Development at the Forefront: Rethinking Priorities in a Changing World
For a long time, development has been a top priority for the modern state, alongside employment and investment. However, despite the passage of time, little progress has been made until the outbreak of the revolution 15 years ago. This popular reaction, although not well thought out, was a kind of revenge for the marginalized and forgotten regions where development work had been neglected for years.
The Press: A Call for Change
We have come to believe that socio-economic plans, once adopted with enthusiasm, have ultimately led to anarchism, informality, and a rent-based economy in recent years. Although the idea of a new alternative development model has long been debated, no concrete project has been implemented.
Rethinking Development in a Changing World
The theme "Rethinking development in an unstable and rapidly changing regional and international context" will be at the center of the 32nd annual summer university, to be held from 12 to 14 of this month in Hammamet, organized by the Mohamed Ali El Hammi Foundation in collaboration with the CGTT (General Confederation of Tunisian Workers) and the MOSC (Citizen Social Movement).
Challenges and Strategic Stakes
This event aims to propose a citizen alternative and a relevant tool for change, with the goal of redistributing the fruits of growth equitably and promoting a climate of investment that generates employment. To achieve this, it is essential to diagnose the current state of affairs and avoid repeating past mistakes. The same causes produce the same effects, and previous choices have failed due to financial imbalances and the regression of the state's role in favor of a market logic that has not been followed by a dynamic private sector.
New Challenges and Paradigms
The evolution of investment and employment indicators has been negatively impacted, and the world has changed with globalization. Additional challenges include climate hazards, the new ecological charter, digitalization, and energy transition. These challenges and strategic stakes are crucial in redefining our development paradigms and rectifying our social model. "We have entered a completely new geopolitical context, and the world is changing," according to the event's press release.
A New World Order
A new world order is emerging, marked by geopolitical mutations and a new economic landscape. The climate and ecological context threaten the survival of the planet, particularly in economically modest regions such as Africa and our region. Decarbonization has become an imperative, and the transition to clean and renewable energy is a forced passage.
Questioning the Energy Transition
However, some observers question the possibility of an energy transition, arguing that there has never been one and that it is unlikely to happen in the foreseeable future. Despite this, it is essential to continue exploring alternatives.
Four Panels to Address the Challenges
The summer university will feature four panels to address the question of rethinking development:
- Why think about development differently today?
- Economic, environmental, and geopolitical challenges as levers for development
- Thinking globally and acting locally, with a re-reading of national collective memory
- MOSC and its social and societal role
These panels will provide a framework for discussing the challenges and opportunities of rethinking development in a changing world. The event aims to produce a synthesis of recommendations to better meet the requirements of the current and future stages.
