WORLD SOCIAL SUMMIT 2008
'Wss: De Michelis, politicians must negotiate the compromise among societies'

Politicians have a very difficult role, consisting in attempting "to negotiate the compromise". Those are the words of Gianni De Michelis during his speech at the World Social Summit of Fondazione Roma.

"One of the peculiarities of today's situation is the different approach that characterises different parts of the global society". "There is certain incapacity in grasping the sense of what is happening" says De Michelis. The problem is to be able to compare ourselves with emerging societies. China is an example: "if you go to China, you will see a totally different attitude of leaderships" compared to other western societies. "There is a more optimistic approach in China, of a country with chances". "The entire Chinese society activated itself to make it". Now the problem for us is to "re-negotiate the rules, keeping in consideration the new context". A "political compromise" must be faced. "The cultures of our western societies, which claim to have their truths revealed, - says De Michelis - will be forced to negotiate the rules of the game with authoritative societies". They will have to "negotiate on democracy and on the rules of the game to protect human rights".

"Conventions like this one - says De Michelis - are useful if they can identify the political leaderships in today's world, which are perhaps unsuitable but they will have anyhow the task to try to negotiate said compromise".