Italian
Marco Mestriner’s latest book, “The Return of the West,” will be presented next Wednesday in Venice.
Venice – “The defense of the West is the defense of an idea and a civilization, not merely a geographic concept. To defend the West means to safeguard Judeo-Christian roots, Classical Greece, and the legacy of the Roman Empire. Defending Western civilization means defending freedom of speech and expression, the concept of democracy, private property, free trade, and respect for human dignity.”
This is the view of Marco Mestriner, a Venetian native, who will present his latest book “The Return of the West,”published by Giubilei Regnani, on Wednesday, October 15, at 6:30 p.m. at Hotel Santa Chiara in Piazzale Roma, Venice.
In today’s multipolar world, the existence of other superpowers that reject these values and principles makes the defense of the West imperative. But what happens when the West itself is under attack?
“Cultural Marxism, which developed within Western society, has reached a point of no return—what conservative philosopher Roger Scruton called ‘oikophobia.’
Wokeism and cancel culture represent a denial of our very identity as Westerners. The supposed guilt we are meant to feel as Westerners toward the rest of the world has produced a self-destructive mindset, one that flared up in the U.S. during the Obama and Biden administrations.
But starting with the Brexit vote and Trump’s first election, the world has changed: a serious and structured alternative—conservative and liberal—has begun to put a brake on this phenomenon. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is the most credible example of this trend at the European level,” Mestriner continues.
The World Has Changed
“Rediscovering our identity often goes hand in hand with rediscovering common sense. The economy plays a central role in the Western model because free trade, combined with citizens’ economic initiative and strong protection of private property, has enabled the creation of the most prosperous civilization in the world, economically speaking. To rediscover our identity means to reclaim and defend these levers that drive human progress.”
Venice Teaches Us
“The history of the Serenissima Republic is a history of a republic—albeit different from today’s concept—but one of the longest-lasting in history.
The Venetian model brings us back to the values of the market and free trade, which brings peace and prosperity to all citizens. As the French economist Bastiat said: ‘Where goods pass, armies do not.’
But this can only be achieved by standing firm in Western values, confident in our identity, and fighting to defend what we believe in. That’s why I chose the Battle of Lepanto as the cover of my book,” says Marco Mestriner.
Giorgia Meloni and Europe
“Giorgia Meloni is undoubtedly the most prepared and authoritative European leader to defend this worldview. Italy, together with Greece, is the cradle of our civilization, so it is no surprise that an international conservative movement finds a firm foothold in Rome.
What our Prime Minister is doing is truly impressive—bringing Europe back onto the path of common sense and sound geopolitical governance.”
Marco Mestriner
Born in Venice in 1990, Marco Mestriner holds a degree in Economics and Management in the public and private sectors. He is married and serves as Vice President of Ater. He is also a member of the national board of the conservative think tank Nazione Futura.
