The 38th St. Gallen Symposium took place from 15–17 May 2008 on the campus of the University of St. Gallen Switzerland. Within the framework of the topic Global Capitalism – Local Values, a significant group of entrepreneurs, politicians, scientists and students from around the world discussed key issues concerning management, the business environment and the interface between economy, politics and society.
With this year’s topic Global Capitalism – Local Values, the discussion centred on the tense and highly complex relationship between local structures and the global capitalist economic order. Notwithstanding their close-knit ties, the development and deepening of global markets for goods, services, capital and labour have put enormous pressure on locally cherished values as well as established ways of doing and understanding business. Companies and entire national economies have been caught up in the maelstrom of global competition. Some are coping well and embrace the opportunities that the global markets provide, whereas others are struggling with adapting its longstanding structures to the demands of today’s economy. At this watershed time, we have to face up to capitalism and assess the chances of its global spread and local impact. How can the divergence between local structures and global market economy be bridged productively? What responsibilities do entrepreneurs and politicians have as global players? And how can capitalism and values – often seen as contradictory – be reconciled in a forward-looking way?
With the 38th St. Gallen Symposium, the International Students’ Committee (ISC) once more created a platform for open, interdisciplinary and intergenerational dialogue with the intention of enabling a fundamental discussion and exchange of views on the subject. The members of the 38th ISC-Team hope that the “3 Days in May” have given participants food for thought and provided a fresh impetus for their daily entrepreneurial activities. The aim of this collection of keynote lectures is to present a cross-section of the views and opinions represented at the St. Gallen Symposium, to serve as a springboard for further thought and reflection.
The ISC extends its warmest thanks to the outstanding members of the faculty who enriched the St. Gallen dialogue with their presentations and ideas. A special word of thanks goes to the chairmen Lord Griffiths of Fforestfach and Mark C. Medish, who displayed an impressive wealth of knowledge and expertise. They chaired the “3 Days in May” – Lord Griffiths for the 10th time in a row – with brilliance, much humour and charm.
Thanks also go to the members of the Board of Trustees of the St. Gallen Foundation for International Studies and in particular to its chairman Dr. Josef Ackermann, whose enthusiasm and personal commitment significantly contributed to the success of the 38th St. Gallen Symposium.
As an expression of its deep gratitude, the ISC would like to dedicate this Compilation of Keynote Lectures to the memory of its great benefactor Dr. h.c. Max Schmidheiny, the late eminent Swiss industrialist who would have celebrated his 100th birthday on 3 April 2008. The extent of Max Schmidheiny’s commitment in Switzerland and throughout the world should not overshadow the importance of his singular contribution to his home canton of St. Gallen, to the University of St. Gallen (HSG) and in particular to the St. Gallen Symposium and the International Students’ Committee (ISC).
The “3 Days in May” would not have been possible without the outstanding support and tireless efforts of 200 students of the University of St. Gallen. The ISC expresses its sincere thanks to them for their major contribution to the unique atmosphere on the university campus. It also wishes to thank the University of St. Gallen and especially its President, Prof. Dr. Ernst Mohr, for his generosity in allowing the University of St. Gallen to be host to this event.
Finally the 38th ISC-Team thanks the members of the Circle of Benefactors, the participants of the 38th St. Gallen Symposium, as well as the donators and sponsors whose conceptual and financial support laid the foundation for the success of the “3 Days in May”, and whose personal commitment was once more instrumental in realising the ISC idea.
