Soft power and Italy’s role in geopolitical changes

«Italian soft power is having a Capitol in Washington, one in India, designed by Le Corbusier, and others from Honolulu to Alaska as well. The practice of soft power and Italy’s role in geopolitical changes pass through culture, cinema and creative businesses, industry and Made in Italy, fashion, agri-food. Sometimes we think of ourselves as a smaller nation than we are.” Francesco Rutelli said this during the introduction to the conference held in Rome entitled “The Soft Power of Italy”, organized by the Soft Power Club of which he is president. “I don’t think there can be any solution to global and supranational challenges, let’s think of climate change, without sharing the truth of the facts and without a functioning, effective multilateralism”, Rutelli said again, adding that, at the same time, “the soft power expresses another concept, that of the interest of nations, always within a desire for international collaboration». «Today we deal with the Italian national interest through this powerful and indispensable key to understanding and initiative. In an increasingly complicated and difficult world – concluded Rutelli. There is an Italian national interest that we must have the ability to share, grow and affirm in the world». The European Minister for Economic Affairs, Paolo Gentiloni, also spoke on the subject, explaining that “last year the value of exports to non-European Union countries increased by 20%, reaching a record figure of 295 billion”. «In tourism – says Gentiloni – we have another extraordinary soft power tool. After a recovery in 2022, a record number of arrivals and presences is expected for this year and here too the resources of Next Generation Eu can give a further boost to the country’s tourist offer”, added Gentiloni. “In this new geopolitical context, Italy can be the protagonist of a complete European renaissance,” concluded Gentiloni. For Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano, «Culture is the most important dimension that Italy can project into the world. Let’s build the Italian imagination».