The thirtieth anniversary of ASERI invites us not only to celebrate, but also to stop and reflect on what we have learned and what the calling of the present times is. We can build on experience to clearly recognize the difficulties around us, but we also need reasonable and active hope that the ASERI community can play a role in promoting change towards a more dignified coexistence and more inclusive development.
Today's international context is anything but reassuring. Armed conflicts are multiplying. Inequalities are deepening – between states, within societies, even between neighbourhoods. Multilateral institutions created to foster dialogue and coordination often appear powerless, fragmented by rivalries and short-term interests. The space for cooperation seems to be shrinking just when we need it most.
Yet, it is precisely in these moments that the true meaning of international cooperation is revealed: not as an abstract ideal, but as a shared responsibility founded on our common humanity. The area of development – where many ASERI graduates work with dedication – reminds us that coexistence is not automatic. It must be imagined, negotiated and supported, day after day, through institutions and relationships.
The type of cooperation that matters today is not just technical or diplomatic. It requires courage, prudence, and a sense of human dignity that transcends borders. It is made up of gestures that are both visionary and concrete – such as the patient and silent work of those who take care of the most fragile, or of those who build trust where there is only fear. We could call them "artisans of development", and their work is indispensable.
ASERI has always believed in this approach: over the years, it has cultivated a method that combines analytical depth and ethical awareness; it has trained people capable of thinking critically, of working beyond disciplinary boundaries and of facing the world not as passive spectators but as responsible actors. It is not a simple task, but it is the only one worth pursuing.
The challenges we face – from debt to climate change, from institutional fragility to social crises – will not be solved by formulas alone. They require a shared vision and new alliances. They require spaces like ASERI, where research and education come together in the service of a more just and peaceful coexistence.
In celebrating these thirty years, let us not get tired. We continue to train minds, open dialogues and build bridges – one conversation, one collaboration at a time.
A very happy birthday, ASERI!