By Invitation Only

“Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.”

William Butler Yeats
    - The Second Coming

Do we trust governments? Corporations? The media? Do we even trust our neighbor? And if we don’t, where do we go from here? Nearly fifty years after Martin Luther King asked if we were headed for “chaos or community”, these questions will shape the agenda at Salzburg Global’s 2016 Board Weekend.

Non-stop coverage of crises and alienation feeds a downward spiral. Many people, young and old, feel they have lost control over their lives and prospects. Many see government and multilateral actors as remote, reactive, or corrupt, failing to halt inequality and project a positive vision for a shared world. Closer to the ground, shared values are eroding and contested colonial legacies are sparking protest. With identities in flux, social media stokes tension and populist power-brokers are quick to fill the vacuum. History reminds us of the risks.

Yet crises spark regeneration, and change usually comes from outside the system. This intimate meeting shifts the spotlight to reflective thinkers and radical practitioners building momentum for a new civic commons. From inclusive economic and social models to urban innovation and inter-faith dialogue, discussions will look beyond today’s value systems and paradigms to focus on solutions at every level.

Trust underpins Salzburg Global’s commitment to human, urban, and conflict transformation. Invited speakers from different generations and sectors will share their personal and professional experience of overcoming blockages at very different scales. Our guests will engage in candid debate and hands-on activities to explore who and what can rebuild trust and help shape a new and inclusive narrative for our global community.