“Inspiring Europe”
Inspiring,
or in need of inspiration – in a time of fast changing interdependency between global regions Europe
is searching for a future role in the world. At first glance, this may seem like a purely European question.
It is, however, a question that the rest of the world cannot ignore: should Europe find its way back
to a position of strength and vigour it would have too much to offer and the benefits for the world
as a whole would be too great; conversely, too much potential would be lost worldwide should Europe
continue to mark time and fail to deploy its strengths quickly and with a firm resolve. With “Inspiring
Europe”, the upcoming St. Gallen Symposium will therefore be centred on a theme of the utmost global
relevance.
We live in an era marked
by an interdependency between global regions that is changing at a speed and on a scale that are unprecedented.
Global development has on many levels become more dynamic, driven by increasing integration of the world
economy. New markets open up enormous economic potential, while traditional structures are being exposed
to tougher international competition. Fifteen years after a seemingly unstoppable embracement of liberty,
new societal solutions are called for in response to the individual’s desire for security. On the political
level, there is a pressing need for stability in a gradually evolving global public domain. Multinational
corporations are more and more trapped between the pressure to enable new possibilities and meeting
ever-increasing local demands. The emergence of Asia changes our perception of the world, accentuating
the discussion about the global distribution of natural resources and power, while the U.S. looks set
to be challenged in its position as dominant political force and global economic engine. Against such
a backdrop, the question about the future relationship between the world’s regions is of the utmost
importance. Which processes allow the economic regions to successfully seize opportunities in their
own interest and at the same time contribute to the stability and well-being of all? Will domestic political
issues hinder global free trade from developing further? Europe, especially, seems to have a problem
in resolving this dilemma, and its stance is threatening more and more to become a hindrance.
Europe’s
current problems are both obvious and undisputed. In contrast with a global economy that is experiencing
above-average growth, in most parts of Europe business activity is sluggish and unemployment is alarmingly
high. It will hardly be possible to comply with the Lisbon Agenda agreed five years ago as a project
to take Europe into the future. Moreover, the demographic trap, which is poised to snap shut soon and
irrevocably, is a stubborn reminder that we face a future that will make solving the problems even more
difficult. As a result, disenchanted citizens are increasingly loosing faith in European institutions
and are curtailing their capacity to act. Meanwhile voters in Germany – Europe’s largest economy and
its former engine of growth – have primarily voiced their own insecurity and indecisiveness. This can
as well be seen as evidence of the pessimistic mood that has descended like a veil over Europe and maybe
represents the biggest of all its problems. All in all, the environment for doing business in Europe
is worsening steadily and in a serious manner.
Inspiration
is badly needed. An inspired Europe is also a matter of urgency throughout the world: in an increasingly
integrated global economy, the whole is always more than the sum of its parts, and prosperity in Europe
means greater prosperity for all the world. Conversely, a paralysed Europe implies a set-back not only
for Europe itself. It would also be a millstone around the neck of global development. How, then, can
Europe, the world’s largest domestic market, once again set the pace for the global economy and enlarge
the welfare for all concerned? When facing up to the demands of globalisation, what can Europe learn
from America and the up-and-coming economies of Asia? What can decision makers from business, civil
society and politics do to encourage their European colleagues to restore confidence in the long-term
benefits and future viability of a difficult restructuring programme? How can European companies contribute
to the integration of their locations into global processes? Which opportunities does the future hold
for an innovative European service sector in availing of the traditional strengths of European education?
How can entrepreneurship in Europe learn from entrepreneurial success in other parts of the world?
“Inspiring
Europe” reflects the ambivalence of the situation: Present-day Europe is not only exposed to weaknesses
and problems. It can also be an inspiration both to itself and to the world community – an aspect that
should also be the subject of close examination at the 36th St. Gallen Symposium. The integration of
Europe in a context of freedom and peace is a truly historic event – a rare process that is of lasting
international significance and worthy of reflection. Furthermore, the expansion of the European Union,
most recently to the east, has triggered vigorous economic activity and political renewal. The force
behind such inspiration awaits deeper and more positive discussion in “old Europe”. It is obvious that
Europe’s development is the ultimate source of inspiration to its immediate neighbours: is the undiminished
wish of the EU’s eastern and southern neighbours to become part of Europe really just based on a cold
and calculating assessment of the economic benefits? Does that wish also contain
a message
about Europe’s
ability to thrive in the future and compete in the global marketplace? Could it be that something has
escaped the notice of Europeans and the rest of the world? Several global European companies also seem
to have found a convincing answer to Europe’s problems and rank among the leading players in their sectors.
What suggestions can they make about a successful mix of global integration and European identity? How
can they, as important global investors, bring a new European strength to a mutually beneficial global
cooperation? To what extent are they still ambassadors of those specific European cultural achievements
which, over the past centuries, have changed the world more profoundly than any other intellectual stimulus?
At
the St. Gallen Symposium, the examination of global interdependency and of Europe’s future role and
identity should therefore be spearheaded by the question of how members of the global community can
inspire one another. Equally, discussion should include the overall context of European development.
In attempting to predict global development in the coming years, which processes are important? Which
worldwide dynamics would ensue if Europe should return to its status as a vibrant pace setter? How could
we imagine plausible scenarios for the global division of labour in 20 years? How will governments,
civil society and global economy work together? What significance has the “software”, i.e. the different
mentalities, in international capitalism?
The
36th St. Gallen Symposium, which took place between 18–20 May 2006, on the campus of the University
of St. Gallen – in its tradition as the international multi-disciplinary ideas forum – has taken an
in-depth look at these and other questions in order to initiate a stimulating exchange.
