Will the enthusiasm for “expertise” in government really usher us into a new political era?
Expertise. A recurring term in political debates following the elections of 25 September as well as, of course, in discussions pertaining the economic and entrepreneurial world, currently struggling amidst geopolitical shocks, energy, inflation, post-pandemic issues, the recession. We need “expert” ministers. We need “urgent decisions and solid expertise” to face the crisis. We need to make the most of “knowledge and expertise” to provide effective responses to the various emergencies and build sturdy development prospects.
Finally.
Indeed, the government led by Mario Draghi had already shown, with great clarity, how relevant expertise and international credibility are in order to restore a high level of confidence, especially for Italy, which other European countries have traditionally looked at with a critical attitude. It acted with political intelligence and technical skill, efficiently implementing PNRR (the Italian recovery and resilience plan) projects and intervening on concrete issues, thus also demonstrating how important it is to hold together political values and expertise with regards to possible problems and solutions. And then, it was prematurely brought down – a poor decision, of course, right when the various crises we face are getting worse.
That’s how the story went, in any case. People have expressed their preference and voted centre-right (i.e. those political parties that cast doubts on Draghi as an “expert”), and, due to the strong majority of votes, those are the MPs and senators who hold the most power in Parliament. Yet, their leader Giorgia Meloni is now the one who’s loudly calling for “expertise”.
We should really take her at her word.
Meloni has also urged, showing some responsibility, a dialogue with “social organisations” (i.e. entrepreneurial associations, trade unions, social and cultural institutions, etc.). An interesting step, after such a long period of time marked by political powers that seemed to court “disintermediation”, favouring a direct link between leader and “the people”, blaring propaganda on TV or social media and very little patience for proper critical debate.
“Let’s welcome this focus on social organisations. We expect the new government to listen to us concerning issues such as employment, industrial investments, economic development, issues in which we are, indeed, experts”, answered Giorgio Marsiaj, President of the Unione Industriali di Torino (Industrial Union of Turin, during the association’s assembly (just to mention one of the many Confindustria meetings scheduled over these days).
Will an awareness of the gravity of the crisis and the need to find adequate answers to the deep economic and social unease lead to a new era of “record expertise”? We’ll see. Let’s hope so.
The pandemic had the merit to show us how groundless the rash rabble-rousing motto of “uno vale uno” (“one is worth one”) and mocking scientists, economists, cultural personalities, “experts” really are (despite the flourishing of conspiracy theorists and lovers of fake news). Now, too, we can no longer accept that issues such as energy shortcomings and inflation, war and environment, should be treated as if the decisions concerned were the result of some bar room chatter.
The right to free expression and speech is, of course, a fundamental one in a democratic country. After which, decisions should be made by those who have been elected to represent the people, applying some “expertise” – this is no longer a time for “mediocracy”, far from it.
This is also well explained by Lorenzo Codogno, professor at the London School of Economics and Giampaolo Galli, vice-director of the Osservatorio sui Conti Pubblici, Italy’s public finances watchdog, and professor at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore of Milan in Crescita economica e meritocrazia – Perché l’Italia spreca i suoi talenti e non cresce (Economic growth and meritocracy – Why Italy is wasting its talents and can’t achieve growth), recently published by Il Mulino. In order to take on international competition, in such struggling global markets, “we should have focused on research and the enhancement of talent. Instead, more in general and except for a handful of exporting manufacturing companies, when it comes to employment and career, merits have been pushed aside by favouritism and political endorsement”
This old practice, according to the two economists, concerns all areas of society: universities, public administration, the political and judiciary spheres, local health authorities, the job market and even the appointment of managers in the financial sector.
The Constitution, which asserts that “the capable and deserving” should be rewarded, has also been pushed aside, and a large part of the most capable and enterprising young people go abroad to find better work and life conditions.
Economy and society are in decline.
How do we get out of this? Relevant advice could fill up entire libraries, yet rewarding merit and personal and professional skills, stimulating initiative and fostering competencies, passion, commitment and culture, rather than corporations and cronyism, sounds like the best way to go.
