Italian identity between Europe and multicultural society

The European institutions have declared 2008 "Year of Intercultural Dialogue". The Intercultura Foundation contributed with numerous events,seminars,conferences and publications. Culminating event was the international conference "Italian identity between Europe and multicultural society", held in Siena in partnership with the Santa Clara University School of Siena.

Many authors have treated the subject of Italian identity and indicated values, symbols, myths, characters, behaviors, imaginary places, foods,gestures, situations that they identify as being Italian. What of this remains unchanged, and what changes under the impact of European integration, the arrival of millions of immigrants and the processes of globalization of politics and economics? Is there a "hard core" of our national identity that persists despite external influences so numerous and invasive? What image of Italy, realistic and not rhetoric, can we present to those approaching us from abroad today?

The Intercultura Foundation is particularly interested in these themes as it promotes international exchanges of young people to favor intercultural education, so the issue of cultural identity is particularly important.

Speakers: Laura Balbo, Ulderico Bernardi, Remo Bodei, Omar Calabrese, Roberto Cartocci, Ida Castiglioni, Emanuela Cresti, Stefano Galli, Francesca Gobbo, Jeneviève Makaping, Susanna Mantovani, Massimo Moneglia, Nando Pagnoncelli, Massimo Palumbo, Stefano Palumbo, Chiara Saraceno, Lorenzo Scurati, Roberto Scarpinato, Suzanne Stewart-Steinberg, Roberto Toscano, Massimo Vedovelli, Gustavo Zagrebelsky.

The proceedings ara available HERE. Abstract here below.