Blogging Ethics & Global Politics

Re-building dialogue with the Arab World: some questions

ethicsandglobalpolitics — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:44:23 +0000

The conference “Rebuilding dialogue with the Arab world” offers a chance to reflect upon some relevant issues about the future of a dialogue among different cultures in the Mediterranean area.
In his paper, Adonis lists four main obstacles to a “genuine and creative” dialogue between the Oriental and Western sides of the Mediterranean Sea. The Arab intellectuals refer to the religious vision about the human beings and the world, to the opinion about knowledge and science, to the role of state and politics, and, finally, to the ancient hatred between Judaism and Islam, which finds an expression today in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In the light of such a reflection, some key questions, which are deeply linked to the debate about a possible dialogue between the West and the Arab world, emerge. Can religion help the dialogue among civilizations? And, do shared political values matter in building a “genuine and creative” dialogue between the West and the Arab world?

Besides political and cultural features, the issue of the dialogue between the West and the Arab World cannot be fully understood without taking into account their economic considerations, first, and the role of the media as a conditioning factor. With reference to the first problem, how much do economic factors weigh in the dynamics of inclusion/exclusion? How does an harmonious economic development in the Mediterranean region impact and create an influence on the relations among countries? And, finally, does media favour distrust or dialogue?

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Re-building dialogue with the Arab World: alcune domande

La conferenza “Rebuilding dialogue with the Arab world” è un’occasione per riflettere su alcune questioni fondamentali circa il futuro del dialogo tra culture nell’area del mediterraneo.

Nel suo intervento di apertura, Adonis elenca quattro principali ostacoli ad un dialogo “sincero e creativo” tra le due sponde, quella orientale ed occidentale, del Mediterraneo. L’ intellettuale arabo fa riferimento alla visione religiosa dell’uomo e del mondo, al giudizio sulla conoscenza e sulla scienza, al ruolo e al senso dello stato e della politica, e all’antico conflitto tra il sacro Ebraico e quello Islamico, che oggi si manifesta con estrema violenza nel caso del conflitto israelo – palestinese. Alla luce di tale riflessione sembra necessario sollevare alcune questioni cruciali interne al dibattito di un possibile dialogo tra Oriente e Occidente. Può la religione aiutare l’incontro tra le civiltà? O solo il richiamo laico a valori politici condivisi può rappresentare il primo passo verso un “dialogo sincero e creativo” tra il mondo Arabo e quello Occidentale?

Oltre all’aspetto strettamente politico e culturale, la questione del dialogo tra Oriente e Occidente non può prescindere da considerazioni di natura economica così come dal potenziale ruolo dei media come fattore di condizionamento. Con riferimento al primo problema, in che misura le questioni economiche influenzano le dinamiche di inclusione/esclusione? Un maggiore e più armonico sviluppo economico nella regione mediterranea può migliorare le relazioni tra i Paesi Arabi e i vicini Paesi Occidentali? E ancora, i media favoriscono la diffidenza o il dialogo?

Scarica il comunicato stampa, comunicato-stampa

Like a Bouquet of Flowers

ethicsandglobalpolitics — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:50:34 +0000

an interview with Sadik Al-Azm*

*Professor Emeritus of Modern European Philosophy at the University of Damascus in Syria.

Download the interview here :

al-azm-interview-pg-11-15, al-azm-interview-pg-6-10, al-azm-interview-pg1-5

Conference: Re-building Dialogue with the Arab World

ethicsandglobalpolitics — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:44:36 +0000

The Center on Ethics and Global Politics, LUISS University, Rome

and the Humanity Association

invite you to

Re-building Dialogue with The Arab World

LUISS University, Rome

December 5th and 6th, 2008

The public discussion and academic study of public ethics and global politics have grown exponentially, at least partly due to globalization and the problems of governance and social justice that it raises.

The birth of the new Center on Ethics and Global Politics at LUISS University in Rome reflects these developments. The Center will promote a series of activities in this field, under the direction of a multicultural, high level scientific steering committee .

We have therefore decided to launch the center facing an issue of our time that is crucial from, both a cultural and a factual point of view, “Re-building dialogue with The Arab World”.

