Thread by @WomaninHavana

“History did not end as Fukuyama predicted some years ago. History is running now & liberal democracies are under threat” - a powerful opening speech from former Italian PM Romano Prodi, on global democratic malaise, populism & the multiple causes of growing inequality. #IBARome

“Migrants are indispensable to our economic lives, here in Italy too.... (yet) the defence for the loss of identity is the nation. This is why all international organisations are under threat.” Prodi on migration #IBARome

“EU is a symbol of shared progress, of the defence against the right. A visible instrument of a new social justice on a continent” (previously riven by wars) - to applause.
Prodi quotes someone as saying “EU is a union of minorities” - but says this is now challenged. #IBARome

And now Prodi comes to Brexit. Describes European unity vs unexpected British division. The only gain-gain compromise is to save trade & sacrifice mobility of workers. British academic society & groups have idea to repeat referendum. Prodi doesn’t think it can happen.

Brexit negotiations will be tough but Prodi believes in the end there will be a compromise to try to get a win-win. Eg to have & save free trade, but hard to compromise on other chapters. Links between Union are so strong, through 1000s of laws etc. Process inevitably difficult.

It’s clear from Prodi’s tone & words that he thinks Brexit is a huge pity, and a loss on all sides, but that he thinks it is now inevitable & some compromises will have to be made to keep everyone with some sense of being a winner.
#IBARome

Prodi moves on to describe the new world order being the rise of China and American companies like Google, Apple etc. Recognising Europe’s various strengths with strong historical references to Sparta.
#IBARome

“My wish is for some sort of new European spring...Europe is necessary in a moment of increasing tension, with all the superficial powers in crisis. The only great speaker at the UN was Trump and he speaks against the UN.” Prodi at #IBARome

“We need supranational bodies to calm & slow down the tension in the world. Potentially Europe can do this, but together. Even France and Germany are small caramels in the dimensions of the new global world.”

Prodi’s closing remarks at #IBARome

A privilege & a pleasure to hear a genuine statesman on our current world stage, with culture, history & world politics as his reference points, with the spirit of building peace & togetherness as his goal.

It emphasises how globally deprived of this dignity we are now. #IBARome