Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has outlined her plan to save the West from “inevitable decline” at the Atlantic Council Global Citizen Awards in New York.
According to Meloni, the West faces two main challenges: internal decline through Oikophobia – described as Western self-hatred – and arrogance, which may lead to the West becoming “less of a credible interlocutor”.
“As the West, I think we have two risks to counter. The first is what one of the greatest contemporary European philosophers, Roger Scruton, called oikophobia. Oikophobia is the aversion to one’s home. A mounting contempt which leads us to want to violently erase the symbols of our civilisation, in the U S as in Europe,” she said on September 23.
In a 15-minute acceptance speech, Meloni attempted to provide solutions to those problems, focusing on patriotism and claiming back global leadership.
“We should not be ashamed to use and defend words and concepts like Nation and Patriotism,” she said.
“Patriotism is the best response to declinism. Defending our deep roots is the precondition for reaping ripe fruit,” Meloni added.
According to the Italian PM, the way for the West to reclaim leadership was via its relationship with the Global South – giving the example of the “Mattei Plan for Africa”. That plan is designed to strengthen Italy’s role in Africa through energy security and economic projects.
She strongly advocated for the defence of Western values, rejecting the idea that those values should be viewed with shame. Instead, Meloni framed them as universal principles that should unite and inspire pride.
The Atlantic Council Global Citizen Awards, presented on September 23, served as recognition of her “pivotal roles in NATO, the European Union and the transatlantic alliance” but also helped her stamp her authority as a Western leader.
“As a politician, you have two options: being a leader or a follower, to point a course or not, to act for the good of your people, or to act only driven by polls. Well, my ambition is to lead and not to follow,” she stated.
In the event, Meloni also relinked ties with US Conservative voices such as tech billionaire Elon Musk — who endorsed US presidential hopeful Donald Trump.
The tech CEO introduced Meloni at the event, praising the Italian leader for “being authentic, honest and thoughtful”.
The Italian leader was appreciative: “I am also deeply grateful to Elon Musk for his words of appreciation and for having presented me with the award,” she said on social media.
È stato per me un grande orgoglio ricevere questo illustre riconoscimento, per cui ringrazio tutto l’Atlantic Council. Sono anche profondamente grata a @elonmusk per le sue parole di stima e per avermi consegnato il premio. pic.twitter.com/fnnzXpgJiS
— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) September 24, 2024
