On February 24, 2025, the renowned Italian philosopher Massimo Cacciari appeared on the talk show ‘Otto e Mezzo’ to critique former President Donald Trump’s vision for what he calls the new world order. The discussion, led by Lilli Gruber, focused on the practicality and potential longevity of such an order imposed by any single nation.
Cacciari did not hold back, asserting, "Nessuno può sognarsi di imporre un nuovo ordine mondiale, chi lo pensa è un pazzo. Questo può nascere solo da un equilibrio multilaterale. Solo così si potrà evitare una guerra. Anche Trump, in fondo, ha cambiato visione. Lui non vuole fare un'egemonia americana." ("No one can dream of imposing a new world order, those who think so are crazy. It can only be born from multilateral balance. Only this can prevent war. Even Trump, after all, has changed his vision. He does not want to establish American hegemony.")
This strong statement challenged the notion of unilateral leadership, which he firmly believes to be counterproductive and dangerous. Cacciari emphasized the necessity of establishing conditions for global cooperation, insisting on the dangers of attempting to control global affairs through power plays.
The dialogue took an interesting turn when Giovanni Di Lorenzo, the director of Zeit, pointed out Trump’s lack of congratulatory remarks to Friedrich Merz after the latter’s electoral victory in Germany. Cacciari responded, acknowledging the oversight: "Eh va beh, ha detto che è una grande giornata per la Germania. Non si sarà complimentato, ma lo ha detto. Ma dai su." ("Well, he did say it’s a great day for Germany. He may not have congratulated him, but he said it. Come on!")
This exchange highlighted the complexity of Trump’s foreign interactions and their repercussions on European politics. Cacciari's insistence on the need for multilateralism was underscored by the broader political dynamics, which feature potentially conflicting visions for global governance.
The segment stirred significant emotions as Cacciari expressed frustration with the current political climate, particularly addressing what he termed the "sinistra del cavolo" or the ineffective leftist policies. He criticized the left’s failure to mount substantive criticisms of Trump's policies, saying, "la destra non si è rafforzata con Trump, forse perché c'è una sinistra del cavolo" ("the right has not strengthened under Trump, perhaps because there is a disappointing left"). This sentiment reflects his broader critique of contemporary political discourse, asserting the need for more substantial opposition to ineffective governance.
This lively debate on 'Otto e Mezzo' not only shed light on Cacciari's views but also posed significant questions about the future of international relations, particularly between the United States and Europe. How will leaders navigate these turbulent waters without resorting to authoritarian models? Can new alliances be formed without the imposition of one nation's will over others?
Throughout the conversation, Cacciari maintained his position grounded in philosophical tradition, advocating for diplomacy over hegemony as the key to global stability. His perspective serves as both a critique of current leadership and as a call to action for more thoughtful governance approaches.
With political dynamics shifting constantly, discussions like these on platforms such as ‘Otto e Mezzo’ will remain pivotal. The insights shared by figures like Massimo Cacciari provide audiences with the opportunity to understand and question the efficacy of current and future political strategies.
Looking forward, the growing conversation about multilateralism versus unilateralism may well dictate the course of global cooperation and conflict resolution. If world leaders are to take Cacciari’s words to heart, the future may hold more collaborative efforts aimed at maintaining peace rather than concentrating power.