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Gordian Knots and Alexandrian Gordian Knots and Alexandrian SolutionsSolutions

The perspectives of the XXI CenturyThe perspectives of the XXI Century

THE TRIPLE EUROPEAN MEZZOGIORNOTHE TRIPLE EUROPEAN MEZZOGIORNO

Bruno AmorosoBruno AmorosoDocent EmeritusDocent Emeritus

Università di RoskildeUniversità di RoskildeDanimarcaDanimarca

Warsaw November 2008Warsaw November 2008

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The Gordian KnotsThe Gordian Knots

1970s – The warning of the Club 1970s – The warning of the Club of Rome and its impact on:of Rome and its impact on:

- the scientific community: - the scientific community: research agenda (energy, research agenda (energy,

environment, environment, sustainability, etc.)sustainability, etc.)

- the institutions - the institutions political agenda (sectoral political agenda (sectoral

approach, approach, global agencies, global agencies, governance)governance)

TOP DOWN APPROACHTOP DOWN APPROACH

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Power to global agencies and institutions (OCSE, FMI, WB, WTO, etc)Power to global agencies and institutions (OCSE, FMI, WB, WTO, etc)

Weakening of local actors, regions and national statesWeakening of local actors, regions and national states

Promotion of universal (western) values. Human rights strategiesPromotion of universal (western) values. Human rights strategies

Outcomes:Outcomes:

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1990s - EUROPEAN COMMUNITY1990s - EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

PROBLEMS

- EC democratic, social and culture deficit

- Risks of fragmentation

ANSWERS

-EC’s internal cohesion and economic cooperation with the Wider Europe

ALTERNATIVE POLICY CHOICES

Polycentric model of meso-regions (DATAR, ARL, EU-FAST)

or

Eurocentric model of centralization around the “core” of the EC (Globalization, marginalization and social exclusion)

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IMPLEMENTED EU’ POLICIES

EC’s Policies: Funds transfer from strong to weaker regions

Impact on Triple Mezzogiorno:- no results in development

- increasing inequality and dependency- weakening of the local production

systems and markets-institutional and private corruption

RISE OF GORDIAN KNOTS:Finance, Technology, Governance

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QUALIFYING ASPECTS OF QUALIFYING ASPECTS OF EU’s TRIPLE EU’s TRIPLE

MEZZOGIORNOMEZZOGIORNO Permanent dualism (culture, social, Permanent dualism (culture, social,

economy)economy) Missing integration in the national marketMissing integration in the national market Weak links to Western EuropeWeak links to Western Europe Traditional bridge role toward regions Traditional bridge role toward regions

outside the EU (Eastern Europe and outside the EU (Eastern Europe and Mediterranean countries)Mediterranean countries)

Failure in industrialization (“Cathedral in Failure in industrialization (“Cathedral in the desert” in Italy and Stalinistic the desert” in Italy and Stalinistic industrialization in Poland and East industrialization in Poland and East Germany)Germany)

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ALEXANDRIAN ALEXANDRIAN SOLUTIONSOLUTION

Culture-Nature- Production Systems. Culture-Nature- Production Systems. Integrated solutions at community level. Integrated solutions at community level.

From finance to real economyFrom finance to real economy Polycentrism as permanent basis for Polycentrism as permanent basis for

developmentdevelopment Territorial and community based markets and Territorial and community based markets and

production systems – BOTTOM UP APPROACH production systems – BOTTOM UP APPROACH FROM LOCAL TO WORLD WIDEFROM LOCAL TO WORLD WIDE

Regions of Europe: institutional and Regions of Europe: institutional and partecipation level (contribution by Giovanni partecipation level (contribution by Giovanni d’Orio)d’Orio)

Social economies and enterprises (Pierluca Social economies and enterprises (Pierluca Ghibelli contribution)Ghibelli contribution)