Each month, the Institut Aspen France organizes a discussion around a personality of great intellectual stature, French or foreign, who is relevant in the public debate.

Les Belles Feuilles

This series of meetings honors a French or foreign author by inviting them to present a forthcoming or recently published work to the members and guests of Institut Aspen France. The author’s talk is followed by an informal discussion with the audience. The themes addressed are transversal, whether economic, cultural or societal. They are geared towards deciphering societies and the ever-changing world.

Since the launch of this series we have received :

• Didier Leschi, Director General of the French Office of Immigration and Integration (OFII) and author of “Ce grand dérangement : L’immigration en face ” (Tracts Gallimard, November 2020) on 25/01/2021 by videoconference on the theme ” Immigration : Un état des lieux lucide et sans concession “.
• Catherine Nay, Journalist and editorialist at Europe 1, and author of ” Souvenirs, souvenirs… ” (Robert Laffont, 2019) on 12/02/2021 by videoconference on the theme “The true story of 50 years of French political life through the prism of journalism”.
• Bernard Gainnier, Chairman, PwC France and Maghreb, and author of “Chefs d’entreprise, ce que le monde attend de nous” (Alisio, November 2020) on 12/14/2020 by videoconference on the topic “Can business succeed where the state and society have failed?”
• David Goodhart, Essayist, Journalist, and Head of Demography, Immigration, & Integration, Policy Exchange and author of Head Hand Heart: The Struggle for Dignity and Status in the 21st Century, on 11/30/2020 via videoconference on the topic “Rise of Populisms: What if we got it all wrong? “
• Jean-Pierre Jouyet, Honorary President of Institut Aspen France, former French Ambassador to London and the OECD, former Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic, and author of “L’Envers du décor” (Albin Michel, October 2020), on 09/11/2020 by videoconference on the topic “Reflections on 40 years of service to France: from Delors to Sarkozy, Hollande and Macron.”
• Daniel Mendelsohn, Professor of Literature at Bard College, Editor at Large of the New York Review of Books, Director of the Robert B. Silvers, and author of “Three Rings: Stories of Exile” (Flammarion, September 2020), on 10/27/2020 by videoconference, on the topic “Writing Exile: A Journey in Western Literature.”
• Hugo Micheron, Postdoctoral Research Associate at Princeton University and author of “Le jihadisme français: Quartiers, Syrie, prison” (Gallimard, January 2020), on 12/10/2020 by videoconference, on the topic “Separatism, jihadism in the neighborhoods: where does the evil coming from? “
• Olivier Babeau, President & Founder of the Sapiens Institute and author of “Le Nouveau désordre numérique : Comment le digital fait exploser les inégalités” (Buchet Chastel, September 2020), on 14/09/2020 by videoconference, on the theme: ” Everything Digital: The Great Disillusionment ”
• Bertrand Badré, CEO & Founder of Blue Like an Orange Sustainable Capital, former Managing Director of Finance at the World Bank, and author of “Do we (seriously) want to change the world? ” (Mame, September 2020), on 01/09/2020 by videoconference, on the theme: ” After the health and economic crisis: How to really reform capitalism? “
• Philippe Manière,Member of the Executive Board of the Aspen Institute France, President Co-founder of Vae Solis Communications, and author of Le pangolin et l’ISF : Comment le monde d’après nous rend tous fous ? (Éditions de l’Observatoire, 2020), on 07/22/2020 by video conference, on the topic ” What does the ‘world after’ stand for?”
• Saveria Rojek,political journalist and author of Impitoyable : la folle campagne qui a changé la politique (Stock, 2020), on 01/07/2020 by videoconference, on the topic : ” Municipal elections : The pitiful campaign”
• François Lenglet, Journalist specializing in economic issues, on 24/06/2020 by videoconference, on the theme: “The health crisis and its consequences on the economy and globalization.
• Jérôme Chartier, Founder, Les Entretiens de Royaumont; Former Member of Parliament and Vice President of the Île-de-France Region, on 11/03/2020, on the topic: “Responsible Capitalism and Leadership: New Concerns for Decision Makers”.
• Nicolas Baverez, economist, historian and lawyer, on his book Le monde selon Tocqueville (Tallandier, 2020) on 12/02/20
• Bernard Cazeneuve, Former Prime Minister, former Minister of the Interior, and Partner at August & Debouzy, on his book À l’épreuve de la violence : Beauvau 2014-15 (Stock, 2019) on 29/01/20
