Peripli Association, the YOU-WB partner in Italy, organized the third workshop in Rome in the framework of Europe for Citizen Project “Youth involvement in a constructive dialogue: Communist Past in Contemporary Western Balkan” (YOU-WB). In a blended format from 01st to 03rd October 2021, this workshop brought together 60 participants: young people, academics, researchers, experts, and civil society activists from Italy, North Macedonia, Albania, and France to discuss the involvement of youth in a constructive dialogue regarding the past focusing on the political culture in Italy since 1989.
In addition to the two days of the workshop, presentation by speakers, and participation of young people, the third day included a virtual visit to the Museum Resistance in Rome.
The speakers who participated were: Prof. Paolo Mancini, Dr. Rita Fioravante, Prof. Maria Donzelli, Dr. Antonio Bocchino, Dr. Rita Felerico, Dr. Loredana Cornero, Dr.Marina Lalovic, Prof. Beatrice Sica, Dr. Antonio Tursi.
The themes touched on include the political and institutional aspects that embodied the Italian political class at the end of the twentieth century up to the transformation of party and political communication of today.
Young people had the opportunity to relive, thanks to the stories of the experiences lived by professionals, the capillary approach of Italian Christian Democrat politics. In fact, it has been seen how some political parties of the twentieth century have managed to create political structures that cover both small cities and institutional contexts of national importance. It was very interesting to note that in the past the political class managed to educate young and not so young on issues related to party politics. On the contrary, it has now been seen that the current political class needs to be refounded on some principles that reflected the parties of the First Republic.
Although the subject was very delicate, Peripli allowed the active participation of its young people. Therefore, as junior members of the association, they have made a significant contribution: Battista Martina (president Peripli Junior), Autuori Giovanni, Sabatino Ester, Rizzo Francesca, Tabatabie Daniele, Piscopo Liliana.
The theme was introduced by a brief reflection on the difficult path of Italy towards democracy, after the Second World War and the devastating experience of the Fascist period; a journey that began on January 1, 1948, with the enactment of the constitutional law, due to the Constituent Assembly, elected on 2 June 1946, following the results of the institutional referendum, which on the same day sanctioned the birth of the Italian Republic. The form is that of a representative democracy, articulated in institutions such as mass parties and characterized by universal suffrage extended to all the citizens of the Republic.
1989 represents a turning point for Italian political culture in line with what is happening in Europe, after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the new geopolitical framework. From this moment on, Italian political culture is characterized by profound changes that mark the various stages of a path, often troubled, that leads to the evolution of the great mass parties, the attempt to participate actively in the construction of political Europe, the globalization of the market and the insertion of Italy in a context that must take into account above all the evolution of the European Union, of what is happening in the Balkan region and more generally in the Mediterranean region.
The duration of the workshop was three days, from 1 to 3 October 2021.
During the first day was presented a video about Italy, introduction of Prof. Maria Donzelli, President of Peripli and coordinator of the Italian team, which recalled the fundamental values of democracy in Italy, due to the resistance to fascism and the establishment of the Constitutional Charter, It stressed the difficulties of maintaining democracy in a country marked by many difficulties.
Prof. Paolo Mancini’s speech focused on the theme “Tribulation, Volatility and Polarization: Italian culture since 1989”. Dr Rosa Fioravante, on the other hand, stressed the theme “Democracy as ideology: from the fall of the Berlin Wall to the fall of liberalism”.
After a wide discussion, the meeting ended with the song “Bella ciao”, song in nine languages and became a symbol of resistance around the world.
The second day opened with a video of the song by Giorgio Gaber, “La libertà” and, after an introduction to the program of the day made by Dr Rita Felerico, vice president of Peripli, saw the protagonists especially young people of our association. The meeting was divided into 2 workshops. The first, led by Dr. Loredana Cornero, dedicated to “The evolution of the great mass parties in Italy since 1989”, accompanied by cards and videos, received a significant testimony of the journalist Dr. Martina Lalovic on the issue of identity and large emigration from the Balkan region.
The second workshop, led by Prof. Beatrice Sica, dedicated to “The current situation of democracy in Italy and its role between the European Union and the Mediterranean Region”, also accompanied by cards and videos, saw the intervention of Prof. Antonio Tursi on the theme “Parties in the digital challenge: between participation and participationism”.
The workshop ended with the intervention of the President of Peripli, who asked a question to all the young people and professionals present on the Zoom platform. In order to make the final discussion interactive, the question asked by Professor Donzelli urged those present to propose innovative solutions aimed at changing the economic, social and political context of the Euro-Mediterranean area.
“What action can we take to initiate a process of change?”
The previous question led to a stimulating debate among those present, who submitted different solutions to the President. The most shared theme among the participants is to create a new political class that can be formed in function of sustainable, fair and inclusive development. In particular, young people have focused their interventions on the importance of caring for the environment, therefore, the seas, forests, the earth, etc…
Finally, it emerged that the ultimate goal of future generations must be to reduce inequalities.
The need for a framework that can function without any kind of discrimination was stressed. A world where every person, regardless of race, gender, sexual or political orientation, can have an opportunity.
Peripli’s report for the event (click here)