The topic of the conference also reflects the positive experience of the international conference, “Building Democracy: A Mediterranean Project” (Foundation Cini, Venice 2006), the proceedings of which will be published at the “Re-building dialogue with The Arab World” conference (December 5- 6, Luiss “Guido Carli”, Rome).

Download here the updated program, conference-program-0112

Registration Process:

Due to the lack of space, we need to know in advance the number of participants for each session.

Please, if you want to participate in one ore more sessions of the conference post here a comment with your name, affiliation, and the session/s you want to join.

Thanks a lot for your collaboration,

The staff

Obama wins the 2008 US Presidential Elections

ethicsandglobalpolitics — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:57:55 +0000

61,257,773 votes for Obama vs 54,676,942 for McCain

Electoral college: 349 vs 162

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Barack Obama is elected 44th president of the United States.

“Change has come to America” said Mr Obama to jubilant crowds at his victory speech in Chicago. With this historical choice for Senator Obama, American voters confirmed their will of change. President Obama is the first black President of the United States.

The 2008 U.S. Elections seen from Italy

ethicsandglobalpolitics — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 18:01:36 +0000

A few Italian blogs on “2008 Presidential Elections”
Go to the links:

2008 U.S. Presidential Elections: two questions

ethicsandglobalpolitics — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:11:42 +0000

American society has traditionally based its trust in public life on two pillars: democracy and the market. The “recount” question, after the Gore-Bush elections, made Americans discontented and sceptical about democracy. Many thought that the popular idea that “every vote counts” was not respected. The Wall Street affair and the enormous financial crisis in recent weeks has provoked similar sentiments about the market. Many have the impression that opportunism and greed dominate the economic life of the country. Both of these crises have also merged into issue of the post-war stagnation in Iraq. Thus a fundamental doubt arises: is the US still the only super-power?

The upcoming US elections –on November 4 2008- will also involve a reaction to these anxieties of the American “person on the street”. A confrontation between innovation and tradition, between past and future, will enliven the usual battle between democrats and republicans. Will blue collars vote for Obama? Will middle-class America accept Sarah Palin? These questions –and of course many others- will be behind the electoral decisions of the people of the most important nation in the world. What would you consider important and how would you vote were you in the shoes of the American people?

Elections 2008 The Economists’ Voice,
go to the link

October 17, 2008: NYTimes, Elections 2008: If elected…

ethicsandglobalpolitics — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:39:46 +0000

Go to the articles in the series

Democracy in the US selected articles

ethicsandglobalpolitics — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:08:53 +0000

October 14,2008; NYTimes: In Voting Booth, Race May Play a Bigger Role- by Adam Nagourney

October 10, 2008; NYTimes:Are We Rome? Tu Betchus!- by Maureen Dowd

October 10, 2008; NYTimes: The Post-Binge World- by Thomas L. Friedman

October 10, 2008; NYTimes: Moment of Truth-by Paul Krugman

October 9, 2008; NYTimes: Why Experience Matters- by David Brooks

October 6, 2008; NYTimes: Health Care Destruction- by Paul Krugman

October 4, 2008; NYTimes: Every You Heard IS Wrong- by Steven Pinker

October 3, 2008; NYTimes: Edge of the Abyss- by Paul Krugman

October 2, 2008; LATimes: Abolish the Vice Presidency- by Bruce Ackerman

October 2, 2008; WSJ: Market Manipulation Muddies Election Outlook- By David Rothschild & Justine Wolfers

September 22, 2008; NYTimes:Cash for Trash- by Paul Krugman

September 21, 2008; NYTimes: The Push to ‘Otherize’ Obama- by Nicholas D. Kristof

September 14, 2008; NYTimes: The Palin-Whatshisname Ticket- by Frank Rich

Blog: The Palin interview- by James Fallows

Blog: Worst self-inflicted campaign move ever?- by James Fallows

The Broken Engine of Progressive Politics

Paolo Sordi — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 10:28:07 +0000

by Bruce Ackerman*

* Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science at Yale University

Over the centuries, Americans have built themselves a great engine for political change. We cannot understand our present situation without understanding how this machinery was built, how it has been transformed, and how it threatens to catapult us to the disaster in the twenty-first century. …

Download the article: the-broken-engine-of-progressive-politics-2