London, March 5, 2025 – During the visit of Senator for Life Mario Monti to the British capital, and in light of his close friendship with British journalist Martin Wolf, the Residence of the Italian Embassy hosted a high-profile dialogue between two of the most brilliant and authoritative voices in the international economic landscape. The event provided an opportunity to reflect on the relationship between liberal democracy and Western capitalism, as well as the ties between the European Union and the United Kingdom—topics explored in Monti and Wolf’s latest books, Demagonia: Where the Politics of Illusions Leads and The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism, respectively.
During the conversation, Senator Monti analyzed the international geopolitical landscape, highlighting the restructuring of the global order. He emphasized that the reconsideration of the United States’ role in Europe could create a power vacuum but also present opportunities. He also noted that despite Brexit, the UK and the European Union share natural points of convergence on various issues, which could lead to a renewed closeness between London and Brussels.
Martin Wolf examined the complex relationship between democracy and capitalism, emphasizing how economic difficulties have influenced public perception of the capitalist system. His remarks underscored both the vulnerabilities of democratic capitalism and its crucial role in fostering economic growth and civil liberties. According to Wolf, democracy and capitalism are deeply interconnected, each shaping and influencing the other.
The discussion sparked a lively debate among attendees, highlighting the relevance of the issues addressed and the strong interest in further exploring the dynamics of today’s political and economic landscape.
Mario Monti is an Italian economist and politician. A Senator for Life since 2011, he served as Prime Minister of Italy from 2011 to 2013. He was President of Bocconi University from 1994 to 2022 and previously held positions as European Commissioner for the Internal Market (1995–1999) and for Competition (1999–2004).
Martin Wolf CBE is a renowned British economic journalist and the chief economics commentator at the Financial Times. He contributes to leading international publications, including Le Monde, and has received numerous awards throughout his career, including the Ischia International Journalism Award and the Gerald Loeb Lifetime Achievement Award.
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