Iran, China, Europe and Trump's America: the challenge of understanding a changing world

Geopolitics. The paradigm shift we are experiencing on a global level makes it necessary to rethink traditional schemes: at the Festival of Economics, meetings with the protagonists to understand the new international assets and balances

24 April 2026

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

the world is in turmoil and the news every day bears witness to the - extremely rapid - paradigm shift we are experiencing on a global level. This is why the theme of geopolitics, one of the most historically relevant strands at the Trento Festival, takes on particular significance this year.

Firstly with the Middle East chessboard, split between the Iranian conflict and the Israeli-Palestinian issue. The West has to deal with the impetuosity of US President Donald Trump, starting with his attacks on Europe, which in turn has to contend with at least three structural weaknesses: the setback in economic development, the negative trend in demographic indices, and the lack of adequate leadership. On the opposite side emerges the strengthening of autarchies such as Russia and China.

20 MAY 2026

War and Peace
The protagonists: Ferruccio de Bortoli (president Corriere della Sera Foundation); Marco Tronchetti Provera (executive vice-president Pirelli)

20 MAY 2026

Trump's tariffs: much ado about nothing
The protagonists: Alessia Amighini (Università Piemonte Orientale); Alessandro Fontana (director of the Confindustria studies centre); Stefano Schiavo (University of Trento); Luigi Federico Signorini (economist, formerly dg of the Bank of Italia); Pauline Wibaux (economist Cepii).

21 MAY 2026

Trump the global mauler
The protagonists: Daniele Bellasio (Il Sole 24 Ore); Adriana Castagnoli (economics historian); Marco Fortis (vice-president Fondazione Edison); Josef Nierling (Porsche Consulting ad); Giuliano Noci (pro-rector Politecnico di Milano).

22 MAY 2026

Beijing's resilience
The protagonists: Kerry Brown (King's College London); Ivan Cardillo (president Institute of Chinese Law); Rita Fatiguso (Il Sole 24 Ore); Alicia Herrero (chief economist Asia Pacific at Natixis Cib); Yang Wang (vice president The University of Hong Kong).

22 MAY 2026

Trump, an opportunity for Europe
The protagonists: Luigi Abete (president of Confindustria cultura Italia); Daniele Bellasio (Il Sole 24 Ore); Veronica De Romanis (Luiss Guido Carli University); Stefania Di Bartolomeo (ceo Physis investment); Giampiero Massolo (ambassador); Luigi Paganetto (Tor Vergata University of Rome).

22 MAY 2026

The lack of leadership in the West and the collapse of ideologies
The protagonists: Adriana Cerretelli (Il Sole 24 Ore); Roberto D'Alimonte (University Luiss Guido Carli); Maurizio Gardini (president Confcooperative); Sebastiano Maffettone (University Luiss Guido Carli); Giorgio Vittadini (president Fondazione per la Sussidiarietà); Ayse Zarakol (University of Cambridge).

23 MAY 2026

The Age of Predators
The protagonists: Riccardo Barlaam (Il Sole 24 Ore); Mario Capanna (writer); Enzo Fortunato (President of the Pontifical Committee for the World Children's Day); Marco Magnani (Luiss Guido Carli University); Pietro Modiano (economist); Tawakkol Karman (Nobel Peace Prize 2011).

23 MAY 2026

One Europe, one market
The protagonists: Beda Romano (Il Sole 24 Ore); Enrico Letta (IE University Madrid); Emma Marcegaglia (President and CEO Marcegaglia holding); followed by Gigi Donelli (Radio 24) with Antonella Sberna (Vice-President of the European Parliament).

23 MAY 2026

New protagonists on the international chessboard, who is advancing and who is lagging behind
The protagonists: Abdulla Ali Ateeq Obaid Alsubousi (UAE Ambassador to Italia); Carlo Bonomi (past president of Confindustria); Adriana Castagnoli (economic historian); Laura La Posta (Il Sole 24 Ore) Marcello Signorelli (University of Perugia); Yang Yao (China Center for Economic Research).

23 MAY 2026

Talent attraction and geopolitical competition
The protagonists: Patrizio Bianchi (University of Ferrara); Francesco Billari, (Rector Bocconi University of Milan); Marta Dassù (senior advisor European affairs Aspen Institute); Donatella Sciuto (Rector Politecnico di Milano); Giulio Tremonti (President Aspen Institute Italia); Gianfranco Torriero (deputy managing director Abi).