Summer University 2024

Photos from the Summer University 2024

There are many reasons to worry about the current global situation; reasons pertaining to domestic matters –such as inflation, public debt, poor quality of many public services, tensions between various categories of the population, mismanagement of immigration – as well as to international matters – such as military conflicts, terrorism, global warming… As a result, a feeling of chaos prevails that can quickly lead to a withdraw into oneself, to rely on protectionism and a strong State, hence rejecting the principles that have prevailed during the centuries which took us out of poverty. The general purpose of the conference is to restate, in the light of current events, the principles of a liberal democracy, to carefully examine the policies that in the past and present times have helped avoid chaos and return to the path to prosperity, to illustrate the link between freedom, responsibility and the possibility of a creative order.

If philosophy and general reflection will have their say throughout these days, the orientation of the debates will be pragmatic, presenting and analyzing the experiences which have made it possible to improve things in sectors as varied as healthcare, education, agriculture, the environment, culture, energy, public finances, market dynamics, the use of digital technology and Artificial Intelligence or diplomacy.

Special attention will be given to institutional matters. To give ourselves every chance, we must put the principle of subsidiarity back at the heart of our institutional life. This means letting individuals explore new avenues together as much as possible — these are the experiences mentioned above. This also means leaving as much power as possible to local authorities: strong and responsible decentralization. This also has implication for the future of Europe.

Since 1978, Classical liberals from France and the four corners of Europe and the world—economists, historians, philosophers, jurists, teachers, students, professionals—have met in the city of Aix-en-Provence, welcomed by the splendid Faculty of Law. At a time when crises of all kinds seem to befall us and the social project that we have painfully developed seems threatened, it is essential to extend this tradition. The disorders we are experiencing are closely linked to the multiple attacks against our freedoms. The proof is that, when these are honored, chaos dissipates, the accounts are balanced, innovation and prosperity take over in all areas: environment, education, health, agriculture, AI, security, etc. and life in our societies is pacified. So, register now for 3 days of debates and discoveries, intellectual and humane.

July 11, 2024 19:00
Welcoming cocktail
Hotel Aquabella, Aix-en-Provence

Welcoming speeches by Prof. Pierre Garello and Dr. Jean-Philippe Delsol
Discours de bienvenue par Pierre Garello et Jean-Philippe Delsol

Keynote speech
Lord Syed Kamall
(Institute of Economic Affairs, former Member of the European Parliament, former Minister of HM Government)
"The challenges for classical liberals in the current political climate"
Speakers:
July 12, 2024 8:30
Coffee & Croissants
July 12, 2024 9:00
Welcoming address from the Dean of the Law School: Pr. Jean-Baptiste Perrier
July 12, 2024 9:10
Plenary session 1: The link between liberty and progress
How the West Grew Rich: Understanding the link between liberty and progress (Bernard Deforge, Carlo Stagnaro, Jean-Philippe Delsol)
Speakers:
- Carlo Stagnaro
  Research Director
- Jean-Philippe Delsol
  Lawyer and Think Tank President
July 12, 2024 10:20
Break
July 12, 2024 11:00
Plenary session 2 : Milei and the new direction taken in Argentina
Decrypting Argentina’s revolution and challenges (Emilio Ocampo, Gabriel Calzada, Nikolai Wenzel, Nathalie Janson)
Speakers:
July 12, 2024 12/30
Lunch break
Bâtiment Pouillon
July 12, 2024 14:00
Parallel Session : The road to freedom - Keys for success
Amphithéâtre DUMAS (ground floor)
(Check the French page for the french-speaking session)
Speakers:
July 12, 2024 15:45
Parallel Session : Paths forwards: case studies
Amphitheater DUMAS
(Check the French page for the french-speaking session)
Speakers:
- Matthew Lesh
  Director of Public Policy and Communications
- Jean-Claude Gruffat
  Chairman of the Competitive Enterprise Institute
July 12, 2024 17:00
Keynote : A constituional reform that bring us back on the road to freedom
Constitutional changes in Bulgaria : A victory for freedom and democracy
Speakers:
- Petar Ganev
  Senior Economist
July 12, 2024 19:00
Cocktail at the City-Hall
Honouring Professor Gérard Bramoullé
July 13, 2024 8:30
Coffee and Croissants
Bâtiment Pouillon
July 13, 2024 9:00
Plenary session 3: The subsidiarity principle in practice
The subsidiarity principle is there to guide us in allocating power in a democracy: who should have the right to do what? To favor regulation from the top is renaging on that principle. Fiscal federalism (letting lower level of government decide about taxation) on the contrary complies with the principle.
Speakers:
- Agnieszka Słomka-Gołębiowska
  Professor of Economics
- Jean-Philippe Feldman
  Lawyer and Professor
July 13, 2024 10:30
Plenary sessoin 4 : Freedom and the city - Order without design is a reality
The management of a city is often taken as clear case for planing and for restricting freedom. Is it so ? What if an orderly city could emerge from the absence of planing?
Speakers:
- Sanford Ikeda
  Professor Emeritus of Economics
- Alain Bertaud
  Urbanist, Senior Research Scholar
July 13, 2024 11:40
Plenary session 5 : Classical liberalism, tolerance and populism
Speakers:
- Nils Karlson
  Founding president & CEO
- Philippe Nemo
  Professor of Political and Social Philosophy
July 13, 2024 12:40
Lunch break
July 13, 2024 14:00
Parallel session : Freeing entrepreneurial spirit: AI, Climate change, cryptocurrencies
(See the French webpage for the parallel session in French)
Speakers:
July 13, 2024 15:45
Pleanry session 6 : 80th anniversary of "The Road to Serfdom" - How to share liberty in the 21st century
80 years ago, F.A. Hayek was able to create a new dynamics for classical liberal ideas with the publication of his book "The Road to Serfdom". Explaining how a liberal democracy would work is not always easy. What are the difficulties and how to overcome them.
Speakers:
July 13, 2024 17:00
Keynote speach : Advocacy for true decentralization
Speakers:
- David Lisnard
  Mayor
July 13, 2024 19:00
Closing Diner : Pavillon de Vendôme
The Pavillon Vendôme is a historic pavilion surrounded by a French formal garden located 32 rue Celony in Aix-en-Provence.