Manuel Castells suggests that Occupy-type and Arab Spring movements are valid because they are not transforming into normal political parties or structures. For Castells, this is not a weakness; it’s their strength.
Movements of Left and Right, Capitalism, Communism have all disappointed, and the traditional link between ‘government & the people’ has been replaced by that of ‘private investors & government’. The social contract that informed the development of the European dream is seemingly in tatters.
Populists and large segments of the mass media conspire to force us into acquiescence: "There is not enough to go around, others are exploiting our generosity and henceforth we can only support 'our' people." 
This adventurous working group explores the possible building blocks of a new political-economic-social model (green movements and sustainability dependent on cross-sector synergies which create new paradigms...; social models that build consensus within very small communities...; the younger generation...) and asks the question “How can we in the arts sector help build trust, faith in our neighbours, and dependability back into our societies?”

Moderator:
Nelson Fernandez (NFA International Arts and Culture - London, UK)