Representative democracy, the core of the Atlantic value system, is undergoing a serious crisis. From the outside - the authoritarianism and the advance of illiberal regimes - and from within - the populisms that take advantage of democracy to undermine it - the threats are there: excluding nationalisms, distrust in the institutions, messianic and authoritarian leaders, alternative reality ... What is the future of liberal democracy? How to deal with disaffection among the citizens? What answers are there for those real problems that stir up discontent?

The US administration only focuses on China, and Asia focuses on itself. The Atlantic area, in all its diversity, can either consolidate its position as a benchmark, or stand aside and take a subordinate place in the new global order and technological revolutions. Is there really an Atlantic area? What challenges do we share and what threats do we face? Which problems could be approached jointly? What kind of Atlantic area do we need for the XXIst century?

In Europe and America, similar recent narratives can be found: the growth of populism and the deterioration of the institutions are the responses of societies startled by a present in which they lose, and a future they do not understand. Populism appeals to passion and emotion: the new leaders, authoritarian and messianic, gain power or votes on the right and left by exploiting the politics of identity and tribe. Is it true that for the first time in history, the liberal democracies are incapable of offering their citizens a prosperous future? Are there regimes behind the organisation of social unrest? Do the crisis of the media and the rise of social networks worsen the fire? What can be done to improve the public sphere?

After the digital revolution - and thanks to it - the era of technological advances arrives. How will the future of the digital world be defined? Will it be marked by the liberal and democratic model that inspires the West or by the commercial aggressiveness and authoritarian principles that inspire China's success? Industry 4.0 is the era of intelligent factories through automation and data exchange, but the new frontier is that of Digital Intelligence. It will change how we live, how we work, how we interact. Will consumers come out ahead, at the expenses of a gigantic disruption in labour markets? How will regulators, public authorities and democratic systems adapt to the new world? Will this revolution be led only by those innovators who evolve and reach the appropriate levels of transparency and efficiency? Has Europe definitely lost any chance of leadership in the field?

Artificial intelligence is the new frontier of knowledge. Machines that learn from their own experience, capable of processing millions of pieces of data in record time and making decisions accordingly. Just how far can Artificial Intelligence go in its development? How can we guarantee that humans will not lose control of this development? Should we worry about the prospect of a cyber-leviathan?

The fourth industrial revolution, just like its three predecessors, will bring about change in our work relationships and in our social model. Thousands of jobs will disappear, and new ones will emerge. What role will be left for workers in an economy that is increasingly automated? How can we prepare ourselves to avoid lagging behind in this new industrial revolution? Will our robots finance our new welfare state?

In the last third of the previous century and the beginning of this one, Spain has been the driving force behind one of the most brilliant and ambitious development processes worldwide. Nevertheless, our collective success is not devoid of shadows and extremely demanding challenges in our immediate future. What are Spain’s strengths? How do we see ourselves and how do others see us? What should we do to continue moving forward on the path to progress that we set out on fifty years ago?

Trump won the US elections promising to build a wall to stem immigration. Most European countries consider that immigration is the main problem the European Union has to face. Our societies have stopped being homogenous, an issue that populists and nationalists like to stir up to generate fear and xenophobia. Spain has known how to stay on the side-lines of this trend, but for how long? Will Europe survive the tensions caused by immigration?

The deadline for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union is just days away. The worst-case scenario, the breakup with the Union has been surpassed by a situation that is even worse: an abrupt, no-deal breakup. What should we expect from now on? Are we at the onset of the decline of the European Dream? Will the United Kingdom carry on being the same country or will it also pay the consequences of the breakup?