Spring 2025 (#21)

The 21st edition of Convergences captures a defining moment for public communication, dominated by the rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence and the need for a “human-centric” approach in a synthetic information landscape. This issue synthesizes high-level debates from Athens, London, and Venice, focusing on strengthening societal resilience against foreign information manipulation (FIMI) and the “politics of fear”. A groundbreaking theme in this volume is the concept of emotional resilience, arguing that factual corrections are insufficient without addressing the emotional ground on which disinformation thrives. The publication also features strategic reflections on re-appropriating the European narrative and rebranding the Union to face new geopolitical realities. Finally, it pays tribute to the late Nicole Chauvelle, a co-founder of the Club of Venice, while continuing to challenge the professional identity and “faith” of the modern public communicator.

Key Topics:

1. The AI State of Play: Analyzing the exponential rise of agentic systems and reasoning models in strategic communication.
2. Emotional Resilience: Moving beyond fact-checking to defend democratic foundations against emotionally-charged synthetic disinformation.
3. Anti-FIMI Strategies: Collaborative institutional frameworks to neutralize foreign influence threats and information manipulation.
4. The UK GCS Generative AI Policy: A model for the responsible, ethical, and transparent adoption of AI in government communications.
5. Re-appropriating the European Narrative: A strategic imperative for Europeans to define their own history and identity on the global stage.
6. Gender Bias in AI: Addressing algorithmic discrimination and the role of public institutions in ensuring inclusive technology-enabled communication.
7. Blockchain for Trust: Leveraging decentralized technology to enhance the transparency and authenticity of official announcements.
8. Rebranding Europe: Repositioning the EU as a global leader in protecting human rights and democracy amidst global instability.
9. The “Job” of Public Communicator: A deep sociological inquiry into whether public communication is a role, a status, or a true profession.
10. Sustainable Urban Recovery (Sun4Ukraine): Mobilizing European cities to support Ukraine’s climate-neutral reconstruction efforts.