“The Swan is gray" ,Biagio Costanzo's latest book.
One of the major flaws of our times is the short-term view. We are dominated by the "here and now," we think only about what can happen tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, we are losing sight of strategic visions. And this is true in almost every sector except, perhaps, pure scientific research. Everything is fast-paced, from financial crises, to ecosystem crises, from major migrations to the sudden, sudden pandemic emergency, from regional wars at our Continent's doorstep, to the advent of ponderous technological advances (from apps, to social, to artificial intelligence) that absolutely must be regulated.
Countering this "spirit of the times" comes to the rescue. "The Swan Is Grey (Catrovacer, search, find, pre-see") by Biagio Costanzo, a manager with more than 30 years' experience mainly in the governance of private companies, with an 8-year interlude in the service of the Italian state,and an adjunct professor in university Master's programs.
According to Costanzo, we haven't learned much from all that has happened in recent years filled with crises of all kinds. Superficiality? Closure in the self? Hypocrisy? Evils that afflict both the ruling classes and citizens. All made worse by the flood on social media of shoddy when not outright false and manipulative information.
This commitment to research, careful analysis, and deep reflection continues in this new book Costanzo observes, "seeks and, at times" finds" meaning in what he sees, analyzes, points to possible solutions, but at the same time in his writings we glimpse, all at once, concern, humanity, fact-finding, passion, testimony, at times pessimism, perhaps cynicism, of certainly extreme realism. Here the work of analysis becomes more intense especially chasing rapid changes but at the same time we find confirmation on the concerns and, fears and hopes that years ago the author predicted.
The essay is divided into three sections (Digitization, cybercrime, and privacy protection;
Security and legality; The era of "permacrisis"), but especially intense are the first and second, where the author intervenes with many contributions that relate more to his own direct experience and professional expertise. The volume was presented at Luiss Business School at the conclusion of the Third Edition of the Executive Course in Security Risk Management, organized by the University and EY,
Authoritative preface edited by the Prof. Umberto Saccone who spent 33 years in the Carabinieri Corps, including 25 in the National Intelligence Service SISMI . Saccone held operational assignments in different areas of the Middle East and Europe. In 2006 he left the Service and eni wanted him as Director of Security. As an adjunct professor, he taught courses on intelligence and risk management at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan. Since 2021 he has been referent and Adjunct Professor at Luiss Business School as part of the executive course "Security Risk Management." Today he is Senior Advisor - Europe West Leader Employee & Physical assets (EPA) Security Risk Management at EY.
According to Saccone, a lucid prophetic analysis emerges from Costanzo's writings due to his reflexive ability to read and anticipate the tremors of today's increasingly liquid society.
In recent years there has been talk of "black swans," very low-intensity, high-impact events?
But is that really the case?
Perhaps the fall of a meteorite can still be considered a black swan, and catch us unprepared...although something is already being done to understand how to deflect the trajectory of a "bolide." But what is black and unpredictable about a flood or an environmental disaster fostered by poor urban management and planning? What is black and unpredictable about a famine, mass migrations facilitated by the many theaters of war and climate change? What is black and unpredictable about an energy crisis exacerbated by a war that is also not, unpredictable war that has put short-sighted energy supply policies in place?
What is black and unpredictable about a crisis resulting from the extreme dependence of Western countries on microprocessor production and the sourcing of particular materials from only a few countries?
What is black and unpredictable about a flood of fake news and a false narrative of events where the risk, manipulation, and goal is not to make people understand whether something is true and false unless the advent of, for example, artificial intelligence is regulated, ethically and seriously?
What is missing is the so-called i "long thinking" versus the prevailing "short thinking": there are events that can be predicted and the level of risk can be lowered before disasters happen.The Swan, In fact, by now, it is gray.
Italian 
Albanian 
English