1 Capitolo Why a white paper? 1. Today we are all living in a global environment that has become extraordinarily complex, difficult to understand and uncertain in its development. The 80’s of the last century ended with the conclusion of the historic period known as “bipolar confrontation” and with a new hope in the beginning of a global process toward peaceful coexistence, in which the international crises would have been resolved through the masterly use of diplomacy, economy and international organizations. 2. However, the following twenty years demonstrated that this was an optimistic forecast. In a very short space of time, stable areas of the world became the scene of horrendous atrocities and crimes against humanity, we believed had been buried forever. At the same time, crisis situations existing before the “Cold War” were rekindled and intensified, generating effects in neighbouring areas. The start of the process of globalization has brought wealth and development in many areas, but it has also created strong social disparities, transfers of wealth and productive tools. Aspirations towards democratic and participatory social models haves shaped a new generation of people, who have thus become aware of their traditions, rights and values, but it has started at the same time the resurgence of nationalism and conflicts based on intolerance, religion and competition for primary resources. The revolution started with IT and new technologies seemed to offer mankind the chance to obtain more from the planet, but it also has had to face a growing awareness of the difficulties involved in sustaining - 13 -