Calendar

The depth of the economic and financial crisis is a real threat to our security, and poses questions and doubts about the models for development in all developed countries. The problems facing the United States have never been so serious since the Great Depression; as never before, the world is beginning to fear that the Americans are no longer able to solve these problems.

In this context, the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States was an important new factor in the equation, and it was hoped that his presidency would be a catalyst for change. The new challenge for the United States had begun.

Alessandro Carrera
professor of Italian and comparative literature at the University of Houston, contributes to major periodicals and newspapers in Italy and the United States. He has published numerous essays, collections of poems and novels, including La voce di Bob Dylan, Una spiegazione dell’America (Bob Dylan’s Voice, An Explanation of America) (2001), La vita meravigliosa dei laureati in lettere (The Wonderful Life of Literature Graduates) (2002), I poeti sono impossibili  (Poets Are Impossible) (2005, Bertolucci Prize, 2006), L’America al bivio della democrazia (America at the Crossroads of Democracy) (2008) and, with Filippo La Porta, Il dovere della felicità (The Duty of Happiness) (2000). Carrera has also translated a number of Graham Greene’s novels, as well as prose and songs by Bob Dylan.

Guido Moltedo
journalist, has for many years followed American politics, and is currently head of foreign relations for the daily paper “Europa”.  He has also been assistant director of “Il Manifesto”,  and has contributed to “Le Monde Diplomatique”  and to the “Harvard International Journal of Press/Politics”.  Moltedo has published L’altra America. Kerry e la nuova frontiera (The Other America. Kerry and the New Frontier) (2004) and, with Marilisa Palumbo, Barack Obama. La rockstar della politica americana (Barack Obama. The Rockstar of American Politics) (2007) and Barack Obama, 44° presidente USA (Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States) (2008).