Telosaes.it

November 2013, Year V, n. 11

Giuseppe De Rita

No life without desire

Telos: If we tried to assemble the patchwork pieces of the current crisis in Italy, the downsizing of the middle class would probably be one of its most symbolic features. What are the long-term causes of this decline? Is a polarised society poorer and more unstable, or does it mask the seeds of a new kind of rebirth?

Giuseppe De Rita: The optimism of reason, and as a Catholic, the optimism of hope, are always a good starting point. But this should not blind us to reality: the Italian crisis, and the crisis of the middle class, that sparked social growth in the Eighties, brought to light a shortcoming which actually existed, but was considered less dramatic during the good times: the fact Italy did not really have a ruling class ... more

Editorial

Most people are aware that every crisis can be an opportunity to elaborate constructive proposals and spark social development and growth. However, we often abuse this awareness; conventional wisdom runs the risk of becoming sterile, unless we assess the origins of a decline which has revealed all Italy’s weak points, and not just our economic ... more