Mediterranean Resources
The Mediterranean represents a strong chain, made up of infinite cultural and economic relations. Cronache Mediterranee, as an international newspaper, analyzes all the crucial aspects concerning the Mediterranean area.
For example, there is a reality that deserves great attention, such as the Institute of Mediterranean Studies, which studies the dynamics and nature of the growth and development processes of the countries in the area in a detailed manner. The research activities of the Institute are based on some fundamental thematic axes which, enhance the scientific skills of the Institute, aim to describe different aspects of the Mediterranean countries through:
the analysis of the development processes and of the regional dualism that sees the functional dependence between poor and rich areas opposing and persisting; the comparative and prospective analysis of governance processes, the formation processes of institutions and their functioning in the European and Euro-Mediterranean context; the study of the territory, the environment and the landscape as factors of development and stability; the study of commercial flows and logistics; the study of migration and socio-cultural phenomena.
The director of the Institute of Mediterranean Studies, Salvatore Capasso, speaks exclusively on Cronache Mediterranee. Director Salvatore Capasso, what objectives did your Institute achieve in 2020?
The Institute of Mediterranean Studies is a research institute of the CNR, and as such it aims to contribute to the development of knowledge on topics related to the Mediterranean. Given the exquisitely human sciences skills, ISMed researchers focus on issues often linked to the socio-economic emergencies of the Area: lack of development, growth in inequalities, environmental problems, migrations, are just some of the fundamental issues that ISMed face up. The mission is to contribute to research on these issues with the aim of suggesting to policy makers the implementation of adequate and efficient policies. During 2020, ISMed researchers have proposed dozens and dozens of articles and volumes on a vast set of topics, also working for government institutions of the territories. In a few weeks, the Report on the Economies of the Mediterranean will be published for the first time in English, which for almost two decades has offered an in-depth overview of the political and socio-economic conditions of the economies of the Basin. The latter, among others, represents a product of research on the international scene which is a point of reference for those who deal with the Mediterranean.
What do you think is the greatest quality in the Mediterranean?
The Mediterranean is an area of great diversity and differences. Economies of the north shore, with higher per capita incomes and stagnant demographic growth, contrast with younger and lower per capita income per capita economies. These differences represent opportunities for growth and prosperity for the whole Area. In fact, it is from these disparities that trade and human capital flows are nourished, which can increase productivity and growth not only in the countries of destination, but also in those of origin.
In your opinion, does Italy still play an important role in the Mediterranean?
With the doubling of the Suez Canal and the development of the new TAP pipeline, the Mediterranean is again central to Europe, and also to large economies such as China and the United States. Italy, which geographically places itself at the center of this area, can play a crucial role not only economically but also politically.