• Gérald Bronner, sociologist, on his new book, Déchéance de Rationalité : Les tribulations d’un homme de progrès dans un monde devenu fou (Grasset, 2019) on 12/18/19
• Pascal Bruckner, novelist and essayist, on his book “Une brève éternité : Philosophie de la longévité” (Grasset, 2019) on 14/11/19
• Cédric Villani, mathematician, Deputy of Essonne, and candidate for mayor of Paris, on 10/24/19, on the theme “A scholar in politics: from the Fields Medal to the Paris campaign”  
• Denis Olivennes, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of CMI France, following the publication of his new book, Le délicieux malheur français (éditions Albin Michel, 2019) on 26/09/2019
• Andreas Schleicher, Director of the Education and Skills Directorate at the OECD, on 06/24/19 on the topic of “Education: Preparing learners for their future, not our past. “
• Julien Damon, sociologist, associate professor at Sciences Po, and head of the research and consulting firm Éclairs, on 05/27/2019 around his latest book Quelle bonne idée! (PUF, 2018)
• Le Général Pierre de Villiers, former Chief of Staff of the Army, on 16/04/2019 following the publication of his latest book Qu’est-ce qu’un chef? (Fayard, 2018)
• Michel Maffesoli, sociologist and professor at Paris Descartes Sorbonne University, on 20/03/2019 around his latest book Être Postmoderne (Editions du Cerf, 2018).
• Jean-François Copé, Mayor of Meaux and former Minister, and Laurent Alexandre,surgeon, co-founder of Doctissimo and president of DNAVision, on 19/02/2019 around their book L’AI va-t-elle aussi tuer la démocratie (“Will AI also kill democracy?”). (JC Lattès, 2019)
• Alexandre Mars, Entrepreneur and philanthropist, president and founder of Epic, on 09/01/2019 around his book La révolution du partage (Editions Flammarion/Versilio, 2018)
• Professeur David Khayat, Head of the Oncology Department at the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital and President of the Avec Foundation, on 18/12/2018, around his book L’Enquête vérité : Vous n’aurez jamais plus peur du cancer (Éditions Albin Michel, 2018).
• Jean-Louis Gergorin, Professor at Sciences Po and former Executive Vice President of EADS, on 11/29/2018, around his book Cyber: La guerre permanente (Éditions du Cerf, 2018).
• Julia de Funès, Doctor of Philosophy, on 10/31/2018, on the occasion of the publication of her book La comédie (in)humaine (Éditions de l’Observatoire, 2018).
• Carlo D’Asaro Biondo, President Partnerships EMEA of Google, on 24/09/2018, on the topic of new business models and their consequences.
• Michel Pébereau, Honorary Chairman of BNP Paribas, on 07/06/2018, on the topic of economic and societal reforms (Réformes et transformations, Editions Presses Universitaires France).
• Nicole Notat, President of Vigeo-Eiris and the SRI Label Committee, on 05/17/2018, for a report after the submission of the Notat-Senard report to the government.
• Alain Minc, Chairman and founder of AM Conseil and essayist, on 20/03/2018, around his book Une humble cavalcade dans le monde de demain (Editions Grasset, January 2018).
• Laurent Cohen-Tanugi, International lawyer and essayist, on 28/02/2018, on the occasion of the publication of his book Résistance. La Démocratie à l’épreuve. (Editions de l’Observatoire, January 2018). 
• Bertrand Badré, President of the Blue like an Orange fund, former Vice-President of the World Bank, on 22/01/2018, around his book Can Finance save the world? 
• Docteur Laurent Alexandre, surgeon, co-founder of Doctissimo and president of DNAVision, on 13/12/2017, around his book La Guerre des intelligences – Intelligence artificielle versus Intelligence humaine.  
• Enrico Letta, President of the Jacques Delors Institute and former Italian Prime Minister, on 6/11/2017, around his book Faire l’Europe dans un monde de brutes (Fayard, 2017).
• Daniel Mendelsohn, professor at Bard College, contributor to the New York Review of Book and winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award and the 2007 Prix Médicis étranger, on 03/10/2017, on the occasion of the publication of his book Une Odyssée. Un Père, Un Fils, Une Epopée (Flammarion, September 2017).
• Ezra Suleiman, Frank Bournois, Yasmina Jaïdi,on 7/09/2017 around their book La prouesse française, le management du CAC40 vu d’ailleurs
• David Baverez, investor and columnist, on 19/04/2017, about his book Paris-Pékin Express : La nouvelle Chine racontée au futur Président
• Gilles Kepel, professor of political science at the Ecole normale supérieure, on 22/03/2017 around his book La Fracture.
• Luc Ferry, philosopher and former minister, around his book La Révolution transhumaniste on 24/01/2017
• Régis Debray and Michel Crépu on 08/02/2017 around the theme Culture and civilization.

