Opening Conference with John Micklethwait
Tuesday September 29th
World Economics and Geopolitics: What We Have Learned from the Crisis and What Lies Ahead
Less than a year ago, the world was entering its most serious economic and financial crisis since the Great Depression. This even led to talks about the remoulding of capitalism. While positive economic indicators now point towards a recovery, will we retain the lessons learned from this economic saga and set the real economy on solid fundamental principles?
John Micklethwait will present us with his insights relating to the world economy, the problems which it has encountered and their future repercussions. A world authority on questions relating to globalisation and its impacts, Mr. Micklethwait has written many articles and several books on the subject. His most recent book, God Is Back, co-written with Adrian Wooldridge, discusses the new rise of faith and religion throughout the world, as well as the impacts of this phenomenon on the world economy, politics and culture.
With over a million copies published each week, The Economist is considered by many to be the most influential weekly review in the world. Recognized for the quality of its analyses, this publication covers current affairs throughout the world, paying particular attention to economics and international relations. Its circulation has increased continually over 26 consecutive years.
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Mr Michel Patry, Dean at HEC Montréal, will be moderator for this conference.
Mr. Micklethwait will kick off the forum with the opening conference on September 29th, from 5 pm, at the Sofitel Montréal Golden Mile Hotel, 1155 Sherbrooke Street West.
This presentation is open to forum participants as well as the general public.
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Henri de Montherlant (1895-1972), a renowned French novelist, playwright and essayist, who apparently sensed the coming of the “post-post-Christian” era, had a keen vision:
“And then, when this age also has vanished, as the Wheel turns we shall see a Christian era rise again. The Second Christianity, fresh and pure, washed in what? perhaps in its own blood, how beautiful to us it shall appear! how it shall have been missed! We, drenched in tears, shall welcome it. And it shall be true for a second time, as it was true then, as it had ceased to be since. … (How the Christianity created by those who loved it shall seem small compared to the Christianity recreated by those who persecuted it!) Shall we be there to ‘betray’ once more?” (Montherlant 962 ; trans. PAD)
“Et ensuite, quand cet âge aura disparu lui aussi, la Roue continuant de tourner nous verrons remonter un âge chrétien. Le second christianisme, frais et pur, lavé dans quoi? peut-être dans son sang, comme il nous paraîtra beau! comme il nous aura manqué! Nous l’accueillerons avec des sanglots. Et il sera vrai une seconde fois, tel qu’il fut vrai à son aurore, tel que depuis il avait cessé de l’être. … (Que le christianisme créé par ceux qui l’aimaient semblera alors peu de chose auprès du christianisme recréé par ses persécuteurs!) Serons-nous là pour ‘trahir’ encore une fois?”
These beautiful lines express their author’s deep assurance that the maturity of the world is a work in progress. In reality it has been in progress since responsibility was assigned to humanity from Genesis onward. Consequently, even as we acknowledge we have made giant strides toward maturity, it seems inevitable many more years of debate will be needed before the present state of turmoil settles “out of religion” into the stability of faith. The world’s emotional quotient is discouragingly slow to develop.
Regards,
Pierre-André Duchemin
McGill