars scattered around the world, more or less out of the media spotlight.
In short, geopolitics has become central and will for all these reasons be the main protagonist of the Trento Festival of Economics, with a very rich programme with over 40 events on the calendar. Eleven pages of packed appointments (for the detailed programme please consult the Festival website). The food for thought and panel guests are many and very interesting. For those who will be in Trento on those days, there will be many opportunities for enrichment. A sort of thought compass to navigate the stormy waters of these uncertain times.
WEDNESDAY 20 MAY
Understanding the Middle East by looking at it from India
The protagonists: Francesco Carluccio (economics student, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore); Luca Greco (editor-in-chief, Giornale d'Italia); Giulio Sapelli (president, Fondazione Manlio and Maria Letizia Germozzi, Confartigianato).