The Aspen Lunches

The Aspen Lunches focus on international news and geopolitical issues. They are organized around a specialist who comes to share his analysis on a specific issue.

We have thus welcomed:

• Gérard Araud, Ambassador of France and former Ambassador to the United States of America, on 21/01/2020 by videoconference on the theme “2021: the return of America? “
• Jean-Dominique Giuliani, President of the Robert Schuman Foundation, on 07/01/2021 by videoconference, on the theme “What place for Europe in the reshaping of world order? “
• Alain Mérieux, President of Institut Mérieux, on 10/12/2020 by videoconference, on the theme “Pandemics and biology without borders”
• Miguel Ángel Moratinos, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, on 19/11/2020 by videoconference, on the theme “Freedom of Speech and Caricatures vs. Respect of Religions: Clash or Alliance of Civilizations?
• Christine Ockrent, Journalist and Producer, France Culture, and author of “La guerre des récits” (L’Observatoire, October 2020), on 05/11/2020 by videoconference, on the topic “American Elections…and the World After: The New War of Narratives? “
• Gilles Paris,Washington Correspondent, Le Monde, co-author of the book “Amérique années Trump” (Gallimard, September 2020), on 22/10/2020 by videoconference, on the topic “American Elections: Rupture or Continuity? “
• Fabrizio Hochschild, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on the Commemoration of the United Nations 75th anniversary and Assistant UN Secretary-General for Strategic coordination, on 08/10/2020 by videoconference, on the theme: ” The UN at 75: (Re)inventing international cooperation “.
• Naciye Selin Senocak, Political scientist and Chair Holder of UNESCO Cultural Diplomacy, Governance and Education, on 24/09/2020 by videoconference, on the theme: “Storm in the Aegean, Tipping point in Libya, “Reconquest” of Saint Sophia: lessons of a hot summer in the Mediterranean”.
• Ehud Olmert, Former Prime Minister of Israel, on 10/09/2020 by videoconference, on the topic: ” The Israel-UAE Peace Agreement: A Milestone or an Illusion? “
• Kishore Mahbubani, Former Ambassador to the UN for Singapore and Distinguished Fellow, Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore, on 07/16/2020 by videoconference, on the topic “Remaking of the global order: Are we heading back to a multipolar world? “
• Alexey Gromyko, Director, Institute of Europe, Russian Academy of Sciences, on 09/07/2020 by videoconference, on “Where does Russia stand in the aftermath of the global pandemic? “
• Kori Schake, Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute, on 06/25/2020 via videoconference, on “Great power rivalries in the aftermath of a global pandemic”
• Ibrahima Kassory Fofana, Prime Minister of Guinea, on 17/06/2020 by videoconference, on the theme: ” Africa’s major challenges at a time of health crisis”
• Gilles Kepel, Political scientist, Professor at Sciences Po and the University of Paris Sciences Lettres and Director of the Middle East-Mediterranean Chair at the ENS/PSL, on 12/06/2020 by videoconference, on the theme: “What are the geopolitical consequences of the Covid-19 crisis? Analysis and perspectives for evolution “
• Jacques Attali, Writer, economist, and President of the Positive Planet Foundation, on 04/06/2020 by videoconference, on the theme: “From survival economy to life economy”
• Jean-François Copé, Former Minister and Mayor of Meaux, on 28/05/2020 by videoconference, on the theme: “From the health crisis to the leadership crisis”
• David Baverez, Investor and writer, on 21/05/2020 by videoconference, on the theme: ” What rebalancing of the world towards Asia? “
• Mircea Geoana, Deputy Secretary General of NATO, on 15/05/2020 by videoconference, on the theme: “Defense and security in the face of Covid-19”
• Hubert Védrine, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, on 23/04/2020 by videoconference, on the topic: “What are the geopolitical consequences of the Covid-19 crisis? Analysis and perspective of evolution “.
• Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former Prime Minister, on February 13, 2020, on the theme: “China: Between fascination and concern”
• Correspondants de la presse étrangère à Paris, on 23/01/2020, on the theme: “The year 2020 as seen by foreign press correspondents
• Elisabeth Guigou, President of the Anna Lindh Foundation and former Minister, on 19/12/2019, on the theme ” Arab World: What European strategy? “
• Jacek Rostowski, former Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister of Finance of Poland, on 13/11/2019, on the topic “After Brexit, should we fear an unhooking of the Visegrad group?”
• Dominique Trinquand, former head of the French military mission to the UN and now Director of External Relations of the Marck Group, on 30/10/2019, on the topic “Iran, Gulf: Is war imminent? “
• Jean-Pierre Jouyet, Honorary President of the Aspen France Institute, Ambassador Permanent Representative of France to the OECD and former Ambassador of France to the United Kingdom from 2017 to 2019, on 18/09/2019, on the topic “Brexit: Can we break the deadlock? “
• Jean-Claude Trichet, former President of the European Central Bank, on 17/07/2019, on the topic “After G20 and before G7: Major trends in the global economy. “
• Makhtar Diop, Vice President of the World Bank, on 26/06/2019, on the topic of “Development Economics: Challenges and Opportunities in the Digital Age. “
• Pascal Lamy, President of the Paris Peace Forum and former Director General of the World Trade Organization, on 05/14/2019, on the topic of “Europe-Africa: What prospects? “
• Hubert Védrine, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, on 29/04/2019, on the topic “Saving Europe: How to ward off threats? “
• Andreï Gratchev, author, journalist, political scientist, and former spokesman for Mikhail Gorbachev, on 26/02/2019 on the topic “Europe-Russia: Cooperation or Confrontation? “
• Audrey Azoulay, Director General of UNESCO, on 05/02/2019, on the theme “Culture and Education: giving a soul to Globalization.  “
• Christine Ockrent,Producer at France Culture, Former Deputy Director General of Audiovisuel Extérieur de la France, on 19/12/2018, following the publication of her new book, The Mystery Prince of Arabia: Mohammed Ben Salman, the mirage of an absolute power (Robert Laffont editions, 2018)
• Justin Vaïsse, President of the Paris Peace Forum, Director of the Center for Analysis, Forecasting and Strategy of the Quai d’Orsay, on 11/27/2018, following the first Peace Forum held in Paris from November 11 to 13, 2018.
• Gilles Kepel, Director of the PSL Middle East-Mediterranean Chair of Excellence, École Normale Supérieure, on 10/17/2018, on the occasion of the release of his new book, Sortir du Chaos: Les Crises en Méditerranée et au Moyen-Orient.
• Michaëlle Jean, Secretary General of La Francophonie, Former Governor General of Canada, on 05/09/2018, around the theme, “La Francophonie: A voice that counts in the New World Order? ”
• José Ángel Gurría, Secretary General of the OECD, on 18/07/2018, around the rebuilding of multilateralism.
• Madeleine Albright, former Secretary of State of the United States of America, Joschka Fischer,former German Chancellor et Tarja Halonen, Former President of the Republic of Finland,  at the closing lunch of the Aspen Ministers Forum on 27/06/2018.
• Thierry de Longuemar, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, on 04/26/2018, on the topic of “New Silk Roads and Economic and Geopolitical Challenges”
• Jeremy Shapiro, Director of Research, European Council on Foreign Relations, on 08/12/2017 on the theme “A post-American Europe”. 
• Walter Russel Mead, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Yale University, on 05/31/2017 around the theme “A new world (dis)order? ” The balance between Asia, Russia, Middle East, and EU priorities.”
• Charles Kupchan, former Special Advisor to President Obama, Professor of International Relations at Georgetown University, on 03/05/2017 around the theme “From Obama to Trump, what is next for the transatlantic relation?”

Des Hommes qui lisent (Men who read)