The Tocqueville Conversations on “The Future of Nations” were held on June 28 and 29, under the aegis of Alexis de Tocqueville at Tocqueville Château.
This event was a great success with 200 guests from many countries of the world, gathered in this “little corner of isolated land, lost in the hedges and meadows of our Normand bocage”, as Tocqueville wrote in his time about his beloved region.
The Château de Tocqueville was the scene of lively exchanges. We wanted to address the crisis of democracy from a different perspective, by focusing our gaze on « The Future of Nations ». For years, nations seemed condemned to become ever weaker. The nation was a dying concept, destined to melt away. The emergence of supranational institutions and transnational structures undermined the very sovereignty of the nation states. Nations, however, seem to be making a comeback these days as the « Home to defend » from the disruption of globalization. We need look no further than the America First, Italy First, and « Brexit » Movements for confirmation. Nations are suddenly being seen as a protective structure in a world where nothing seems stable.
Our purpose, therefore, was to evaluate the relevance of nations in tackling the multiple challenges facing our democracies, giving a special focus to the big issue of the moment, immigration and borders. Coming just after the results of the European elections, this concern was particularly relevant. We also devoted attention to the role of nations in the international system, and the limits to that role, in our new and growingly abrasive multipolar world. We intended to take a special look at the relationship between nations and global business. We also addressed the relevance of the Western world and the transatlantic relationship, as their position and democratic systems are becoming more and more challenged by rising authoritarian regimes, most notably China.
If you want to read more about the event:
- http://premium.lefigaro.fr/vox/conversations-tocqueville-l-avenir-des-nations-au-coeur-des-debats-20190630
- http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/conversations-tocqueville-une-trentaine-d-intellectuels-ont-debattu-du-futur-des-nations-20190629
- http://premium.lefigaro.fr/vox/societe/dans-un-monde-qui-bascule-penser-le-grand-retour-des-nations-20190627
To watch videos about the event:
- http://video.lefigaro.fr/figaro/video/jean-guillaume-de-tocqueville-la-nation-revient-car-les-gens-ont-besoin-d-une-raison-commune/6053518844001/
- http://video.lefigaro.fr/figaro/video/laure-mandeville-il-y-a-une-volonte-de-voir-les-politiques-sortir-de-l-impuissance/6053811406001/
- http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/conversations-tocqueville-une-trentaine-d-intellectuels-ont-debattu-du-futur-des-nations-20190629