Last Thursday, June 2, Ethosfera organised the event 'Better companies, better democracy' in which it presented its report 'Five ethical debates for the future of Spain'. An event that counted with the collaboration of PROA for the management of communication and its digital strategy. Held at the Círculo de Bellas Artes in Madrid, the event featured prominent speakers such as the Minister of Science and Innovation, Diana Morant; the President of the Family Business Institute, Andrés Sendagorta; and the Economic Advisor of the European Commission in Spain, Paz Guzmán.
The report reflects that increasing polarisation, the erosion of institutions, economic inequality and the absence of rational dialogue have put liberal democracy at risk. The Ethosfera panel sees this crisis as a risk for organisations and recognises that international instability has meant that "the political factor is once again beginning to play a key role in the internationalisation process of companies". Moreover, in what it considers to be "an emotive climate lacking in political consensus", the group accuses "the absence of technical debates on critical elements for companies, such as the minimum wage, pensions or inflation".
The director of Ethosfera, Elena Herrero-BeaumontDespite the distrust of the institutions, any Spanish citizen would have felt proud and hopeful if they had had the opportunity to witness the magnificent debate that we have witnessed over the last few months, the result of which we have set out in this report," he said during his speech.
For its part, Diego S. GarrochoThe President of the Academic Council of Ethosfera, pointed out that "it is essential to have exemplary and virtuous people who energise institutions and serve to provide a framework for imitation in the business world, endow them with personality and establish a specific ethical horizon in decision-making".
Among the most relevant issues addressed during the event was the ethical management of Next Generation funds. Among the conclusions of the report, the group believes that there has been much debate between the States and the Commission, but admits that society and the business community have hardly felt listened to: "There has been no real joint work with local environments, which are the ones who will ultimately have to implement the 50% funds". In this sense, he stresses that "too much attention has been paid to the big consultancy firms" without taking other actors into account. He also criticised the fact that "the forums in which the Plan was debated did not work very well, they are quite complex and not always permeable".
The ecological and technological transformation has, according to the report, generated tension and alienation between elites and ruling classes and local and rural ways of life. The group assumes that "rural dwellers feel a legitimate disconnect with how public decisions are made", while there is a "growing suspicion of the existence of undeclared interests on the part of ruling elites". He also believes that these institutional elites are centred in Madrid, a situation that can lead to clashes because they do not listen to the rest of the ecosystem.
"We cannot leave aside the fundamental problems that put liberal democracy at risk. It is very necessary to have spaces for reflection that help to strengthen the relationship between public administration and business and that promote civil society as a guarantor of the public space", assured the Minister of Science and Innovation, Diana Morantin the closing speech of the event.
For his part, the newly appointed President of the Instituto de la Empresa Familiar, Andrés Sendagorta MacDonellThe role of business in improving our common life as a free and democratic society is a central issue that is of particular interest to the IEF", he said, adding that "the Spanish business community is well aware of the challenges facing the country". In his opinion, moreover, "we must begin to appreciate the true dimension of the role of companies as the backbone of our society".
The event, which was attended by more than 100 entrepreneurs, managers and members of senior management and civil society, was opened by Juan Miguel Hernández León, president of the Círculo de Bellas Artes, and included the participation of Andrés Sendagorta MacDonell, who gave a lecture on the ethical commitment of companies in democracy. Ethosfera co-founders Elena Herrero-Beaumont and Diego S. Garrocho presented the report.
In addition, a round table moderated by the journalist and writer Marta Peirano on the ethical leadership of Spanish leaders, in which the following speakers took part Silvina BacigalupoProfessor of Criminal Law at the Autonomous University of Madrid and Chair of Transparency International; Alberto S. NavalpotroCEO of Inbonis and Acumen Fellow; José Luis BlancoDirector General of the Instituto de la Empresa Familiar, and Juan María SáinzInforma, CEO of Informa.
The event was closed by Diana Morant and Paz Guzmán, Economic Adviser to the European Commission in Spainwho moderated a dialogue with the Minister of Science and Innovation on the risks of liberal democracy in the face of the threat of populism and polarisation, meritocracy and the ethical demands of business.
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