A philosopher of law, a pupil of Guido Rossi, Massimo Cacciari and Enzo Bianchi, who writes a book on "supply chains" and on the protagonists of the war that could change the balance of the world. Alessandro Aresu, from Cagliari, scientific adviser to the magazine "Limes", was part of Prime Minister Draghi's staff. "I work - he clarifies - also with the current government on universities, research, technology". The volume “The dominion of the XXI century. China, the United States and the invisible war on technology”, published by Feltrinelli, was born and developed under the Poetto sun, in the Palm Beach kiosk, in front of the Golfo degli Angeli. A place of the heart that inspired the author.

«I live in Sardinia and I go back whenever I can, because I like to write and think on the beach, facing the sea. On the island it can be done in almost all months of the year. But something is missing. I would like to see some artisan pastry shops at Poetto». In his Roman home, on the other hand, a typical product is never lacking: «I like to prepare traditional dishes, especially those with bottarga».

What are supply chains?

«These are the systems that involve tens, hundreds, thousands of businesses to arrive at the finished products so common in our lives: cars, smartphones, household appliances and so on. Economic efficiency and technological development have led to their diffusion on an ever wider international scale, but national security leads to their rethinking".

You recall Miyazaki's concept of flight. High technology has an ambiguous nature. It can be mean and destructive. For what reason?

«As in the example given by Miyazaki, an airplane can be both civilian and military. That is, a beautiful object, with an elegant design, can also be used to kill. Like a drone, an algorithm or an operating system. Almost all high technology sees the intertwining of civilian and military systems. It is no coincidence that former Google boss Eric Schmidt also said that, beyond a certain level, all technologies have a dual aspect".

The scenarios of the world are now dominated, just as you write in the book, by the conflict between the United States and China. An invisible war. With what features?

«The term “invisible” identifies two things. First, what we can't see with the naked eye. Our entire digital life, including the conversation between the two of us, depends on the evolution of microelectronics, without which it cannot exist. So the war between the US and China is about the control of invisible processes and technologies: plasma etching, extreme ultraviolet lithography and many other things that seem absurd to us. Secondly, what is invisible because it is underestimated: companies or men that hardly anyone knows, but who determine the direction of the world».

Is this the case with Morris Chang?

«The Messi of microchips, a few years older: he is 91 years old. He is one of the most important entrepreneurs in the history of mankind. Indeed, it has made Taiwan the center of microelectronics, with a perfect ecosystem of organization and communication between universities, research centers and customers. Unfortunately it is a victim of its own success, because the world cannot be so dependent on Taiwan, which has an uncertain political status.

What is and what will be the role of Europe?

“There are some outstanding companies in Europe. For example, in the book I mention ASML and Zeiss, in the Netherlands and Germany. However, Europe is not a true political actor and its responses are limited compared to the strategies of actors such as the United States and China. In a moment of fierce competition like the current one, the European machine is slow and with redundant bureaucratic steps, which hold back innovation».

In a world dominated by technology, what can man do?

“Study it. Technology is a human production and is never alien to humanity. Since it must be understood, I think the most important thing to do is to build adequate tools, and therefore increase scientific culture, also by studying the history of scientists and their ideas. These days I'm reading the beautiful book by Giorgio Parisi, I recommend it to everyone».

Can technological development have unwanted developments?

“I don't see an imminent danger of technology 'rebelling', a Terminator -type scenario. It is more important, for every community, to accompany technological development, to create and support relevant companies. In my opinion, those who think that we must first regulate technology and then think about development, as the European institutions sometimes do, are mistaken».

How will the war between the US and China end?

“We'll find out in a few decades. China is in difficulty for various factors: the slowdown of the economy, the balance between ideology and technological development, the relationship with the neighbours, the demographic question».

A philosopher of law who engages in geopolitics. When was this interest born?

"More than 15 years. During my philosophy studies I met Lucio Caracciolo. Studying supply chains is a natural evolution of my research work. The topics that interest me, and which determine international competition and the relationship between the economy and national security that I have dealt with for a long time, are linked to technological development. If you don't study these things, you make abstract discourses».

Maximilian Rais

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