Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli is one of the major European centres of research and documentation in the fields of history, political science, economics and social scien-ces, with particular emphasis on the history of ideas, political cultures and democratic movements in the framework of globalization related phenomena. In recent years, Fon-dazione Feltrinelli has established fruitful collaborations with numerous research centres of excellence all over the world (e.g. Paris Institute of Political Studies, Harvard University, London School of Economics, Yale University, Columbia University), as well as with the most brilliant interpreters of our time: Amartya Sen, Marc Augé, Joseph Stiglitz, Jeremy Rifkin, Muhammad Yunus just to name a few.
Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli is now launching the call for proposals for the second edition of the FeltrinelliCamp that is a two-day immersive workshop that will be held in Milan on 15th -16th March, 2019. After the first edition, which was dedicated to the phenomenon of urban transformation, in the 2019 edition we will move the attention on the concept of capitalism and globalization and their consequences on the economy, society and environment. In this framework, Feltrinelli Foundation encou-rages junior researchers and practitioners from different fields of study to apply for the participation at the FeltrinelliCamp in order to foster the dialogue and the analysis on such key topics by exploring their impacts on society, economy and people.
The FeltrinelliCamp is organized in collaboration with national and international univer-sities and research centres, as well as with institutional partners that are members of the research and stakeholder network established and coordinated by Fondazione Feltrinelli.
Rationale
Ten years of economic crisis suggest that a critical reading of the global economic system of globalization is needed and urgent: indeed, the term “crisis” itself is to be considered misleading and insufficient. The multiple unsustainabilities (economic, social, envi-ronmental, political…) of the modern capitalist system seem in fact a physiologic feature and not something pathological of an otherwise smoothly functioning model.
It is thus necessary to bring the analysis more in depth, and towards the structural characters of the system.
Within its research activities this year (“Stagione Capitale 2018-19”) Fondazione Gian-giacomo Feltrinelli has been trying to focus on the agents that shape the global system: setting the rules, putting up resistances against it, generating a dialectic relationship in which different forces encounter/clash between each other, with eventual outcomes that remain still largely unexplored.
This effort towards an actual rethinking of capitalism is too big a challenge to be enclo-sed in the theoretical realm: the practice of alternative societal life is a pivotal element of this challenge, and it is crucial to understand the way in which people experience this challenge in their daily life. The FeltrinelliCamp is thus conceived as an encompassing meeting, gathering thoughts and concrete experiences, singling out best practices, fostering active learning and network building between agents committed to a different cohabitation with our Planet, so that we can all together imagine ways to shape a better future by building on the most inno-vative research ideas as well as on the competencies of the partners promoting the initiative, as ENI.
The Feltrinelli Camp workshop will be inspired by a fundamental ideal framework and - to some extent - goal: theorizing and putting into practice a shift from globalization to humanization, that is redirecting the modern economic system from an unsustainable form of globalization to a model which has the human being at its forefront. In this sense, politics will also find its space within the Camp, as from the fruitful gathering of international experiences a set of policy recommendations and proposals will also emerge.
Background
The new Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli, opened its new premises build by architects Herzog & de Meuron in the center of Milan in December 2016, was founded with the specific aim to become a platform of debate among different areas, domains and players, a network of contacts, inspirations and constructive listening.
Since 1949, the Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli has been actively promoting a pas-sionate investigation on issues at the core of the contemporary debate, combining re-search reflections with resources of its own heritage, in order to provide suggestions, images, words and new tools for a possible future.
Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli research focus is on the exploration of citizenship features, particularly looking at dynamics related to:
•European citizenship
Contents, topics, images and words of an unfinished project currently experiencing a profound transformation. The inclusive social and cultural practices within the context where these practices spring and consolidate, triggering the process of construction of the contemporary European citizenship.
• Globalization and sustainability
The need to rethink the pivots of the modern global capitalist system, as the crisis has highlighted the multiple unsustainabilities of globalization. The analysis of development as a broad concept also encompassing the innovation of techniques, the awareness of personal responsibility in collective actions, the creation of a shared idea of well-being in order to enhance the quality of life of everyone.
• Political innovation
Topics related to new forms of representation and citizens’ participation to public life, with specific reference to the crisis of political parties and the origin of new movements.