As such, will all this talk about “expertise” from the new government, lead to good results?
Expertise. A recurring term in political debates following the elections of 25 September as well as, of course, in discussions pertaining the economic and entrepreneurial world, currently struggling amidst geopolitical shocks, energy, inflation, post-pandemic issues, the recession. We need “expert” ministers. We need “urgent decisions and solid expertise” to face the crisis. We need to make the most of “knowledge and expertise” to provide effective responses to the various emergencies and build sturdy development prospects.
Finally.
Indeed, the government led by Mario Draghi had already shown, with great clarity, how relevant expertise and international credibility are in order to restore a high level of confidence, especially for Italy, which other European countries have traditionally looked at with a critical attitude. It acted with political intelligence and technical skill, efficiently implementing PNRR (the Italian recovery and resilience plan) projects and intervening on concrete issues, thus also demonstrating how important it is to hold together political values and expertise with regards to possible problems and solutions. And then, it was prematurely brought down – a poor decision, of course, right when the various crises we face are getting worse.
That’s how the story went, in any case. People have expressed their preference and voted centre-right (i.e. those political parties that cast doubts on Draghi as an “expert”), and, due to the strong majority of votes, those are the MPs and senators who hold the most power in Parliament. Yet, their leader Giorgia Meloni is now the one who’s loudly calling for “expertise”.
We should really take her at her word.
Meloni has also urged, showing some responsibility, a dialogue with “social organisations” (i.e. entrepreneurial associations, trade unions, social and cultural institutions, etc.). An interesting step, after such a long period of time marked by political powers that seemed to court “disintermediation”, favouring a direct link between leader and “the people”, blaring propaganda on TV or social media and very little patience for proper critical debate.
“Let’s welcome this focus on social organisations. We expect the new government to listen to us concerning issues such as employment, industrial investments, economic development, issues in which we are, indeed, experts”, answered Giorgio Marsiaj, President of the Unione Industriali di Torino (Industrial Union of Turin, during the association’s assembly (just to mention one of the many Confindustria meetings scheduled over these days).
Will an awareness of the gravity of the crisis and the need to find adequate answers to the deep economic and social unease lead to a new era of “record expertise”? We’ll see. Let’s hope so.
The pandemic had the merit to show us how groundless the rash rabble-rousing motto of “uno vale uno” (“one is worth one”) and mocking scientists, economists, cultural personalities, “experts” really are (despite the flourishing of conspiracy theorists and lovers of fake news). Now, too, we can no longer accept that issues such as energy shortcomings and inflation, war and environment, should be treated as if the decisions concerned were the result of some bar room chatter.
The right to free expression and speech is, of course, a fundamental one in a democratic country. After which, decisions should be made by those who have been elected to represent the people, applying some “expertise” – this is no longer a time for “mediocracy”, far from it.
This is also well explained by Lorenzo Codogno, professor at the London School of Economics and Giampaolo Galli, vice-director of the Osservatorio sui Conti Pubblici, Italy’s public finances watchdog, and professor at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore of Milan in Crescita economica e meritocrazia – Perché l’Italia spreca i suoi talenti e non cresce (Economic growth and meritocracy – Why Italy is wasting its talents and can’t achieve growth), recently published by Il Mulino. In order to take on international competition, in such struggling global markets, “we should have focused on research and the enhancement of talent. Instead, more in general and except for a handful of exporting manufacturing companies, when it comes to employment and career, merits have been pushed aside by favouritism and political endorsement”
This old practice, according to the two economists, concerns all areas of society: universities, public administration, the political and judiciary spheres, local health authorities, the job market and even the appointment of managers in the financial sector.
The Constitution, which asserts that “the capable and deserving” should be rewarded, has also been pushed aside, and a large part of the most capable and enterprising young people go abroad to find better work and life conditions.
Economy and society are in decline.
How do we get out of this? Relevant advice could fill up entire libraries, yet rewarding merit and personal and professional skills, stimulating initiative and fostering competencies, passion, commitment and culture, rather than corporations and cronyism, sounds like the best way to go.
As such, will all this talk about “expertise” from the new government, lead to good results?