That dialogue between cultures that nurtures freedom and democracy
The closing event of the celebrations
for the 70th anniversary of Intercultura takes place today
Democracy is not a static reality, but a living architecture that constantly regenerates itself through confrontation. In an interconnected world, the quality of our constitutional system is measured not only through the efficiency of procedures, but in the sharing of the substantive values of liberal constitutionalism, including the ability to be open to otherness without losing its roots. In established democracies, the encounter with 'the other' is not an ideal concession, but an indispensable requirement for the protection of fundamental rights and the resilience of contemporary institutions.
The history of constitutionalism teaches us that pluralism is an effective antidote against forms of democratic involution and it is therefore essential to reiterate that openness to the world is a crucial legal safeguard. Dialogue between different cultures, therefore, is not a mere exercise in diplomatic courtesy, but a structural necessity, the instrument that enables diversity to be transformed from a potential source of conflict into a resource of social cohesion.
The experience of mobility and intercultural exchange acts as a catalyst for active citizenship. Data from the Ipsos research conducted for Intercultura on the occasion of its 70th anniversary celebrations on a sample of former exchange programme participants confirm this dynamic very clearly. Those who have experienced immersion in another culture show 81% trust in the European Union (compared to 54% of the national average) and 66% trust in international institutions (compared to 53%). These numbers do not indicate a detachment from one's own reality, but testify to the maturation of a conscious awareness: the understanding that major global problems require equally broad and shared governance.
There is a widespread prejudice that feeling like a "citizen of the world" may weaken the bond with one's community of origin. The reality of the data disproves this fear, reversing the perspective: while 94% of former participants in mobility programmes feel themselves to be global citizens, 84% of them express a very strong sense of belonging to Italia, a figure significantly higher than the national average of 74%.
This shows that experience abroad does not 'uproot' but strengthens. Mobility produces an 'evolved social conscience' that becomes lifeblood for the nation. Those who return bring with them a heightened sensitivity to crucial issues such as gender equity and environmental sustainability, which are key elements of a modern, dynamic society. The meeting of young people from distant cultures, capable of recognising themselves in universal values, is the seed of a peace based on mutual recognition, an essential pillar for the stability of our democracies.
