Mediterranean Strategy Group - The Human Dimension in Mediterranean Affairs

Welcome Reception and Dinner

Session I – The Human Dimension in the Mediterranean

Against a backdrop of stark economic disparities and dramatic security challenges, it is not surprising that questions of high politics, governance and strategy have dominated Mediterranean policy debates. But these issues also have a striking human dimension. From entrepreneurship and innovation at the level of civil society, to questions of personal security, tolerance and security of identity, much is happening at the micro, rather than the macro level – with implications for the future of the region and the interests of global stakeholders. In the spirit of Fernand Braudel and his analytic school, what are the key human facets of interaction across the Mediterranean today? What is important in the long view? How can contemporary developments be placed in the sweep of Mediterranean affairs?

Session II – Migration and Human Security

Economic pressures, conflict and insecurity are producing enormous migration pressures around and across the Mediterranean basin. Uncontrolled migration is affecting societies on both sides of the Mediterranean, and is intimately tied to the perceptions and behavior of individuals, often at some distance from Mediterranean shores. How are human security and dynamics inside societies being affected by the Mediterranean migration crisis? To what extent is this phenomenon structural and durable, and to what extent is it driven by specific circumstances? How will new patterns of mobility affect the outlook for an open and tolerant Mediterranean?

Session III – The Future of Mediterranean Cities

The Mediterranean world, north and south, is home to some of the world’s largest and most dynamic cities. From southern Europe to the Maghreb and the Levant, the politics, economy, environment and security of societies are being shaped by developments in cities. What are the leading challenges facing Mediterranean cities, north and south? What are the positive dynamics? What are the implications for cities as habitats, as well as drivers of development? Are there common experiences? Should there be common approaches?

Session IV – Over the Horizon – The Future for the Next Mediterranean Generation

From Southern Europe to North Africa and the Levant, societies are under stress. High unemployment rates threaten a hollowing-out of economies on both sides of the Mediterranean, and younger generations look north in search of opportunity. Conflict, chaos and political instability are imposing dramatic costs on Mediterranean societies, and these may become a semi-permanent condition. What are the prospects? What are the possible remedies and routes to recovery? What can Europe and the United States do, and are they likely to do it?

Concluding Remarks and Next Steps

Closing Reception and Dinner