• Future of work
The new economies and future job positions in a period where the link between growth and employment is becoming weaker and weaker. Changes in the economic domain and in the productive and social systems that outline a new relationship between life quality and work.
Objectives
The overall objective of the workshop is to promote high quality scientific exchanges among junior researchers and practitioners with different scientific/disciplinary backgrounds and from diverse geographical contexts working on issues and projects relating to the analysis of the global socio-economic system. This immersive workshop will provide the opportunity to share experiences and initiate new scientific collaborations and partnerships.
The specific objective is to establish a long-term international network of young profiles collaborating on relevant topics of common interest under the auspices of Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli. The Camp is inspired by the awareness that the global system has reached a threshold made of multiple unsustainabilities: at this point, a com-plex and multi-faceted rethinking of the global society is urgent and unavoidable, and we expect the participants to the FeltrinelliCamp to share this urge of civic commitment.
Presentations
Therefore, presentations should fit into the general frame of ‘From globalization to huma-nization: rethinking capitalism and good practices to tackle its unsustainabilities’. Building on their specific field of expertise, junior researchers and practitioners are meant to deal with the major issues embedded within the general frame. We expect one (or more) of the following research questions to be addressed within each presentation in the framework of the main themes addressed by the FeltrinelliCamp and captured by the table below.
i. Which are the alternatives to capitalism and to globalization and which role can they play in the promotion of a real economic democracy?
ii. What are “the markets”, how do they exercise their influence on democratic institutions, and which dialectic dynamics may develop between the former and the latter in the European context and elsewhere?
iv. Who are the promoters of new economic models based on cooperation and social innovation? What are their features? Which are the conditions of institutional innovation enabling these new experiences?
v. How our current production and consumption models can be diverted and reshaped towards the sustainability paradigm? Whose is this responsibility?
Each theme will be reflected by a public plenary session with keynote speakers.
In a friendly, collaborative environment presenters will provide an overview of their rese-arch topic and approach. This aims to foster discussion about the context and implica-tions of their work with colleagues in similar fields. Debate on emerging issues will feed ideas, feedback and expertise-sharing for programming further collaboration, presenting international case studies and sharing best practices.
Workshop Structure
The workshop will last two full days.
The selected profiles will be divided in working groups on specific topics according to their materials. They will have the opportunity to present their research, projects and work interests, promoting mutual knowledge, enhancing scientific interchange and exploring perspectives for common research work. They will look at potential future partnerships, projects, collaborations on training programs, organization of international conferences/workshops, exchange opportunities, publications, joint proposals for inter-national projects.
A coordinator will lead each working group and a rapporteur will draft a summary featuring the main outputs of the discussion.
International keynote speakers will deliver lectures and take part to round tables.
Proposals
Submitted proposals for researchers must include
• contact information: name, academic degree, position title, organization, address, telephone, email;
• a short bio (max 500 words);
• a motivation letter (max 1000 words);
• presentation title;
• short project description (up to 2.000 words) including:
- an original scientific elaboration of a specific thematic focus relevant to the above mentioned topics;
- a reasoned selection of one or more evidence-based case studies and/or best practices;
- a dissemination plan to be implemented with the aim of sharing the proposed contents.
A multidisciplinary profile will be considered as an additional asset.
Proposals must be submitted by e-mail no later than 15th February: feltrinellicamp@gmail.com
Selection of proposals
An international scientific committee will be responsible for selecting up to 100 proposals. In order to promote the multidisciplinary character of the network, a limited numbers of researchers per topic will be accepted.
Working language
English
Eligibility
Researchers, postdocs, PhD students, practitioners, professionals, journalists (under 38 years old) can apply.
Financial support
Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli will offer a reimbursement up to €250 to cover part/total travel costs as well as part /total accommodation costs in Milan.
Reward
The most relevant proposals will be selected for a Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli publication as an output of the workshop. Moreover, authors of the best contributions will collaborate with Fondazione G. Giacomo Feltrinelli’s research staff to the planning of the next Fondazione’s season of research and public activities (2019/2020).
Venue
The workshop will be held in Milan, at the Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli,
Viale Pasubio 5, Milano 20154.