Equality and Ideology in Changing Societies: Alumnus Davide Orsitto Presents New Book
On November 18th, John Cabot University hosted the launch of alumnus Davide Orsitto’s first book, Varieties of Equality in European Welfare States: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Redistribution (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2024). In the book, Dr. Orsitto analyzes equality through economic, political, and cultural lenses, to understand different countries’ interpretation of the principle. Dr. Orsitto, Class of 2016, is a government official at the Italian Presidency of the Council of Ministers and incoming Lecturer in Political Science at John Cabot University. The event was co-sponsored by JCU’s Department of Political Science and Edward Elgar Publishing.
To expand the discussion around the book’s themes, the presentation featured a panel of experts: Professor Paolo Borioni (Sapienza University of Rome and the Istituto Italiano per gli Studi Germanici), Professor Stefan Collignon (London School of Economics and Political Science), and JCU Professor Michael Driessen, Director of the MA in International Affairs. The event was moderated by the author and JCU Professor Silvia Scarpa, Chair of the Department of Political Science and International Affairs.
The event was kicked off by Professor Scarpa, whose remarks emphasized how Varieties of Equality in European Welfare States brings a renewed focus to the principle of equality. She highlighted the book’s innovative perspective on how different societies pursue equality through various approaches, resulting in distinct economic structures.
Dr. Orsitto delivered a keynote presentation of his book’s findings, showing how individualist societies, chosen among 22 states members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), are on average associated with higher income redistributive efficiency. In particular, he noted that “the observed relationship calls for further exploration of the apparent paradox: societies that prioritize individual rights over collective well-being seem to be more efficient in income redistribution.”
The panel then explored key themes raised by the book. Professor Borioni examined the intricate equity-efficiency trade-off, arguing that equity does not inherently conflict with efficiency. Professor Collignon discussed the impact of rising public debt on the equity-efficiency dynamic, noting how this has led to the diminishing relevance of equality as a core objective in European welfare states.
Professor Driessen concluded the discussion by reflecting on the communitarian critique of individualism, highlighting the erosion of trust within communities and its implications for societal cohesion.
