The United States and Europe are divided, new players are taking centre stage on the world stage, and liberal institutions are struggling. Is the prophecy made a century ago coming true? A bit of history and a few ideas to ward off the decline foretold by Oswald Spengler

It is not a class in the strict sense and does not lead; if anything, it represents. How it is composed (it is not made up solely of politicians and government officials) and how it functions, in Italy and in a democracy. Rereading Burke and Tocqueville, Croce and Nitti

Hybrid wars, the challenge of climate change, the expansion of global spheres of influence, and new digital powers with no public roots. All the risks of an unstable present and the erosion of mature democracies

The roots of the love-hate relationship with the Union. The founding idea, the project, the community based on the rule of law, administrative integration. And the lack of political will to turn it into a federal state. Scenarios in the light of new challenges

Internal organisational developments, the major transitions currently underway and the digital challenge are forcing public administrations to change as well. The value of continuity and the need to embrace innovation. The lesson from Max Weber

Their growth, in terms of size and importance, coincides with the weakening of the state, the migration revolution and large-scale urbanisation. The strengths and challenges of capital cities, ‘megacities’ and global cities. A geographer’s perspective