I am convinced that with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions we will witness an unprecedented global democratic crisis. Italy is one of the first countries having to deal with this.
The Belpaese has seen several protesters manifesting in its squares since the launch of the second phase in tackling the pandemic. They all aim at “sending home” the current Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. These demonstrations have often been led by extremist figures.
As always, I believe that education is key: I am convinced that educating people is equal to make them happy, and being happy is a matter of education.
With the unconditional lockdown of schools, but above all with the closure of all public universities until further notice we are witnessing the cultural pauperization of an entire generation.
Only private universities will survive, with adequate economic and technological means, but even them reduced in their abilities.
Italy is the cradle of culture, its public university system has traditionally shaped remarkable minds, appreciated all over the world. Not to say that Bologna is the siège of the oldest university in the world, while the Salerno Medical School is one of the predecessors of modern academia, not by chance.
This must be safeguarded at all costs. It’s okay to reopen factories, hairdressers, shops, professional studios, but let’s reopen our universities now. Culture is Italy’s DNA; only from this can we start again. Culture is happiness, and… virtuous democracy.
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